the presidents’ corner · will host are annual fcda holi-day get-together. this will be a casual...

FAIRFIELD COUNTY DIVING ASSOCIATION

November 2015 Volume 22 Issue 11

Inside this Issue The Presidents’ Corner by Mike Cassetta page 1 FCDA Donor I page 2 New FCDA Members

page 2 October Meeting DAN Raffle Winners page 3 FCDA Member Ads

page 3 Top 10 Dive Sites in Europe by Jennifer Palmer pages 4, 5 FCDA Donors II page 5 Join The Norwalk Maritime Aquarium Dive Team page 6 Open Season on Lionfish

page 7 Ask DAN: How Can I Reduce the Risk of Envenomation? page 8 Diving For Megalodon Teeth In The Cooper River by Jessica Vyvyan-Robinson page 9

FCDA Meeting

page 10

The Presidents’ Corner by Mike Cassetta

Our November meeting take place one week earlier than usual, secondary to Thanksgiv-ing and will be on Friday, No-vember 20th. Michelle Lapin, a diving enthusiast and member of the Maritime Aquarium Dive Team, will share video footage of a recent trip to the Galapa-gos.

The October meeting was well attended. Capt Bill Palmer, showed the video entitled Ech-oes of War. It is a video that highlights the role of liberty ships in World War II and fea-tures dive footage of the John Morgan, a liberty ship sunk off the coast of Virginia. Note: Not to be confused with FCDA mem-ber John Morgan, who remains on the surface of our planet, that most of the time.

As 2015 draws to a close, we are actively planning our sched-ule for 2016. If you have good dive footage and would be in-terested in presenting, or know of an appropriate speaker, please let Matt or me know. BTW: inappropriate speakers are ok too.

We are still in desperate need of a club secretary. Annual elections will be held at the January meeting, and if you're interested in one of the offices, please let us know.

On Friday, December 4th, we

will host are annual FCDA holi-day get-together. This will be a casual event and take place in the cottage. Last year was most fun. It was an open house envi-ronment and everybody below one dish. More details to follow.

As the cold weather descends on the Northeast, many people will be traveling to warmer des-tinations. Be safe and enjoy. For those of us who enjoy the cold, the ice will soon be here.

Finally, I would like to wish everybody a happy Thanksgiv-ing. If you are traveling, may the weather be good, the traffic light and the turkey awesome.

Mike

FCDA Donor

The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association.

Daniel Massey 22 Red Fern Ridge Shelton, CT 06484 H: (203) 924-4898 [email protected]

Bill Manderville 82 Woodcrest Rd Fairfield, CT 06824 H: (203) 336-8545 W: (203) 254-3055 [email protected]

New FCDA Members

The following individuals have recently become members of the Fairfield County Diving Association. Welcome aboard!

October Meeting DAN Raffle Winners

FCDA Member Ads

Hey - have you got a non retail-diving business that you’d like to share with fellow members of FCDA? Get your business card size ad in the FCDA monthly newsletter “Surface Interval” for only $50.00 for one year. Give your business a boost and help support the production of our monthly newsletters. For more information, write to FCDA, P.O. Box 3005, Fairfield, CT 06824 or email to [email protected].

rine Dive Center for donating tonight’s raffle prizes for our DAN raffle.

Remember, you can't win if you

After watching a video presentation Echoes of War by Captain Bill Palmer, the club held its monthly raffle to support our DAN Platinum sponsorship.

The winners were: Regula-tor Dust Cap donated by New England Dive Center — Mark Weston, Finger Reel donated by New England Dive Center — Kate Rickard, Magnetic Hose Clip donated by New England Dive Center — John Fanuko, Mares Mouthpiece donated by New England Dive Center — John Morgan, Dive Mask Slap Strap donate by Orbit Marine Dive Center - John Morgan, Sub Gear Mesh Sack donated by Orbit Marine Dive Center - Mark Dexter.

Thanks to New England Dive Center and Orbit Ma-

don't buy tickets and you can't buy tickets if you don't get up and come out to FCDA events and meetings!

Internet mail: [email protected]

http://www.fcda.us

2015 Board

Presidents Matt Rownin &

Mike Cassetta

Vice-President Mark Shannon

Secretary Vacant

Treasurer Paul J. Gacek

P.O. Box 3005, Fairfield, CT 06824

Many individuals travel far and wide to find the perfect dive site, however the underwater world of Europe also has a lot to offer. Diving in Europe offers cave dives, wreck dives, reefs and a vast array of marine wildlife which certainly will not disap-point, even for the most experi-enced of divers.

Here are the Top 10 Dive Sites in Europe

Orkney Islands, Scotland Home to Scapa Flow, a world

renowned scuba diving site which is known for its deep dives, fa-mous wrecks as well as its reefs and wonderful selection of marine life. The waters are a little on the cold side, however contain a huge amount of nutrients, meaning that it is the perfect place to see Seals, Whales, Dolphins and Por-poises. As well as the amazing underwater life, the most incredi-ble thing about the Orkney is-lands are the fleet of German ships which line the sea bed, known as Scapa Flow.

Isle of Man, UK When divers think of the UK,

they think of cold and murky wa-ters, however the UK is one of the best diving spots in the world. The Isle of Man is one of the top diving destinations, known for its Porpoises, Dolphins, Risso Dol-phins and even migrating basking Sharks. If you are looking for large marine animals, then this is the place to visit, with Orcas and whales frequently passing through these wreck ridden wa-ters.

Lofoten Islands, Norway Norway is most certainly a cold

spot, however the Lofoten Islands are known for its huge kelp for-

Top 10 Dive Sites in Europe by Jennifer Palmer

ests as well as its large amount of perfectly preserved shipwrecks. This very popular diving destination can be reached by the shore as well as by boat. On land, there are a number of places to stay whilst planning your time in the water. This remarkable spot is also perfect for on-surface experiences such as fishing, trekking as well as meeting some amazing, like-minded indi-viduals. Make sure that when you are planning on diving in Europe, that you seriously consider Norway.

Cyprus Sitting just south of Turkey, the

Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Cyprus offers warmer waters to those looking to dive. The coast is quite rocky, providing the perfect nutrient rich environment for the beautiful local marine life. You will vast array of fish in these Cypriot waters including; Groupers, Moray Eels, Octopus and occasionally Log-gerhead Turtles. This is the perfect spot for new scuba divers looking to build up their diving portfolio. A great location for the experienced scuba divers out there is Zenobia, a world famous wreck dive that sits 42m below the surface. A great dive for technical divers.

Lundy Island, Bristol Chan-nel, UK

Lundy Island is surrounded by warmer waters which provide the perfect habitat for colorful sponges, sea fans and a large amount of other beautiful corals. Unique scenery give this dive site a unique appeal to its divers. The local grey seals and basking sharks also provide some amazing photo opportunities for all you budding underwater photographers out there. The diving overall, as well as

(Continued on page 5)

FCDA Donor

The business listed on this page has donated dive gear and dive services to help support the Fairfield County Diving Association.

Top 10 Dive Sites in Europe by Jennifer Palmer

(continued)

the current can be a little challeng-ing so be aware of this and always go out with an instructor.

Canary Islands Explored by many marine biolo-

gists, the waters of the Canary Is-lands offers beautiful turquoise wa-ters filled with rays, nudibranchs, beautiful bouquets of coral, cuttle-fish, grouper and a number of spe-cies of sharks. The Canary Islands are surrounded by volcanic activity which means that sightings can include large game fish as well as reef fish. Choosing the right spot is essential for any diver, so complet-ing some research is a good idea.

Kilkee, Ireland With beautiful walls and differ-

ent rock formations, caverns and caves, this dive site off the coast of Ireland has a lot to offer. The ex-quisite shores of Kilkee, undergo a barrage of intense weather condi-tions, and the same can be said for below the water line. Walls that extend 30m deep, this dive site has been named one of the best in the world. Small pathways and holes in the walls offer an adrenaline rush for most divers. If however you are not feeling too adventurous, then the local reefs and marine life offer a slightly more relaxed dive. For the more advanced divers out there, Kilkee offers small caverns that extend into caves, providing the perfect hiding places for other marine life.

Croatia The warm waters of Croatia of-

fer crystal clear waters bordering

(Continued from page 4)

the Adriatic Sea. Full of sea fans, fish, octopus, eels and beautiful reefs, this location is definitely one to keep in mind when visiting Europe. With many different dive sites to visit for all levels of scuba diver, this incredible area has something for everyone. If you’re looking for a more advanced dive, then take a look at the majestic reefs. If you are looking for a more advanced dive, then check out the numerous caverns, wrecks, caves and coves that this location has to offer.

Normandy, France Normandy really is known for

its underwater museum of war-caused wrecks. You can find U-boats, Sherman tanks, secret Schnellboots, this really is an in-credible place for wreck diving in historical grounds. These wrecks sit on average between 20 to 30m below the surface and are

considers amazing for advanced divers only. Most of the wrecks are penetrable, with swim-throughs which are beaming with marine life. These wrecks are however considered as ‘war graves’ so no treasure hunting is allowed.

Maltese Islands Located in the Mediterranean,

the Maltese Islands have 3 differ-ent dive locations which all offer very different things for divers. If you are looking for ‘easy access’ diving, warmer waters, clear wa-ters and calm conditions, then this is the location for you. If you are completing your open water or just looking for a relaxing dive, then this location is perfect. However, if you are a more advanced diver, these waters also have a variety of caves and wrecks available to you.

Reprinted fro DeeperBlue.com

November 2, 2015

Join The Norwalk Maritime Aquarium Dive Team

Come join The Norwalk Maritime Aquarium Dive Team for an all member meeting on Wednesday, November 18th, 6-9pm at the Aquarium. We are inviting local dive clubs and dive shops to our meeting, in the hopes to get more people excited about our amazing team and rally some new members.

• There will be pizza and a cash bar. • Dr. Mike will be giving his shark lecture. Please RSVP by November 11th by emailing [email protected] Thanks, and hope to see you all there!

Open Season on Lionfish

Most ocean conservationists would never encour-age anyone to hunt down and kill sea creatures. These fish and mammals are part of an important ecosystem. Overfishing of certain species, shark fin-ning, illegal hunting practices killing whales and dol-phins — none of these are condoned by the commu-nity, scientific or public. So why is everyone wanting to kill this fish?

We’re talking about the lionfish, a beautiful crea-ture to behold but one whose delicate appearance belies a diabolical threat. Believed to have been re-leased into the Atlantic during the 1980s by aquar-ium keepers, this non-native species has no natural predators. It eats pretty much anything and breeds prolifically. Their numbers are growing exponentially and they are rapidly consuming all the natural reef-dwelling fish they can find. This could be a fatal blow to a healthy reef system, which relies on all the members of its extended aquatic family to thrive.

A healthy reef system not only offers beautiful diving and snorkeling opportunities but also pro-tects shorelines from erosion and storms. Reefs support a myriad of fish and other sea creatures, all of which work together to keep our oceans healthy.

lionfishLionfish now range over a 3.3 million square kilometer section of the Atlantic. They are abundant, easy to spear, and are widely regarded as being mild and versatile for all types of food preparations. This fish does sport venomous spines along its back, so use caution during capture and preparation. Spearfishing is the recommended method of capture, and it is important to be careful when removing your catch from the spear tips. Punctures from the spines are not deadly but are extremely painful. This has caused a false belief in some fisherman that the fish are poisonous and can’t be eaten. In the Bahamas, for example, they are not a popular choice for fishermen or diners. In Florida, however, spearfisherman are encouraged to catch as many as possible and they are becom-ing a popular menu item in many restaurants, as well as an abundant catch for commercial fisheries.

Even those who swear by a “fish are friends, not food” philosophy are in agreement that it is open season when it comes to the lionfish. Spear away and save the reefs!

Reprinted from Aquaviews Online Scuba Maga-

zine - November 2, 2015

Ask DAN: How Can I Reduce the Risk of Envenomation?

Q: I’m a new diver and ready to start diving with my local club. I live in an area where jellyfish are common. What can I do to prevent stings?

A: Some of the most common types of hazardous marine life inju-ries are stings from creatures in the Cnidarian class, which inject toxins into prey using specialized cells (cnidocytes) that are trig-gered simply through contact.

Jellyfish Jellyfish are one of the most

commonly encountered hazardous marine creatures. Though jellyfish stings may be benign, some can be painful. Contact isn’t usually life threatening, although a specific type of jellyfish called Cubozoans (also known as sea wasps or box jellyfish), found in Australia’s northern territories, can be deadly.

Hydroids Although hydroids look like

harmless plants, these feathery animals live as colonies of small zooids (small, multicellular ani-mals) that are physiologically linked together. With a smaller contact area, reactions caused by hydroids are usually more localized and less dramatic than jellyfish en-venomations. Some examples of animals that can cause more sig-nificant symptoms are:

• Portuguese man-of-war — technically not a true jellyfish, but a colony of hydrozoans — can in-flict excruciating pain and a wide array of systemic symptoms.

• Fire coral is also a colony of hydrozoans, and not a true coral. Stings can cause a mild to moder-ate burning reaction, and lacera-tions are possible among divers with poor buoyancy control. Fire-

coral lacerations allow enveno-mation to occur within the open wound, which can be a problem because the toxins can cause dermonecrosis (skin-t issue death), potentially complicating the healing process.

Prevention Implementing good diving

skills and proper risk manage-ment can help to minimize injury. Mastering your buoyancy control and maintaining a respectful dis-tance from marine life should be key considerations for safe div-ing. Regardless of water tem-perature, full body wetsuits, rash guards or other protective ap-parel can minimize exposed skin and may reduce the severity of contact with hazardous marine life. A good emergency-action plan should include researching dive sites for potential environ-mental risks and a discussion of how to manage marine encoun-ters if they occur.

Basic First Aid Tips In the event of a Cnidarian-

related injury, first assess and

monitor circulation, airway and breathing. Be prepared to perform CPR if necessary. Stabilize unfired cnidocytes in the affected area by generously pouring household vinegar over the wound before at-tempting to remove any visible tentacles or debris. Avoid rubbing the wound and do not use fresh water to cleanse the area as this could trigger unfired cnidocytes, potentially exacerbating the en-venomation process. Finally, hot water can be used to manage pain and potentially neutralize some toxins. In its absence, a cold pack may be beneficial in pain manage-ment.

Abort your dive if you experi-ence pain or discomfort caused by contact with hazardous marine life. If symptoms become serious, con-tact local EMS immediately, and then call DAN. For more questions about stings, call the DAN medical information line at (919) 684-2948 or email [email protected].

Reprinted from SportDiver,com

July 1, 2015

Diving For Megalodon Teeth In The Cooper River by Jessica Vyvyan-Robinson

At first, diving in South Caro-lina’s Cooper River sounds dis-tinctly unappealing. After all, who in their right mind would want to descend into the chilly waters of a fast-flowing river, so rich in tannins that after a few feet the visibility falls to almost zero? Factor in a healthy population of resident alli-gators, and the Cooper River be-gins to sound like any normal diver’s nightmare. Yet every year, countless divers brave the river’s inhospitable conditions, and more still feature the river on their bucket list. Why? Because this cur-rent-ravaged, alligator-infested, mud-brown river just happens to be one of the best places in the world for finding ancient artifacts and fossils, some of which date back several million years.

Specifically, the silt and gravel on the Cooper’s riverbed is known for a wealth of fossilized megalo-don teeth, amny measuring more than six inches long. Believed to have been the ancestors of present-day sharks like the great white and the mako, megalodons are thought to have measured more than 52 feet (16 m) long. Although

they have been extinct for ap-proximately two million years, scrabbling for their teeth in the pitch-black conditions is an other-worldly experience that requires only the tiniest bit of imagination to bring the monsters of the past back to life.

Megalodon teeth aren’t the only treasure in the murky waters of the Cooper River. Millions of years ago, the South Carolina coast as we know it today was completely submerged. Prehis-toric sea creatures lived and died there, their bones and teeth pre-served by the silty seafloor. Over the millennia, the ocean re-treated, creating a flourishing jungle that in turn provided a home for mammoths, giant bea-vers, cave bears and saber-toothed tigers. Fossilized remains of all of these creatures have been found in the Cooper River, where the strong current erodes the riverbanks, covering and un-covering new caches of ancient fossils all the time. South Caro-lina’s rich human history is also on display here, and divers often retrieve Native American and Co-

lonial-era artifacts as well. It is the sheer thrill of discover-

ing the Cooper River’s prehistoric past that makes braving the cur-rent, the poor visibility and the river’s present-day toothy residents worthwhile. Several operators offer day charters to the gravel beds, and to dive here requires several key pieces of equipment — a strong torch, a collecting net and a screwdriver, for anchoring oneself against the current. Extra weight is key, enabling divers to descend quickly to the bottom and remain there. Most of all, divers must have nerves of steel and the dive ex-perience to cope with the river’s challenging conditions.

Above all, divers who wish to keep what they find must apply for and attain a Hobby Diver license in advance. The license application process takes approximately four weeks, and allows divers to legally collect fossils and artifacts without violating South Carolina law.

Reprinted from ScubaDiver-

Life.com October 23, 2015

Next FCDA Meeting

Friday, November 20, 2015 - 8:00 PM Coast Guard Cottage, South Benson Marina, Fairfield, CT

"Diving the Galapagos”

a video presentation

by Michelle Lapin

Michelle will present two videos - the first is from a week aboard the Humboldt Explorer liveaboard primarily in the northern end of the Galapagos around Darwin and Wolf Islands and the second is from our land-based week on Isla Isabela last

December

the presidents’ corner · will host are annual fcda holi-day get-together. this will be a casual...

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