Coastal Cleanup Dive at Whiskeytown Lake

September 25^th and 26^th

A report from Cliff:

Whiskeytown was a lot of fun.  Friday we hiked up to Whiskeytown Falls and ate a couple of racks of Cliffy ribs at Ron and Donna’s estate.  Saturday was the dive at the Marina.  We got bags-o-trash and some interesting ‘stuff’.  Of course, when you talk with Ron you’ll hear some got sick… but then you know how choppy and rough those protected coves can get when it’s clear, sunny calm and 85 degrees on a fantastic late summer evening!  Brandon and I made a second dive at the “Curtain” (the cool water separator at the east end of the reservoir) and it was a GREAT dive.  Easy access, 40 foot vis, lots of fish, and the curtain as a unique point of interest.  We found a sunken boat, followed the old 299 highway past old road signs until it disappeared below the rocks for the new road and fed some HUGE bass some of the crawdads we picked from under the rocks.  I highly recommend the dive and would gladly take a group over there for another dive.  (Perhaps next year as part of the cleanup again?)  We ended the day with a BBQ on Saturday night with all in attendance, and had the extra attraction of viewing Jupiter and her four moons thru Ron’s spotting scope.  Really a once in a life thing.

Anyway, it was one of those events that actually worked out well and all had fun.  Brandon brought his wife and family, the Queens hosted it all at their palatial 5th wheel (Mary and I are now looking in earnest!) and a lot of fun was had by all.  (… and I may NEVER sleep on an air mattress in a tent on a sloped hill ever again!)

The annual club BBQ was held on August 21 at the White’s

Unfortunately the ocean didn’t cooperate for the South Jetty dive and the fog made the club BBQ a little chilly, but the food and company were both good.

Baked Salmon Recipe from the club BBQ

Parmesan Baked Salmon

preheat oven to 400 degrees

May be prepared ahead and refrigerated before baking

Mix together:

1/2- 3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1/4- 1/2  cup parmesan cheese

1 tsp dill weed

line cookie sheet with foil, spray with Pam

lemon juice, drizzle some lemon juice on the cookie sheet

place one large salmon filet (skinless) on cookie sheet

top with mayo/cheese mixture

Sprinkle with Ritz Crackers (about 20 crackers rolled to fine crumbs)

Bake at 400 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes (don’t over bake)

Slant Bridge Dive

The “Treasure” dive at Slant Bridge was enjoyed by all that attended. Divers hunted for Abalone shells and a golf ball (two were found) that were redeemable for dive related gifts. The water temp was in the 60′s, the visibility was good, and the sun came out about the time we got in the water. Thanks to Patricia Terry for organizing the dive.

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President Ron has canceled the Ab Grab scheduled for this coming Saturday. There are gale warnings posted for mid-week and the ocean condition forecast for Saturday is 4-6 ft wind waves and a 12 ft swell.
We will reschedule at the May meeting.

The abalone dive for Saturday April 10, 2010 has been rescheduled to Saturday April 24, 2010 due to bad weather.

Cozumel, Mexico

During November a group of 14 HSD members and friends went to Cozumel, Mexico. The diving was excellent. The weather was good, except for a one day break in the diving while Hurricane Ida passed by the island. The group stayed at Scuba Club Cozumel, an all inclusive dive resort. During much of our stay, we had our own dive boat and divemaster and could pick the sites we wanted to dive.

Photos by Donna Queen, Dave and Donna White, Denis and Julie Potter.

HSD Divers and friends at Scuba Club Cozumel

Otto Van Emmerick, Dave White, Donna White, Mary Van Cott, Donna Queen, Cliff Van Cott and Mike Van Cott on the bottom at Cozumel

Seahorse

Cozumel Reef

Splendid Toadfish

Donna White in a coral swimthrough

Dave White photographs a Hawksbill Turtle

Lionfish, an invasive species from the south Pacific

Fiji

During the same time, Denis and Julie Potter spent a week in Fiji aboard the Nai’a live-aboard dive boat. They report that the diving was excellent. They also enjoyed some time in Australia with their daughter and her family.

The Nai’a

Fiji Reef

Fiji Reef 2

On the weekend of September 18-20 a number of Humboldt Skindivers, as well as several guests, went to Ruth Lake to participate in the annual Coastal Clean-up.  In addition to the usual aluminum cans, plastic items and garbage, divers brought up tires, anchors, a garbage can, a starter, sunglasses, a fishing pole, and a cell phone. The water temp was around 70 degrees and the visibility was up to 20’, although once the bottom got stirred up it dropped to inches. Several people stayed Friday night, but only Dan and Ida Heinen braved the cold wind that came up in the evening and stayed Saturday night.

Divers suit up at Ruth Lake

Ben Hylton in the kayak along with Julie Potter and Mary and Cliff VanCott

Michelle Jones and Patricia Terry

After diving, the group enjoys the Tri Tip dinner

Ben Hylton provides surface support and Patricia Terry collects items brought to shore

A few of the items recovered from the lake bottom