BARBARY COAST DIVECLUB NEWSLETTER
NEWS AND EVENTS
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Mendocino Little House for Labor Day Wekend!
Call Carol for reservations!
Scientists from Lucent Technologies' (NYSE: LU) Bell Labs have found that a deep-sea sponge contains optical fiber that is remarkably similar to the optical fiber found in today's state-of-the-art telecommunications networks. The deep-sea sponge's glass fiber, designed through the course of evolution, may possess certain technological advantages over industrial optical fiber, the scientists report in today's issue of the journal Nature.
"We believe this novel biological optical fiber may shed light upon new bio-inspired processes that may lead to better fiber optic materials and networks," said Joanna Aizenberg, the Bell Labs materials scientist who led the research team. "Mother Nature's ability to perfect materials is amazing, and the more we study biological organisms, the more we realize how much we can learn from them."
The discovery of marine optical fiber is the latest Bell Labs contribution in the emerging field of science known as biomimetics, which takes engineering principles from the natural world and applies them to man-made materials and technologies.
Light & Motion Safety Recall
on SunRay Mod Light
Effective immediately, Light & Motion announces a Safety Recall on the Sunray Mod Light. There have been a few incidences in which the light inadvertently turned on while unattended. It has been determined that if the light accidentally becomes partially flooded, it is possible for the light to turn on by itself. If you suspect the light has been flooded, it is important to unscrew the silver bezel and remove the light bulb from the socket.
Light & Motion is taking the cautious route and issuing a Safety Recall and is requesting that the lights be sent in for upgrading. Please contact the company to obtain an RMA number to facilitate the servicing...
Description: Black plastic body with blue and white logo and silver bezel. Measures 5.25 inches in length by 2.0 inches in diameter.
To return your Mod Light for the safety upgrade contact the Light & Motion Service Department at 831-645-1572 or E-mail support@lmindustries.com
For more details visit : http://www.uwimaging.com
Source: Underwater Imaging Innovation
City College of San Francisco will offer a semester course in marine biology for divers and non-divers. The class focuses on the marine life in Northern California with special emphasis on plant and animal identification and life histories.
The class meets Tuesday evenings, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., August 19 through December 9, at City College of San Francisco, 50 Phelan Ave., Science Building, Room 322, San Francisco.
There will be four weekend dive trips (11 dives) to various sites including Monterey Bay, Pt. Lobos, Gerstle Cove, and Russian Gulch Cove.
Students can register online at www.ccsf.edu. Register for BIO 32, CRN # 75400, Section 501. For more information, call the instructor, James Grass, Ph.D. at (415) 239-3644. or email jgrass@ccsf.edu.
US Freediving Nationals
Barbary Coast Dive club members Jean Lundeen, Bonnie Row and Janis Smith just returned from participating in the US Freediving Nationals tournament in Rhode Island. Jean and her teammate, Anne Doherty, took first place in the women’s division. This is the 2nd year in a row that they have taken first place. The same duo won the US Nationals last July in Carmel. Anne lives in RI. This is the first time that the women’s division has had a team win back-to-back tournaments!!
I am not certain how Bonnie Row and Janis Smith finished in the team standings, but I believe they both did well on their individual scores.
Please congratulate them the next time you see them. -Mike Walsh
point on Sunday and didn't go further than the point because of strong
winds. The ocean was calm so getting into the rocky areas was no problem.
Vis was 40 plus feet and ling - large ling - were everywhere. A photographer
would have been in heaven and we were dam near close, it was GREAT diving.
Camping was also quite pleasant since there wasn't any fog to dampen our
spirits or our gear!
I still have space at the little cabin In Mendocino for Labor Day Weekend.
We'll open reservations up to outside guests after the 20th . Space is
limited to 10 people so let me know if you are interested.
Carol
UWATEC, in cooperation with the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is voluntarily recalling approximately 6,000 UWATEC Smart dive computers. All three models of the Smart dive computers are affected: Smart PRO wrist, Smart PRO console, and Smart COM console. A software programming error in these computers may cause the alert signals to stop working properly, and, in some instances, the screen freezes. If this occurs, inaccurate information is displayed, such as water depth, tank pressure, ascent rate, etc.
The Smart dive computers were sold from February 2002 to July 2003. They are identified by the "Smart" name on the front of the dive computer and on the box. For more information see: 1-800-808-3948 or www.uwatec.com
updated 8/15/03