February 2011 Newsletter Volume 39, Number 2

 

If you’re reading this newsletter, and you did not renew your USA Dive Club membership for 2011, your membership has expired. USA Dive Club dues are due January 1st.   Details provided in this newsletter under Membership. In January, USA’s elected officers appointed additional members to serve on USA’s board for 12 months. These appointed positions include Audio/Video, Scrapbook, Membership, Hospitality, Overseas Dive Accountant, Promotions, Safety, and Webmaster/Newsletter. USA’s 2011 board appointees A-V Coordinator Scrapbook Membership Hospitality Overseas Dive Accountant Promotions Safety Webmaster/Newsletter - Roman Boszko - Russ Hickman - Russ Manhold - Clare Anthon and    Julie Manhold - Ronnie Farr - Larry Townsend - Paul Molinari - Russ Manhold A note below about USA’s own Rich Ladisky, back in Boca Raton for the winter months.  On February 20th, Rich is guest speaker at Friends of the Boca Raton Public Library, presenting Beneath the Sea: Gentle Giants and Potent Miniatures. Click here for details. Richard Ladisky began scuba diving in 1981 and decided to join his passion for photography with his love of diving. He has appeared at shows for civic groups and foundations, the Florida Dive Show, and has been a regular speaker at "Beneath the Sea" in New Jersey, the largest consumer diving/photography convention in North America. He participated in the ill-fated Teacher in Space program and has used his radio license to communicate with the cosmonauts on Mir and the astronauts on both the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. He has recently joined the ranks of many scientists, explorers and astronauts by presenting his work at the Talcott Mountain Science Center in Avon, Connecticut. Richard is retired from public education and supervision, but has been a Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security in Connecticut for over 31 years. His work and adventures have appeared in many periodicals, the latest being Scuba Diving Magazine, Parade Magazine and the Hartford Courant Travel Section.

How about a Blast From the Past?

What appeared 16 years ago this month in USA’s February 1995 newsletter?

To view a copy of USA’s February 1995 newsletter, click here.

Questions?  Click here to contact President Russ Manhold by e-mail.

Russ Manhold
President
president@usadiveclub.com

Back to Top

Local Diving

with Kathy & John Ficarra Well this is the time when we only see the Club’s Polar Bear Divers joining us. Right after New Year’s as the ocean was still warm at 72 degrees and the air was even warmer so we made a last minute go for it and called people to fill the Starfish Enterprise in which we did. There were 8 members of with the Club including one of USA’s Social Butterflies who braved the colder water.  Even though Clare Anthon opted out on the second dive, we all cheered for her bravery.  We only saw two lobsters on the second drift and both escaped us. We did see plenty of loggerhead turtles and some of us saw a school of 4-5 ft black tip sharks who were very interested in a diver’s speared hog fish. The 2nd Sunday in January, 4 brave members went out without John and I. We woke up that morning and saw the temperature in the morning was 48 degrees. USAer Glada Blench sent the following pictures of them. We have been working on some special events for the upcoming months so please mark your calendars and join us. Easter Sunday, April 24, 8 am, is our annual Easter Egg Hunt on a wreck with the Starfish Enterprise in Boynton Beach which is a sell out every year. Sunday, May 15, will be our 2nd annual Beach Party, south side of Commercial Pier. We will have guided scuba beach dives, snorkeling trips and will be hosting beach games.  Bring the whole family for a fun day on the beach. Saturday, July 9, 1:30 pm, after lunch at Monte’s at the dock, we will be going out with RJ Diving Ventures at Miami Beach Marina.  We will be diving the Neptune Memorial Reef, an underwater cemetery, and Ophelia Brian wreck which lies in 105 feet.  The Memorial Reef web site states the reef is not your average cemetery, but the first of its kind underwater cemetery.  Situated about 45 feet beneath the ocean’s surface, the cemetery with gates, pathways, plaques and even benches is not only a great final resting spot for those who loved the sea but also the world’s largest man-made reef (covering over 600,000 sq feet) and unique and unusual site for scuba diving. The Ophelia Brian wreck has nice swim through for all to enjoy according to USAer Bernie Meier. The 210 foot freighter, built in 1965 by J.J. Sietas in Hamburg, Germany, christened Hoheburg, and lastly called Sea Taxi, became the Ophelia Brian when she sunk at a pre-permitted site off Key Biscayne on December 30, 2009.  The vessel is a sister ship to two very popular, previously sunk Miami-Dade artificial reefs -- the Ultra Freeze and the Deep Freeze.  It's been renamed several times in the past 40 years, most recently called the Sea Taxi. Saturday, August 6, opening weekend for Lobster Hunting with Starfish Enterprise, morning trip. Saturday, August 13, we have planned a Saturday night full moon dive with South Florida Dive Headquarters. Questions?  Click here to contact USA’s VP’s of Local Diving by e-mail. FOR A LIST OF UP COMING DIVES, CLICK HERE FOR USA’s ‘LOCAL DIVING’ PAGE.

Kathy & John Ficarra
VP’s of Local Diving
localdiving@usadiveclub.com

Back to Top

Social Activities

Hello from the Social Butterflies. At press time, we were only hours away from our Sunday Brunch and Barley Barber Swamp Trek in Indiantown. It’s with great pleasure that we report 42 USAers and guests planned to gather and enjoy this event.  Look for a full report in USA’s March 2011 newsletter.

Coming attractions

Adopt-A-Street Sunday, February 6, 2011 9:00 am

Yes, it’s Super Bowl Sunday.  But you’ll be home in plenty of time. Mark your calendar for USA's next quarterly Adopt-A-Street cleanup in Deerfield Beach which is scheduled to take place on Sunday morning, February 6th, at 9:00 am.  Lunch to follow at Muddy Waters Restaurant and Raw Bar located just a short distance from USA’s Adopt-A-Street site. The Adopt-A-Street program gives us the opportunity to keep our streets clean. We all know that, sooner or later, much of the trash on our streets finds its way into Florida’s canals and waters offshore. This is our way of helping the environment. Every little bit helps so please sign up at the February 3rd dive club meeting. If you can't make the meeting, call or e-mail USA’s Social Butterflies at Social@usadiveclub.com Watch future newsletters and e-mails for additional information on all planned USA Dive Club activities. Our social events are open to all USA members and guests. So, why wait? Sign up for a social event, get to know your fellow USAers, and let the fun begin!

Future social events: Feb 06 (Sunday) – Adopt-A-Street - Deerfield Beach

DINNER BEFORE THE MEETING: Pick up your favorite meal, i.e., a sub, sandwich, or pizza at your local Publix, Subway or Papa Johns and join USA’s Social Butterflies in the Newport Café located in the Best Western Deerfield Beach Hotel & Suites @ 6:00 pm.  If you’d like to bring something from home, that’s okay too.

Everyone seems to enjoy the atmosphere and camaraderie. Try it... you’ll like it!  C’mon down and we’ll save y’all a seat.

Questions?  Click here to contact USA’s Social Butterflies by e-mail.



Clare Anthon & Julie Manhold
VP’s of Social Events
social@usadiveclub.com

Back to Top

Hospitality Hut

Warm greetings from the Hospitality Hut

It was wonderful to see so many friendly faces at the first meeting of the ‘New Year’.

January 2011 brought with it three guests attending their first meeting.

We introduced Bill Schwabe, a rescue diver.  Bill, a long-time friend of USA member Jeff Jacobs, promptly applied for membership in the USA Dive Club.   USA is happy to welcome another new member.

Several USAers met Russ Hickman at Force-E and later on a local dive aboard the Starfish Enterprise.  During the meeting, Russ applied for membership.  One week later, Russ attended his first USA Board of Directors meeting.  Not only was Russ approved for membership, he has also accepted an appointed board position.
Thank you, Russ, for becoming USA’s 2011 Photography/Scrapbook Coordinator.

Special thanks to Kathy Ficarra, USA’s 2010 Photography/Scrapbook Coordinator,
for all the good work she did while holding that position.

Lastly, we introduced Dave Goetz.  Dave visited the USA Dive Club booth while attending the Florida Dive Show in December.  Dave is an Assistant Instructor and we hope he will visit us again in the coming months.

A special ‘thank you’ to all first time and returning guests for their interest in
USA Dive Club activities.  We hope to see you all soon again.

We encourage you to visit our USA home page www.usadiveclub.com

Click on the calendar button for details regarding USA’s very active diving and
non-diving schedule.

We wish you all ‘Happy Diving’.

Questions?  Click here to contact USA’s Hospitality Coordinators by e-mail.



Clare Anthon & Julie Manhold
Hospitality Coordinators
hospitality@usadiveclub.com

Back to Top

Membership

USA’s annual $40 membership renewal fee was due
January 1st.  USA membership renewal for married couples is $35 each, $70 total.

Checks are payable to:

Under Sea Adventurers

Drop your check in the mail today or bring your
renewal check to USA’s February 3rd dive club meeting.
Mailing address is:

USA Dive Club Membership Coordinator
13210 SW 17th Court
Miramar FL 33027-3420

Russ Hickman is one of USA’s newest members, submitting a New Member Application at the January 6th general membership meeting. Russ learned of the USA Dive Club through Force-E and by meeting USAers while diving on the Starfish Enterprise. Russ is a PADI certified Advanced Open Water diver.  His interests include motorcycles and air brush art.  At USA’s January 13th board meeting, Russ volunteered to serve in an appointed position, assuming the 2011 Scrapbook Coordinator position from USAer Kathy Ficarra.

Also one of USA’s newest members, Bill Schwabe submitted a New Member Application at the January 6th general membership meeting. Hailing from Oak Bluff, Massachusetts, Bill’s interests include biking, hiking, swimming and fishing. A PADI certified Rescue Diver, Bill’s ‘dream dive’ would be the Maldives. Bill was introduced to the USA Dive Club by another one of our newer members, Jeff Jacobs.

Encourage friends and fellow divers to join USAers for all club activities.  Remember, folks don’t need to be USA members to participate in USA Dive Club activities.  Guests are always welcome if they are accompanied by a USA club member.

People interested in joining the USA Dive Club will find membership applications available by clicking on the link appearing below.

MEMBERSHIP PACKET

Questions?  Click here to contact Membership Coordinator Russ Manhold by e-mail.

Warm diving regards,

Russ Manhold
Membership Coordinator
membership@usadiveclub.com

Back to Top

Promotions

Hi y’all from the Promotions Desk of USA Dive Club.

USA’s Lobster Pot winners have been taking home on average $50 cash at monthly dive club meetings.

That’s a better return on your hard-earned money than most banks offer.

Each month we offer a variety of Lobster Pot prizes, many donated by South Florida dive shops.

Congratulations to all our Lobster Pot winners.  Be sure and drop in to see our local dive shops who support us and say ‘Thanks’.

My sincere Thank You to all of you who donated to our 2010 Lobster Pots!

An absolute banner year, with several months breaking previous records.  I look  forward to bringing you another interesting year in 2011 for USA’s Lobster Pot!

If you did not contribute, then you could not have won!

At the February 3rd dive club meeting, look for the following prizes in USA’s monthly Lobster Pot:

• The usual 50/50 cash pot.
• The usual 2 each $20 off a USA local dive.
• And perhaps a couple of other little surprises for you too!

For the past several months, our 50/50 Lobster Pot has been right at $50 or more.

Unheard of in the history of the USA Dive Club.

I thank you and the club thanks you.  Let’s keep it up!

And, as I always say, ‘If U miss it, U will miss it!’

Questions?  Click here to contact Promotions Coordinator Larry Townsend by e-mail.

Larry Townsend
Promotions Coordinator
promotions@usadiveclub.com

Back to Top

USA’s Overseas Diving

USA Dive Club Overseas Diving program 2011 For 2011, we have two trips planned for USA’s overseas diving program. The dates appearing below are firm.  They will allow you to plan your 2011 overseas diving schedule. Prices are approximate at this time. Little Cayman Beach Resort, June 11-18, 2011. All meals, 17 dives, airfare, tips, etc., approximately $2,150. Non-diver option available.  More info from trip leaders Kathi and Steve McCutcheon or me.   Saba and Saint Kitts live-aboard, October 8-15, 2011.  Explorer Ventures’ fleet, same as USA’s last Saba trip and the 2006 Turks and Caicos trip to Provo.  This trip is one-way from Saint Marten to Saint Kitts.  Purchase your own split ticket with American Airlines.  All meals and beverages, 27 boat dives, free NITROX, airport transfers, gratuities, port taxes, departure taxes and fuel surcharge is about $2,250.  Add approximately $600 for air travel and the total is about $2,850. More info from trip lead Julie Manhold or me.   Dry Tortugas live-aboard.  At this time, we do not have enough interest to schedule that trip for 2011 however, it remains a viable consideration. Signup rules & priority for USA dive club Click here to view USA DIVE TRIP GUIDELINES FOR OVERSEAS DIVE TRIPS, MINI TRIPS, LOCAL DIVES. Click here to view and print trip registration forms for Little Cayman Beach Resort. Click here to view and print trip registration forms for Saba/St.Kitts. Questions?  Click here to contact VP of Overseas Diving Nils Jacobsen by e-mail. Nils Jacobsen VP Overseas Diving overseasdiving@usadiveclub.com

Little Cayman Beach Resort “Where the livin’ is good and the divin’ is easy.” June 11-18, 2011 WANTED: ONE NICE GIRL to share a room with another nice girl on this trip.  The response was overwhelming for this dive trip.  We quickly filled the original 22 spots.  Luckily, we were able to add more rooms and airplane seats so other aspiring participants were not disappointed. There are now 27 USAers and guests going to the Little Cayman Beach Resort.  Don't miss out on the fun...just one spot remains.  Of course, we are always happy to have a few people on the waiting list. Spend a relaxing week at the only deluxe, full service resort on Little Cayman Island. Rated as the number one resort destination in the Caribbean for wall diving, number two for favorite reef diving and within the top five for advanced diving, sea life and underwater photography, you will enjoy outstanding visibility. The staff will handle all your gear and you need only to walk a few steps from your room to the large, comfortable, covered boats. The four boats are 42 to 46 ft long, 16 ft wide, with freshwater showers and restrooms.  Our group of 20 lucky members will fit on one boat all to ourselves. Kathi and Steve McCutcheon are the trip leaders and will run this as a traditional USA club trip. We will dive together and enjoy group camaraderie at the daily happy hour around the pool and hot tub. Those who have been here before will vouch for the excellent cuisine, great patio bar and nicely appointed pool view rooms which have been recently redecorated and upgraded. The dive shop is fully equipped to handle refresher or specialty courses. Dive computers are offered free of charge and rentals are available for cameras, all dive equipment, kayaks, sailboats, and paddle boats. NITROX can be purchased at the dive shop. There are also bicycles, tennis courts, volleyball, and hammocks along the beach making it possible for a non-diving partner to have an enjoyable, relaxing week. Fishing charters are another option. PRICE: $2,150 for three dives per day; $1,550 non-diver $2,000 for two dives per day Extra dives purchased at resort $65 per tank NITROX $10 per single tank, $140 for the week Deluxe oceanfront room upgrade $320 per person Prices include roundtrip airfare from Miami, transfers, 3 gourmet meals daily, and all tips.  Bar drinks are extra. Questions?  Click here to contact trip leaders Kathi & Steve McCutcheon by e-mail.

	Kathi and Steve McCutcheon

Saba/St. Kitts  Liveaboard The Caribbean Explorer II Luxury Dive Vessel www.explorerventures.com/cexp2/index.html A Three-Island Tour with The Most Unique Itinerary of Live-aboard Diving October 8-15, 2011 The Saba/St. Kitts live-aboard dive vacation is now full.  Unfortunately, we are limited to a maximum of 18 passengers. If you are interested in going on this trip, please add your name to the wait list.  Placing your name on the wait list is FREE. No deposit is required unless you are selected to replace a trip participant who cancels. If you have questions, or would like the names of USAers and guests going on the Saba/St. Kitts trip, click here to contact Trip Leader Julie Manhold.   Eighteen lucky USAers will be traveling to Saba/St. Kitts to experience an 8-day, 7-night liveaboard diving adventure aboard the Caribbean Explorer II. Julie Manhold is the trip leader.  We have reserved the entire boat for USAers. A Full Moon dive is scheduled for Wednesday evening, October 12th.  There are eight staterooms, all with private vanities, air conditioning and toilet facilities. What’s a liveaboard?  Just the most relaxing dive vacation you’ll ever experience.  NO SCHLEPPING of dive gear.  After you embark, set up your tank just once… that’s it.  When not in use, your other gear is stowed in your private gear locker right under your seat. Wet suits are hung to dry.  And you don’t have to switch over tanks.  Your tank is refilled right where you left it.  Warm showers and towels are offered after each of the 27 dives made available to you. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are expertly prepared as are the in-between snacks presented at the end of each dive. What do you do between dives?   RELAX… sunbathe, fill in your log book, read that novel you didn’t have time to read at home, take a nap, get to know your fellow USAers a little better while raving about the last dive.  Your time is your own.  Perhaps a land tour would be nice.  If you’re not planning to make the night dive, enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. With the exception of the airfare, this is an all-inclusive vacation.  Includes 27 boat dives, all meals and beverages, gratuities, port tax, fuel surcharge, airport transfers, departure tax and free NITROX.  We will be on our own Friday evening for dinner.  We’re even throwing in the T-shirt to let the world know you’ve ‘been there and done that’. Travel will be simple.  On Saturday, October 8th, we fly nonstop from Miami to St. Maarten and then take ground transportation a short distance to the boat.  While we sleep, we cruise to Saba where the diving begins.  We then island hop and dive our way to St. Kitts where we disembark the following Saturday, October 15th, and fly home direct from St. Kitts to Miami. You have the opportunity to make 27 dives on this expedition: 2 morning dives, 2 afternoon dives, and 1 night dive each evening.  NITROX is free. The Northeastern Caribbean is an intriguing area offering a blend of Dutch, British, French and native cultures on the most scenic islands in the Caribbean.  Our unique itinerary will combine diving and optional land tours. Saba is known for its submerged offshore pinnacles.  The abrupt topography above the sea is mirrored below and the profusion of marine life attests to the early institution of the Saba Marine Park in 1987. Underwater pinnacles -- spires of the same volcanic rock that makes up the island -- jut up from the deep blue and overflow with marine life. At Third Encounter, a notable pinnacle dive site, the surrounding deep water makes sightings of sharks and other pelagics common.  Just a short swim away, an eerie spire called the Needle, not more than 30 feet wide at its apex, rises 250 feet and points up from the depths like Neptune's finger. St. Kitts offers arguably the widest variety of sites - finger reefs, recent wrecks, and a variety of drop-offs that will capture your imagination. When you purchase your own airfare departing from Miami, price for this trip is approximately $2,850.  Book your own air travel. This will be a popular trip and a deposit is required to make your reservation. Questions?  Click here to contact trip leader Julie Manhold by e-mail.   Julie Manhold    Trip Leader

Back to Top

Equipment for Sale

	USED equipment for $150 OBO 1- Older style Large Scuba Pro Classic BC.( 50 dives) 1- Extra exhaust hose 1- Older Air 2 (inflator / octo) + 2 extra hoses for Air 2 connection 1- UK Q40 light 3- Hose protectors 2- Older min C lights FMI contact USA member Bob Lucas PH. 561-865-0308 lucas6157@yahoo.com

Back to Top

• February 3rd - Regular Monthly meeting @ 7:30 pm
   
• Best Western Deerfield Hotel & Suites
  1050 E Newport Center Drive
  Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
   
• February 6th - Adopt-A-Street cleanup @ 9:00 am
   
• Posh Cleaners parking lot
  498 W Hillsboro Blvd
  Deerfield Beach, FL 33441
   
• February 16th - ‘Secret Crisis of the Global Ocean’ - RSMAS @ 6:00 pm
   
• University of Miami Rosenstiel of Marine and Atmospheric Science
  Rosenstiel School Auditorium
  4600 Rickenbacker Causeway
  Virginia Key, FL 33149
   
• February 26th - USA local dive @ 8:30 am
   
• 2-tank drift dive
  Starfish Enterprise
  735 Casa Loma Blvd, slip #11
  Boynton Beach, FL 33435

Click on USA’s calendar to view all future events.

Back to Top

Contact Info:

Under Sea Adventurers Dive Club web site: www.usadiveclub.com

Meetings: First Thursday of each month at:

Best Western Deerfield Beach Hotel & Suites
1050 E. Newport Center Drive, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
Social: 7:00 pm; Meeting: 7:30 pm

Board of Directors

Elected Officers - Title	Name	E-Mail Address
President	Russ Manhold	president@usadiveclub.com
VP of Programs	Glada Blench	programs@usadiveclub.com
VP of OS Diving	Nils Jacobsen	overseasdiving@usadiveclub.com
VP of Social Events	Clare Anthon Julie Manhold	social@usadiveclub.com
VP of Local Diving	John Ficarra Kathy Ficarra	localdiving@usadiveclub.com
Secretary	Robert Shearer	secretary@usadiveclub.com
Treasurer	Steve McCutcheon	treasurer@usadiveclub.com
Appointees - Title	Name	E-Mail Address
Audio/Video Coordinator	Roman Boszko	avguy@usadiveclub.com
OS Dive Accountant	Ronnie Farr	diveaccountant@usadiveclub.com
Membership Coordinator	Russ Manhold	membership@usadiveclub.com
Hospitality Coordinator	Clare Anthon Julie Manhold	hospitality@usadiveclub.com
Scrapbook	Russ Hickman	awards@usadiveclub.com
Promotions	Larry Townsend	promotions@usadiveclub.com
Safety Coordinator	Paul Molinari	safety@usadiveclub.com
Newsletter/Webmaster	Russ Manhold	newsletter@usadiveclub.com

Membership Dues - - - $40 yearly; $70 for married couples

Download the Membership Packet from our website

Back to Top

All information and images are property of ©2011 Under Sea Adventurers Dive Club