Dear Dolphin Divers of Sacramento, March 1, 2024

Happy St. Patrick’s Day Everyone!

Did you know? St. Patrick’s Day, Celebrated on March 17th, honors St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Traditionally, it is a religious and cultural holiday that commemorates his efforts in brining Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century.

The Feast of St. Patrick (or feast day) was originally established by the Catholic Church, it was a day spiritual reflection and celebration of Irelands Christian heritage. The symbolism of the Shamrock, St. Patrick is said to have used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the Christian concept of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Over time Identity and pride the day became a broader celebration of the Irish culture, particularly among Irish communities worldwide.

Though originally a solemn feast, St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into a global celebration of Irish culture, with parables, wearing green, and in modern times festivities often involving food, drink, and music. Have a great St. Patrick’s Day!

If you are interested in learning more about the diving club and would like to get more involved. Those of you that are interested in being on the board please reach out to Edward Hurff serving as the chairmen for Board selection, or another board member, so we can work with you and your future position on the board. I really appreciate that you may be interested in helping our club grow. At our general meeting in April, we will vote for board members and provide free pizza for all our members. Remember to sign up early for club membership.

Please note, our next Dolphin Club General Meeting will be held in-person on Wednesday, March 19th, 2025, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at Round Table Pizza (9500 Greenback Lane in Folsom), and we are able to have a Zoom link for this meeting. Marilyn will send out more information about our guest speaker prior to the meeting. You will not want to miss this in-person meeting…everyone is welcome to join!


Hope to see you in the water and bubble’s up!!

Owen Autry,
President

Safety Officer’s Message
By: Brad Freelove

Pressure Test Your Dive Computer or Watch

During the latest rain storms you decided to get out your diving equipment and make sure that all is fine and ready to go for your next diving adventure. You hook up your regulator to your tank and turn on the air. No hissing sounds so probably no leaks. A good sign. Then you turn on your dive computer. The battery indicator shows that you are below a 25% charge. Time to replace the battery.

Hopefully you still have the instructions for your computer. If not, the internet probably has a ton of stuff on how to change the battery. Most newer model computer batteries are user friendly to change. You might need a special tool, a screwdriver, or a coin to remove the battery cover. Most likely you need a CR 2450 battery but whatever you need, get a quality battery. Not something from the Dollar Store.
You have the correct battery and the tools to make the change. I recommend that you change out the o’ring seal for the battery compartment. Do you know how to clean the seal area? Do you have the proper lubricate? Is the o’ring in good condition?
Maybe you should consider taking the computer or dive watch into your local dive store and have an expert take care of your investment. Your Scubapro, Oceanic, Garmin, or whatever brand computer might have set you back over $500. Do you want to risk that computer because you did not seal the battery compartment correctly? The technicians at the store should use factory parts to change out the battery. Then the technicians will check the computer for leaks and accuracy. Your dive computer should register the same depth and time as the store testing equipment. If your computer is an air-integrated model, take in the transmitter and have it serviced at the same time as your computer.

Spending the time and money on your equipment properly serviced will give you peace of mind during your next dive. No worries about a faulty o’ring or a battery that was installed incorrectly. Your computer has accurate readings and no leaks! Have fun on your next dive.

QUOTES FROM THE SEA

“Shark encounters are one of the main fears people have when taking up, or thinking of trying, scuba diving. Many divers dream of seeing sharks while diving, but for some, it’s still a cause of concern. So it’s worth reminding them that coconuts present a far greater danger than sharks during a tropical vacation. Say what? Well, roughly 150 people are killed every year by falling coconuts — they are really, really heavy and fall from great heights — compared to around 10 yearly fatalities from shark attacks.”
THOMAS GRONFELDT

“Nine metres… 15 metres… 18 metres… Scuba diving is a strange, reverential experience: breathing through an oxygen tank, a meditative series of inhales and exhales, in an otherwise inhospitable environment. Total submersion dulls your sense of touch and deprives you of sound and smell, focusing perception through your mask — a window into the unfathomable. The sensation is wonderful and exhilarating, but tempered by a heightened awareness of your fragile, alien body.”
JILL TOMAC

MARCH MEETING
Mar. 19, 2025
7PM-8PM (Social Hour begins at 6PM)

Our next Dolphin Club General Meeting will be held in-person
on Wednesday, March 19th. Social Hour is from 6:00-7:00 pm and Meeting from 7:00 to 8:00 pm at
Round Table Pizza, 9500 Greenback Ln Ste 1, Folsom, CA 95630-2091

GUEST SPEAKER

Join us for a presentation from the Water Forum’s Habitat and Science Program Manager, Erica Bishop, highlighting her organization’s work along the Lower American River. Topics will include: a quick overview of the Water Forum’s role in the region, recent efforts to improve in-river habitat and flow conditions for wild salmon and steelhead including site selection and adaptive management considerations, ongoing fisheries and physical monitoring, habitat effectiveness and special study results, and plans for future projects.
The Water Forum includes a diverse group of water providers, environmentalists, business groups
and local governments working to balance water supply needs with protection of the Lower American River’s resources. For more information on Water Forum’s most recent project at River Bend Park, visit waterforum.org/habitat2024

Bio
For the past 20 years, Erica Bishop has used her interdisciplinary background in hydrology and watershed science to help bridge the gap between stakeholders and experts working to improve environmental and water management in our region. Erica joined the Water Forum as Program Manager in 2021 and is responsible for planning and implementation of Water Forum’s habitat projects, fishery monitoring, and river science on the American River corridor; building partnerships with agencies and stakeholders; grant and budget management; and supporting Water Forum 2.0 Agreement development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography from Oklahoma State University and a master’s in Water Resources from the University of Wyoming.

TIGER SHARKS OF FIJI
Sent in by Dave W.

Member News

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL TIME

Dolphin Divers of Sacramento

April 1^st is just around the corner.  Our 2025 new membership year starts on April 1^st and runs through March 31^st, 2026.  If you want to continue to be part of the largest diving club in the Sacramento area, you will need to get signed up for the new membership year.

Your membership entitles you to receive our monthly newsletter….The Bubbles.  The Bubbles will keep you updated on upcoming club dives, meetings, parties and other dive stuff.  You also receive an air-fill card from Dolphin Swim and Scuba.  You get 10 FREE air fills from Dolphin.  Along with the card, you will receive a 10% discount on items not on sale.

To renew your membership at Dolphin Divers, you can:

Complete the application below and mail the application and dues payment into the club P.O. Box.  The address is at the bottom of the application.

You can pick up an application during our monthly meetings.

You can print an application from the club website.  https://www.dolphindivers.org/membership/membership-application/

You can go to the club website and follow the instructions for submitting an online application and dues.  https://www.dolphindivers.org/membership/membership-application/

February and March 2025 Birthdays

Paul Rees Feb – 3rd
Rachel Simi Feb – 8th
Natalie Clark Feb – 14th
Carmen Young Feb – 16th
Chris Matthews Feb – 18th
Barry Hurff Feb – 22nd
Owen Autry Feb – 24th

Gary Short Mar – 5th
Holger Fuerst Mar – 6th
Mike Melvin Mar – 7th
Valinda Saldana Mar – 12th
Meredith Meschini Mar – 13th
Tim Lipscomb Mar – 14th
Tyler Elston Mar – 17th
Carol Herlie Mar – 27th

February – March New Members

We have no new members this month…

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

Easter

Just Laugh

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

For the full view click here… (Click 2024/2025 Tab)

Mar. 5, 2025	DDS Board Meeting		Owen Autry
Mar. 19, 2025	General Meeting		Owen Autry
Apr. 12, 2025	Easter Egg Hunt	San Carlos Beach, Monterey	Brad Freelove and Ken Takata

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

President: Owen Autry
Vice President: Ken Takata
Treasurer: Marlyn Sepulveda
Secretary: Brad Freelove / Corinne Fuerst
Safety Officer: Brad Freelove
Activity Chair: David Whiteside
Webmaster: Renee Viehmann
Promotions Chair: Tracy Clarke
Newsletter Editor: Joe Morgan
Historian: Jack Millard
Member at Large: Tom Mischley
Member at Large: Lalanyia Little
Member at Large: Ed Hurff
Member at Large: Sally Walters
Member at Large: Douglas Hillblom
Alternate Member at Large: Corinne Fuerst