October 2004
SeaDevil Initiates an Education Program to Conserve Aquatic Recourses
After a number of meetings with many area SeaDevils, the leadership committee has authorized $500 in charitable matching funds to help create a program to educate area youth on the need to protect the ocean and other aquatic resources and to involve them directly in protecting these resources and in educating the larger community.
Many SeaDevil members have in the past spoken to various school classes and youth organizations about their experiences underwater. These talks have been a lot of fun for those diving enthusiasts and well received by the kids, teachers and youth organization coordinators. What SeaDevil plans to do is to help these presenters challenge these children to expand their understanding of the aquatic realm , particularly oceans and coral reefs, and to share that knowledge with others.
To accomplish this goal, SeaDevil presenters will provide students with information and material from recognized charitable aquatic conservation organizations and with other informational resources dealing with the aquatic environment. They would be challenged to research for themselves the really cool things that the ocean has in it and provides for all of us to use and enjoy.
Students will be asked what they think is the coolest thing about the aquatic environment and asked to somehow express their feelings, thoughts and conclusions either in writing or in some other tangible way. SeaDevil will collect this material and work to present them to the community but students would also be encouraged to show their work to their family, friends and neighbors so that they too could learn about the problems facing the oceans and more importantly why they need to be protected.
The community will be given an opportunity to make a donation honoring the student to one or more aquatic conservation charities and the $500 provided by SeaDevil would be used solely as charitable matching funds.
The leadership committee is extremely excited about this small step in helping us preserve the ocean environment for future generations of SeaDevil to enjoy as snorkelers, scuba divers or just as ocean enthusiasts. There is a lot to be done to make the announced program a reality; materials need to be developed, presenters have to be recruited, but it is all within our potential.
If you'd like to help, please speak up. Contact anyone on the leadership committee or become a member yourself. Current active members include Terry Tate, Lisa O'Connor, Marlene Hopkins, Susan Finlen, Amy Blyler, Priscilla Joyner and Chip Earle.
SeaDevil Sponsors whose personal and financial support has made envisioning this program possible and will make it a reality include:
Gordon Songer
♦ Ian "Woody" Woodcock
♦ Eric Gibson
♦ Marlene Hopkins
♦ Gina Petrucci
♦ Terry Tate
♦ Bruce Gray
♦ Walter Slawski
♦ Sherman Reeder
♦ Amy Blyler
♦ Robin Amato
♦ Mike Marks
♦ Tony Feldmesser
♦ Lisa O'Connor
♦ Andrew Snowhite
♦ Chip Earle
♦ Suzanne Staton
♦ John Dawson
♦ Cayman Brownfield
♦ John S. Evans
♦ Edward E. Clark, Jr.
♦ Maggie Short
♦ Sam Short
♦ Justin Short
♦ Brooke Erin Short
♦ Robert L. Brooks
♦ Priscilla Joyner
♦ Steve Hutchinson
♦ Mikiah Umberti
♦ Susan Finlen
♦ Charlotte Feuillian
♦ Chris Councill
♦ James Mayson
♦ Sue Stanley
♦ Nan Carroll
♦ Eric Black
♦ John Busch
♦ Tyvin Rich
♦ Nancy P. Van Fossen
♦ Frank Terwilliger
♦ Paul Brantley
♦ Marty DeReus
♦ Steve Moss
♦ Brian Carver
♦ Teresa Bridges
♦ Suzanne Spadafora
♦ Kevin Jones
♦ Drew McDonough
♦ Rosalyn Koontz
♦ Carl McCutcheon
♦ DeeDee Fisher
♦ Kathleen Falwell
♦ Phyllis White
♦ Christian Ramsburg
♦ Bob Taylor
♦ Greg Topczewski
♦ Miriam Bizup
Frances,
Ivan & Jeanne: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
by
Priscilla Joyner
The Caribbean has been hit hard by hurricanes Frances, Ivan and Jeanne this past month resulting in significant human and economic loss. In Haiti alone, Hurricane Jeanne killed more than 1,500 people, left 900 people missing and over 200,000 people homeless. Hurricane Ivan damaged 70% of buildings on Grand Cayman and government officials anticipate rebuilding costs around $2 billion.
So where do these massive storms come from? A hurricane is a potentially violent storm, which consists of high winds and heavy rains. To be considered a hurricane, the storms winds must be greater than 119 Kph or 64 knots. Hurricanes generally begin over warm oceans near the equator, but the precise mechanism resulting in this phenomenon is not fully understood. These storms gain energy when warm waters evaporate into the cool air above and can carry their force onto land.
Hurricanes can also have dramatic affects on ocean ecosystems. They can be harmful to coral reefs by churning up sand thereby killing coral organisms. Yet despite all the potential negative effects of hurricanes, there are benefits as well. Hurricanes stimulate phytoplankton blooms, organisms which are important in the food chain and contribute to the Earth’s carbon cycle. In addition, they can alter coastal features through silt deposits and are responsible for adding to the high rims characteristic of the Florida Keys.
A powerful hurricane has the ability to cause more fatalities and destruction than any other natural disaster. We acknowledge this as it happens at a distance to us and we quickly move on to other events in our lives. However, the damages are devastating to Island inhabitants and the tourism industry affecting many of our friends and one of our favorite activities, diving. But we can help by contributing to relief campaigns in a variety of ways. The following link provides information on islands in need and ways to assist relief campaigns. <link>
Here's a related article by Lisa Mitchell that also has some links to information about our friends around the Caribbean. Many of you may remember Lisa as she has helped with the Scuba Tour at Camp Jeep representing Sport Diver Magazine.
Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season
-Sport Diver Magazine
Lake Rawlings Announces DUI
Dog Days
by
Lake Rawlings
We are proud to announce that Lake Rawlings will be hosting Dog Rally and Demo Days October 30 and 31. We hope to see you here! Meet industry leaders like Dick Long, Founder of DUI and other DUI Professionals.
Digital Camera
Demos
FREE "How To" Seminars
Field Repair Seminar Only $15*
FREE Collector's DUI Test Diver Hat
FREE Barbecue Lunch
Raffle Prizes
Join us Saturday Night for a Dinner & Program - Only $10. Pre-registration recommended. Contact Customer Service at CustomerService@DUI-Online.com or 800-325-8439
DUI Ticket $5, does not include Park Entrance Fee.
909 Gardens Blvd.
Charlottesville, VA 22901
434-975-5570 * Toll Free 877-964-3483
