AQUA TUTUS

DIVING CLUB

May 2017

Since 1958... a publication from the Aqua Tutus Diving Club, a non-profit organization established to promote Water Safety and to further the sport of SCUBA Diving.

MEETING SCHEDULEGeneral Club Meeting: First Thursday of Every Month at 7:30 p.m. (except December)Board of Directors Meeting: Third Thursday of Every Month at 7:00 p.m. (except December)Location: Round Table Pizza20920 Redwood RoadCastro Valley, CA 94546

UPCOMING CLUB ACTIVITIESJune 1: General Club MeetingJune 16-18: Club Dive: POC Myran GistJune 15: BOD Meeting

For a complete listing of club activities visit Meetup or ATDC Event Calendar.

IN THIS ISSUEEntertainment Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Aqua Tutus West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32017 Abalone Creel Survey . . . . . . . . . . . 4Sea Star Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Deepsea Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4What’s a CenCal? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5General Meeting Minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6BOD Meeting Minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Useful Links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThank you presenters and newsletter contributors for making this Aqua Tooter possible: Dan Abbott, Ariu Levi, Carol Rose, Larry Ankuda, Joe Timmons, Helga Mahlmann, Kari Klaboe and Gayle Hudson.

Thanks to Steele’s Discount Scuba for sending member candidates to Aqua Tutus Diving Club. Steele’s is located at5987 Telegraph AvenueOakland, CA 94609(510) 655-4344

JUNE MEETING ENTERTAINMENTJim Steele – Dive History and the Evolution of Dive Equipment – Part 2We had so much fun in January listening to Jim Steele tell us about the history of diving, he barely had time to scratch the surface of the evolution of dive equipment. So Jim, a longtime member of Aqua Tutus and owner of Steele’s Discount Scuba, will be returning to continue his presentation on the “Dive History and the Evolution of Dive Equipment.” Jim’s dive shop on Telegraph and 60th Street in North Oakland was first opened in 1939 as a sporting goods store, when it was owned by Jim’s father, Howard. Steele’s became a dive shop in 1958 and Jim grew up in the shop, continuing to work at Steele’s while going to school at Oakland Tech, Laney College and UC Berkeley. In college Jim was a military studies major and, after serving in the Army reserves at Fort Bliss, Texas, he returned to the Bay Area in the early 70s and opened his first dive shop separate from his father’s shop. Eventually he opened other locations and then focused on just the store on Telegraph. He teaches many of the shop’s certification courses, which are mostly for beginners and recreational divers. Jim loves California diving – which is apparent when you see his interaction and enthusiasm for new and old divers alike.

Diving the California Coast since 1955

2 | The Aqua Tooter

Reef Check California: Empowering People to Save our Reefs and Oceans

At the May meeting, Aqua Tutus members and guests learned about Reef Check and the valuable contributions volunteer divers are making by helping local scientists gather species data.

Dan Abbott, the Central Coast Regional Manager for Reef Check, was our presenter and has been involved with Reef Check California as a volunteer and part-time instructor since 2005; he started working for Reef Check full-time in September 2014. In the two years Dan has managed the Central Coast region for Reef Check, he has expanded the number of survey sites and training sessions. Additionally, he spearheaded new efforts to survey the Big Sur coast by organizing live aboard trips out of Morro Bay.

Dan was introduced by Aqua Tutus member David Chervin, a Reef Check volunteer diver who did more survey work this year for the organization than any other volunteer in the region.

Dan began with an explanation of how California’s rocky reefs support giant kelp forests, which are one of the most productive biospheres in the world, providing habitat, nurseries, feeding grounds, oxygen and host hundreds of species. The reefs support an annual ocean economy of approximately $43 billion, the largest in the United States.

Dan explained the ecosystem structure, food chain disruptions and keystone species critical to the health of a reef. The history of the California coast experienced exploitation where, by the 1800s, hunted species such as sea otters were thought to be extinct. In 1911, they were declared a protected species despite no sightings being made. Finally, by 1938, sea otters were rediscovered at Bixby Creek while the bridge there was being built. The otters returned to Monterey’s Cannery Row in 1964, an area relatively barren of animals. Other exploited/unsustainable harvests included abalone, by the early-mid 1900s and many species of fish by the mid-late 1900s.

By 1999, the Marine Life Protection Act (MPA) was passed, requiring the state to sustainably manage all of California’s living marine resources. It is the largest scientifically designed network of marine protected areas and, where MPAs are in place, more species are present to interact and maintain the health of the reef.

Despite the depletion of species, and unlike land, Marine forests can rebound quickly and resist change better. There are also stalled recoveries, where sea otters that have not been hunted for 100 years increase in numbers by 5% per year. Abalone is slow but steady, and while some fish populations are still healthy, others are severely depleted. Agricultural runoff, global warming, harmful algae blooms, sea star wasting disease, plastic marine debris, invasive sargassum and other factors all contribute to decimate the kelp forests and coral reefs.

In 1996, Reef Check was founded to answer the question: “What is the health of coral reefs globally?”

To answer this question, Reef Check started training volunteer citizen scientists worldwide to count selected indicator species, build local support for conservation and develop economically sound and ecologically sustainable solutions.

In 2006, Reef Check California (RCCA) was founded to foster the sustainable management of the state’s kelp forests. To gather the data scientists need on an ongoing basis, RCCA trained roughly 1,500 divers who have completed over 750 surveys. In 2016, RCCA trained 302 divers who completed 87 surveys at 77 sites statewide.

To be eligible for Reef Check training, a diver must have the following qualifications: proof of dive certification; minimum of 30 logged lifetime dives; minimum of 15 logged dives in California or other temperate region with water temp below 68° F; minimum of six dives within the last year; minimum age of 16 on the first day of class.

Students are issued a Reef Check California instruction manual, indicator species flash cards; a databoard with compass, pencil with waterproof paper and transect tape. In the classroom, students learn scientific diving methods, data collection techniques, species identification, basic marine ecology and dive safety. Students learn to identify 36 species of fish, 31 species of invertebrates, and nine species of algae. The second day of class is spent in the pool practicing the collection techniques.

During the second weekend, six checkout dives are made aboard the Silver Prince. On a dive, volunteers carry a databoard, datasheets on underwater paper, a pencil, compass, flashlight, transect tape and calipers. The first day diving is just getting a feel for the survey process and during day two everything falls into place and Dan says that’s when “…divers get it.” He said retention rate is almost 100% from year to year.

For 2017, California Reef Check has scheduled 35 dives on the central coast from March through October. 22 of the dives are shore dives and 13 are boat dives; several dives are overnight trips (both shore and boat) and the locations range from Mendocino to San Luis Obispo.

Divers interested in Reef Check California can find more information at their website.

We thank Dan Abbott for his informative presentation of Reef Check California, and David Chervin for connecting us with Dan to make this presentation possible.

ENTERTAINMENT REPORT By Gayle Hudson

More images can be found on our website.

May 2017 | 3

AQUA TUTUS WESTBy Aloha Joe

On April 23, 2017, the members of AQUA TUTUS WEST had their annual meeting at Quinn’s Almost by the Sea restaurant in the heart of Kailua Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Present were Arnie and Gale Warshawsky, Tom and Virginia Forgatsch, Mark Johnson, Lea Sykes and Aloha Joe Timmons. Absent, was Joy Johnson preparing for a mainland trip. A short explanation of each participating member follows for the younger and newer members of the Club.Aqua Tutus West Associate Members

Aqua Tutus West Associate Members:

Arnie and Gale Warshawsky – They may not be current members of the mainland section of the Aqua Tutus Diving Club, but are former members who moved to Oahu 13 years ago. Arnie is a current diving instructor and participates in many of the Aqua Tutus travel functions. He once played Santa at one of the holiday parties. Gale spends much of her time learning and playing her ukulele. She volunteers her music and talent around the islands.

Tom and Virginia Forgatsch – Tom was a lecturer in the 1970s, specializing in marine biology, and a teaching assistant in our eight-week open water classes of a bygone era. He continues to dive in the warm waters of Hawaii. For many years, Tom and Virginia took on a farm in Bandon, Oregon, and raised blueberries, cranberries, sheep and llamas. They retired, if you can call it that, to the Big Island about two years ago. Virginia helps Tom with renovating the Hawaii property and is learning to play the ukulele.

Mark and Joy Johnson – Mark is a former instructor and president of Aqua Tutus multiple times before relocating to the Big Island in 2004. He is also a lifetime member of the Club. Occasionally, Mark has traveled to far-off places to dive with the Club. He is currently a general contractor, property manager and real estate agent in Hawaii. Joy met Mark through the Club and the rest is history. Joy is a real estate agent in Hawaii. In her spare time, she paints (not houses) and helps students obtain scholarships.

Aloha Joe Timmons and Lea Sykes –Joe was a former instructor, president, and a lifetime member of the Club. He uprooted from the Bay Area in 2005 and moved to the Big Island where he continues to dive and accrue diving equipment. He is contemplating a 12-step program to eliminate the acquisition of more equipment. Lea was the wife of our departed member, Bob Sykes, and spends much of her time tending to her flora and keeping Aloha Joe out of trouble.

The meeting was informal and no one fell asleep. Many stories were swapped and attested to (dangling participle). The names of Dennis Hocker, Jim Steele, Alan Throop, Jeff Tindall, and Jono, among others, were mentioned a few times during discussions, all in a positive manner, of course.

We all agreed that there would only be one way that we could unite the Club more closely. That was to invite the entire mainland section of the Club to the clear and warm water of Hawaii for an Aqua Tutus Diving Club meeting.

IN MEMORIAM, KEN SCHNEIDERKen Schneider, an experienced diver and a guest at past Club events, passed away while diving Carmel River Beach on March 9th. Club member Ariu Levi was Ken’s dive partner that day.

Ken suffered a massive heart attack at the start of the dive. According to medical staff at Monterey Peninsula Community Hospital, where Ken was taken by emergency personnel, his death came quickly and with little pain.

Ken had over 40 years of SCUBA and free diving experience. His was a diving family and he learned the skills of free diving from his father and then became SCUBA certified at age 16. His favorite spots were on the Channel Islands, Monterey peninsula and the North Coast.

Ken was a great dive partner and a better friend. He was always upbeat and ready for the next adventure. He will be sorely missed.

4 | The Aqua Tooter

DIVER CITIZEN SCIENCE: SEA STAR SURVEY

Dr. Sarah Cohen at SFSU/Romberg Tiburon Center & fellow researchers are gathering information on the distribution and abundance of the six-armed sea star, Leptasterias spp., and in particular are seeking observations of these starfish by divers.

Leptasterias are a small starfish, typically 1 to 2 inches across, with 6 arms, are typically grey, brown, or pink mottled with white, and have a rough texture.

Information about sightings of both healthy or wasting stars can be reported to http://seastarwasting.org/

Please also see the flyer asking for diver reports.

You may contact Sarah Cohen directly for further information.

JULY MEETING DATE CHANGEDue to the 4th of July holiday, the July General Meeting has been changed to Wednesday, July 12, 2017.

WHAT IS A “POC”?The “POC” is a Point of Contact for a club dive.

Any member is welcome to plan a dive and put in on our Meetup calendar. You don’t have to be a dive master, or the director of training, or a board member to do this. Any club dive is done with the expectation that there will be people there to help.

» See our website for other Frequently Asked Questions.

BEGINNING PHOTOSHOP FOR UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHERSThis and other tutorials can be found on our website’s tutorials page.

2017 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ABALONE CREEL SURVEYSThe California Fish and Wildlife Abalone Project needs help surveying 10 abalone creel sites for 2 days in May and June this year.

This is a great opportunity for volunteers to experience first-hand one of the most popular recreational fisheries in California. This year we are particularly interested in seeing how the catch is affected by poor environmental conditions for red abalone (warm water, no kelp and sea urchin population explosion). Participants will be interviewing abalone fishers at sites and will not be involved with enforcing fishing regulations. Dates selected this year are May 28 & 29 (Sunday, Monday) and June 25 & 26 (Sunday, Monday). People can sign up for single days.

Sites include: Shelter Cove (southern Humboldt County, Hardy Creek, MacKerricher State Park, Van Damme State Park, Arena Cove, Moat Creek (Mendocino County), Sea Ranch, Salt Point, Fort Ross area (Sonoma County)

The sampling occurs for about 3 ½ hours during morning low tides and will start at 7:45 A.M.

To sign up to participate with the creel survey contact Jerry Kashiwada at the Fort Bragg Marine Region field office (707) 964-5791.

As a boy, filmmaker James Cameron dreamed of a journey to the deepest part of the ocean. This film is the dramatic fulfillment of that dream. It chronicles Cameron’s solo dive to the depths of the Mariana Trench—nearly seven miles beneath the ocean’s surface—piloting a submersible he designed himself. The risks were astounding. The footage is breathtaking. James Cameron’s Deepsea Challenge 3D is a celebration of science, courage, and extraordinary human aspiration.

May 2017 | 5

WHAT’S A CENCAL? 60 YEARS LATERBy Carol Rose , CenCal Past President

This is history of CenCal, a time frame within my own history in the Council – 1976 to present. CenCal started in 1959, so it has a long history of ‘doing’ for divers. The Central California Council of Diving Clubs, Inc. is better known/AKA/DBA as CenCal. It is a north/central California recreational diver membership organization, a tax exempt, not for profit corporation formed in 1959.

But the question is, what is CenCal doing now and what has it done for me lately?

Current issues: abalone, nearshore fisheries, Marine Protected Areas, Artificial Reefs and the Marine Life Management /Protections Act. Many hours are spent by many persons at many meetings, writing letters and making contacts, so divers are represented and heard.

Abalone is always a key issue. The Abalone Management and Recovery Plan (AMRC), in part, sets limits on ‘take,’ and the 2012 heavy die off in Sonoma County reduced the population dramatically, and important regulatory changes were made. Now California is facing a perfect storm: warm water, sea urchin explosion, star fish die off and starving abalone.

CenCal sits on the RAAC, Recreational Abalone Advisory Committee, a state panel with authority to recommend use of abalone tag moneys and to evaluate suggested changes in the State Fish & Wildlife regulations on bag limit, daily take and so forth. In process right now is the creation of a FMP, Fishery Management Plan for red abalone. This Plan will update and mostly replace the AMRC; it will take through 2017 to finalize the Plan.

So what is CenCal good for?

It’s good for AccessEver Dive? Carmel River Beach? The Monterey Land Use Plan wanted to ban divers from crossing the beach except at either end. Constant and persistent CenCal testimony to the Coastal Commission prevented access restriction.

Ever Dive? Lovers Point Cove? Pacific Grove passed an ordinance preventing diving in the Cove for 5 months each year, CenCal initiated successful litigation preventing the closure.

Ever Dive? Stillwater Cove on the 17 Mile Drive? You can thank CenCal for collecting the usage data and being persistent before the Coastal Commission. The result was not only access but bathrooms, parking and a pier.

Ever Dive? Monastery Beach? The Monterey Land Use Plan would have closed all parking or built parking on the far side of the highway – sometime. CenCal kept the parking open.

It’s good for informationEver get a ticket for your inflatable boat? Some years ago the Coast Guard began ticketing – with every right – inflatable boats for many irregularities. CenCal has all the regulations on paper; created a brochure and sent it to all stores selling inflatables, all dive stores, all dive clubs, so boat owners now know!

CenCal worked for the Prop 132 Reserve Initiative banning inshore gill nets in Southern California and provided for 4 reserves. CenCal achieved locations for the new reserves with little impact on recreational diving.

On the Marine Resources front, it’s always good for abalone.CenCal collected thousands of signatures opposing any commercial abalone fishery on the north coast. There is now a law against such a fishery. CenCal sits on the DFG Recreational Abalone Advisory Committee, and CenCal did not give up on action for an Abalone Stamp which now provides funds for enforcement and research for abalone.

In 1997 CenCal worked tirelessly to gain passage of SB463 which provided for the Abalone Stamp, closed recreational and commercial abalone harvest south of the Golden Gate Bridge (including off shore Islands) and provided for recovery of the abalone resource. The Bill passed and was signed.For halibut

Halibut was under great pressure, and CenCal provided expertise at meetings to change the ‘experimental’ fishery demolishing the population, tearing up the bottom and wasting incredible amounts of ‘incidental catch.’For lobster?

CenCal works with the other California Councils on lobster issues to benefit divers. Lobster season now opens a little earlier just for divers.

It’s good for competitive diversFor skin divers who want competition; for underwater hockey / rugby players who want to go to world championships. CenCal has all this too. These activities are entirely self funded without financial support from CenCal dues.

Kelp issues with the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary were settled and without detriment to the dive community, but persistence, reason and logic pays off.It’s good for education

CenCal has a annual college Scholarship, a $1000 grant given to a worthy California diver student each year.

CenCal has two web pages where members and other divers are able keep up on current issues and the upcoming calendar of dive events and activities.

cencal.orgcencalspearfishing.org deals exclusively with skin spearfishing The committee has it’s own funds/funding – no dues or other CenCal general income applies.

If it sounds as if CenCal is a busy organization, it is. Keeping up with the legislature, Fish & Game, Parks & Rec, Monterey Bay Sanctuary, the Coastal Commission is a full time job, and it is all managed by volunteers. The council meets via phone conference in odd months on the last Wednesday, and all members and other divers are welcome. More help is really really needed. Can you help out? give us / me (707 343 7132) or croseusoa@aol.com – a call, whatever you can offer – lots of stuff can be done from home. More hands – lighter work.

And That’s a CenCal! and What It Does for Divers …

6 | The Aqua Tooter

GENERAL MEETING MINUTESBy Kari Klaboe

Date: May 4, 2017

Meeting called to order by President Jono Dove at Round Table Pizza in Castro Valley, CA at 7:30 pm.

Speaker: Dan Abbott (Reef Check California)

Guests: None

Entertainment (Gayle Hudson) 2017Jun: The History of Diving & Evolution of Dive Equipment

Part 2 – Jim SteeleJul: Wakatobi Resort, Indonesia – Larry MuthAug: Member’s NightSep or Oct: Clay Wiseman

• If you would like to present photos or video during Member’s Night, please contact Gayle at entertainment@aquatutus.org in advance of the August meeting.

• If you have any requests or suggestions for future entertainment, let us know!

Treasurer’s Report (Helga Mahlmann)• Account Balance: $5,099.93• Bill submitted by Alan Throop for $144.93

Membership (Debbie Muth-Driggers)• 70 members, including associates and lifetime members.• Don’t forget to pay your 2017 club dues!

Training (Dennis Hocker)• Dennis proposed having a training topic for each club

dive, so divers can improve their dive skills. Participation in the club dive does not require you to participate in the training topic, rather the training topic provides divers the opportunity to improve their dive skills.

For more information on training contact Dennis Hocker (510) 792-5606 dennis@rxscuba.com or Neil Benjamin (510) 673-0073 neil.benjamin@lamrc.com

Newsletter (Lola Johnston)• April newsletter came out! If you are not receiving a copy,

check your spam or junk folder first and then contact Lola at newsletter@aquatutus.org for assistance.

• If you have article, please let Lola know! Input due by the 20th of the month.

Web Goddess (Lola Johnston)• Website is up to date. Check out the calendar if you want

to see what events are coming up.• Content can be sent to Lola at webmaster@aquatutus.org.

Social Media (Gayle Hudson)• Facebook: Participation is open to the public.• Meetup: 88 members. Participation is limited to club

members.• YouTube: We are looking for more video uploads and

recommend the video length be five to eight minutes.

Old Business:• Constitution & Bylaws: Motion by Jim Driggers to

postpone vote until next month because he still would like

to review the changes. Second by Mike. Motion passed.• BMALS: Board Members At-Large will be voted on in the

June general meeting. Jeff Doney self-nominated. Larry Dimitri nominated by Debbie. Myran self-nominated.

New Business: None

Special Committee: None Past Dives:• Hawaii (Larry Dimitri): Six dives in Kauai, first few dives

were at the southern end of the island near the Sheraton hotel. Larry saw some lava tubes with sleeping turtles. Last month he was in Maui and completed 14 dives. Highlights included diving Molokini with whales and dolphins around the boat.

• April Club Dive at Breakwater (Kat Smith): Poor visibility (less than 5 feet), issues with buoyancy, issues with clearing ears — brutal dive. Breakwater was very busy with lots of divers around. The visibility got slightly better as you swam further out in Middle Reef. Larry had his BCD power inflator stuck open and he had a quick ride to the surface — keep your schrader valve clean!

• April Re-certification Month for Reef Check (Dave Chervin): Practice dive in Monterey at McAbee Beach and certification boat dives near the Monterey aquarium. Lots of abalone – 15 abalone in a 30 meter distance.

• California Academy of Science (Mike Thwaites): Tropical dive at the academy. The training dive was 40 minutes long.

Good Buddy Award: NoneBone Nominations: None Bone Award: None

Upcoming Activity and Dives2017May 6-7: Scuba Show in Long Beach, CaliforniaMay 13: Club Dive Copper Roof House in Carmel –

POC Kari KlaboeMay 18: Scuba Happy Hour – contact Nancy GeartyMay 27-June 4: Bonaire Dive Buddy Resort – contact Neil

Benjamin and Idonya PickneyJune 16-18: Salt Point Camping Weekend (Woodside

Campground) – POC Myran GistJune 24-July 8: Caribbean Explorer II, St. Maarten, Saba, St.

Kitts – contact Dennis HockerJuly 12: General Meeting date changed to

Wednesday, July 12September 9-12: Channel Islands trip with Vaqueros del Mar

dive club – contact Alan ThroopNovember 11-18: Roatan Island, Honduras – contact Nancy

GeartyDecember 21-January 6: Cozumel, Mexico trip – contact

Dennis Hocker

2018June 28-July 8: Papua New Guinea – contact Dennis Hocker

MeetingsNext Membership meeting: June 1, 2017Next BOD meeting: May 18, 2017

Meeting adjourned at 9:14 pm.

May 2017 | 7

GEAR FOR SALE OR TRADELooking to advertise your gear for sale or trade? List it on our Meetup message board.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTESBy Kari Klaboe

Date: May 18, 2017

Present: Kari Klaboe, Gayle Hudson, Jono Dove, Dennis Hocker, Myran Gist, Debbie Muth-Driggers, Larry Muth, Jeff Doney, Sheila Doney, Kat Smith, Helga Mahlmann, Mike Barrett, Lola Johnston

Meeting called to order at 7:02 pm by President – Jono Dove.

Upcoming Entertainment (Gayle Hudson)2017 June: Part Two: The History of Diving & Evolution of Diving

Equipment – Jim SteeleJuly: Wakatobi – Larry MuthAugust: Member’s NightSept or Oct: Clay Wiseman

Possible Presentations:Deep Reef Diving by California Academy of ScienceAmos Nahcoum to present about his nonprofitOcean Geographic would like to present on Arctic diving.

Please contact Gayle at entertainment@aquatutus.org if you have any requests or suggestions for future entertainment.

Treasurer’s Report (Helga Mahlmann) • Account Balance: $5,134.81

Membership (Debbie Muth-Driggers) • Club roster updated.• 55 regular members, 7 associate members, and 9 lifetime

members

Director of Training (Dennis Hocker) Dennis and Board discussed the benefits of having a training exercise during the club dives. All agreed this was a good idea, but that we would not make it a requirement in order to POC a club dive.

Web Goddess (Lola Johnston)Everything is great!

Newsletter (Lola Johnston)Lots of great content coming in! Content is due by the 20th, email newsletter@aquatutus.org.

Social Media (Gayle Hudson)Meetup: 88 members and 15 pending. Members who have not

paid dues will be removed from Meetup this month. Gayle to post a notice on Meetup.

Facebook: 85 members

Special Committee • Holiday Party: Date for the 2017 holiday party is set:

December 9, 2017. La Cabana is tentatively confirmed.• Constitution & Bylaws: Membership will vote on revisions

at June meeting. Lola to send out an email reminder to club members notifying them of the vote.

CenCalLola posted the recent article describing the CenCal organization to the ATDC website.

Old Business• Board Retreat: Jono postponed the Board retreat and will

update the Board soon regarding a new date.• Board Members At-large (BMAL) Voting: In June we will

vote for our new Board Members At-large (BMAL). Ballot: Kat is going to create ballots for BMAL voting. Ballot Counting: Sheila, Helga, and Debbie will count votes.

New Business• Sponsor Advertising: A question came up by one of our

Holiday party donors about the possibility of sponsor advertising on our website. The Board agreed that we will not advertise sponsors on our website, we traditionally have not and do not feel comfortable starting that practice.

• Lifetime Member: Jono suggested nominating Apple of Dive Paradise as a Lifetime Member. Kari to help coordinate nomination and biographical writeup.

Upcoming Events2017May 27-June 4: Bonaire Dive Buddy Resort – POC Neil

Benjamin and Idonya PickneyJune 16-18: Salt Point camping weekend – POC Myran

Gist; Myran will host a free diving pool practice in a 13 ft. deep pool at Oakland High (Park and 580). It will be held on a Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30pm. Contact Myran for details.

June 24-July 8: Caribbean Explorer II, St. Maarten, Saba, St. Kitts – POC Dennis Hocker

July 12: General Meeting date changed to Wednesday, July 12

November 11-18: Roatan Island, Honduras – Contact Nancy Gearty

December 21-Jan 6: 14th consecutive Cozumel Christmas in Mexico trip – POC Dennis Hocker – Divers are welcome to stay for part or all of the trip.

2018June 28 – July 8: Papua New Guinea – POC Dennis Hocker

MeetingsNext Membership meeting: June 1, 2017Next BOD meeting: June 15, 2017

The General meeting in July will be held on Wednesday, the 12th, with the Board meeting the following week on Thursday, July 20.

Meeting adjourned at 8:07 pm.

8 | The Aqua Tooter

2017 OFFICERS/BOD/VOLUNTEERSPresidentJono Dove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . president@aquatutus.org

Vice PresidentPatti Shannon-Hocker . . . . . . . vicepresident@aquatutus.org

SecretaryKari Klaboe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . secretary@aquatutus.org

TreasurerHelga Mahlmann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . treasurer@aquatutus.org

Membership CoordinatorDebbie Driggers . . . . . . . . . . . .membership@aquatutus.org

Training DirectorDennis Hocker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . training@aquatutus.org

Entertainment CoordinatorGayle Hudson . . . . . . . . . . . . . entertainment@aquatutus.org

Newsletter EditorLola Johnston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .newsletter@aquatutus.org

Social Media CoordinatorGayle Hudson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . socialmedia@aquatutus.org

Board Members at Large:Shelia Doney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . bmal@aquatutus.orgMyran Gist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . bmal@aquatutus.orgGayle Hudson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . bmal@aquatutus.orgKat Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . bmal@aquatutus.org

Past PresidentMike Barrett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pastpresident@aquatutus.org

Web “Goddess”Lola Johnston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . webmaster@aquatutus.org

SUBMISSIONS NEEDEDDive pictures, stories and videos needed for the website, Tooter, YouTube channel and social media sites. Visit our photo submissions page for details.

PUBLICATION SCHEDULESubmissions due by the 20th of each month. The Tooter is published by the end of each month. No publication for December.

USEFUL LINKSInternet Resources for the Bay Area Diverhttp://www.garlic.com/~triblet/swell/

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaryhttp://www.mbnms.nos.noaa.govhttps://www.facebook.com/MBNMS

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institutehttp://www.mbari.org/https://www.facebook.com/MBARInews?fref=ts

California Marine Sanctuary Foundationhttp://californiamsf.org/index.html

Pacific Grove Hyperbaric Chamberhttps://www.facebook.com/PGHyperbaricChamberhttp://californiamsf.org/pages/donate-pgh.html

BIG ISLAND, HAWAII KONA CONDO FOR RENTBook now at this low price!June 15 - July 13, 2018$450 per week + $14 taxOne-time $50 registry fee covers one or all weeks. Weeks run Thursday to Thursday.

Contact Don Kelsey 925-820-8362 dwk.kelsey@gmail.com

» Resort info can be found on The Kona Billfisher website.