Open Mike Night At OTB

This December’s meeting is “Open Mike” Night. Bring a guitar, keyboard, kazoo . . . voice . . . whatever . . . and join some other club members. Whatever you’d like.

You are also invited to bake or buy, a snack or dessert of your choice to share with other members.  No need to bring a huge portion . . . if everyone brings something, we’ll do just fine . . . as we did last year.

As added entertainment, there will be some video and photos of Blue Water Divers’ recent trip to the Maldives and Indonesia. There will also be copies of their 2010 Travel Program.

As usual, the meeting will be at the Sheraton Crossroads, Illusions, 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, December 2nd.

2 Sunken Japanese Subs Are Found Off Hawaii

From the New York Times:

Researchers on Thursday announced the discovery of two World War II Japanese submarines, including one meant to carry aircraft for attacks on American cities and the Panama Canal, in deep water off Hawaii, where they were sunk 63 years ago.

Link

On The Bottom Dive Club Meeting

The November OTB Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday November 11th at 7:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Crossroads in Mahwah. We will NOT be meeting at Illusions so check the TV monitors in the Lobby to find out the location. Don’t worry–Mark, our faithful bartender, will be bringing his bar with him–to our meeting.

Carla Chatterton is on the schedule to make a presentation on SUDS (Soldiers Undertaking Diabled Scuba)–it is an amazing non-profit organization that trains wounded warriors to scuba dive.

More on SUDS:

SUDS is a non-profit organization based out of Walter Reed Army Medical Center WRAMC. SUDS is one of the several rehabilitation programs offered at WRAMC and is designed to help improve the lives of the injured returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

By training the soldiers in the challenging and rewarding activity of SCUBA diving it can help facilitate the rehabilitation process and promote mobility. Offering this venue provides the soldier with a sport they can enjoy throughout their life and share with their family and friends.

SUDS is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization & a chapter of the Wounded Warrior / Disabled Sports Project. With the help of the generosity of the diving community and the SUDS all volunteers, SUDS has certified over 150 veterans and now works out of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and Brook Army Medical facility in San Antonio, Texas.

Special Event Tomorrow Evening

This is from the New York Underwater Photographic Society website:

NYUPS is proud to present “20,000 Bytes Under The Sea”, a special presentation by legendary National Geographic photographer and IMAX filmmaker, Emory Kristof.

Emory Kristof has been a National Geographic photographer ever since working for the magazine as an intern in 1963. The discovery of new life forms around volcanic vents, huge deep-dwelling sharks a mile down, shipwrecks such as the Titanic, Bismarck, and Edmund Fitzgerald have been covered by Emory Kristof in the pages and videos of the National Geographic. He teamed with Stephen Low Productions to do the IMAX Film “Volcanoes of the Deep Sea.” For over 30 years, submersibles and remotely operated vehicles (ROVS) have given him the access. His innovative photography uncovers the heretofore-unexplored worlds of deep-sea animals. In a presentation for NYUPS, illustrated with spectacular underwater imagery, Kristof will recount the challenges and solutions encountered in bringing back striking images from miles down in the world’s oceans.

After the presentation, we will be hosting a complimentary wine and cheese networking reception.

Where

Bleecker Street Theater (45 Bleecker St New York).

When

Friday October 30, 2009 – 7PM – 10:30PM

Admission

Admission is complimentary, and seating is limited. We do expect a full house and you must RSVP to attend. If you do not RSVP and receive a confirmation, then you are not on the guest list.

To RSVP

Please send an RSVP to rsvp@nyups.org, with the words “RSVP Special Event” in the subject line. In the body of the email please include your full name and your city and state of residence.

OTB Meeting Reminder

The next OTB Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7th at 7:30p.m. at Illusion’s in the Sheraton,  Mahwah.  The guest speaker will be John Stella, of Scubapro who will have all the new Scubapro Toys for 2010.  Additionally he’ll be talking about the new Nova Fins as well as the Uwatec Dive Computers being sold by Scubapro.

As usual, there will be a raffle–which John has promised to donate to.

We’ll be holding our raffle–which John promises to donate to.OTB Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7th at 7:30p.m.  We’re at Illusion’s at the Sheraton,  Mahwah as usual.

Our presenter is John Stella, of Scubapro who will have all the new Scubapro Toys for 2010.  Additionally he’ll be talking about the NEW Nova Fins and will be happy to talk about any of the Uwatec Dive Computers being sold by Scubapro (Uwatec).

We’ll be holding our raffle–which John promises to donate to.OTB Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7th at 7:30p.m.  We’re at Illusion’s at the Sheraton,  Mahwah as usual.

Our presenter is John Stella, of Scubapro who will have all the new Scubapro Toys for 2010.  Additionally he’ll be talking about the NEW Nova Fins and will be happy to talk about any of the Uwatec Dive Computers being sold by Scubapro (Uwatec).

We’ll be holding our raffle–which John promises to donate to.Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7th at 7:30p.m.  We’re at Illusion’s at the Sheraton,  Mahwah as usual.

Our presenter is John Stella, of Scubapro who will have all the new Scubapro Toys for 2010.  Additionally he’ll be talking about the NEW Nova Fins and will be happy to talk about any of the Uwatec Dive Computers being sold by Scubapro (Uwatec).

We’ll be holding our raffle–which John promises to donate toOTB Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7th at 7:30p.m.  We’re at Illusion’s at the Sheraton,  Mahwah as usual.

Our presenter is John Stella, of Scubapro who will have all the new Scubapro Toys for 2010.  Additionally he’ll be talking about the NEW Nova Fins and will be happy to talk about any of the Uwatec Dive Computers being sold by Scubapro (Uwatec).

We’ll be holding our raffle–which John promises to donate to.

Dive Club Meeting Tomorrow

On-the-Bottom Dive Club is on schedule to meet Wednesday, July 1st at Illusion’s at the Sheraton, Mahwah.  The topic is “Being a Smart Dive Traveler”.  Richard Woulfe will be our speaker and he will have some great tips for packing for Dive Travel.   Richard also represents The Manthiri, Wakatobi and a new resort in Thailand. The meeting begins at 7:30.

Many Sharks Facing Extinction

According to this BBC article over 30% of shark species are threatened with extinction:

Link

Also, you should listen to one of my favorite podcasts, Dan Carlin’s Common Sense. The first part of the show is about conflicts of interest in our government, but the second half is about the possibility of the extinction of ocean fish in our lifetime.

Direct link to audio here.

Palancar Gardens

I finally got around to posting one of my dives from my trip to Cozumel last year.

This is edited from a video taken by Chiaki of Scubarthe UW Productions.

June’s Dive Club Meeting

The next meeting of On the Bottom is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3rd at 7:30 p.m. in Illusions at Sheraton, Mahwah. The guest speaker will be Rick Morris who will talk about successful underwater videography.  He will be giving tips, and showing clips from some of his own work, illustrating the before and after effects.

Rick Morris is a documentary film maker who currently works for the Census of Marine Life and he is also the video editor for DivePhotoGuide.com.  With more than 30 years in television and film production Rick has produced, shot and edited productions for nearly every network and cable channel and this past year contributed to 4 programs for National Geographic.  Rick is currently working on programs for Canadian Broadcasting, German TV and National Geographic and is developing a program on the invasion of Pacific Lionfish into Caribbean and US Waters with Peter Hughes and Ladd Akins of REEF.

The next meeting of On the Bottom is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3rd at 7:30 p.m. in Illusions at Sheraton, Mahwah. The guest speaker will be Rick Morris who will talk about successful underwater videography.  He will be giving tips, and showing clips from some of his own work, illustrating the before and after effects.

Rick Morris is a documentary film maker who currently works for the Census of Marine Life and he is also the video editor for DivePhotoGuide.com.  With more than 30 years in television and film production Rick has produced, shot and edited productions for nearly every network and cable channel and this past year contributed to 4 programs for National Geographic.  Rick is currently working on programs for Canadian Broadcasting, German TV and National Geographic and is developing a program on the invasion of Pacific Lionfish into Caribbean and US Waters with Peter Hughes and Ladd Akins of REEF.

Had a Great Time at the Pig Roast

Panorama of Dutch Springs