As we begin a new club year, I want to thank our current and new board members and those stepping into new roles. Since the club is membership-driven, without your time, energy, and ideas, our club events, activities, and communications would not be possible.

The board is committed to providing experiences for the membership, but to be successful, we need member involvement. As president, I have a request – if you have ideas for events, whether diving or non-diving related, please share those ideas to myself or another member of the board. Please also communicate it there are any particular topics you would like to see presented at the monthly meeting.   We may not be able to do everything, but we can only consider the ideas we hear. We are fortunate to have several dedicated members who consistently help organize club activities, but we would love to see even more get involved as event leaders and/or volunteers. I look forward to working with all of you !

Doug 

QUOTES AND THOUGHTS FROM THE SEA

“A booked dive trip improves morale immediately.”

There is something powerful about having the next adventure on the calendar. Even before the tanks are filled or the bags are packed, the countdown begins.

“Good dive buddies are built one surface interval at a time.”

Some of the best parts of diving happen between dives: the stories, the laughter, the snacks, and the planning for where to go next.

“The ocean rewards the calm diver.”

The more controlled your breathing, your movement, and your thinking, the more the underwater world seems to open up around you.

“Adventure does not always require perfect conditions.”

Sometimes the memorable dives are the cold ones, the early ones, the low-vis ones, and the dives you almost talked yourself out of doing.

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

MAY GENERAL MEETING

Join us for the May general meeting
Wednesday, May 20th. 7:00 pm
Mountain Mikes Pizza, Gold River

Safety Officer’s Message
By: Brad Freelove

Safety Tips for Underwater Photography

Underwater photography has become a VERY popular scuba diving activity.  With increases in ecological, environmental and adventure tourism, 2025 underwater photography equipment sales were nearly 9 billion dollars.  By the year 2030, sales are expected to exceed 15 billion dollars!  Scuba diving equipment sales are expected to reach just 7 billion dollars by 2030.  U/W photography is a booming business.  Getting that once-in-a-lifetime shot may be as easy as being in the right place at the right time. 

Before you grab your camera equipment and head out to your favorite dive location, take a few minutes to evaluate your diving skill level.  U/W photographers tend to get lost in the moment.  They see a seal a few feet away and must get a shot.  As they focus on getting closer to the seal, the seal sinks down a bit in the water.  The diver sinks down also.  Then the seal sinks a little more and so does the diver.  Then the seal darts away and the diver now realizes that they are down almost 100 ft and sinking fast.  OOPS! 

Or maybe, the diver saw a lionfish near a coral plate.  Diver kicks over to the fish to get a photo.  Not paying attention to their buoyancy, they sink down onto the coral and break off a large chunk.  The divemaster and their fellow divers let the offending diver know that no one is happy about their carelessness. 

Remember to control your buoyancy and know where you are in the water column.  I use a wrist mounted diving computer.  When holding my camera, I can take a quick look at the depth, nitrogen saturation and available breathing gas supply.  Teach yourself to be aware of your situation.  No photo is worth your life.

So, you got that photo of the lionfish.  You didn’t have to chase it too far and you just got yourself only slightly tangled up a on the reef just.  Remember that some locations have very strict rules about harassing marine life.  No touching or chasing.  If the turtle comes up to you, get the shot and no touching.  No trying to hitch a ride on a manta ray.  Keep your equipment streamlined so you do not get tangled up on the coral and damage it. 

Remember your dive buddy?  Are they still around or have you become separated from them?  Maybe you and your buddy should have a plan for the dive.  One diver takes a shot then the other diver gets their turn.  And you are doing this while you try and maintain contact with the rest of the group. Just keep your head in the game. 

Classes are available in buoyancy control, how to use your camera and strobes, and solo diving.  Take advantage of them and dive when you can.  The more you dive, the better diver you will become.

CLUB NIGHT DIVE 
After Action

Well, Folsom Point is not Francisco Wall in Cozumel, but 7 hardy divers showed up to make the dive. 

When we arrived at the dive site, the wind was blowing around 10 knots and there were some wind waves.  20 minutes after our arrival, the wind died to nothing, and the surface was glassy calm.  Everyone got suited up getting into the water around 7:30 pm.  Jack Millard brought his propane heater to keep the shore people warm.  Thanks to Tom and Jordan Oja for their help.  Jordan went out on his SUP to answer any questions from the divers, but this group of members were experienced and in control. 

Divers Pete Holt, Renard Arsenault, Tyler Elston, Alex Chernak, Eric Nesvick, Alex Haugseth, and Chris Shih hit the water without any problems.  They appeared to enjoy the 58-degree water and put up with the somewhat limited visibility.  Some big bass and a few crawdads were spotted. 

Our next local dive will be on May 17^th at the Aquatic Center at Lake Natoma.  Dive will start around 8:30 am.  We will be pulling out all the cans, bottles, sunglasses, cameras, paddles and other stuff that paddlers drop in the water.  We always come away with trash and treasure.

Albion River Campout 

Member News

MAY BIRTHDAYS:
Sally Walters 5/3
Hannah Dunham 5/3
Lee Friedman 5/6
Jeffery Abbott 5/9
Andrew Grice 5/9
Kenny Carrahar 5/14
Ken Anderson 5/15
Joye Bothun 5/21
Suzanne Ito 5/22
Darin Hunter 5/24
Marlyn Sepulveda 5/27
Liz Marchiondo 5/30

New Members:
Lee Irvine

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

Past Trips Photo/Video Section

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

FULL VIEW HERE

May 21, 2025	DDS General Meeting	Mountain Mike’s	Doug Hillblom	dhillblom@comcsat.net	Melissa Hadley presentation on the Galapagos Islands
May 31, 2025	UW Poker Run	Folsom Point	Brad Freelove	(916) 879-3853 bradlinda@frontiernet.com
June 4, 2025	DDS – Board Meeting	Doug Hillblom’s	Doug Hillblom	dhillblom@comcsat.net
June 18, 2025	DDS General Meeting	Mountain Mike’s	Doug Hillblom	dhillblom@comcsat.net	Brandon from Dolphin SCUBA will discuss Dive Computers
July 2, 2025	DDS – Board Meeting	Dave Whiteside ‘s	Doug Hillblom	dhillblom@comcsat.net
July 13, 2025	River Clean up	American River	Brad Freelove	(916) 879-3853 bradlinda@frontiernet.com
July 16, 2025	Picnic in The Park	Fair Oaks Park	Doug Hillblom	dhillblom@comcsat.net	REPLACES GENERAL MEETING AT Mountain Mike’s
August 6, 2025	DDS – Board Meeting	Brad Freelove’s	Doug Hillblom	dhillblom@comcsat.net
August 10th 2025	Lake Natomas Dive	Nimbus Flat State Recreation Area	Brad Freelove	(916) 879-3853 bradlinda@frontiernet.com
August 20, 2025	DDS – General Meeting	Mountain Mike’s	Doug Hillblom	dhillblom@comcsat.net	Holger and Brad, Fish ID https://www.mountainmikespizza.com/locations/gold-river-gold-springs/
Sept 4 to Sept. 7, 2025	Annual Ocean Cove Camping Trip Spearfishing Contest Rod and Reel Contest And Much More!!	Ocean Cove Group Campsights 2 & 3	Looking for a leader. Anyone that may be interested contact Doug Hillblom	dhillblom@comcsat.net	For sign ups https://www.dolphindivers.org Ocean Cove Campground 23150 CA-1 Jenner, CA 95450
Sept. 12, 2025	DDS Board	Jack Millard	Doug Hillblom	dhillblom@comcsat.net
Sept. 17, 2025	DDS General Meeting	Mountain Mike’s	Doug Hillblom	dhillblom@comcsat.net	Melissa of Dolphin SCUBA https://www.mountainmikespizza.com/locations/gold-river-gold-springs/
Sept. 20, 2025	Great American River Cleanup	American River	Brad Freelove	(916) 879-3853 bradlinda@frontiernet.com
Oct. 1, 2025	DDS Board	Corinne Fuerst	Doug Hillblom	dhillblom@comcsat.net
Oct. 10 to Oct. 12, 2025	Albion River Dive/Fish Campout	Albion River Campground	Ken Takata	((916) 428-8883 kennethktakata@gmail.com	Camping, Fishing, Diving
Oct. 15, 2025	DDS General Meeting	Mountain Mike’s	Doug Hillblom	dhillblom@comcsat.net	Photo Contest https://www.mountainmikespizza.com/locations/gold-river-gold-springs/
Oct. 19, 2025	Pumpkin Carving
Nov 5, 2025	Board Meeting	Ken Takata’s	Doug Hillblom	dhillblom@comcsat.net
Nov 19, 2025	General Meeting	Mountain Mike’s	Doug Hillblom	dhillblom@comcsat.net	https://www.mountainmikespizza.com/locations/gold-river-gold-springs/ Cookie Contest
Dec 3, 2025	DDS Board Meeting	Marlyn Sepulveda	Doug Hillblom	dhillblom@comcsat.net
Dec. 13, 2025	Christmas Party	Aviator’s Resturant	We need a leader for this event. The board will assit the leader in the event.		More Information to Come.

JUST LAUGH

Only divers:
wake up at 4:30 AM
stand in freezing rain
carry 80 pounds of gear downhill
jump into 52-degree water

Then have the nerve to call it “relaxing.”

I know I am not the only one to feel this way…

Expectation:
Gracefully descending through crystal-clear blue water like a National Geographic documentary.

Reality:
Fogged mask.
Crooked fin strap.
Already slightly out of breath.

ANIMAL THOUGHTS

Octopus: “If I stay perfectly still maybe they’ll keep photographing that rock instead of me.”

Moray Eel: “I’m not angry. This is just my face.”

Sea Turtle: “These creatures read books about how slow I am… have they ever seen themselves swim?

Garibaldi: “This entire reef belongs to me. Leave immediately.”

Manta Ray: “Yes, I know I look majestic. Please stop screaming through your regulator.”

Seal: “Watch this. I’m going to do three loops around them and disappear before they can unlock their camera.”

Lionfish: “Personal space means nothing to underwater photographers.”

Shark: “Relax. I’m way less interested in you than you are in me.”

Dolphin Divers Summer Barbecue

Mark your calendars.
The date has been set for the Dolphin Divers barbecue.

Date: Sunday, June 14, 2026
Time: 4:30 PM to approximately 7:00 PM

Come out, relax, visit with your Dolphin Divers friends, and enjoy an easy summer evening with the club.

More details will be shared as we get closer.

Lake Natoma Trash and Treasure Dive
THIS SUNDAY

The Lake Natoma Trash and Treasure Dive is this Sunday, May 17th. We have 10 divers signed up to help pull out cans, bottles, and whatever treasures they can find.

We usually make one dive, but you can make a second dive if you want. I will have bags for trash, but you might want to bring a smaller goodie bag for those sunglasses, GoPros, or other treasures that may be hiding down there.

A dive light is not necessary, but it can be helpful. Make sure you have something to drink before and after the dive. The weather looks great.

I will be at the parking area around 7:30 AM. There is a fee to enter the park.

Even if you do not want to dive, come out anyway. Bring your paddleboard, SUP, or whatever you like and stay on the surface. Come have some fun on the water.

Questions? Contact Brad Freelove at 916-879-3853.

Safety = Staying Calm Underwater

Most diving emergencies do not become serious because of one single problem. They often become serious because a small problem turns into stress, stress turns into panic, and panic causes a diver to make fast, poor decisions.

Panic underwater is dangerous because it can override training. A diver who panics may bolt to the surface, forget to breathe normally, lose contact with a buddy, drop important equipment, or stop thinking through simple solutions. A problem that may have been manageable can quickly become much worse.

That does not mean divers should pretend problems are not serious. It means the first job in an emergency is to slow the situation down enough to think.

Stop.
Breathe.
Think.
Signal your buddy.
Act deliberately.

Training matters because it gives your brain something familiar to fall back on when stress rises. Practice matters because a skill you have repeated calmly is easier to perform when you are uncomfortable. Buddy awareness matters because a calm buddy can help interrupt panic before it takes over. In an emergency you will always fall back to the training you have practiced, but only if you practice it diligently and often.
REMEMBER: It does not have to be “wet” practice, much of it can be done on land (or on the flight).

The best divers are not the ones who never have problems. The best divers are the ones who recognize a problem early, stay calm, communicate clearly, and solve it before it grows.

Before your next dive, take a moment to ask yourself: if something goes wrong, what is my first calm action?

Training for emergencies is critical to dive safety. Know the dangers of diving in general and train for them. It is also critical to know the dangers at the specific place you will be diving, then think through your actions for each.

Most the time if I am going somewhere away from home with new dangers, I have a flight to sit and think about each one. Does this location have current? Surge? Specific marine life of concern? What will be our average depth this trip and what does that mean for me? On a liveaboard what are my lost boat procedures here? When you travel alone you are paired with a buddy on the boat who you do not know. With that in mind I practice out of air with and without buddy assistance.  Practice self rescue for every situation you can think of.  
Also where is the nearest chamber? Where is the nearest major medical facility and how will I get there.
I know that not every question has a simple answer for every location, but it is worth the time invested to KNOW that you are as safe as you can possibly be.



Stay Safe
Bubbles Up…

Annual Photo Contest Reminder

This is your reminder to start looking for pictures that you take throughout the year for our annual photo contest.

There are five categories:

• Above water at a Club event.
• Underwater at a Club event.
• Open category – any photo taken anywhere – above or under water.
• Selfie category – any selfie taken anywhere – above or under water.
• Cell phone category – any cell phone photo taken anywhere – above or under water.

Regardless of category, all photos must have been taken within 12 months prior to the date of the contest (November 2025 to November 2026).

Voting for the photo contest will happen at the November 2026 general meeting. More details about the voting process will follow as we get closer to the November meeting.

Thank you and keep taking those pictures!

DOLPHIN
SUMMER PICNIC
AUG 8th

DOLPHIN SUMMER PICNIC

Saturday, AUGUST 8^TH, 2026

Enjoy A Fun Day with your Dolphin and Seahorse dive club buddies.

Activities available include: Altitude Diving (5,840’), Kayaking, Swimming, Windsurfing, Fishing, or just Relaxing at:

PG&E’s: BEAUTIFUL LAKE VALLEY RESERVOIR,

Beautiful Clear Lake Valley Reservoir is nestled in the Sierra Mountains off the Yuba Gap Exit 160,  on I-80 for day use.    It is approximately an HOUR AND 20 MINUTES from Roseville CA. 

Enjoy a full day of picnicking with lots of water activities for the entire family.  There is a boat ramp for boats and kayaks.   Boats are limited to a 10 MPH limit on a trolling electric motor.  There are two good sized islands on the lake to be explored.      

This will be a POT LUCK.   Club will provide Hot dogs, Hamburgers, and  condiments  So please bring a dish to share with utensil to serve, and a chair plus a $5.00 donation for picnic.  There is a $5.00 cash parking fee and a $10 boat launching fee.  No fee for Kayaks or Canoes.

Divers plan on briefing at 9:00 am.   It is a clear 2 mile long mountain lake with a sandy, rocky bottom with some tree stumps.  It is a mountain lake, so usually very calm in the morning and can be windy in the afternoon.  At the picnic area there is a beach area for swimming.   Because it is an altitude dive you should NOT plan on driving higher towards the Tahoe Area until a day after diving.

For those of you that are interested in camping, there is an adjacent campground named Lodgepole Campground.  Reservations are though PG&E/Camping website: https://recreation.pge.com/reservation/camping/  Reservations open up April 14 for full weeks, April 21 for 2 days and there are a few 1^st come/1^st serve spaces, or try your luck at a 1^st come first served site.

Questions — Cap’n Jack Millard  at  jbmillard@aol.com   916.955.8017

Watch the group emails and newsletter for future updates

Directions to Lake Valley Reservoir (Silvertip Picnic Area) from Sacramento Valley

* Location:   Off interstate 80 east take exit ramp 160 (Yuba Gap exit}
*From Exit:  Turn right at the top of the ramp. Then a quick left on Crystal Lake Road.

*Road Changes:   When you come to a “Y” veer right,  at the sign for Lake Valley Reservoir/Lake Valley Road.  Travel approximately 1 ½ miles.  Look for a sign on your left for Lake Valley Reservoir.   Turn left there.  This becomes a rough road.  Go very slow. Go under a mile and look for yellow sign on right that states lake.  Turn right and it goes into the Silvertip Picnic Area /Lake Valley Parking Area.  

*Pay: $5:00 cash parking fee and place receipt on dash.

DAN Membership and
Dive Accident Insurance

It is that time of year again. My Divers Alert Network membership came up for renewal, and like I do every year, I found myself looking again at the different levels of DAN membership and dive accident insurance. DAN is a huge part of my “Emergency Action Plan” If you do not have an EAP, or if you have one and have not looked at it in a while, today is the day.

One aspect of my emergency action plan is to determine what would happen “IF” I write down all of the potential costs and losses that could possibly arise from the yearly diving I plan to do. The main things begin with Hospital Stays, Chamber recompression, Medical Flights, but don’t forget gear loss, non-medical flight changes, missing the boat for various reasons, etc. Then look at whether you have each item covered and planned out. If not your plan is not done.

When it comes to the insurance side of my EAP, the amount of information can feel confusing and I have found myself lost between the different options. The first thing to remember is that DAN membership and dive accident insurance are related, but they are not the same thing. Research and choose them together, but each one is different.

First is membership. There are two Levels of membership – 

Regular Membership:
Basic DAN membership with access to emergency assistance, medical information, and DAN resources.

Enhanced Membership:
Adds additional benefits and expanded protections for divers who travel more frequently.

Then comes the three types DAN dive accident insurance –

Master Plan:
Entry-level dive accident insurance coverage.

Preferred Plan:
Higher levels of protection and benefits for more active divers.

Guardian Plan:
DAN’s highest level of coverage for divers wanting the most comprehensive protection.

The Final piece of the puzzle is Trip Protection –

Single Trip Protection: Helps cover you on one special adventure

Annual Travel protection: Helps cover you on every trip during the year

I look at DAN coverage the same way I look at safety equipment. I hope I never need it, but if I do, I want the decision already made before the emergency happens.

As a diver who loves far off places and more challenging dive locations, I will always choose the highest amount of coverage available. The price is low, and I prefer the peace of mind knowing I am covered, however if you only make a few local dives a year, your needs may be different from someone like me doing liveaboards, remote destinations, or international travel. The important thing is to understand what you have, what you do not have, and what your regular health or travel insurance may not cover.

Know what you need, know what you have.

Joe
Be safe and protected out there… Bubbles Up

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

PRESIDENT: Douglas Hillblom
VICE PRESIDENT: Ed Hurff
TREASURER: Owen Autry
SECRETARY: Corinne Fuerst
MEMBER AT LARGE: Marlyn Sepulveda
MEMBER AT LARGE: David Whiteside
MEMBER AT LARGE: Chris Matthew
MEMBER AT LARGE: Sally Walters
MEMBER AT LARGE: Jason Moore
ALTERNATE MEMBER AT LARGE: Paul Rees
ALTERNATE MEMBER AT LARGE: Ken Anderson
ACTIVITY CHAIR: Open – (Brad Freelove)
SAFETY OFFICER: Brad Freelove
PROMOTIONS CHAIR: Tracy Clarke
Historian – Jack Dillard
Webmistress – Renee Viehmann
Newsletter Editor – Joe Morgan