Dear Dolphin Divers of Sacramento,

I hope 2026 is treating you well. March brings the first signs of spring—and with it the fun of searching for

leprechauns, four‑leaf clovers, and enjoying traditional Irish dishes such as Irish stew, corned beef and

cabbage, colcannon, Irish soda bread, and Irish coddle. One of the most iconic St. Patrick’s Day meals is

Irish stew, a hearty blend of lamb or beef, potatoes, carrots, and onions simmered slowly for rich,

comforting flavor.

I share all of this because Sandy and I will soon be spending about ten days in Ireland visiting my son and

daughter‑in‑law. We’ll meet them in Dublin for three days before heading south to explore more of the

country, then return to Dublin and take a train to Belfast for two days. With Sandy’s maiden name being

O’Neal, we may even discover a few family connections along the way. We’re looking forward to local

food, lively pubs, music, dancing, and visits to the Jameson Distillery and Guinness Brewery to see how

these classics are made.

At our January general meeting, I mentioned that it is once again time to elect our board at the April

meeting. With help from our current board, we reviewed each position and its responsibilities. As a

not‑for‑profit club, we rely on a dedicated board to keep us organized and ensure we continue offering

meaningful diving and non‑diving activities for our members.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out with interest. We now have all positions filled except for

Activity Chair. This role has become increasingly difficult to fill, but the board is committed to supporting

anyone willing to take it on. The Activity Chair oversees the club’s calendar of events and works with

members to coordinate activities. If you’re interested or would like more information, please contact me

at ocautry@gmail.com or text 916‑955‑9105

Your involvement truly makes a difference, and I appreciate every one of you.

Our next Dolphin Divers of Sacramento General Meeting will be held in person on Wednesday, March

18th, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at Mountain Mike’s Pizza, located at 2220 Gold Springs Court, Gold

River, CA. Their phone number is 916‑917‑5511, and you’re welcome to order ahead through their app or

website: https://www.mountainmikespizza.com/locations/gold-river-gold-springs

Warm regards,

Owen Autry

President, 2025–2026

QUOTES FROM THE SEA
(Or just for the New Year)

“I must be a mermaid, Rango. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.”
― Anais Nin

“I have been feeling very clearheaded lately and what I want to write about today is the sea. It contains so many colors. Silver at dawn, green at noon, dark blue in the evening. Sometimes it looks almost red. Or it will turn the color of old coins. Right now the shadows of clouds are dragging across it, and patches of sunlight are touching down everywhere. White strings of gulls drag over it like beads. It is my favorite thing, I think, that I have ever seen. Sometimes I catch myself staring at it and forget my duties. It seems big enough to contain everything anyone could ever feel.”
― Anthony Doerr

“My soul is full of longing
for the secret of the sea,
and the heart of the great ocean
sends a thrilling pulse through me.”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“I really don’t know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it’s because in addition to the fact that the sea changes, and the light changes, and ships change, it’s because we all came from the sea. And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea – whether it is to sail or to watch it – we are going back from whence we came.

[Remarks at the Dinner for the America’s Cup Crews, September 14 1962]”
― John F. Kennedy

Please send in your favorite “Quotes from the Sea” if you have not already seen them here. I am always looking for more.

Safety Officer’s Message
By: Brad Freelove

The Avelo System

Most, if not all of us, use a BCD to maintain proper buoyancy.  Depending upon the exposure suit that you will be wearing and the tank you will be using, you put some lead weights on a belt or in some pockets on your BCD to maintain something close to neutral buoyancy.  By increasing or decreasing the amount of air in the BCD, you achieve neutral buoyancy.  BC’s arrived in the U.S. in the 60’s.  The Fenzy horse collar BC was developed in the early 60’s and became widely available in the U.S. in the late 60’s.  About the same time as the Fenzy system showing up in the U.S. market, stabilizer vests and jackets appeared.   During the late 70’s and early 80’s, I remember training Dolphin Scuba students in the proper use of both the horse collar and the stabilizer jacket.   While there have been some major changes in the design and functionality of the BCD, the basic principles have not changed all that much.  All that changed in November 2022.  The Avelo BC system was introduced.

The Avelo System is comprised of three components.  A special tank that is made of both aluminum and some composite materials, a battery and water pump system, and a backpack to hold all of this together.  Inside the tank is a flexible air bladder that contains your breathing gas.  To adjust your buoyancy, you pump water into the tank between the bladder and the wall of the tank, or you let the water out.  If you are using very buoyant diving equipment (wetsuit, etc.), you can add some diving weights to the Avelo System.  In theory, you have eliminated most of the diving weights.  As the Avelo dive tank weighs less than a standard tank, you have reduced the weight you swim with even further.  Reducing the amount of weight on your back and hips sounds great to me. 

I read several reviews from current users and spoke with 2 of them.  The current users of the system have good things to say about Avelo if you are using it in warm waters where a thick wetsuit or a drysuit is not necessary.  The Avelo company advertises that users of their system will have about 30 lbs. less weight attached to their body.  Avelo also notes that the tank can handle up to 4,300 psi.  That gives you a full tank.

The naysayers had a bunch of objections to the system.  The cost of the system is about $4,000 usd.  That does not include a compatible dive computer.  If you have a Scubapro G2  C or one of the compatible Shearwater computers, you can get a software upgrade that will work with the Avelo system.  You still must get the Avelo tank inspected every year and a hydro test every 5 years, but the tank has an expected life of only 15 years.  Standard scuba cylinders have a life expectancy of 40+ years.  The Avelo battery and water pump system need routine maintenance every 6 months.  Getting your Avelo tank filled to max might present a problem.  Not every dive shop can fill 4,500 psi.  Avelo rental tanks might be hard to find so you might be purchasing an extra tank at about $1,300 per tank.  As the system requires some special training, expect to spend another $500 or so on a class on how to use it.  On the surface, the Avelo system tends to float you low in the water.  This might be a problem for some divers.

As sales increase for the Avelo system, the equipment price should drop and become increasing available.  For me, I will wait a few more years before I charge out and buy the system.  If you want more information, check out the Avelo website. 

https://diveavelo.com/aveloSystem.html

Albion River Campout 

Member News

MARCH BIRTHDAYS:
Gary Short – 3/5
Holger Fuerst – 3/6
Meredith Meschini – 3/13
Tim Lipscomb – 3/14
Alex Haugseth – 3/15
Carol Herrlie – 3/27
Lorne Green – 3/284

New Members:
Max Serrano

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

Past Trips Photo Section

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

FULL VIEW HERE

Mar 18, 2026	General Meeting	Mountain Mike’s	Owen Autry President	(916) 955-9105 ocautry@gmail.com	https://www.mountainmikespizza.com/locations/gold-river-gold-springs/
Mar 29, 2026	Poker Dive	Folsom Point	Brad Freelove	(916) 879-3853 bradlinda@frontiernet.net
Apr 1, 2026	DDS Board Meeting		Owen Autry President	(916) 955-9105 ocautry@gmail.com	https://www.mountainmikespizza.com/locations/gold-river-gold-springs/
Apr 15, 2026	General Meeting	Mountain Mike’s	Owen Autry President	(916) 955-9105 ocautry@gmail.com	https://www.mountainmikespizza.com/locations/gold-river-gold-springs/
Apr 25, 2026	Night Dive	Folsom Lake	Brad Freelove	(916) 879-3853 bradlinda@frontiernet.net

JUST LAUGH

I tried to tell a joke underwater…
…but it was too deep for most people.

My dive computer told me to slow my ascent…
So I did.
Now it’s mad because I’m late for the safety stop.

Non-divers ask me why I spend so much money on scuba gear.
I tell them:
“Because being underwater is the only time I’m not thinking about buying more scuba gear.”

What’s the difference between a good dive buddy and a great dive buddy?
A good dive buddy shares air with you.
A great dive buddy doesn’t need to.

I told my wife scuba diving is a cheap hobby.
She said, “Compared to what?”
I said, “Underwater photography.”

Instructor: “Remember, if something goes wrong underwater, stay calm.”
Student: “What if I panic?”
Instructor: “Then panic slowly.”

EDITOR’S NOTE
By: Joe Morgan

I AM 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 TO

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
Ed Hurff – Member at Large
Chris Matthews – Member at Large