Air Bubbles

The Newsletter of the North Shore Frogmen’s Club

Volume 56, Number 11 November 2014

 

2014 PHOTO CONTEST

** The OTHER COMPETITION **

Get those photos printed and make submissions for

There is also a competition for the following

 

 

 

the contest to me by November 20 at the latest!

categories. Bring your submissions to Mary by

 

 

 

Photo Contest Rules:

November 20 for inclusion in the competition.

 

 

 

Submissions are to be made by members of the

Biggest flounder: Please bring a

 

 

North Shore Frogmen’s Club only.

PHOTO that shows the flounder

 

Submitted photos must have been taken since

next to a ruler for proof of size.

 

 

 

 

 

October 1, 2013.

We don’t want to see the actual

 

 

 

 

Photos are to be submitted as prints, maximum size

flounder!

 

 

 

 

no more than 8 1/2” x 11”.

Biggest scallop: Bring the

 

Submitted photos may not be matted or framed.

 

SHELL ONLY

 

 

 

 

Please label photos as to orientation (i.e. UP ↑), as

 

 

 

there is no guarantee that I will be able to tell what

Most interesting find! If it’s

large,

 

you think the orientation is.

please let me know what it is. If it’s not so large,

Note the category on the back of each photo (see 6

bring it along to at least show me.

 

 

 

 

 

categories below).

Mary H

 

Provide any photo titles you may wish to have displayed with your pictures. (I will not make up any titles, and titles really add a certain something for voters!)

Maximum of 4 submissions per photographer per category.

For the Movie/Video Category submissions, please contact Ellen Garvey who will be collecting these and figuring out how best to display them.

Photo Categories:

1)

Cold Water

In this Issue:

 

2)

Species Interaction in cold water

Photo Contest

pg. 1

3)

Warm Water

Biggest/Most Interesting Contest

pg. 1

4)

Species Interaction in warm water

Meeting Summaries

pg. 2-3

5)

Above Water / Dive Related (must have some

Bay State Council

pg. 3

sign(s) of diving activity in the picture)

Calendar & Events

pg. 4-5

6)

Movie category

Float Cleaning at PCYC

pg. 6-7

I’m looking forward to seeing some fantastic

Once Upon a Dive by J. Munro

pg. 8

photos from Club members!!

 

 

 

Mary Howard

 

 

 

Visit our website at www.northshorefrogmen.com

1

The North Shore Frogmen’s Club

PO Box 3604

Peabody, MA 01961

2014 OFFICERS

President: Laura Gallagher Cell phone: 508 843-2395 Email: searaven00@yahoo.com

Vice President: Jim Barbara Cell phone: 617-755-8336 Email: jabarbara@verizon.net

Treasurer: Adam Hartnett Cell phone: 617-620-6466

Email: greatnewsadam@gmail.com

Secretary: Ellen Garvey Tel: 781-595-4978

Email: elleng@alumni.duke.edu

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Membership: membership@northshorefrogmen.com

Newsletter: Mary Howard

Tel: 781-944-1292

Email: m.m.howard@comcast.net

Webmaster: Markus Diersbock mdiersbock@gmail.com

*Deadline for submissions* for the November 2014 issue

of Air Bubbles is

Friday, October 24

Air Bubbles – November 2014

Meeting Summaries

02-Oct-2014

(Minutes taken by Laura) Attendance: 2 Officers

Committees:

-Program: See website for details

-10/18-Jen will run pumpkin carving contest (Since cancelled)

-10/30-Wing night at Buffalo Wild Wings at Liberty Tree Mall

-11/6-Begin nominations for Club officers

-11/20-Deadline for photo contest submissions; get your photos to Mary

Old Business:

-Club Trademark is up for opposition for 20 day; we will be notified of results.

-2 Potential designs for Club stickers. A motion was made that we will vote on the designs and go with one choice.

New Business: Discussion about going back to Stage Fort Park for picnic for next year; remember to reserve for the next to last weekend of September.

Dive Talk:

-Markus, Geoff, Laura and Todd dove off the Damn Boat. Caught 25 lobsters and a bunch of mussels.

-Tony dove Fort Sewall and saw lots of lobsters.

-Bruce, Jim D, Roslyn, Jim & Alex B did the Treasure Hunt dive. Jim D. got 2 lobsters and some crabs. The others saw lots of juvenile flounder, and grubby sculpins. Alex won a dive computer at the Treasure Hunt.

General Discussion:

-Art Channel was at the Picnic/Treasure Hunt. Nice to see him there!

Raffles: Dollars Box: Mary Howard Mystery Prize: John Sears

09-Oct-2014

Meeting called to order: 7:35PM Attendance: 2 Officers, 12 Members

Committees:

-Program: See website for details; and listing for last week.

-11/6-Presentation by Backscatter

-Membership: John introduced Rami Käkönen who has applied for membership. He was certified in a quarry in Finland and plans to participate in winter dives. His application was accepted and he was voted in as our newest member.

New Business: Members voted in favor of allowing Tony to announce his trip to Madeira to club members via email, and to use the club logo on trip t-shirts.

Dive Talk:

-Jack dove in a pond near Chebago to take up material which was supposed to deter growth along the beach.

Interesting description of the “diving” and a great picture of Jack the mermaid.

-Adam & Jeff Gawrys went to Folly but Adam’s high pressure hose blew before going in; bagged the dive.

-Tony did Fort Sewall Saturday. 3-5’ vis, lots of current. Lost sense of direction and wond up at the channel marker near the Barnicle! Vis much better for the return trip. 95 min dive.

-Adam went on the Salvages trip with

Peter Easler. Boat was late; 4’ seas after Halibut Point. 60 seals on the rocks, but didn’t see any in the water; lots of lobsters.

Raffles: Dollars Box: Peter Chapman

09-Jan-2014

Meeting called to order: 7:48PM Attendance: 3 Officers, 10 Members

Secretary: Business portion of minutes read and accepted.

Committees:

-Program: See website for details, and previous 2 weeks notes.

-John will look into float cleaning options

Dive Talk:

-Bruce went to Back Beach. Not much big stuff to see but lots of baby flounder and crabs. 8-10’ vis; 77 air temp, SW wind.

-Tony went ot DUI Dog Days at Kettle Cove in Portland, Maine. Turnout was ok, 30 people or so. Cloudy,

Visit our website at www.northshorefrogmen.com

2

Air Bubbles – November 2014

overcast, cold; plenty of parking, sandy entrance, pretty.

-Jim B went to BK but notbody else showed up. Went to Pebble where there were other divers and seas were calm; got one lobster.

-Dodie did 2 dives with Cap Ann through Bobby. They treated her really well. Got 1 lobster. Incredible dive at Kettle Island off Magnolia. Then to the New Hampshire; was surprised hull was still present. Found 9 eggers, then got a large mail, probably 10 lbs.

-Dodie dove in Hawaii last week. First dive on 189’ “Sea Tiger” captured with Chinese immigrants, sunk in

1999; known for sea turtles; 100’ on deck. Then to Nautalus Reef, saw octopus, frogfish, 4 white tips, eels.

-Jack dove on the marine railway, spent 2.5 hrs in water removing the metal guides.

-Mike went with Jim D yesterday to House Island. 65 min; 6 lobsters, speared tautog. Mostly at 35’.

-No plans to dive this weekend.

General Discussion:

-Tony heard that instructors would be required to get a permit to teach at Pebble Beach.

-Jack says the invasive mitten crabs are outnumbering the native crabs inside the harbor.

-Jesse is probably going to be moving to Guan with Marine Fisheries.

-Tony’s trip is filling up! Act now if you want to go! Already have 12.

Raffles: Dollars Box: Ellen Garvey Mystery Prize: Jack Munro

23-Oct-2014

Meeting called to order: 8:12PM Attendance: 1 Officer, 10 Members

Secretary: Business portion of minutes read and accepted.

Committees:

-Program: See website for details-and prior weeks’ notes

-11/2-Float cleaning; let John Sears know if you’re in.

-Membership: John will look into divebuddy.com and reach out to

people who might want to become members.

New Business: Picnic next year; we verified that we’ll do it on Sept 20; need to make sure the permit is pulled soon.

Dive Talk:

-Jim was blown out.

-No plans for diving this weekend.

General Discussion:

-Undercurrent newsletter has story about world record dive depth – 1066’ using 9 tanks of special (undisclosed) mixes, beating world record by 16 feet. It took 14 hours.

Raffles: Dollars Box: Daryl Findlay

After the meeting we watched part of the “Extreme Cave Diving” episode from Nova (alas, it was cut shore). Then we watched Blue Planet episode “The Deep”.

30-Oct-2014

Wing Night (to avoid traffic issues in Salem)

JOB OPENING!

AIR BUBBLES

Editor/Committee

Needed

To begin with the January 2015 issue.

Bay State Council

Meetings

The next Bay State Council of Divers meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2015, at

7:30 PM at the SSN’s clubhouse located at the corner of Quarry Street and Joyce Road in Quincy.

All are welcome to attend these meetings!

The Bay State Council

of Divers

Supporting and promoting the recreational diving community in Massachusetts.

The Bay State Council of Divers

(BSC) is a diver’s advocacy group.

The BSC monitors local, state and federal regulations that may affect the recreational diving community in Massachusetts. When required, the BSC represents the interests of the diving community in these matters.

The BSC serves as a liaison between dive clubs and dive stores to promote recreational diving activity in Massachusetts. All divers are encouraged to support the BSC with an annual contribution of $5. Your contribution will allow the BSC to continue to be a strong advocate for the recreational diving community in Massachusetts.

For more information:

http://www.baystatecouncil.org

Visit our website at www.northshorefrogmen.com

3

Air Bubbles – November 2014

Calendar of Events

November

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Sunday Dive

 

 

 

Meeting

 

 

Float Cleaning

 

 

 

Presentation

 

 

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

Sunday Dive?

 

 

 

Meeting

 

 

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

Sunday Dive?

 

 

 

Meeting

 

 

23

24

25

26

 

28

29

Sunday Dive?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27

 

 

30

1

2

3

4

5

6

Sunday Dive?

 

 

 

Elections

 

 

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

Sunday Dive?

 

 

 

Meeting

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presentation

 

 

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Sunday Dive?

 

 

 

Meeting

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pizza Party

 

 

21

22

23

24

 

26

27

Sunday Dive?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25

 

 

28

29

30

31

December

Sunday Dive?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Activities List - 2014

-11/6, Thurs 2015 Officer Nominations begin

-11/6, Thurs Backscatter Presentation

-11/20, Thurs Photo contest submission deadline; Other contest submissions too!

-11/27, Thurs Thanksgiving – No meeting

-12/4, Thurs 2015 Officer Elections; Photo Contest Voting

-12/11, Thurs Officer changeover

- 12/11, Thurs

Presentation: Andy Martinez and Paul Erickson

-12/18, Thurs Pizza Party / Yankee Swap

-12/25, Thurs Christmas – No meeting

-1/24/15, Sat President’s Banquet

Visit our website at www.northshorefrogmen.com

4

Air Bubbles – November 2014

Northeastern University College

of Science

Tuesday Night Lecture Series

The Tuesday Night Lecture Series has been announced! All lectures take place in the Murphy Bunker Classroom at the Marine Science

Center. Lectures are free and open to the public, and no RSVP is required. Light refreshments begin about half an hour before each event.

SYLVIA EARLE'S "MISSION BLUE"

Tuesday, November 18th from 6:30 - 9:00pm*

The film "Mission Blue" is a global initiative of the Sylvia Earle Alliance, a 501c3 organization formed in response to Earle's 2009 TED Prize wish. Dr.

Earle urged people "to use all means at your disposal - films, expeditions, the web, new submarines - to create a campaign to ignite public support for a global network of marine protected areas." We will introduce the producer, Fisher Stevens, and then screen the film starting at 6:30pm, which will be followed by a dessert reception and conversation with the producer at 8:15pm.

* Note the earlier-than-usual start time

Madeira, Portugal

Tony Vieira is running a dive trip to Madeira, Portugal

July 31 – August 10, 2015 $1450 pp/do

Trip includes:

9 nights at Dom Pedro Hotel in Machico

Lots of diving! 12 dives including:

oDives on Desertas Island’s national marine park

oWreck dives

Translator and Guide (Tony!) Contact Tony Vieira at 978-569-9352

The above does NOT include air fare.

Contact Gomez Travel (978-532-5435) to arrange air travel (approx. $880 RT)

New England Fishery Management Council

50 WATER STREET | NEWBURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTS 01950 | PHONE 978 465 0492 | FAX 978 465 3116

E.F.Terry”“ StockwellChairmanIII,| Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR HABITAT

The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) is conducting public hearings to solicit comments on Draft Omnibus Habitat Amendment 2 including the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The amendment will address habitat requirements for all NEFMC Fishery Management Plans. The hearings are being scheduled in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and will include opportunity for review and comment on the DEIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

(I have included the locations and dates most convenient for NSF Members-mh)

Portsmouth, NH, Mon 11/24, 6-8PM

@ Sheraton Harborside, 250 Market Street Gloucester, MA, Weds 12/17, 6-8PM

@MA DMF Annisquam Station, 30 Emerson Ave

Webinar, Mon 1/5/15, 3-5PM Register to participate:

www4.gotomeeting.com/register/278328207 Call in info:

Toll: +1 (646) 307-1706; Access Code: 911-628-108

New England Council staff will brief the public on the Habitat omnibus amendment before opening each hearing for public comments. The NEFMC Draft Habitat Omnibus Amendment 2 Environmental Impact

Statement is available on the Council’s website

(http://www.nefmc.org/library/omnibus-habitat- amendment-2), or may be obtained by contacting the Council office at (978) 465-0492. The public hearing document, which provides a brief summary of the management alternatives and their impacts, will also be available before the hearings and will be posted on our website when available.

Written comments must be received on or before Thursday, January 8, 2015. Comments should be sent to John Bullard, Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 or emailed to: nmfs.gar.OA2.DEIS@noaa.gov

(attention/subject line: “OA2 DEIS Comments”).

Visit our website at www.northshorefrogmen.com

5

Air Bubbles – November 2014

Float Cleaning at PCYC, November 2, 2014

On Sunday November 2nd 2014 a dozen hard working Froggies braved the elements and the rain, high winds, and wet snow for a festive float cleaning at PCYC.

The members involved were: Mike and Ellen Garvey, Ray Porter and Mary Howard, Bill Werner, Jim and Alex Barbara, Dodie Carvalho, Rami Kakonen (new member*), and myself. I think members of PCYC were surprised to see us show up in spite of the weather conditions.

There were six divers in the water, and six members helping with dock support. The nice thing about this is that our divers were able to put on their gear inside in our regular meeting room. After we got things together we headed out onto the floats. Mike Garvey was dressed to meet a Nor’easter, yet even with his great gear I hear his hands and feet got cold from the wind rain and wet snow. Most of us divers scraped until our arms were tired in warm water with no depth. bobbing just below the surface. The growth of heavy mussels and other items were no match for our scrapers.

After about an hour or so in the water one by one the divers returned from their mission. The nice thing that I liked was dropping my dive gear on the deck and entering the back hallway for a hot shower after the dive. We had a pot luck luncheon after our efforts. Cynthia the Commodore thanked us in person along with a number of other members. We were given two free drink tickets each, and PCYC ordered three pizzas for us to add to our meal.

Bobby Boyle donated a 10 air fill card to be raffled off among the divers who participated. Thanks Bobby! Jim Barbara's son Alex was the lucky winner.

For those who missed out on this fun time we will be doing it again next Spring. **** John Sears

L-R from top: gearing up INSIDE; Bill hunting for a mooring rope; Jim B, Bill W and Ray geared up; Ellen trying to stay warm/out of the wind inside a cart.

Visit our website at www.northshorefrogmen.com

6

Air Bubbles – November 2014

L-R from top: the Barbara Boys ready to get wet; Giant Stride off the dock; dive strategy discussion; Bleak, cold, snowy day; Mike G warms his hands and the hot dogs at the same time; Bill modeling the shark hat he won at a Froggy event; Mary warming up by the fire.

Photos courtesy of Ellen

Garvey.

Visit our website at www.northshorefrogmen.com

7

Air Bubbles – November 2014

Once Upon a Dive

The last few months, the folks and myself at the Dive Locker have been planning a test-dive with the Mark V hat. This has included planning, testing equipment, and borrowing equipment for the dive.

In 1915, the U.S. Navy was doing limited diving with heavy gear, copper hats and breastplate, canvas suits, and lead shoes doing salvage work on the F-4 off Hawaii with only a few divers. Most of the salvage diving work was done by civilians, by the Seibe Gorman Company in England and the Merritt, Chapman, & Scott Company in the USA, while some divers were trained by their respective Navies.

The U.S. Navy was trying to get into the salvage business, especially because their own submarines and surface craft were sinking. So they took the 3-light commercial Morse hat and added a control valve – which was on the right side of the chest, and a 4th light on the forehead. This was the beginning of the Mark V; with a hinged windshield and grills on all lights, the hat was safer, better protected from big hooks, shackles, chain, etc.

In the Navy, helmets are called “hats,” and the canvas suits, “dresses.” Lacing was added to the back of the legs to keep air from getting to your feet so you did not get turned upside down. Light shoes were 12.5 lbs.; standard shoes were 20 lbs per shoe. They were tied with rope and buckled with leather straps. Weight belts were 60 to 100 lbs. and were strapped in the back with 2 buckles and tied with rope to make sure they couldn’t fall off or shift under water. The control valve is installed on the lower front part of the breastplate so the diver can reach it. The exhaust valve on the right side of the hat can also be accessed from the inside of the hat via a chin valve to assist diver in dumping air to control breathing and buoyancy. These improvements made diving safer, having more control by keeping the chest valve and venting separate.

Over 20 years ago, the civilian diving schools stopped teaching using the Mark V and the Navy cut teaching to a few days. So on the 100th anniversary of Mark V, our group from the Dive Locker had our first demo of the hat for the public. Even though we had the hat, hoses, and suit, we still needed to borrow operational gear to make the dive happen. We tried for nearly 2 months and finally the gear showed up, thanks to John Harvey and the Black Dog Diving of Portsmouth, NH. Because things have not changed in diving and companies, we were able to borrow $10k in equipment on a hand shake! As we know in scuba diving, we borrow gear from each other all the time but usually we know the person we borrow from. In this case, there were no direct connections, just friends of friends. The other great thing was that other people from the diving

community showed up to help out. Bob Reed, who I had not seen in 25 years, was God's sent. Many years ago he made his own hat and 15 more out there in the field, and he is still diving himself. He also helped out on the dive communication, compressor, and fine-tuned our demo. Ken Downey, owner and chief engineer of Morse Diving, and his wife and family came and helped out before and after with mini overhauls, leaks, etc. on the gear. Even though the gear is new, it had not been dived, and many dress rehearsals were needed to get everyone used to it, especially John Harvey. John caught on to the gear right away and no problem, aside from the leaks caused by the gear sitting for a long time not being used.

Our original plan called for the diver to go down in the dive cage, walking on the bottom of the harbor, then coming back up, with our safety diver, Susan Copelas, keeping an eye on him. We were concerned about mud on the bottom and the possibility of the diver getting stuck in it, but the tides had moved the mud and the hard bottom was easy to walk on safely and on the first wet dives, on Saturday, July 12 & 13th, he was able to walk a short distance. On the Sunday dives - one done in the morning, one in the afternoon - John walked 30 feet, then back 20 feet in the other direction and talked to the crowd from below. He spent 4 ½ hours in the gear in between the morning and afternoon dives.

In the middle of September (13th & 14th) we made another set of dives; a practice on Saturday, then a good one on Sunday with Rob from Morse Diving, and we had Susan Copelas as safety diver. The Saturday dive was supposed to be with Black Dog Divers, but they were a no-show. To test the gear, I made a quick test dive then tweaked the gear for Sunday. Sunday, we planned more dives than the one with Rob from Morse Diving, but the hoist to get cage into the water broke, so we were forced to shut down. We have been working on the hoist for several weeks, getting a replacement one which needs new wiring and retro to fit pier crane. In the Spring we will try again.

Jack Munro

for Dive Locker Mark V Dive Team

Visit our website at www.northshorefrogmen.com

8

Air Bubbles – November 2014

The North Shore Frogmen’s Club, Inc.

PO Box 3604

Peabody, MA 01961-3604

Nov 6: Club Officer Nominations begin

Nov 6: Backscatter Presentation

Nov 20: Deadline for Photo Contest

Nov 27: Thanksgiving – No Meeting

Dec 4: Elections & Contest Voting

Sunday Dives:

Winter Hours: Check with the website or with Jim Barbara for times, Meet at Burger King on Rte 128 in Beverly.

The North Shore Frogmen’s Club

(Beginning February, 2013) has business meetings and presentations on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 7:30PM. Check website for updates!!!!

at Palmer’s Cove Yacht Club

74 Leavitt Street

Salem, MA 01970

Social meetings are on the alternate weeks at 7PM

Visit our website at www.northshorefrogmen.com