December, 2006 The Triton Trib

Volume XXXXII, Number 12

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Greetings to all,

Just a simple thought this month – one of the joys of the Holiday Season is the opportunity to say Thank You. I value your friendship and appreciate the support you have shown to me as I assumed my responsibilities as President.

On behalf of the entire board we wish you a world of peace, joy, health and possibilities in the year ahead.

Happy Holidays! Steve Leibovitz 847-253-5933

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President - Steve Leibovitz

Vice-President -John From

Secretary - Al Krenz

Treasurer - David Gross

First Director – Gary Duszak

Second Director - Pam Romund

COMMITTEE CHAIRS Audit Committee – Jim Hynan

ByLaws & Rules - Gary Duszak

Entertainment – Dave Vemmer

Equipment & Safety – Board of Ed

Events – Dave Vemmer

Golden Anniversary - Lorraine Colwell

Membership - Margit Mikkelsen

Merchandise – Pam Romund

Nominating – TBD

Publicity/Web Site –Mike Leibovitz

Director of Training - Rich Schak

Editor of the Trib - Pam Romund

Illinois Council Delegates – Chuck & Margo Miller

DAN SPONSOR #29362

MEMBERSHIP REPORT November, 2006

No one will be up for vote at the November meeting.

Membership: 98 full members 5 associate members 103 total

It is that time of year again, please remember to pay your membership dues: $42.00 single, $63.00 couple

Margit Mikkelsen - Membership Committee Chairperson

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UPDATE YOUR ROSTERS Pete Kloga 5919 N. Central Park Ave. Chicago IL 60659 Spouse: Linda Linda Kamys-Kloga Spouse: Pete No address change

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HOLIDAY COMMUNITY SERVICE

Many thanks, because of your generosity we were able to provide for two families – a mother and her four children (girls 18, 17, 11 and a boy 11) as well as another mother and her two boys, ages 7 and 5. Whether you provided the gift or had us do the shopping we were able to get everything on their list. And we were able to have them wrapped and delivered well before the holiday. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.

Chris Demski & Pam Romund

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TRITON EVENTS CALENDAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! JANUARY 2007 Saturday, 1/13 Chicago Wolves Hockey

Game Jim Hynan 847-967-1738 or E-Mail jim.hynan@occ.treas.gov Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL

Tuesday, 1/16 Triton Trib Deadline Pam Romund 847-698-5490 or promund@kraft.comSunday, 1/21 Ocean Reef & Cavern

Diving Dave and Rosanna Vemmer dcvemmer@comcast.netMayan Riviera, Quintana Roo, Mexic

Tuesday, 1/23 Business Meeting Guiseppe’s 1062 Lee St Des Plaines, IL 847-824-4230 Presenter: Kenosha’s Diver Dan, Bequa Island, Fiji

FEBRUARY 2007 Fri 2/9-Sun 2/11 *Our World Underwater Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL Tuesday 2/13 Triton Trib Deadline Pam Romund 847-698-5490 or promund@kraft.comSunday 2/18 Viet Nam Veterans Art

Museum Chris Demski, cdemski@sbcglobal.net1801 Indiana Avenue, Chicago, Il

Tuesday 2/27 Business Meeting Guiseppe’s 1062 Lee St Des Plaines, IL 847-824-4230

MARCH 2007 Sat 3/10 to Sat 3/17

Ocean Reef and Wall Diving

Randy Skiba, GlobalAcc@quixnet.net - Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands

Tuesday 3/13 Triton Trib Deadline Pam Romund 847-698-5490 or promund@kraft.comFri 3/23 – Sat 3/24

*Ghost Ships Festival Four Points Sheraton, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Sunday 3/25 *ICSSD UW Olympics Chuck and Margo Miller, Elk Grove Village Park District Tuesday 3/27 Business Meeting Guiseppe’s 1062 Lee St Des Plaines, IL 847-824-4230 Saturday, 3/31 Dinner and a Movie Nite NEEDS TIC

APRIL 2007 Tuesday, 4/10 Triton Trib Deadline Pam Romund 847-698-5490 or promund@kraft.comTuesday, 4/24 Business Meeting Guiseppe’s 1062 Lee St Des Plaines, IL 847-824-4230 Saturday, 4/28 Triton 50th Anniversary

Party Lorraine Colwell, Golden Anniversay Committee Park Ridge Country Club, Park Ridge, IL MAY 2007

Saturday 5/5 Cinco de Mayo Party Rosanna Vemmer, RVMexicana@hotmail.com Tuesday, 5/8 Triton Trib Deadline Pam Romund 847-698-5490 or promund@kraft.comTuesday, 5/22 Business Meeting Guiseppe’s 1062 Lee St Des Plaines, IL 847-824-4230 Saturday, 5/26 Haigh Dive & Picnic Marnie Adamski – Haigh Quarry, Kankakee, IL Monday, 5/28 Memorial Day Bike Ride Milt and Margy Levenberg

JUNE 2007 Sat/Sun, 6/9 &10

Training Weekend, Open Water and Adv Training

Board of Education Pearl Lake, South Beloit, IL

Sunday, 6/10 Quarry Dive and Picnic Pam Romund 847-698-5490 or promund@kraft.comTuesday, 6/12 Triton Trib Deadline Pam Romund 847-698-5490 or promund@kraft.comSunday, 6/24 Local Charter Dive NEEDS TIC Tuesday, 6/27 OPEN HOUSE Guiseppe’s 1062 Lee St Des Plaines, IL 847-824-4230 *Indicates a Non-Triton Sponsored Event, but join in with your fellow divers.

We are beginning a new year and you know what that means – we are looking for a few TICs. Contact Dave Vemmer to reserve your event!

ENTERTAINMENT AT THE JANUARY MEETING

We are pleased to have Diver Dan from Kenosha to present Beqa Island, Fiji. Rated the #1 Dive Resort in the World by Rodale’s Scuba Diving Magazine, Beqa Lagoon Resort is located on Beqa Island in Fiji on Beqa Lagoon. There are no roads on the island. Beqa Island is 5 by 6 square miles and there are 9 Fijian villages on the island. With over 100 dive sites just a short 15 minute boat ride from the resort, it is not difficult to understand why the Beqa Lagoon is rated as one of the top dive destinations in the world today. Coral heads are sanctuary to lush soft coral gardens that contain rainbows of tropical fish. A diver can view 10 to 15 Lionfish on a single dive, not to mention Blue Ribbon Eels, Moorish Idols, Clown fish, Gobies, Clowntrigger Fish, and the mighty Emperor Angel. Gorgonian sea fans by the dozen sway in the soft gentle current as you drift through canyons of untouched hard and soft coral’s of every color.

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CHICAGO WOLVES HOCKEY GAME SATURDAY JAN 13TH

ONLY $16

We will make a trek to the Allstate Arena (formerly Rosemont Horizon) on Saturday nite January 13th for a little dead of winter event. There are about 5 paid so far, and room for more. I will probably make reservations around year-end for those that have paid, so let me know soon. And send a check if you are signed, but unpaid. This is a fun event, good for kids of all ages. We can get into the corner of the lower arena for a mere $16, this will drop to $14 if we get 15 folks or more.

Let the old TIC know soon – sign up early and often

Jim Hynan 847-967-1738 jim.hynan@occ.treas.gov

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Many thanks to Nancy Boucha of Scuba Systems for sending this to our attention. Reprinted from: Top News- World's Tallest Man Saves Two Dolphins - AOL News

WORLD'S TALLEST MAN SAVES TWO DOLPHINS

AP BEIJING (Dec. 14) - The long arms of the world's tallest man reached in and saved two dolphins by pulling out plastic from their stomachs, state media and an aquarium official said Thursday. He was called to help two dolphins after surgery on them failed. Bao is 7 feet 9 inches tall and his arms measure 41.7 inches. An aquarium official said others tried to help the dolphins, but their arms were too short. Bao, 54, is a herdsman from Inner Mongolia, and was declared the world's tallest living man last year.

Bao Xishun, recognized as the world's tallest man by the Guinness Book of World Records, pulls plastic from inside a dolphin's stomach Wednesday.

Bao observes the dolphins at their home in an aquarium in China's Liaoning province.

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GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION NEWS!

We have almost everything set for the Big Event. Be sure to check out the advertisement on the next page. We have the pricing and a very brief overview of the menu, please reserve your space now. Our thought is to offer enough of an incentive that folks will pay early, this will help us in our planning.

The countdown continues – we will be reprinting some of the fascinating facts that have occurred over the last 50 years. Last month it was the nifty 50’s, now it is back to the 60’s – remember these?

• Population 177,830,000 • Unemployment 3,852,000 • National Debt 286.3 Billion • Average Salary $4,743 • Teacher's Salary $5,174 • Minimum Wage $1.00 • Life Expectancy: Males 66.6 years, Females 73.1 years • A brand new Chevrolet was $2,529.00 • A gallon of gas was $0.31. • An estimated 850,000 "war baby" freshmen enter college; emergency living quarters are set up in dorm

lounges, hotels and trailer camps.

1962 – Cuban Missle Crisis: Russia places missles in Cuba and puts country on brink of nuclear war. 1963 – John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas 1964 – The Civil Rights Act becomes law 1968 – Both Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King are killed, leading to rioting in the streets. 1969 – Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin,in Apollo XI, become the first men to walk on the moon.

Youth predominated the culture of the 1960's. The post World War II Baby Boom had created 70 million teenagers for the sixties. These youth swayed the fashion, the fads and the politics of the decade. In the sixties we all watched the same television shows, listened to the same news broadcasts and followed the same baseball and football teams. The colors of the jerseys never changed; and for the most part neither did the players. Mickey Mantle was a Yankee; Sandy Koufax was a Dodger; and Muhammad Ali was The Greatest!.

It’s 1960, and the new dance craze is the Twist by Chubby Checker. Every teenager watched American Bandstand when they got home from school. In 1963 it shifted to only once per week, on Saturdays.

Elvis is discharged from the Army in March, 1960. On March 25, 1961, Elvis appears at Pearl Harbor to raise money for the USS Arizona Memorial. The big craze on the West Coast – SURFING! Even those in the Midwest wore surfer shorts, shirts, etc. There were the Beach Blanket movies with Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon. California surfers took to skateboards as a way to stay fit out of season and by 1963 the fad had spread across the country. But the British Invasion hit in 1964, and the Beatles arrived in America. Soon they were followed by the Dave Clark Five, Rolling Stones, Animals, and more.

During the summer of 1967 a major change in music and culture occurs. The 50’s and 60’s style of rock and roll is out and acid rock is in. It becomes a period of protests and civil disobedience, love-ins, drug experimentation, anti-establishment, anti-military and just plain dropping out. It is the start of the Psychedelic Sixties.

Popular television shows of the sixties: Leave it to Beaver, Bonanza, Beverly Hillbillies, Andy Griffith, Mission Impossible and in the late 60’s Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In. Movies debuting included: Psycho, Cleopatra, Dr. Zhivago, the Graduate, and 2001 a Space Odyssey.

Born in the Sixties: 1960 - the Aluminum Can; 1961 - Ray Kroc buys out the McDonald brothers and the first IBM Selectric Typewriter (the one with the bouncing ball) is introduced. 1962 - Polaroid introduces color film prints that develop in 60 seconds. Also in 1962 - the first Wal Mart and Kmart open.

More changes probably took place in American society during the 1960’s than in any other decade of the 20th Century. The movement away from the conservative fifties continued and eventually resulted in revolutionary ways of thinking and real change in the cultural fabric of American life. Young people wanted change and the changes affected education, values, lifestyles, laws, and entertainment. Many of the revolutionary ideas which began in the sixties are continuing to evolve today.

Editor’s Note: I hope you are all enjoying seeing these old photos as much as I do. They bring back some fond memories - there are so many more to share with you all. Don’t be left out, plan now on attending the BIG EVENT!

Now is the time to sign up – choose from: • Herb Crusted Filet Mignon • Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast • Grilled Salmon

Costs: Tritons, Past and Present: $55.00 if payment is received by the

January 23, 2007 Business Meeting $75.00 after January 23 but before April 1,

2007 $90.00 if received after April 1, 2007

Send to: The Tritons Anniversary Party P.O. Box 1025 Des Plaines, IL 60017-1025

Cash Bar Black Tie Optional

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Dear Tritons, Because of you, the Greater Chicago Food Depository enjoyed a banner year in 2006. We launched our Nourish for Knowledge program in which Chicago Public Schools students from low-income communities receive bags of food to take home on weekends when they don’t have access to free or reduced meals. Nearly 60 budding culinary professionals graduated from our Chicago’s Community Kitchens training program for unemployed and underemployed adults. And we distributed 40 million pounds of food—including 7 million pounds of fruits and vegetables—to hungry people in Cook County. Indeed, there is a tremendous need in our community and your support helps us generate a tremendous response.

Our partnerships with supporters inspired our recently published 2005-2006 Annual Report, “Building Relationships.” The publication highlights several of the Food Depository’s recent accomplishments that couldn’t have been achieved without you. The Annual Report is available by contacting the Food Depository for a copy or by visiting the Publications page on our Web site. Nearly 500,000 people rely on the Food Depository for food every year. This year many hungry men, women and children can turn to a soup kitchen for a hot meal or to a pantry for a bag of groceries because of you. Thank you so much for your continued support. Sincerely,

Kate Maehr, Executive Director

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NATIONAL VIETNAM VETERANS ART MUSEUM

When: Sunday Feb. 18, 2007 (Note: The museum is not open to the public on Sunday during the winter.

This is a private showing) Where: 1801 S. Indiana Ave.

Chicago, Il. 60616 Cost: $6.00

TIC : Chris Demski (847)255-9342

This museum is home to over 800 works of critically acclaimed fine art created exclusively by Vietnam Veterans on the subject of war. Included in the collections are paintings, sculptures, photographs, poetry and artifacts.

In 2001, the museum dedicated its National Memorial, Above & Beyond, honoring the 58,226 Americans killed in the war. The memorial sculpture is comprised of steel dog tags imprinted with the name, branch of service and date of casualty, suspended from the atrium ceiling.

Our own Don Morrill has an exhibit that should not be missed. Issued & Beyond: One Marine’s Time In Country - a room-sized installation piece chronicling his service years in country. He will be on hand to answer questions about the museum and what it took to get it open and running.

Spread the word to friends and family everyone is invited to attend.

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SCIENTIST: RARE CHINESE DOLPHIN EXTINCT Shy, Nearly Blind White Dolphin Not Sighted After Exhaustive Search Of Yangtze River

An expedition searching for a rare Yangtze River dolphin ended Wednesday without a single sighting and the team's leader saying one of the world's oldest species was effectively extinct.

The white dolphin known as baiji, shy and nearly blind, dates back some 20 million years. Its disappearance is believed to be the first time in a half-century, since hunting killed off the Caribbean monk seal, that a large aquatic mammal has been driven to extinction. A few baiji may still exist in their native Yangtze habitat in eastern China but not in sufficient numbers to breed and ward off extinction, said August Pfluger, the Swiss co-leader of the joint Chinese-foreign expedition. "We have to accept the fact that the Baiji is functionally extinct. We lost the race," Pfluger said in a statement released by the expedition.

"It is a tragedy, a loss not only for China, but for the entire world. We are all incredibly sad."

For nearly six weeks, Pfluger's team of 30 scientists scoured a 1,000-mile heavily trafficked stretch of the Yangtze, where the baiji once thrived. The expedition's two boats, equipped with high-tech binoculars and underwater microphones, trailed each other an hour apart without radio contact so that a sighting by one vessel would not prejudice the other. Overfishing and shipping traffic, whose engines interfere with the sonar the baiji uses to navigate and feed, are likely the main reasons for the mammal's declining numbers, Pfluger said. Though the Yangtze is polluted, water samples taken by the expedition every 30 miles did not show high concentrations of toxic substances, the statement said. Around 400 baiji were believed to be living in the Yangtze in the 1980s. The last full-fledged search, in 1997, yielded 13 confirmed sightings, and a fisherman claimed to have seen a baiji in 2004, Pfluger said in an earlier interview. At least 20 to 25 baiji would now be needed to give the species a chance to survive, the group's statement said, citing Wang Ding, a hydrobiologist and China's foremost campaigner for the baiji.

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HOLIDAY PARTY - 2006 On Saturday, December 2, we gathered at the Windhaven Condominium Clubhouse to celebrate the Holidays. There was quite a bit of snow to trudge through so it did seem like a winter wonderland. Folks brought their Toys for Tots and deposited them by the tree (it was a very wee tree). There were all sorts of goodies to nosh – salads, meatballs, Italian beef, cheeses, guacamole, salsa, candies, cookies, cheesecake and the list goes on. There was music in the air and a very festive feeling throughout the room. There were a few faces that we haven’t seen in awhile and that was a pleasant surprise. Lots of talk of diving, what else, but also a chance to catch up on everyone’s travels and families. An event like this takes a lot of planning – many thanks to David Gross for allowing us to use the Clubhouse in his condo complex. It was a perfect fit. A great big THANK YOU to the dishwashers – Jan O’Malley and Jim Hynan. This is a very unglamorous job and they just stepped in and got it handled. Also thanks to Dave and Rosanna Vemmer and Pete and Linda Kloga for helping with the clean up and schlepping things back out to the cars. Many hands made it easy. Wishing the very best to you and yours for a healthy, happy and safe holiday season.

Your Board of Directors

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Reprinted from: http://www.cdnn.info/news/science/sc061211.html

PHILIPPINES IDENTIFIED AS WORLD'S EPICENTER OF MARINE BIODIVERSITY

The Philippine Islands, located in the Southeast Asian marine biodiversity triangle, has the richest concentration of marine life on the entire planet, according to a study conducted by Kent Carpenter, Old Dominion University associate professor of biological sciences in Virginia, USA.

A multidisciplinary project headed by Carpenter that lasted more than 10 years and involved 101 of the world's foremost authorities on marine life produced 2,983 maps of marine species for the western Pacific Ocean. The study, conducted for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, produced "the largest and most accurate database available" according to a review by Bruce Collette of the National Marine Fisheries Service Systematic Laboratory at the Smithsonian.

"Scientists have long known that the area in Southeast Asia that includes Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines hold the richest marine biodiversity. I was amazed to discover that the extreme center of this biodiversity is in the Philippines, rather than closer to the equator," said Carpenter. "However, a geographical information system analysis of this extensive database clearly shows this pattern."

The results of these findings are published in the journal Environmental Biology of Fishes under the title, "The Center of the Center of Marine Shorefish Biodiversity: The Philippine Islands." The article is coauthored by Victor Springer of the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. The computer analysis was done with the support of Conservation International.

Carpenter's goal now is to understand the natural forces, such as lithospheric plate movements, prevailing currents and the geography and geology of the area that contributed to the biodiversity.

"This discovery poses some very interesting questions about the origins of marine life in our oceans. Perhaps the Philippines holds the key to unraveling mysteries about how marine biodiversity patterns change through space and time," said Carpenter.

Another of Carpenter's goals is to support conservation efforts in the Philippines. Teeming with life on its coral reefs, mangrove swamps, seagrass beds and soft-bottom habitats, the Philippine Islands are the marine counterpart to the Amazon rainforest in terms of concentrated biodiversity, he said. Unfortunately, the Philippines shares another sad common characteristic with the Amazon—many of its inhabitants are being threatened with local extinction due to uncontrolled deforestation, soil erosion, air and water pollution, coral reef degradation and destructive fishing techniques

The study also found that this center of marine biodiversity has a comparatively high number of species that are only found in the Philippines. Therefore, there is the real threat of extinction, including some species that have yet to be discovered by scientists.

"This area is highly threatened and a number of destructive fishing practices, including dynamite fishing, contribute to the decline," said Carpenter. "One of the biggest threats to coral reefs is in runoff from poor land use that results in heightened erosion. This runoff goes into the rivers and out to sea covering the coral in sediments that are detrimental to their survival."

Species Carpenter helped catalogue in the waters off of the Philippine Islands include seaweeds, corals, bivalves, gastopods, cephalopods, stomatopods, shrimps, lobsters, crabs, sea cucumbers, sharks, rays, chimaeras, bony fishes, estuarine crocodiles, sea turtles, sea snakes and marine mammals.

"Biodiversity is of major interest to many people," he said. "The livelihood of many Filipinos depends on the health of their marine ecosystem. There is a big dilemma however, in that the use of this valuable resource is often at odds with its conservation, and without conservation the resource will soon loose its value. Filipinos are trying valiantly to resolve this. However, clearly, much work still needs to be done to solve this dilemma."

Based on Carpenter's findings, one of the most important places to focus attention on conservation is in the waters off of the Philippine Islands.

At the January business meeting Dan will be presenting Beqa Island. Be sure to attend to find out more info.

Beqa Island, Fiji Apr.5-14th, 2007

Rated the #1 Dive Resort in the World by Rodale’s Scuba Diving Magazine, Beqa Lagoon Resort is located on Beqa Island in Fiji on Beqa Lagoon. There are no roads on the island. Beqa Island is 5 by 6 square miles and there are 9 Fijian villages on the island. Beqa Island is home of the “Firewalkers”. They perform their amazing, sacred ceremony at the resort weekly. Unique Fijian architecture and ecreate the beauty of Beqa Lagoon Resort. The Bure Kalou with its soaring eightythatched roof is our restaurant and bar. Built from local hardwoods, it provides theperfect setting for your islan

pleasure. Here, on the edge of the lagoon, our guests gather for meals and friendship while our world renowned chef creatively prepares and beautifully presents fine cuisine using local fish, shvegetables, fruit, New Zealand Lamb and Australian beef.

xquisite furnishings combine to

-foot

d

ellfish,

our individual beachfront Bure is beautifully appointed and contains a spacious sitting room, fully tiled

Ybathroom, air conditioning, and expansive porch overlooking the lagoon.

eqa Island holds as many marvels and wonders as the lagoon. This mystical ll

ith over 100 dive sites just a short 15 minute boat ride from the resort, it is not

l ish

ns

Bisland whispers promises of tropical jungle explorations, hikes to crystal waterfaand visits to a native village. Wdifficult to understand why the Beqa Lagoon is rated as one of the top dive destinations in the world today. Coral heads are sanctuary to lush soft coragardens that contain rainbows of tropical fish. A diver can view 10 to 15 Lionfon a single dive, not to mention Blue Ribbon Eels, Moorish Idols, Clown fish, Gobies, Clowntrigger Fish, and the mighty Emperor Angel. Gorgonian sea faby the dozen sway in the soft gentle current as you drift through canyons of untouched hard and soft coral’s of every color.

Join the Adventure ------ Bula!!!!!

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Apr. 5-14th, 2007

$2399 Non-Diver CASH

7 nights Deluxe Accommodations

Inc ts

Roundtrip transfers

$2599 Diver

discount price per diver based on double occupancy

5 days of 2 tank dives luding tanks and weighUnlimited shore diving 3 Gourmet meals Daily

Airfare from LAX

Fiji Govt. Tax

A non-refundable deposit of

is required ntee your

Additional fees: Airfare to LAX, beverages,

r

$500.00 to guaraspace.

Fuel Surcharge and day oom in Nadi on return day

Prices subject to change with out notice

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Many thanks to Pete Kloga for sending this one in, reprinted from http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061122/ap_on_sc/hunley_2, By BRUCE SMITH, Associated Press Writer

HUNLEY MAY REVEAL SECRETS IN YEAR'S TIME NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - In a year's time, scientists hope to solve the mystery of why the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley sank, the chairman of the South Carolina Hunley Commission said Tuesday.

"Between the science of archaeology and the science of conservation in that laboratory, they will solve the ultimate mystery," state Sen. Glenn McConnell said after a commission meeting. "I think it's reasonable to say we're probably within a year of solving that."

The hand-cranked Hunley sank the Union blockade ship Housatonic in 1864, becoming the first submarine in history to sink an enemy warship.

It was found 11 years ago and raised in 2000 from the Atlantic and is in a conservation lab. But the vessel has been slow revealing its secrets

There are generally two theories why it sank shortly after sending the Housatonic to the bottom. One is that it was damaged and took on water after the attack. The other is that the crew suffocated when they ran out of air.

Scientists are removing the sediment that hardened on the inside of the sub. Next spring, they will begin removing the hardened sediment from the hull.

"The exterior will be the real key to the thing," said Randy Burbage, a commission member. "You will be able to tell if another ship rammed it, which is a possibility, or if any other event may have happened."

McConnell said that includes the possibility the Hunley's hull may have been damaged by rifle fire or debris from the explosion on the Housatonic.

Removing the sediment from the inside will reveal the positions of valves used to run the pumps which will provide a clue whether the sub was taking on water, McConnell said.

Another artifact will soon be displayed at the Hunley lab — a watch once owned by Queenie Bennett, the sweetheart of the sub's commander, Lt. George Dixon.

The watch, as ornate as one owned by Dixon and which was found on the sub four years ago, is inscribed with the words "Queenie Bennett Dec. 25, 1862."

It's not known whether the watch was a Christmas gift from Dixon "but we think that is the last Christmas he spent with her," Burbage said.

Last week the state Budget and Control Board put off approval of Clemson University's plans to build a campus in North Charleston focusing on environmental science, materials technology and urban redevelopment.

As part of the project, Clemson would assume the conservation of the Hunley.

McConnell said Tuesday conservation will continue with or without Clemson. Income from donations, tours, merchandise sales, grants and other sources "will allow us to go to the finish line" with restoration work, he said.

Figures released by The Friends of the Hunley, which has been raising money for the conservation, show that as of Nov. 5, $1.1 million has been raised this year for the work. That compares with $1.2 million for all of last year.

Last year, the Hunley received $205,000 in government funds. This year that figure was almost $93,000.

General fundraising this year was $529,000, compared to $426,000 last year. The Hunley also gets revenue from tours of the sub and the sale of Hunley merchandise.

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Forget Ice D e Diving!

barrier reef, and while we are there, let’s explore some of the

hing

it is off the beaten path, the dive sites here are beautiful, hile you easy

lots of sharks, turtles & rays!). All but the wreck dives

s fully penetrable with permanent guidelines and lots to explore.)

es

e dives are guided by a fully certified cave diver/instructor and you’ll never be more than

r

nd have your own private guide!). There’s even a great

07

iving! Lets Go Reef & CenotPhoto Courtesy Riviera Maya Tourism Board

Come diving the Great Maya Reef, the world’s second largest

world’s most beautiful underwater caverns in Mexico’s Riviera Maya! La Jefa & I are planning a trip to a tranquil Mexican fisvillage known as Puerto Morelos which is south of Cancun and north of Playa del Carmen.

Becauseloaded with life and pretty much your private sanctuary ware diving. There are all types of dive sites ranging from

and shallow to deep with some current (meaningare drift dives that are as effortless as they are in Cozumel. (A “must dive” is the artificial reef, known as the Cañonero C-56 Juan Escutia. It’

If you’ve never tried cavern diving, the Riviera Maya is THE place to give it a try. There are many cenotwithin an hour drive of Puerto Morelos. You won’t need to be cave certified nor will you need technical equipment. Th130 feet from the surface. (The formations in these underwater passages will never leave your memory! We have photos & video if you’d like to see. Just ask us.)

Since the Dive Shop Owner will cater the diving schedule to us, we can dive as little as two dives a day oas much as five times a day. If we do two or three dives a day, we will have our afternoons and eveningsfree to visit Cancun and Playa del Carmen for shopping and eating. The historic town of Valladolid andthe ruins of Chichen Itza and Ek Balem can be visited in a one day trip at our leisure (There’s so muchmore to see when you’re not on a cattle bus amuseum dedicated to Underwater Archeology a mere 15 minutes south.

When are we going?: January 21st, 2007 until January 28th, 20Where: Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico (Fly to Cancún) How much will it cost?: $1,400 US per person (Without RT airfare; Ranges from $379 to $579)

Rosana & I have contacted our friends that manage the properties and own the dive shop and got their prices. This is how it’s itemized:

Ocean Diving: 12 Boat Dives & any equipment (BCDs/Regs/Tanks/Weights) = $300 Cenote Diving: 2 Tanks over 1 Day = $130 Food: 22 Meals total or $50 day/per person = $350 Ground Transportation: Group Rental of Minivan, $20 day/pp = $140 Hotel/House Rental: 2 people per room, Hotel or Private House, $55 day/pp = $385 Miscellaneous Cash: Museum, park and/or ruin entrance fees: = $95

Of course, the costs for food and lodging can be less if we rent houses and occasionally prepare our own breakfasts, lunches or dinners (the benefits of renting a fully furnished house as opposed to a hotel room; Many of the less luxurious homes go for around $40 day/pp and still include AC, TV, etc!).

How do I sign up? Give me a call (847.430.6421) or send me an e-mail (dcvemmer@comcast.net) as soon as possible. January is in the “peak season” so we must reserve the houses/rooms now. We currently have 5 people signed up and would like to keep it to no more than 12. If you are up

Photo Courtesy Riviera Maya Tourism Board Note: This event is being sponsored by Da lub meetings and in club publications, but it is not an official Triton Event and the clu receive remuneration for this event, in the

form of cash, discounts, allowances or other non-cash compensation.

for adventure and seeing the Riviera Maya in a manner you wouldn’t get with a regular tour operator, call me or e-mail me soon! La Jefa & I hope to hear from you! - David & Rosanna Vemmer

vid & Rosanna Vemmer, who have received approval to market the trip at cb assumes no liability for it. The member who is organizing this event may

Page 12

Many thanks to Nancy Boucha of Scuba Systems for sending this to our attention. Reprinted from http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/recent-sea-lion-attacks-concern- experts/20061128145109990008,

Article by Marcus Wohlsen, AP

RECENT SEA-LION ATTACKS CONCERN EXPERTS SAN FRANCISCO (Nov. 28) - Tourists floc of San Francisco Bay, but for many visitorslounge by the water's edge, gulping dowmonths has led experts to warn that the

"People should understand these animathere to survive for themselves," said JimGolden Gate Bridge from San Francisco

0

oup of sea lions took over a Newport Beach

y scribed the most recent attacks, ehavior.

a population numbe atures are

ear their food is about to be taken away, Oswald said.

k ts and feed fish scraps scr lion turned aggressive and bit a crew member.

rn coast could g more hungry sea lions Sa sco Maritime National

: Toxic algae blooms fed by mals by a chemical called

ated more than 200 sea lions

could have led to the they cannot be sure without

ess, the lagoon where the rning people to stay away

- it's probably not the best nd you want to keep them wild."

k to Fisherman's Wharf for the seafood and the stunning views , the real stars are the dozens of playful, whiskered sea lions that n fish. Now a series of sea-lion attacks on people in recent animals are not as cute and cuddly as they appear.

ls are out there not to attack people or humans. But they're out Oswald, a spokesman for the Marine Mammal Center across the

.

In the most frightening of the recent episodes, a rogue sea lion bit 14 swimmers this month and chased 1more out of the water at San Francisco's Aquatic Park, a sheltered lagoon near the bay. At least one victim suffered puncture wounds. Some scientists speculate that the animals' aggressive behavior is being caused by eating fish contaminated by toxic algae, or by a shortage of food off the coast. But wildlife experts say even healthy sea lions are best left alone.

In Southern California in June, a sea lion charged several people on Manhattan Beach and bit a man before waddling into the water and swimming away. In Berkeley, a woman was hospitalized last spring after a sea lion took a chunk out of her leg. Last year, a grmarina and caused a vintage 50-foot yacht to capsize when they boarded it. And a lifeguard in Santa Barbara was bitten three times while swimming off El Capitan State Beach. In Alaska, a huge sea lion jumped onto a fisherman's boat in 2004, knocked him overboard and pulled him underwater; he escaped without serious injury.

Sea lions, which can reach 1,000 pounds, typically bite only if they feel threatened or cornered. And theare more likely to flee than fight if they can escape. Researchers have dein which some swimmers were chased through open water, as abnormal b

Still, with ring about 200,000 and growing, these playful, social creincreasingly likely to cross paths with humans.

Sea lions accustomed to the easy pickings of seafood scraps in popular fishing areas can become aggressive toward people if they f

The Berkeley attack, for example, was at a marina where fishermen doc their boato sea lions. After they ran out of aps, the sea

At the same time, a food shortage off the Southern Califo ia be drivinthan usual to San Francisco Bay, said Lynn Cullivan, a spokesman for n FranciHistorical Park.

Humans could also be contributing to aggression in sea lions in another wayagricultural runoff and other pollution can lead to the poisoning of marine mamdomoic acid, which can cause brain damage. The Marine Mammal Center trefor domoic acid poisoning last year.

Veterinarians at the center believe the brain damage caused by the poisonmarauding animal's erratic behavior in Aquatic Park, Oswald said, thoughactually examining the sea lion.

So far park rangers have not been able to track the attacker down. Neverthelattacks occurred has been reopened to swimmers, though with new signs wafrom sea lions. "People who swim with the lions - though I'm sure that's nice

Oswald said. "It's a wild animal. Athing to do,"

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Page 13

From

and

re marked

tates. twork

ce. the service upgrade has been completed by counting the vents on the

through Friday, or go to the f

the Office of Information and Public Affairs, Washington, DC 20207, October 2, 2006, Alert #07-501http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07501.html

U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

RECALL ALERT SCUBAPRO® RECALLS MK 20 SCUBA REGULATORS FOR SERVICE

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of Product: Scubapro® MK 20 First Stage Regulators Units: About 48,500 units. Manufacturer: Scubapro® USA, of El Cajon, Calif. Hazard: Over-tightening of the Yoke or Din retainer during annual servicing of these regulators could result in a stress crack failure of the regulator. If this occurs during a dive, airsupply could be interrupted, posing a drowning hazard. Incidents/Injuries: No injuries or underwater incidents have been reported. Scubapro® USA has received eight reports of units that failed after being serviced. Description: The recall involves first stage regulators that awith the Scubapro brand and identified as the MK20. Sold at: Authorized Scubapro® dealers nationwide from January 1996 through December 2001 for about $260. Manufactured in: Italy and United SRemedy: Scubapro® USA has been providing a service upgrade kit via the authorized dealer nesince May 2005 which contains a Yoke or Din retainer that prohibits over-tightening during annual serviConsumers can easily identify if plastic saddle located on the regulator. If the service upgrade has not been completed, the consumer should bring the regulator to any authorized Scubapro® dealer to have the service upgrade completed free of charge. Consumer Contact: For assistance in locating the nearest authorized Scubapro® dealer or for more information, contact Scubapro® USA toll-free at (800) 731-6685 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday

irm’s Web site at www.scubapro-uwatec.com

Page 14

http://www.chica 3417.story

94-FOOT TUG GOES AGROUND IN LAKE SUPERIOR STORM

. -- T torms of as

boat Co. out of Duluth, Minn., was towing the firm's vintage tug, the Seneca, e lake when the relatively mild weather suddenly changed the evening of eas built from about 4 feet to 14 feet and higher, said Franz VonRiedel,

Susan Hoey as it towed the Seneca toward Grand

ly and came out of nowhere, we had no time to turn around and even if we did, there VonRiedel said. "The winds were now strong out of the north and we were only about

tion." e seen," said former Coast Guard engineer Ted Wagner. "You couldn't even tell which

om. It was like a whirlpool out there. Very strange." 1939, had undergone repairs and upgrades at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. The

ary's River to Lake Superior before VonRiedel put the Seneca in tow to save ort hops westward to Duluth, but once the weather changed, the crew

ht looking back and seeing the huge tug Seneca climb right out of a sea fully the night sky. It was like a house falling from the sky," VonRiedel said. The

nch-thick tow rope was too much. It snagged on a broken piece of steel rub rail eneca, which was swept away in no time.

a was not in the spotlight," VonRiedel said. "I shouted to Ted, 'Where's our ft a minute and responded, 'It's gone, forget about it.' At that point, it was

e had a better chance of saving ourselves." ached the destination, guided into port by Coast Guard radar. The Coast Guard

t 36 hours before spotting a silhouette of the Seneca about 18 miles east of k offshore of Upper Michigan's "Shipwreck Coast." er, the Coast Guard and federal officials ordered all of its fuel, oil and paint

s of early this week, 1,800 gallons of fuel, 25 gallons of paint and 30 gallons of lube oil had

gh a final determination can't be made until oey, meanwhile, returned to Duluth to continue its tug duties in western Lake

rt

Many thanks to Steve Leibovitz and Jackie Heirbaut for sending this one to my attention. Reprinted from: gotribune.com/news/local/wisconsin/chi-ap-wi-losttug,1,306

he gales of November can be vicious on Lake Superior, but sudden sASHLAND, WisDecember can be just The crew with the Zenith Tugin the southeastern end of thDec. 3. Within an hour, the spresident of Zenith and the man at the helm of the Marais, Mich "It happened so quick

bad or worse, a tugboat crew has learned.

was nowhere to go,"10 miles from our destina"It was the worst I'vdirection they were coming frThe 94-foot Seneca, built in two tugs motored up the St. Mfuel. The plan was to run shstruggled to stay afloat. "It was an incredible sigexposing her rusty bottom tostrain on a nearly new, 3-iand was cut, freeing the S"I looked back and the Senectow?' and he concentrated aalmost a relief and now wThe Hoey eventually reCutter Alder searched abouGrand Marais, partially sunWith an oil sheen in the watremoved. Abeen taken off of the ice-coated tug. VonRiedel said the Seneca appears to be a total loss, althouafter salvage efforts. The HSuperior. "We're just so happy nobody was hurt. The equipment we can replace, the men we cannot," VonRiedel said.

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PASSPORT REMINDER Planning to fly to a diving vacation in the new year? On January 23 you will need a passport if you aretraveling by air between the US and the Caribbean, Mexico, Bermuda, Canada, Central and South America.

Details and passport applications can be found at http://travel.state.gov/. Post offices that accept passpoapplications are listed at www.usps.com/passport.

In Chicago, the main passport office is in the Kluczynski Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn St. 18th Floor; 877-487-2778. Don’t delay – get your passport now!

Page 15

g businesses generosity. Please the

4 Lake Zurich, IL 60047

7-3483 708-442-4388

aukee, WI 53215

Crystal Lake, IL 60014

A LION DIVE CENTER

630-289-1680

TOUCAN DIVE CENTER

U

A big Triton THANK YOU! The followin support our organization and we thank them for the

next time you stop in mention you are a Triton and personally thank them for their support.

BELOW H20 2950 Ogden Avenue

Aurora IL 60504 630-820-2531

BERRY AQUA PARADISE 1620 Pebblewood Lane, # 124

Naperville, IL 60563 630-579-1150

BERRY DIVE CENTER 1294 E. Dundee Road

Palatine, IL 6007

CHICAGOLAND SCUBA 732 S. Rand Road

847-358-3848 847-540-7211

DD DIVE SHOP 1039 Waukegan Road

Glenview, IL 60025 847-65

DJ’S SCUBA LOCKER 7840 W. Ogden, Suite #9

Lyons, IL 60534

HAIGH QUARRY 2738 E 2000 North Road

Kankakee, IL 60901

PIRATE’S COVE DIVING 1103 West Oklahoma Avenue

Milw815-939-7797 414-482-1430

SCUBA EMPORIUM SCUBA EMPORIUM 12003 S. Cicero Avenue

Alsip, IL 60803 703-389-9410

16336 S. 104th Avenue Orland Park, IL 60467

708-226-1614

SCUBA SYSTEMS 3919 Oakton

Skokie, IL 60076

SEA LEVEL DIVING 93 Berkshire Drive, Suite C

847-674-0222 815-479-0996

SE1158 Lake Street

Hanover Park, IL 60107 756 Frontage Road Lake Villa, IL 60046

847-356-7826

NDERSEAS SCUBA CENTER 611 N. Addison Avenue

Villa Park, IL 60181 630-833-8383

NO TEST-FIRING IN GREAT LAKES y it was withdrawing plans to periodically close 2,500

ad ammunition being deposited in the lakes.

AP WASHINGTON The U.S. Coast Guard said Mondasquare miles of the Great Lakes for live machine-gun firing exercises. The plan was criticized by several U.S. and Canadian mayors, business leaders and environmentalists who said it could be unsafe and disruptive. Environmentalists also worried about the le

Page 16

The TriF

December, 2006

Triton DIVE

www.TheTritons

DAN Sponsor

he Trito

o Business Meetin

Our n xt 7 a 8:00 pm Diver Dan from K a trip to Beqa Island

Giuseppe's

tons OUNDED IN 1957

P. O. Box 1025 Des Plaines, IL 60017-1025

L INE: 847-394-0975.com

-# 29362

T ns There will be n g in December

e meeting will be January 23, 200enosh bout

t a will be speaking a

1062 Lee St Des Plaines, IL (847) 824-4230

The restaurant is situated on Lee Street, north of Algonquin and south of Northwest Highway