November 11th and 12th Little House, Mendocino

Call Curt and Carol for reservations

Plans for Marine Protected Areas along Central Coast Move Ahead
The California Fish and Game Commission has voted to select a preferred proposal for a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) along California ’s central coast, from Pigeon Point to Point Conception. The proposal includes more than two dozen MPAs covering more than 200 square miles of state waters in the central coast region.

Michael Flores, president of the Fish and Game Commission, released the following statement: “This network is the first of its kind in California. This is an historic, precedent-setting step in protecting California’s coast and we’re pleased that so many stakeholder groups and members of the public chose to participate in this complex process and work toward a balanced alternative. The Commission’s preferred proposal will serve as a model for future conservation efforts and as a legacy in protecting our coastline.”

The selected proposal includes 29 MPAs representing approximately 204 square miles (or 18 percent) of state waters along the central coast. Approximately 8 percent of this total area (94 square miles) is proposed to be designated as state marine reserves (no take) while the remainder would allow some form of recreational and/or commercial fishing.

Before the proposed MPAs take effect, the Commission’s selected proposal and alternatives must undergo California Environmental Quality Act review and regulations must be promulgated. Both processes will include additional public hearings.

The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) directs the state to design and manage a network of MPAs through a comprehensive program and management plan. Its primary goals are to protect marine life and habitats, marine ecosystems and marine natural heritage, as well as improve recreational, educational and study opportunities provided by marine ecosystems. Marine protected areas include state marine reserves, state marine parks and state marine conservation areas. For more information on the MLPA visit www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa.

Diving with Humpbacks in Rurutu

Rurutu is becoming renowned, not for the quantity of whales that pass its shores, but for the quality of the sightings. Because the water is uncommonly transparent, it's easy to dive with them from a safe distance (so as not to scare them away or put yourself in any danger) while having phenomenal visibility. The lack of a barrier reef means that the whales come in close to shore, making them easier to locate. The dive companies do not promise that you will see whales and there is no refund if you don't find any. At about $100 per half-day, it can get expensive if the whales just aren't around that week, but most people find the experience worth the expense. Even if you do see whales, they might not slow down enough for you to be able to swim with them; in this case, you might just get a glimpse from underwater or from the boat. The best chances of seeing whales are in August and September, and it's best to book hotels and flights well in advance, since facilities are limited.

Rurutu lies in the Australes Archipelago to the South of Tahiti. Encircled by a barrier reef, both the barrier reef and the lagoon within are over 12 million years old. Rurutu is best known as being in the Humpback Whales migratory journey. The whales migrate from Antarctica to the Rurutu's warmer waters to mate.

French Polynesia is a wonderful location that appeals to all levels of scuba divers. Beginners can dive inside the lagoon and advanced divers outside of the barrier reef.

Underwater Memorial to Tsunami Victims Built Off Phi Phi Island

Thailand’s first underwater tsunami memorial was laid down on the seabed in Tonsai Bay, off Koh Phi Phi Don, in a ceremony on September 30. Napasorn Kakai, Assistant Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Region 4, told the Gazette that they hope the memorial will attract scuba divers and snorkelers back to the Phi Phi Islands.

“The three pyramids represent the three elements of earth, wind and water. Man must keep all three of these elements in natural balance; otherwise the forces of nature will restore the balance themselves. We hope the monument will serve as a reminder of the need to maintain ecological balance,” she added...

The memorial, 1.4 kilometers offshore and at a depth of 20 meters, took about one month to install. The monument is made up of three large granite markers. Each of the markers stands 150 centimeters tall. They were placed in an equilateral triangle. A 80cm-high granite marker was placed in the center of the triangle...

The memorial, 1.4 kilometers offshore and at a depth of 20 meters, took about one month to install. The monument is made up of three large granite markers. Each of the markers stands 150 centimeters tall. They were placed in an equilateral triangle. A 80cm-high granite marker was placed in the center of the triangle.
Divers inspect one of the tsunami memorial plaques installed at Tonsai Bay, off Phi Phi Island.

Precisely 2,874 cm from the memorial site is a traditional Thai sala. It is created from wood collected from the wreckage left behind by the tidal wave. The distance to the center of the monument is special because it symbolizes the number of victims whose identity could not be established.

Scubapro Recalls Thousands of Diving Devices

El Cajon-based scuba gear manufacturer Scubapro USA announced a recall Oct. 2 of 48,500 of its Scubapro Mark 20 first-stage regulators, following eight reports of units that failed after being serviced.

The voluntary recall alert reports no injuries or accidents as a result of the device. The recall was conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission...

The regulators are devices that fit directly onto the air tank, keeping the air release constant despite decreasing pressure within the tank. Failure of the device during a dive could result in drowning. A Mark 20 regulator retails for about $260.

David Dinsmore, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s diving program, issued a diving safety bulletin in March 2005, stating that all NOAA divers were to discontinue diving with the Mark 20 after finding that three out of 298 regulators had cracks.

According to an August 2005 article in Undercurrent magazine, Scubapro attributed the cracks to users “over-torqueing” the regulator. Dinsmore then told Undercurrent that NOAA’s outside expert disagreed with the assessment. The NOAA diving center advised divers to replace the Mark 20 with Scubapro’s Mark 25 regulator.

The advisory stated that, “multiple catastrophic failures” of the device had been reported to the university. Representatives from Scubapro were unavailable for immediate comment.

If you go to their website here's another recall:

SCUBAPRO is conducting a voluntary recall of the X650 second stage regulator. A manufacturing error could cause the main housing of some regulators to change shape over time, and the cover and diaphragm to become dislodged. If this occurs, air flow will be interrupted and the regulator will no longer function.

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