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THESLATEAmerican Academyof Underwater Sciences430 Nahant RoadNahant, MA 01908
A News Publication of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences JANUARY 2003
PRESIDENTWilliam DentDiving Safety OfficerUniversity of South Florida4202 E. Fowler Ave., PED 214Tampa, FL 33620813-974-5018Fax [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENTGavin WuttkenDiving Safety OfficerVolunteer CoordinatorMonterey Bay Aquarium886 Cannery RowMonterey, CA 93940831-648-4800Fax [email protected]
SECRETARYVallorie HodgesDiving Safety OfficerOregon Coast Aquarium2820 SE Ferry Slip Rd.Newport, OR 97365541-867-3474 [email protected]@orcaq.org
TREASURERTed ManeyMarine Science CenterNortheastern UniversityEast Point, Nahant, MA 01908781-581-7370 x332Fax [email protected]
The American Academy of UnderwaterSciences exists to promote safe andproductive underwater scientificexploration and to advance the state ofunderwater technology The strength ofthe AAUS is its membership, thoseinstitutions and individuals that pursuescientific objectives beneath the watersurface across the North Americancontinent and beyond. If you areinvolved in scientific diving andunderwater exploration, you should be amember of the American Academy ofUnderwater Sciences.
Join the AAUS and be a part of thescientific diving community. Learn andbenefit from communications with yourcounterparts across the United States.Participate in the annual AAUSSymposium and workshops. Help createfor yourself, your associates and staff themost efficient, productive, and safescientific diving program possible. Formembership information, contact
American Academy of UnderwaterSciences430 Nahant RoadNahant, MA 01908781-581-7370 ext [email protected]
www.aaus.org
STATISTICS CHAIR, WEBMASTER, &VIRTUAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATORSteve SellersDiving Safety OfficerEast Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC 27858-4353252-328-4041Fax [email protected]
DIRECTOR & MEMBERSHIP CO-CHAIRDouglas E. Kesling, BSN, DMT–ATraining and Safety CoordinatorNational Undersea Research CenterUniv. of North Carolina–Wilmington5600 Marvin K. Moss LaneWilmington, NC 28409910-962-2445Fax [email protected]
DIRECTOR AT LARGEMark FlahanSan Diego State UniversityCollege of Sciences5500 Campanile Dr.San Diego, CA 92182-4610619-594-6799Fax [email protected]
STANDARDS CHAIRSamuel SublettDiving Safety OfficerUniversity of WashingtonHall HerSeattle, WA 981-95206-543-7388Fax [email protected]
AAUS Board of Directors and Officers
JOINAAUS!DIRECTOR & SCHOLARSHIP CHAIRSherry A. ReedUnit Dive OfficerResearch SpecialistSmithsonian Marine Station701 Seaway Dr.Fort Pierce, FL 34949772-465-6630 x144Fax 772-461-8154reed @sms.si.edu
EDITOR, THE SLATEWalt JaapFlorida Marine Research Institute(Fish & Wildlife Conserv. Comm.)100 8th Ave. SESt. Petersburg, FL 33701-5095727-896-8626 x1122 Fax [email protected]
AMERICAN ACADEMYOF UNDERWATER SCIENCES430 Nahant RoadNahant, MA 01908781-581-7370 x334 Fax [email protected]
In the late 1970s, NOAA purchased twoDräger Duocom (2-person) recompres-sion chambers from Drägerwerk AG,Lübeck, Germany, at a cost of $48,880each. The chambers were purchased tosupport NOAA diving operations in re-mote geographical regions of the worldand advanced diving operations such asdecompression diving and saturation.The unique L-shaped chambers wereselected because of their relatively smallsize (98˝ long and 34˝ diameter) andweight (482 lbs), and their ability toaccommodate two individuals—a patient and a tender.
For over 20 years, the chambers had been stored in various NOAAwarehouses across the US. In early 2002, the NOAA Diving Center de-cided to refurbish one of the chambers and make it available forits original purpose. Although the chambers were in “like-new” con-dition, they contained metric components, which made operationdifficult because the pressure gauges read in bars and the depthgauges in meters. Additionally, the viewports had to be replacedfor compliance with ASME–PVHO standards, and several originalcomponents required rebuilding. Unfortunately, many of the com-ponents are no longer manufactured or available from Dräger.
Gulf Coast Hyperbarics, Inc., in Panama City, FL, was selected toperform the refurbishment through a federal prime vendor con-tract with AMRON International. The work consisted of replumbingthe entire system using American-made components, replacingthe viewports, repainting the chamber, hydrostatically testing thechamber system, and designing and building a new gas rack andwaterproof container for the system.
After photographing the entire chamber for posterity, the cham-ber was stripped of all plumbing components, valves, regulators,gauges, hull penetrators, viewports, communicator, o-rings andseals. The internal bed and seat were removed for reupholstering.Using the existing holes in the chamber hull, engineering designdrawings were generated for the piping system, which included anew panel containing all operating controls for compression, de-compression, oxygen and air breathing gas supply, breathing gasexhaust, carbon dioxide scrubber supply air, dual depth gauges, andservice lock pressure controls. New o-ring-sealed, through-hull pen-etrators were designed and machined for imperial components.
With the engineering design completed and piping assembled,the chamber shell was shipped to a Cadillac dealer in Panama City,FL, for preparation, priming, and painting. The interior was paintedwith a white two-part epoxy (PPG Mack Truck 8282), and the exte-rior was painted with an orange two-part epoxy (PPG Mack Truck60346). Both the US Navy and ASME–PVHO have approved DupontPPG two-part epoxy paints for use in hyperbaric environments.
New brass penetrators were installed into the hull, the controlconsole was mounted, and the piping system was plumbed. Theoriginal Dräger air and oxygen cylinders mounted on either side
of the chamber were replaced with newhigh-pressure DOT 3AA2265 cylinders andnew shutoff valves. The cylinders are pres-sure-rated at 2215 psig, each with a141.5-cubic-foot capacity. A new Amronoxygen BIB manifold was installed insidethe chamber with two new Scott Aviationdual-hose BIB masks. The manifold wasdesigned with one extra supply port toaccommodate a positive-pressure ven-tilator. The original carbon dioxide scrub-ber was mounted and plumbed, and anew Amron two-way communications
system was installed. The refurbishment incorporated new Oxygenand Carbon Dioxide analyzers to continuously monitor the cham-ber’s internal environment.
The entire plumbing system was hydrostatically tested and oxy-gen-cleaned, along with all fittings, valves, components, and pen-etrators, to US Navy 1330 standards. All cleaning and hydro-testingprocedures were recorded and entered into a certification manual.
The original 6.75-diameter viewports met the thickness criteria ofthe ASME-PVHO codes for safety and therefore could be fabricatedto the same specifications. However, the original 11.75-diameteroverhead viewport was deemed too thin to meet the PVHO designcriteria and had to be thickened, which required that the originalviewport retainer ring be redesigned and fabricated to accept thethicker viewport. The new viewports were obtained from ReynoldsTechnology, Inc., in Grand Junction, CO. Additional gaskets, o-rings,and sealing rings specific to the chamber were ordered directly fromDräger Safety, Inc., located in Pittsburgh, PA.
A new gas rack was built to contain two air and one oxygen DOT3AA-2400 cylinders, rated at 2400 psig, each with a 336-cubic-footcapacity. The gas rack, manufactured from aluminum to minimizeweight, was also designed to carry the weight of the chamber.
A container was constructed for housing and transportation. Vinylcovers were made for the chamber, and the gas rack and a dollysystem were designed to move the chamber on land or a boat deck,as well as into the shipping container, via a removable ramp.
When assembled, the chamber was tested to its working pressureof six atmospheres (165 fsw) and all systems checked. The chamberwas then shipped back to the NOAA Diving Center in Seattle, WA.
Shortly after receiving the chamber from Gulf Coast Hyperbarics,the NOAA Diving Center shipped it to Honolulu, HI, where it wasloaded aboard the NOAA ship Townsend Cromwell to support deep-water activities by divers from the NMFS Honolulu Laboratory in thenorthwest Hawaiian Islands. Fortunately, the chamber was notneeded during the expedition, but all involved were comfortedknowing that the chamber was available.
With the refurbishment of the Dräger Duocom chamber, theNOAA Diving Program now has portable hyperbaric treatmentequipment that can be used to support diving in remote locationsand advanced diving operations around the world.
JANUARY 2003
Dräger Duocom Hyperbaric Chamber:Refurbishment for NOAA Diving Operations
Dave Dinsmore, Director, NOAA Diving Program, and Jim McCarthy, President, Gulf Coast Hyperbarics, Inc.
AAUS MemberOrganizations
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Aquarium for Wildlife ConservationAquarium of the AmericasAquatic Research InstituteArizona State UniversityAubrey Consulting Inc.Bermuda Biological Station for ResearchBroward County, FL, Dept. of Natural Resource ProtectionCalifornia State UniversityCaribbean Marine Research CenterColorado Ocean JourneyDauphin Island Sea LabDuke University, School of the EnvironmentDuke/UNC Oceanographic ConsortiumEast Carolina UniversityFlorida International UniversityFlorida Marine Research InstituteFlorida State UniversityHarbor Branch Oceanographic InstitutionHumboldt State UniversityLong Beach Aquarium of the PacificLouisiana University Marine ConsortiumMarine Biological LaboratoryMBC Applied Environmental SciencesMinerals Management Service, USDIMonterey Bay AquariumMonterey Bay Aquarium Research InstituteMoss Landing Marine LaboratoriesMote Marine LaboratoryNew Zealand Natl. Inst. of Water & Atmospheric ResearchNortheastern UniversityNova Southeastern University Oceanographic CenterOregon State UniversityPrince William Sound Science CenterR. Christopher Goodwin & Associates, Inc.Rutgers UniversitySaint Mary’s CollegeSan Diego State UniversityScripps Institution of OceanographySeattle UniversitySmithsonian InstitutionStanford UniversityTexas A&M University at GalvestonTexas Parks & Wildlife DepartmentTexas State AquariumThe Florida AquariumUniversity of Alaska, FairbanksUniversity of California at BerkeleyUniversity of California at DavisUCLAUniversity of California, Santa CruzUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of ConnecticutUniversity of FloridaUniversity of GuamUniversity of HawaiiUniversity of MaineUniversity of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceUniversity of Miami–RSMASUniversity of New HampshireUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at WilmingtonUniversity of Rhode IslandUniversity of South FloridaUniversity of Texas at AustinUniversity of WashingtonUniversity System of GeorgiaVirginia Institute of Marine ScienceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution
AAUS BusinessMeeting 200223 OCTOBER 2002Las Vegas, Nevada (DEMA)
Meeting called to order at 4:05 PM PST. Dent chaired meeting forFlahan, who had previous commitments as DEMA organizer. BOD pre-sent: Dent, Hodges, Maney, Sublett, Sellers, Kesling, Reed, Wuttken. OM representatives and members present: Bill Dent, University of SouthFlorida; Vallorie Hodges, Oregon Coast Aquarium; Ted Maney, North-eastern University; Sam Sublett, University of Washington; Steve Sell-ers, East Carolina University; Doug Kesling, University of NorthCarolina–Wilmington; Sherry Reed, Smithsonian Marine Station; GavinWuttken, Monterey Bay Aquarium; Cheryl Thacker, University ofFlorida; Christi Atkinson, Texas A&M University at Galveston; Craig Cad-digan, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute; Chuck Eicholz, Go-pher Scuba Diving (guest); Jim Cvitanovich, California State University;Glen Egstrom, UCLA; John Kitchens, Individual member; Derek Smith,University of Southern California (Wrigley); Michael White, UC Davis;Mark Blouin, USGS; Steve Clabuesch, UCSC; Pete Dal Ferro, UCSC;Jay Tustin, SFSU.
Treasurer’s Report—Ted ManeyCurrent Balance Sheet Cash Flow Year to DateCash $ 9,334.01 Inflows $22,000Investments $46,557.29 Outflows $29,500Total $55,891.30 Overall Total ($7,500)
Maney described increase in dues. Beginning 1/2003, individualdues will be $25, OM will be $350, and renewal OM will be $300.
Standards Report—Sam SublettTen new manuals have been submitted: 7 accepted, 3 pending.
Reminder! OMs must submit an updated manual to the VO withall the revisions addressed. The revisions can be found in the frontof the AAUS manual on the Web site. In 2003, all OM manuals will bereviewed to ensure that the changes have been addressed. The mostrecent changes are as follows:1 Remove Appendix 7.2 Change Section 5.33.3 to “Open water check-out dives to ap-propriate depths with evaluation of skills in Sections 4.23.1 through4.23.12.”3 Change Section 4.23.2 to “Demonstrate proficiency in air sharingboth as donor and receiver.”4 Throughout the manual, all references to Appendix 7 change toAppendix 9.
Dent provided a progress report on the special modes section ofthe manual, including technical diving, tri-mix, and addressingrebreathers next.
Statistics Report—Steve SellersOut of 68 total OMs, 65 reported. A hard copy of the annual reportwill be mailed to OMs after DEMA.
Overview: Of 65 OMs reporting, 85,273 dives were logged by9,837 divers. 9 incidents were reported (3 resulted in hyperbarictreatment), none serious.
Scholarships Report—Sherry ReedReed reported on the 2002 awards [see 2002 Scholarship Winners,The Slate, October 2002]. The 2003 Student Scholarship applicationdeadline is June 30, 2003.
Membership Report—Doug KeslingReminder! In 2002, AAUS went from using a paper application tousing a VO application format. There are still a number of memberswho need to reapply.
We now require OMs to list Dive Control Board members. This en-sures that the information goes through the VO and that each DCBmember receives a copy of The Slate.
As of October 2, 2002, membership totaled 481, including DCBmembers—an increase of 222 since 2001. Associate members, in-cluding DCB non-divers, increased by 78 for a total of 106. Studentmembers decreased to 63 (down 51 since 2001). Life members in-creased by 1 (Phil Nuytten). Organizational members increased by1 from last year: currently, we have 73 plus 7 in process. We are ac-tively recruiting and growing.
2003 Symposium Status Report—Steve SellersThe AAUS 2003 Symposium will be hosted by East Carolina University.Activities include Oceanic Repair clinic, 11 March; National DivingOfficers meeting, 12–13 March; Symposium, 14–15 March; DAN In-structor Trainer workshop, 16 March. Detailed information is pro-vided on the AAUS Web site. Diving opportunities have not yet beenscheduled but will probably be 3/16; springtime weather patterns
AAUS Gear!SHOW YOUR PRIDE AND COVER YOUR HIDE!We are proud to announce that AAUS gear is now instock. All items carry the embroidered logo with AAUSspelled out. For a look-see, go to www.aaus.org.Golf ShirtsTop quality Jerzees, 100% cotton, 6.5-oz. piqué, shortsleeve. Medium through XXL: jade, maroon, navy,red. XXXL: maroon, navy, red. Medium throughXXXL–$25. Blue Denim ShirtsCamp Creek, short and long sleeve, 100% cotton,button-down collar, one pocket, double-needle stitch-ing. Medium through XXL–$25 for either sleeve length.Relaxed-fit Baseball CapsTan or navy. AAUS logo on front. One size, adjustableback-strap. $10.Domestic shipping per itemGolf shirt–$5. Denim shirt–$6. Hats–$3. Multiple items–$6.To purchase: send order and cash, check, moneyorder, or Visa info to AAUS, 430 Nahant Road, NahantMA, 01908. Fax: 781-581-6076.
Continued on page 3
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U.S.I.A. Underwater Equipment Sales Corp.1600 Railroad Ave.PO Box 1071St. Helens, OR 97051503-366-0121, Fax 503-366-0816www.usia.com
2003 AAUSMember BenefitsAquaflite Wetsuits—$10 off standard sizes, $20 off custom suitsBest Publishing—10% discount on most retail pricesCitizen Watch—HyperAqualand watches (contact Ted Maney for prices)AAUS Publications—20% discountDivers Alert Network (DAN)—Insurance coverage for scientific divers whoare DAN members, have purchased additional member insurancecoverage offered through DAN, and are diving under the auspices ofan AAUS Organizational Member.
AAUS ScholarshipsThe American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) will award
two $2500 scholarships to graduate students engaged in, or plan-
ning to begin, a research project in which diving is or will be used
as a principal research tool. One will be awarded to a Masters pro-
gram student and the other to a PhD candidate. Scholarship win-
ners will be announced in Fall of 2003. Proposal deadline is June30, 2003.
Applicants must fulfill the following requirements:
• Be an individual member of AAUS.
• Submit a proposal of 3 to 5 pages describing the research meth-
ods, significance of the research, and a budget (if part of a larger
budget, specify how AAUS funds will be spent).
• Agree to write an article for The Slate describing the research
project.
• Present the results of the research at an AAUS symposium or sci-
entific meeting within one year of the project’s completion.
• Submit a statement of support from a faculty advisor.
Submit your proposal on-line at: www.aaus.org. For more infor-
mation, contact your home campus Diving Officer or Sherry Reed
at [email protected] or 772-465-6630 ext. 144.
Vallorie Hodges
Scientific DiverTraining VerificationCards Now AvailableAAUS Scientific Diver training cards are available for AAUSmember organizations. Cost is $20 for 10 blank cards. Orderfrom Ted Maney, AAUS office, 430 Nahant Rd., Nahant , MA01908. Fax orders to 781-581-6076. Make check payable toAAUS, or pay by MC or VISA only.
with Dr. Gay Ostarello. UCB divers completed 140,000 training and research divesall over the world during this period. Lloyd is still active in diving, having 6,341 careerdives to a maximum depth of 148 fsw. Past diving locations include Italy (to exca-vate Etruscan burial and barge sites), Bonaire, Virgin Islands, Costume, Bahamas,Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Banfield, Canada, Catalina, Santa Barbara Islands, Hawaii,Moorea, Coral Sea, New Guinea, Philippines, Palau, Midway, and Galapagos Islands.
Mesmerized by the daring exploits of Mike Nelson in the “Sea Hunt” series, Quen-ton Dokken completed his first open water dive in the Gulf of Mexico June 1969. Herelates, “At that time, the key safety components of your equipment were a J valveand big knife—the bigger the better!” From this first dive, he progressed through recre-ational diving to commercial diving to scientific diving. Today, Dr. Dokken is Associ-ate Director of the Center for Coastal Studies Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi,a university-based marine research organization, and Executive Director of the Gulfof Mexico Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit conservation organization. He is activelyinvolved in educational outreach and marine conservation across the Gulf Statesand in applied research into the ecosystem dynamics of artificial and natural reefs.In 2000 and 2001, he coordinated and served as the on-air host for the first live un-derwater webcasts from beneath an offshore gas-production platform. More than30,000 students viewed these programs. As principal investigator of the NOAA Gulfof Mexico Community-Based Restoration Program, Dr. Dokken is leading an effortto re-establish and improve marine habitats of the Gulf coasts critical to the long-term population stability of NOAA’s Trust Resources. In 1992, he founded the scien-tific diving program of Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi and has since served asScientific Diving Health and Safety Officer. His scientific diving activities have includeddeep air, trimix, rebreathers, and one-atmosphere submersibles. Dr. Dokken hasstated, “The American Academy of Underwater Sciences has a critical role in theadvancement of underwater exploration and science. The AAUS must be active andstrong in order to form the foundation on which underwater scientists can stand whileleading us further into uncharted underwater frontiers. We all need to get involvedin the development and advancement of the AAUS.”
Continued from page 3
Editor’s CornerGreetings and post-happy holidays!! The Slate staff hopes that you and yours hada great time, did not eat too much, overly indulge in credit card binges, break aleg at the ski resort, or stay too long at depth at the Ngedebus drop-off in Palau.
AAUS had an eventful year. We saw some changes (my wife hates change; I say,change is inevitable, so it is best to roll with the flow): the Virtual Office is now thechannel to do business, all DCB members became nominal AAUS members, the schol-arships and annual awards are now very competitive, and we saw a change in lead-ership. Because of heavy responsibilities at work, at home, and with DEMA and NAUI,Mark Flahan elected to resign. By the bylaws, Bill Dent has assumed the presidencyand selected Gavin Wuttken as Vice President. Bill is DSO at the University of SouthFlorida–Tampa & St. Petersburg (he and I share DSO duties at Keys Marine Labora-tory on Long Key). Bill will do a great job; he is a hard worker and is interested in AAUSfor the present and the future. He well deserves our support and confidence.
We have an election this year, and I was appointed the chair of the NominatingCommittee. Please give us a hand and nominate a person to serve on the BOD. Thejob pays nothing but challenges to confront interesting—and at times, difficult—is-sues, but the service is rewarding in the opportunity to learn, meet new people, andfind new ways to solve problems. The nominating process is easy. You should be surethe person you nominate meets the bylaws’ criteria: must be a full member in goodstanding and able to accept the responsibilities if elected. Then go to the Virtual Of-fice and nominate the guy or gal. The bylaws call for two members to assist with thetasks. If you want to help, let me know (you will be ineligible to run for office).
I also agreed (I need a sign that says no*) to do a long-range planning survey ofthe membership. Others are assisting (I will make sure of that). The process will helptune the AAUS programs and procedures to better address what the membershipthinks is important. If you want to serve on this committee, please drop me a line.
Thanks be to God! After a long and tedious recovery, Kevin Flanagan has reas-sumed his position as the assistant diving officer at the University of Hawaii.
We are saddened to learn that our 2001 AAUS Lifetime Achievement Award re-cipient, Wheeler North, recently passed away. Wheeler was a pioneer in science div-ing, and we are the direct beneficiaries of the work of Wheeler and his colleagues;they made it possible for us to continue the quest.
We hope you are planning to be at the Symposium at ECU. Steve has promiseda wonderful time—science, diving, barbeque, and bluegrass music. I think it will beheaven! I hope he can arrange for Allison Krause to be present at the social events!
The Slate is changing. Keeping the same look, we will produce electronic as wellas hard copy in a 16-page magazine format to save on postage cost and provideinformation to a wider audience through the Web page. The Slate will still includeannouncements, comments, letters from members as well as non-members, notableachievements, and one or two articles about science diving. The longer articles areimportant to retaining our status as the keeper of the light. You, the membership, arethe ones out there doing the work; we need your help to get us stories and photos.We feel very lucky that last year we received numerous good articles. Thanks, andkeep up the great work!!! Live Free and enjoy the planet—
Walt Jaap
*I’ve presented Walt with a large green pin-on button thatsays “NO!” Think that’ll slow him down any? I bet not!—Llyn
6 3
the diver and conducting post-dive decontaminations. Full-face
mask training will expose divers to both the Interspiro Mk II (Aga) mask
and the Kirby-Morgan EXO-26 using through-
water communications.
Special emphasis is being placed on train-
ing in underwater search and recovery. A
number of public safety agencies and con-
sultants are interested in having their divers
trained to conduct such operations, partic-
ularly because of the heightened emphasis
on port security and underwater crime-scene
investigation following the events of Sep-
tember 11, 2001. Many of the techniques ap-
propriate to search and recovery are derived
from methods used by underwater archae-
ologists and biologists, as well as
those of the US Army river-reconnaissance teams, US Navy
mine-countermine divers, and law enforcement chain-of-
custody techniques. The training course will use surface-
supplied or scuba line-tended diving modes, depending on
the tasks being conducted. Full-face masks with through-
water communication will increase the level of safety and
diver control in these training operations. Students will be in-
volved in simulations of evidence and body recovery as well
as hull and dock inspections.
Courses will be taught in
short 2- to 4-day modules so
that public safety agencies or
consultants can justify the rea-
sonable expense of time and limited
funds involved in these training oppor-
tunities. Course venues will include aca-
demic and pool work on the main FSU
campus in Tallahassee and open-water
work at the FSU Edward Ball Marine Lab-
oratory at Turkey Point. For more information on the courses and reg-
istration, please contact us at 850-644-8298 or [email protected].
mary expense. Kesling noted that hard copies are an important re-cruiting tool and that he uses them frequently for this purpose.Virtual OfficeDent indicated that the Virtual Office has been embraced warmlyfor the most part, though some needed to be prodded. Issues: man-uals must be submitted via VO this coming year, as Sublett pointedout. Starting this year, the manual must include all revisions.
Sellers is in the process of putting together a flowchart to improvenavigating. Sellers urged members to contact him via e-mail if prob-lems are experienced, though the main problems have been leav-ing fields blank and occasional browser difficulties. Please makesuggestions for future modifications and improvements.
Egstrom asked what kinds of things are archived. Statistics, backto 1998. Prior to that, collection criteria changed yearly. Sellers is stilltrying to wade through some of it in order to get more data online.
We also are archiving all questions to the dive officer’s list, with theresponse recorded to database. This will form the FAQ page, but westill need to add query ability on this.
Question: Can we use the VO for voting? Yes. It has been testedand it works, recording the vote but protecting identity.
Dent asked whether anyone preferred electronic balloting via e-mail (which would probably require a change of bylaws). Electronicballoting was strongly supported.
Egstrom questioned whether volume of papers (symposium) couldbe archived. Excellent suggestion.
Sellers indicated that it will be easy to add future items, but oldermaterial will take additional time. Egstrom volunteered to go throughthe past symposium papers and get a priority list to Sellers. Makingcontact with past authors to obtain electronic versions could expediteprocess. Issue was discussed regarding protecting library privileges.Kesling asked whether funding might be available to support this li-brary archiving project.
Egstrom asked whether password protection might be a goodidea, providing additional OM benefit. Yes, we can do this but needto discuss further. Meeting 2003 at DEMA?Dent asked whether it might be valid to have a meeting during DEMAin October 2003 (in addition to the spring symposium). There wassome support for an open-forum-style dive officer meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 4:55 PM PST.
THE SLATE ADVERTISEMENT RATE SCHEDULEThe Slate is published quarterly by the American Academy of UnderwaterSciences Board of Directors. Approximate publication dates are Janu-ary, April, August, and November. The newsletter carries announce-ments, articles on scientific diving, research, safety, technical issueupdates, and book reviews. The current liaison is Walt Jaap. The AAUSBoard of Directors reserves the right to reject advertisements on the basisof content and appropriateness to the mission of AAUS. The appearanceof an advertisement in The Slate does not represent AAUS endorse-ment of equipment or the sales firm. Advertisers should include a checkpayable to AAUS.
DISPLAY ADS (Greyscale text & graphics. Need not be camera-ready;see below.)
Display ad size One issue Four issues Corporate member(in inches) (US $) (US $) 1 issue 4 issues1⁄2 page $225 $800 $200 $700
horiz. 8.75 x 7vert. 4.25 x 14.25
1⁄4 page $125 $400 $100 $350horiz. 8.75 x 3.375vert. 4.25 x 7
1⁄8 page $75 $200 $50 $175(vert. only) 4.25 x 3.375
CLASSIFIED ADS (LIMITED TO AAUS MEMBERS)Each member is entitled to one three-line classified ad per calendar yearat no charge. Additional classified ads are $10 per three lines. Ads forsale of equipment, jobs, opportunities to dive on projects, and the likeare suggested.
Please send your advertisements (including check to AAUS) for TheSlate toWalt Jaap, 273 Catalan Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL 33704FAX: 727-894-6719; e-mail: [email protected]
Direct questions regarding newsletter and ad production toLlyn French, 727/896-8626 ext 1104 (FMRI–FWC); [email protected]
The Florida State University Academic Diving Program supports an
active underwater research program, provides diving education from
basic scuba certification through scuba instructor, and supports the
activities of the FSU recreational diving
club. The ADP also conducts courses
and workshops on advanced diving
techniques such as nitrox diving, dry
suit diving, and diving rescue. These
courses are available to researchers
and non-researchers alike. In addition
to current course offerings, the ADP has
been developing training courses on a
variety of topics including surface-sup-
plied diving, full-face mask diving, teth-
ered diving, contaminated water diving, and underwater search and
recovery. The ADP courses in advanced diving
techniques are applicable to underwater sci-
entists and also to members of the public safety
diving sector. These courses are being taught for
the first time this fall.
Training courses will address the academic
and practical aspects of each advanced tech-
nique and will cover all aspects of diving oper-
ations including site supervision safety and
accident management. Courses will expose the
divers and diving supervisors to the Association
of Diving Contractors (ADC) Consensus Stan-
dards and will emphasize team-building drills to
allow divers from a variety of backgrounds to
work together using common skills and standard operating proce-
dures. The ADP believes that the ADC standards, although they
apply to commercial diving tasks, can apply equally well to certain
research projects where AAUS standards may not be appropriate.
Underwater archaeologists at FSU have been trained by the ADP to
manage their diving operations
as scientific or commercial, de-
pending upon the tasks being
conducted.
Surface-supplied training will in-
volve using the Kirby-Morgan KMB-
18 band mask and the Superlite 17
and vulcanized-rubber drysuits.
Divers may choose to participate
in contaminated-water training,
in which divers will be completely
isolated from simulated biological or chemical contaminants and
both divers and surface support personnel will practice preparing
the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). He held cer-tifications as a Nitrox Diver Instructor Trainer and a Technical NitroxDiver Instructor with the International Association of Nitrox and Tech-nical Divers and as a certified Trimix Diver. Dr. Somers accepted ajoint appointment at the University of Michigan in the Departmentof Meteorology and Oceanography and the Department of Phys-ical Education in 1969. Prior to retirement in 2001, he held appoint-ments in the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and SpaceScience, Division of Kinesiology, and Department of OccupationalSafety and Environmental Health at the University of Michigan in AnnArbor. He served as the Diving Safety Coordinator for the Universityuntil he retired.
Dr. Somers has served on national and state committees dealingwith diving education, safety and operations standards, includingthe American National Standards Institute Z-86 and Z-135 commit-tees; the State of Michigan, departments of Labor and Public HealthAdvisory Committee on Diving Operations (Chairperson); the Amer-ican Academy of Underwater Sciences (Founding President); Boardof Advisors of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences;NAUI Board of Directors, YMCA National Committee, Board of Ad-visors for the International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers(Chairperson); and Michigan Department of Occupational Safetyand Health Diving Advisory Committee (Chairperson).
AAUS 2002 Service Award Lloyd Austin and Quenton DokkenLloyd Austin was a founding member of the American Academy ofUnderwater Sciences and worked with Richard Bell, John Duffy,Jimmy Stewart, Glen Egstrom, and others to secure the exemptionfor scientific divers and educational institutions from the commercialdiving standards set forth by the Department of Labor–OSHA. He isa past president of California Academy for Underwater Sciences.Lloyd holds a BA from University of California at Berkeley. While atUCB from 1961 to 1996, Lloyd served as Scientific Diver, Diving Offi-cer, and the Director of the Division of Diving Control in the Chan-cellor’s Office. During his tenure at UCB, he trained and certified 840students, faculty, and staff as scientific divers, maintained their divelogs and medical records, and taught classes in Marine Biology
AAUS 2002 Lifetime Achievement Award Paul K. Dayton, PhD Paul Dayton is a professor at Scripps Institution ofOceanography, Marine Life Research Group. Heholds a BS in Zoology from the University of Arizona(1963) and a PhD in Zoology, University of Wash-ington. His research specialty is in coastal and es-tuarine benthic communities. Much of his work isdevoted to kelp forests off Point Loma, San Diego.Dr. Dayton has focused his research on overfishingof target species, impacts on marine mammals,destruction of habitat, and lethal debris. He has received the GeorgeMercer Award from the Ecological Society of America. Paul is a mem-ber of the US Marine Mammal Commission, the Group of Special-ists on Southern Ocean Ecology, PADI Board of Directors, and theCommittee on Antarctic Research.
Paul has coauthored a recent paper, supported by the PewCharitable Trust, entitled “Ecological Effects of Fishing in MarineEcosystems of the United States” (www.pewoceans.org). The prin-cipal findings include the following:“depleted populations alter foodwebs and ecosystems; removing the top predators disrupts preda-tor-prey relationships; fishing has endangered marine mammals,seabirds, turtles, and fish; fishing has altered the structure, function,productivity, and resilience of marine habitats.” The three most con-cerning threats to the long-term health of the ocean are “overfish-ing, bycatch, and habitat destruction.”
AAUS 2002 Conrad Limbaugh Award Lee H. Somers, PhD Lee Somers has been involved in recreational, com-mercial, public safety, and scientific diving since1954. He earned a BS in Physical Education (1961)and an MS in Geology (1965) from the University ofIllinois and a PhD in Oceanography from the Uni-versity of Michigan (1969). Dr. Somers begin teach-ing scuba diving in 1958 and was certified as ascuba diving instructor by the Illinois Council of Skinand Scuba Divers in 1960 and YMCA in 1961. He wasamong the first instructors certified by the National Association of Un-derwater Instructors (NAUI #A-13) and was a founding member of
make diving opportunities uncertain. Possible locations: a shipwrecksite known to be a sand tiger shark breeding location, with a sec-ond site on a natural rocky reef. Banquet speaker Dr John Broad-water will discuss raising the Civil-War-era ironclad vessel USS Monitor.Plenary speakers include Richard Moon on diving medicine and Dr.Stan Riggs on the North Carolina Outer Banks and Sounds. A re-breather experience will also be offered for approximately $35 perperson. Reminder! Everyone urge others to submit papers.
Other BusinessKesling reviewed the AAUS awards, including a description of theawards, how they are voted on, who is eligible, and who receivedthis year’s awards. [See AAUS 2002 Awards, in this issue.]Reminder! Elections are coming up. We will be accepting nomi-nations starting in January.
Dent recognized Steve Sellers for the progress he has made withthe Virtual Office, including the ability to submit nominations on-line.
Dent announced that we need proposals for hosting the 2004 sym-posium. Pete Pehl (Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific) is interestedin hosting, but we welcome additional submissions. Hosting submis-sions for the 2005 symposium are also welcome and encouraged.
Kesling addressed the issue of the statistical increase in membershipresulting from the inclusion of OM DCB members. This has createda few problems, such as the costs associated with mailing The Slateto each member. Therefore, we will continue to send a hard copyof The Slate to full paying members, plus 2 copies to each OM. Oth-ers will receive the electronic version. All members will be able todownload the electronic version.
General Announcements/Open DiscussionSubmitting Stats for Annual ReportDent addressed our holding this business meeting at DEMA (not thetypical venue) to satisfy the bylaws. At the Spring Symposium, we willreturn to the normal business meeting schedule and will see anotherannual report then, so statistics must be submitted in a timely fash-ion. The Board will set a deadline and notify the membership. The SlateQuestion: Are The Slates archived? Answer: Yes.
Egstrom asked about polling the membership for interest in re-ceiving hard copies of The Slate vs the electronic version. Dent in-dicated that the board has a long-range goal of doing this. Theexpense of printing was discussed, but mailing costs are the pri-
Continued from page 2
Dan C. Marelli, Director FSU ADP, and Jeffrey M. Lane, FSU ADP Diving Engineer
Doug Kesling
Continued on page 7
Applause: AAUS Awards for 2002Advanced Diver Training at Florida State U
Register Now!2003 22nd AnnualAAUS SymposiumRegistration for the 22nd AAUS Symposium, March 14 and 15, 2003,
preceded by the National Diving Officers Meeting on March 12
and 13, is available on-line via our Web site, www.aaus.org. Click on
the “Symposium” link to access the registration form.
CALL FOR PAPERSSubmission of papers for the 22nd AAUS Symposium hosted by East
Carolina University, March 14 and 15, 2003, in Greenville, North Car-
olina, are to be made via the “Symposium” link on the AAUS web
site, www.aaus.org. Presenters will be given a discount on Sympo-
sium registration and must register as an attendee prior to having
access to the submission upload page on the web site. This discount
applies to all presenters participating in the Symposium proper and
the poster session scheduled for Friday evening, March 14. Papers
are to be uploaded in Word (.doc) or Text (.txt) format to allow proper
formatting for the Symposium proceedings.
Divers donning Viking dry suitsduring training.
A diver doing pool training in theInterspiro Mk II full-face mask.
A diver dressed in the Superlite 27helmet with the surface supportteam.
Diver being assisted bytender putting on theSuperlite 17B helmet.
Diver equipped with the EXO-26 full-face mask during pooltraining.
4
Life History and Ecological Requirements of the Zebra Mussel—North AmericanExperience Through 1992S. J. Nichols, US Geological Survey1451 Green Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105 734-994-3331
The rapid spread of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) across the
United States is due to their ability to grow and reproduce in a wide
range of environmental conditions, coupled with a free-living, plank-
tonic larva (veliger). When zebra mussels were first discovered in the
United States, predictions concerning their habitat requirements
were based on the European experience with these bivalves. How-
ever, zebra mussel populations in this country have consistently ex-
ceeded all expectations and predictions as to how fast they could
grow, reproduce, and expand their range. Although many research
projects are currently underway to delineate the ecological needs
of zebra mussels in the United States, much of these results are not
yet published.
The information presented below represents what is currently
known about the life history and ecological requirements of zebra
mussels. The primary purpose of this information is to emphasize spe-
cific features that increase the risk of accidental escape of zebra
mussels from research facilities. Data from both on-going research
and findings presented in the European literature has been used, al-
though European results have not always been applicable here. The
recent discovery of the second type of Dreissenidae, the quagga,
may complicate the situation because the ecological needs of this
mussel are unknown. Based on available information and experience,
we have assumed that the basic environmental needs of quaggas
are similar to those of zebra mussels.
ADULT MUSSELSLife History
Mobility Mussels <15 mm long are very mobile, capable of crawl-
ing, drifting, and floating for some time in the water column. Move-
ment is believed to be in response to environmental conditions.
Risk Assessment Severe. Mussels will crawl into any small crack
or crevice, into filter floss, water intake systems, and even up out of
the water. The narrowness of their shells enables mussels to pass
through small openings. For example, 5-mm-long mussels have been
known to crawl through 0.5-mm mesh netting. Extra precautions
are needed to prevent contamination of all equipment that is in con-
tact with zebra mussels or water in which zebra mussels are known
to be present. Do not assume that netting or coarse filters can pre-
vent escape of small mussels.
Reproduction Zebra mussel fertilization is external, and spawn-
ing can continue over a period of several weeks. Mussel reproduc-
tion starts when water temperatures are >12°C. In most temperate
regions, water temperature limits the spawning season to May
through September. However, reports from Russia and laboratory stud-
ies conducted in this country indicate that spawning continues
year-round in areas where water temperatures remain >12°C. About
10–15% of zebra mussels will reach sexual maturity at a ventral shell
length of 2–3 mm. Most become sexually mature at a ventral shell
length of 6 mm.
Risk Assessment Severe. Laboratory colonies held at water tem-
peratures >12°C can and will spawn continually, increasing the risk
of veligers being present in all wastewater.
Food Supply Mussels are filter feeders and were initially reported
by the Europeans to feed and survive only on live algae. However,
research done in this country indicate that zebra mussels consume
all types of food, including detritus and zooplankton, as well as their
own young, and can therefore grow during periods of time when
live algae are unavailable. Note: Mussels can survive for up to 11
months without food under laboratory conditions at 4°C.
To prevent the spread of
zebra mussels, the US
Geological Survey Great
Lakes Science Center
has developed a proto-
col for washing dive gear
and experimental appa-
ratus after diving in
waters containing zebra
mussels (Dreissena poly-
morpha) and other
exotic species of Dreis-
senidae. This protocol
may be adapted to prevent the spread of other undesirable aquatic
organisms. Revised September 19, 2002.
This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is intended to provide
step-by-step instructions for decontaminating of SCUBA diving equip-
ment after its use in waters infested with zebra mussels. Current in-
formation regarding areas of zebra mussel infestation is available from
the US Geological Survey Web site of Non-indigenous Aquatic
Species (NAS) at http://nas.er.usgs.gov/zebra.mussel.
OverviewIn order to avoid the spread of zebra mussels to non-infested waters
via SCUBA diving equipment and underwater sampling gear, a pro-
tocol must be implemented. A description of zebra mussel life his-
tory and habitat requirements follows below.
ResponsibilityAll USGS procedures for the decontamination of SCUBA equipment
will strictly adhere to and follow all USGS requirements. All USGS au-
thorized divers will be responsible for their dive gear and underwa-
ter equipment.
Dive Gear and EquipmentWetsuits and drysuits; buoyancy compensators; tanks (including
boots and protective mesh); regulators and gauges; mask, fins,
snorkel; cameras and video equipment; sampling devices.
Procedures1 All dive gear and equipment used in zebra-mussel-infested wa-
ters should be inspected for the presence of adult zebra mussels. If
found, adult zebra mussels should be removed, dried (or killed using
another effective method), and disposed of in a manner that pre-
vents introduction into local waters. All dive gear must be washed
thoroughly by soaking in warm, soapy water and rinsing in warm,
chlorinated tap water. Water temperatures >110°F have been found
to be effective for killing larval zebra mussels (Ohio Sea Grant fact
sheet #054, “Advice to boaters”, 1992); however, water temperatures
>120°F. should not be used as it may damage certain tempera-
ture–sensitive dive gear and void some manufacturers’ warranties.
Also, acidic or basic solutions (including vinegar or bleach) should
not be used as they may compromise the integrity of thermoplas-
tic materials. Buoyancy compensators must be flushed internally
with warm tap water and dried completely using standard proce-
dures as recommended by the manufacturer. Commercial dive
gear cleaners, such as wetsuit shampoos, may also be used in the
decontamination process. Drains in washing facilities must be at-
tached to a source for wastewater treatment (municipal sewer) and
must not discharge into external waters.
2 All dive gear and equipment must be completely dry for a pe-
riod of at least 24 hours before use in waters where there is no zebra
mussel infestation. Note: Wetsuit seams should be closely inspected
to ensure that the material is completely dry.
CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATIONMarc A. Blouin, Fishery Research Biologist/Diving Safety Officer;
[email protected]; US Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science
Center, Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; tel 734-214-7248, fax 734-
994-87801451.
available from the European literature relates
to distribution and abundance data rather
than physiological studies run under labora-
tory situations, in part because of the difficul-
ties in handling larvae in the laboratory.
Development When water temperatures
rise above 12°C, adult mussels release eggs
and sperm into the water column. After fertil-
ization, developing embryos remain in the
water column and can drift for some distance
from the parent colony. The time required to
develop from egg to juvenile mussel varies ac-
cording to water temperature, but averages
about 2 weeks under laboratory conditions at 22°C. Studies in Eu-
rope have documented the presence of veliger in the water col-
umn for up to one year. Initial size at shell formation is approximately
100 µm (some quaggas are smaller at D-shell, <70 µm) and 300–450
µm at metamorphosis.
Risk Assessment Severe. Since larvae are microscopic, their
presence or absence on sampling gear or in samples cannot be de-
termined unless examined under a microscope. Assume that veligers
are present if water temperatures are >12°C.
Mobility Young larvae have a ciliated organ called a velum
that is used for swimming. Older larvae, just before metamorphosis,
also have a foot that can be used for crawling. Because the larvae
are so small, they are readily picked up by water currents and can
be transported some distance.
Risk Assessment Severe. Assume that veligers are present if
water temperatures are >12°C. Although veligers are described as
planktonic, any object collected in a zebra mussel area during
spawning season will have veligers of various ages crawling on it.
Habitat NeedsVery little is known about the habitat needs and food requirements
of veligers. European literature describes veligers as being very in-
tolerant of a wide range of conditions, and mortality rates of over
99% under field conditions are common. However, because specific
habitat needs are not known for this life stage, assume that veligers
can survive under the same conditions that are suitable for adults.
Food Veligers begin to feed just after
shell formation. They are filter feeders, con-
suming algae, bacteria, and detritus. Ini-
tially, veligers feed on particles <4 µm.
Settling Substrate Proper substrate
must be present during the time veligers
metamorphose, or the larvae will die.
Veligers settle on filamentous material first,
undergo metamorphosis, and then move
to a hard substrate.
Water Temperature Veligers tolerate
the same temperature regime as do the
adults. Development rate is directly cor-
related to water temperature. Live larvae
have been held at 4°C for up to one week
without food.
Water Velocity Water velocities >2 m/sec discourage the settling
of veligers. FOR FURTHER INFORMATIONGriffiths R., Kovalak W., Schloesser D. 1989. The zebra mussel, Dreis-
sena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771), in North America: Impact on rawwater users. In Symposium: Service Water System Problems Af-fecting Safety-Related Equipment, held in Charlotte, NC., No-vember 6–8, 1989. Sponsored by Nuclear Power Division, ElectricPower Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA.
Mackie G., Gibbons W., Muncaster B., Gray I. 1989. The zebra mus-sel, Dreissena polymorpha: A synthesis of European experiencesand a preview for North America. Ontario Ministry of the Envi-ronment. Toronto, Canada.
Nalepa T., Schloesser D., eds. 1992. Zebra Mussels: Biology, Impacts,and Control. Lewis Publishers. Chelsea MI.
Ramcharan C., Padilla D., Dodson S. 1992. A multivariate model forpredicting population fluctuations of Dreissena polymorpha inNorth American lakes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and AquaticSciences 49:150–158.
Stanczykowska A. 1977. Ecology of Dreissena polymorpha (Pall.)(Bivalvia) in lakes. Polskie ArchiwumHydrobiologii 24(4):461–530.
5
Risk Assessment Moderate. Mussels can
colonize areas where live algae is limited or
areas where the food supply is intermittent
(such as drainage pipes).
Growth Juvenile mussels are capable of
rapidly growing to sexual maturity. Juvenile
mussels average only 0.4 mm in ventral shell
length just after undergoing metamorphosis,
and under optimal conditions they can reach
13 mm in less than 3 months. Growth begins
when water temperatures are >3°C.
Risk Assessment Low. Small mussels will grow
to sexual maturity under laboratory conditions
even if held at <10°C, although spawning has not been reported
at such temperatures.
Special Handling ProblemsHandling Small Mussels Juvenile mussels (<1 mm long) are dif-
ficult to detect visually without using a microscope. The easiest way
to determine whether these mussels are present under field condi-
tions is to feel them—they feel like sand grains. They also “stick” to
everything, lodging under fingernails, in net handles, on clothing, etc.,
increasing the risk of accidental release. Extra precautions should
be taken to ensure proper decontamination of all types of gear that
may have been exposed to juveniles <1 mm in shell length.
Determining Whether Mussels Are Dead When mussels die, the
shells remain open with body parts exposed. A dull probe can be
used to touch mussel tissue to determine whether the animal is
alive or dead. Mussels that float when placed in water are not nec-
essarily dead. Live quaggas frequently retain air in the shell valves
during handling and will float for hours.
Risk Assessment Severe. Assume mussels are alive, unless body
tissue has sloughed off from the shell.
Habitat NeedsZebra mussels are very tolerant of a wide range of environmental
conditions if certain basic needs are met. The following basic
needs and tolerances have been noted in Europe and in the
Great Lakes region.
Calcium Needs European research in-
dicates that mussels require 30 ppm dis-
solved calcium for shell growth and 50
ppm for reproduction. However, labora-
tory studies done in this country indicate
that some growth can occur at 20 ppm
and reproduction at 35 ppm. Quagga
calcium needs have not been tested, but
their shells are noticeably thinner than
zebra mussels.
Dissolved Oxygen Oxygen needs of
zebra mussels have not been docu-
mented. However, mussels have been re-
ported from lakes in Europe where summer
oxygen levels are <2.0 ppm.
pH In Europe, zebra mussels usually
occur in areas where the pH is >7.5. The de-
gree of acidity in the water that will be tolerated by zebra mussels
will in part be related to calcium levels and is at this time unknown.
Salinity European studies indicate that zebra mussels will not live
in sea water but can tolerate estuarine conditions. However, Russ-
ian literature indicates that some of the other Dreissenidae are
more salt-water tolerant than zebra mussels. At this time, salinity tol-
erance of the quagga mussel is unknown.
Water Temperatures Mussels can survive in temperatures rang-
ing from <0°C to 35°C, if they are submerged. Mussels exposed to
the air have a much narrower temperature range (about 6°–28°C).
To date, spawning has been seen only when water temperatures
are >12°C.
Water Velocity Mussels are positively attracted to water cur-
rent and will colonize areas with water velocities up to 2 m/sec.
VELIGERSLife HistoryThe physical requirements necessary to ensure survival of the free-
living larvae or veliger are poorly understood. Much of the information
Zebra Mussel Control: A DecontaminationStandard Operating Procedure from USGSUnited States Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, 1451 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Since their initial introduction in 1988 to thewaters flowing into Lake Erie, zebra mussels havespread to many waterways throughout theeastern United States.
Adult zebra mussels are identified by their distinctstriping patterns and reach a maximum length ofapproximately 2 inches.
Zebra mussels readily colonize any hard surface, includingother species of mussels.