Dear Dolphin Divers of Sacramento,                                                                            July 1, 2025

The 4th of July is known as Independence Day and is a celebration of freedom, unity, and the
American spirit. It marks the historic moment in 1776 when the thirteen colonies declared
independence from the British rule by adopting the Declaration of Independence. Today, all of us
across the United States celebrate with fireworks, parades, barbecues, music, scuba diving, and
gatherings of friends and family. The day is filled with patriotic pride, honoring the values of liberty,
democracy, and the scarifies made to secure them. It’s a time to reflect on the nation’s history and
come together in celebration of what it means to be American.

Summer is the perfect season for outdoor adventures like diving the local lakes and rivers, but with
the heat and physical activity, staying hydrated is essential—drinking plenty of water before and after
dives helps maintain energy levels, supports circulation, and prevents dehydration-related risks both
on land and underwater. Always dive safely by listening to your body, taking breaks, and keeping cool
before and after each dive.

Please Note
Our next Dolphin Club General Meeting will be held in-person on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, from
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Fair Oaks Park located at 11549 Fair Oaks Blvd, Fair Oaks, CA 95628 and
we will NOT have any Zoom links for the park general meeting. Wear your best dive shirt to win a
prize. We will have a table set up to swap or buy dive gear and/or anything you want to give away.
This meeting is a potluck and please bring a dish to share. We tend to get a lot of desserts, so please
bring a salad, casserole, or some other dish you would like to share. The Board will be suppling
Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Condiments, and Water. You may bring you own soft drinks or other, But NO
ALCOHOL.

Owen Autry,
President 2025-2026

Safety Officer’s Message
By: Brad Freelove

Use a Checklist

If you are not using a checklist to make sure that you have not forgotten something vital,
you do so at your own risk. Forgetting something is easy to do and we will all do it at
some point in our diving. Forgetting your mask defog is not that big a deal. Leaving
your wetsuit at home is not your best move. Get on the internet and search for dive
equipment checklists. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of them! You can
purchase something online, pick up one from your local diving store, or build your own.
I prefer my home-grown list that I print out before each dive that I might forget
something important.

If I am heading up to Folsom, a printed-out dive checklist is probably not needed. I use
my mental checklist. I usually start from the top of my head and work my way down.
Hood, mask and snorkel, defog, wetsuit, etc. You get the idea. But if I am heading to
Monterey, Cozumel, or some other distant location, my checklist comes out. I use
separate lists for diving equipment, camera goodies, first aid stuff, and personal items. I
use the list to make sure that I have everything that I need for the type of diving that I
might encounter. When I am packing up to return home, I can use the list to make sure
that I have not forgotten something on the boat or under the hotel bed. I use the same
list to note anything that I wish I had brought along but did not bring. I make a notation
next to any piece of equipment that needs to be repaired or replaced. I also take notes
of anything I brought along and did not use. If I don’t use it for 3 or 4 trips in a row, I
probably don’t need to bring it along on future trips. If I loaned out my spare mask, I
note that on my list so I can reclaim my stuff. Lots of uses for the checklist.
I know a couple divers that lay out all the stuff they will be taking on their trip. They take
photos of everything. If their luggage gets misplaced, they have both a written and
visual record of everything. It might be helpful in replacing stuff if the dive bag never
shows up.

As you acquire more equipment, your checklist will become your friendly reminder to
bring what you need and leave behind what you never use. As you get older, it gets
easier to forget something important. Why take the risk. Develop your own checklists
and use them. Attach them to your dive logbook and make notes on them at the end of
each dive or whenever you fill out your logbook. Let your checklist be another part of
your equipment.

QUOTES FROM THE SEA
(This month in honor of summer vacation, they will be about travel and adventure)

“A great way to learn about your country is to leave it.” ― Henry Rollins

“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”
― Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”
― Hunter S. Thompson, The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967

“The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.”
― Oprah Winfrey

“Do It”
“I’m Scared” he replied
“Then do it scared
Do it broke
Do it when they don’t understand
Do it in imperfection
Do it anyway
If it scares you that is why you do it”

Member News

July 2025 Birthdays

Ralph McGahey 7/4
Brooke Hudson 7/10
Kimberly Hall 7/13
Michael Soldwisch 7/15
Wendy Oberst 7/21
Cheryl Anderson 7/22
Ronald Carello 7/22
Jason Moore 7/25
Bryan Zorko 7/28
Brittania Junes 7/310

May New Members

Ronald Carello
Bryan Zorko
Edwin Gonzalez
Andrew Grices

AS MEMBERS, REMEMBER WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO GROW OUR “DOLPHIN DIVERS FAMILY” SO PLEASE REACH OUT TO OTHER DIVERS AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE CLUB WHENEVER YOU GET THE CHANCE.

Are you interested in becoming a Dolphin Divers of Sacramento member?
CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Just Laugh

Something Silly
By: Joe Morgan

So this last week I was diving with Aggressor in Belize. As I was heading out of town to the airport I got a call from my sister that my little niece and nephew had gotten me something that they wanted to give me before I left. I was already heading out, so they met me at the Safeway gas station as I filled up to head to the airport. They gave me a small stuffed shark named Finnegan. They were so excited to give it to me, I knew I had to do something fun with it.
With that short backstory, here is the dive adventures of “Finnegan” the stuffed shark.
P. S. The kids were thrilled and can’t wait for the next instalment.

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

For the full view click here…

July 16, 2025	Picnic in The Park	Fair Oaks Park	Owen Autry	(916) 955-9105 ocautry@gmail.com
August 2, 2025	Inland Lobster Feet	Lake Natomas	Jack Millard	(916) 955-8017 jbmillard@aol.com
August 6, 2025	DDS – Board Meeting	Brad Freelove’s	Owen Autry	(916) 955-9105 ocautry@gmail.com
August 20, 2025	DDS – General Meeting	Mountain Mike’s	Owen Autry	(916) 955-9105 ocautry@gmail.com
Aug. 29 to Sept. 1, 2025	Spearfishing Contest	Ocean Cove	Bob Taylor
Sept. 3, 2025	DDS Board		Owen Autry	(916) 955-9105 ocautry@gmail.com
Sept. 17, 2025	DDS General Meeting	Mountain Mike’s	Owen Autry	(916) 955-9105 ocautry@gmail.com
Sept. 20, 2025	Great American River Cleanup	American River	Brad Freelove	(916) 879-3853 bradlinda@frontiernet.com
Oct. 1, 2025	DDS Board		Owen Autry	(916) 955-9105 ocautry@gmail.com
Oct. 10 to Oct. 12	Albion River Dive/Fish Campout	Albion River Campground	Ken Takata	((916) 428-8883 kennethktakata@gmail.com
Oct. 15, 2025	DDS General Meeting	Mountain Mike’s	Owen Autry	(916) 955-9105 ocautry@gmail.com
Oct. TBD	Pumpkin Carving
Nov. 4, 2025	DDS Board	Ken Takata’s
Dec. 13, 2025	Christmas Party	Aviator’s Resturant

DOLPHIN DIVERS OF SACRAMENTO
July 13th Cleanup

Hey DDS members:

On July 13th, we will be floating and diving on the American River from the Sunrise Bridge to River Bend Park.  Our goal is to pull out as much trash and treasure that we can.  We will leave the Sunrise parking lot about 9 am and should arrive at River Bend about 2 pm.  There is no charge for the use of the boats.  You need to supply your own equipment.  Scuba or freediving will work.  1 tank is usually enough for the entire dive.  I have some large net bags for collecting trash, but you might want to have a smaller bag to hold sunglasses, wallets, phones, etc. anything that has been lost.    

I am working on getting some free parking passes but no guarantee on that. 

If you want to join us on the river or have questions about the dive, let me know.  There are a limited number of spots to let me know soon.

Brad 

DOLPHIN DIVERS OF SACRAMENTO
Labor Day Camping
Aug 29 – Sept 1

Dear Dolphin Family,

Labor Day and Ocean Cove Camping will be happing this year on the Labor Day weekend!!

When: Dates August 29th to September 1st, 2025, everyone tries to come in on Friday the 29th and departs on Monday the 1st. Please come in as early as you wish, but we need to be out of the group’s sites on Monday the 1st, as the Hog Arama group takes over the whole next week.

Our hosts this year are Bob and Kim Taylor and they always make it a great time.

We will have more information out soon, but please mark your calendar for a fun group weekend.

Thank you,

Owen Autry
President 2025-2026

DOLPHIN DIVERS OF SACRAMENTO
CAMPOUT / DIVE/ FISH EVENT
OCTOBER 10 TO 12, 2025
AT THE ALBION RIVER CAMPGROUND

DOLPHIN DIVERS OF SACRAMENTO        

CAMPOUT / DIVE/ FISH EVENT

OCTOBER 10 TO 12, 2025

AT THE ALBION RIVER CAMPGROUND

albionrivercampground.com   (707) 937-0606

WE HAVE 10 CAMPSITES (D8, D9, D10, D12.D13, D14, D15, D16, D17, D18) SET ASIDE FOR OUR CLUB’S EVENT AT THE ALBION RIVER CAMPGROUND. THE EARLIER YOU CALL TO RESERVE A CAMPSITE, THE GREATER YOUR CHANCES OF SECURING A SITE.  DON’T WAIT TOO LONG BECAUSE THE CAMPGROUND IS TYPICALLY FULL DURING THE SUMMER.   THE CAMPGROUND WILL ONLY HOLD SITES FOR THE DOLPHIN DIVERS GROUP UNTIL JUNE 11th. AFTER THAT DATE, OUR VACANT SPOTS WILL BE OFFERED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CAMP IN OUR GROUP’S AREA.  I APOLOGIZE FOR THE SHORT TIMEFRAME, BUT THAT IS THEIR POLICY.   SO, CALL FOR YOUR RESERVATIONS ASAP. A FEW OF US ARE ARRIVING ON OCT 9th

THE CAMPGROUND’S TELEPHONE NUMBER IS (707) 937-0606. IDENTIFY YOURSELF A BEING WITH THE DOLPHIN DIVERS OF SACRAMENTO, AND KEN TAKATA AS THE GROUP’S LEADER WHEN MAKING YOUR RESERVATIONS. APRIL OR ELIZABETH, OF THE CAMP’S STAFF, IS FAMILIAR WITH THE OUR CLUB’S RESERVATIONS, SO IT WILL BE BEST TO TALK TO THEM.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW THE CAMPSITE NUMBER YOU HAVE RESERVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

GROUP ACTIVITIES TYPICALLY INCLUDES POTLUCKS.  

IF OCEAN CONDITIONS PERMIT AND SPACE AVAILABLE, A FEW BOATS MAY BE AVAILABLE FOR DIVING AND/OR FISHING. YOU CAN KAYAK ON THE ALBION RIVER, DO A SHORE DIVE AT VAN DAMME STATE PARK, VISIT THE PICTUREST TOWN OF MENDOCINO, TAKE THE SKUNK TRAIN IN FORT BRAGG, PLAY GOLF AT THE LITTLE RIVER GOLF COURSE, OR JUST RELAX AT THE CAMPGROUND. LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

KEN TAKATA

kennethktakata@gmail.com

(916) 599-5270

EDITOR’S NOTE
By: Joe Morgan

I’M LOOKING FOR MEMBERS TO SEND IN PICTURES OF DIVING, DIVING VACATIONS ETC.

• Trip Reviews: Let us know where you have been diving, what operator you used, the hotel you stayed at and how was the diving there. Let us know if the operator was safe and fun. Let us know if the hotel was a good deal, give us as much detail as possible and hopefully more Dolphin Divers will venture there in the future.
  
• Recipes: I was told that in the past Dolphin Divers gave each other SEAFOOD recipes that they loved so that everyone could enjoy the bounty of the sea, I hope to continue that each month with at least one good recipe.
  
• Dive and Camping yard-sale items you wish to include in the newsletter.
  
• Dive Activities: Please let me know if there are any dive-related activities you would like included in the newsletter.
  
• Pictures from your last dive. Please make sure to let me know how you would like the picture credited in the newsletter. -example – Picture by John Member, of a Silky Shark, at Roca Partida Mexico.

PLEASE MAIL ALL SUBMISSIONS

Editor@dolphindivers.org

DOLPHIN DIVERS OF SACRAMENTO
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Owen Autry – President
Ken Takata – Vice President
Marlyn Sepulveda – Treasure
Corinne Fuerst – Secretary
Douglas Hillblom – Events Chair
Brad Freelove – Safety Officer
Renee Viehmann – Webmaster
Jack Millard – Historian
Joe Morgan – Editor
Tracy Clarke – Promotions
Dave Whiteside – Member at Large
Tom Mischley – Member at Large
Sally Walters – Member at Large
Cheryl Anderson – Member at Large
Ed Hurff – Member at Large
Chris Matthews – Member at Large