October 2023 Current Bubbles
President’s Message
By: Owen Autry
Dear Dolphin Divers of Sacramento, October 2023
Happy Halloween Everyone! Fall is in the air, and I am hoping for a nice and mild Fall season. Summer has raced by and I’m not sure about yours, but mine was filled with a lot of travel both locally and far away. Some of my travels included Seattle (Washington), Wichita Falls (Texas), Ocean Cove (California), and Cuba. We also participated in the Great American River Clean-Up, which included some diving and litter cleanup under the water of the American River (from the Sunrise bridge to River Bend Park in Rancho Cordova). It was a beautiful day and a successful clean-up.
I would like to thank Jack Millard for being the camp host for Ocean Cove this past Labor Day weekend. It is a big job and appreciate everyone who pitched in to help wherever it was needed. We always like feedback from those of you that attended. Please send either one or both of us an email to Owen at (ocautry@gmail.com) and/or Jack at (JBMillard@aol.com) and let us know your thoughts and feedback (what worked well and where can we improve for next year).
I would also like to thank Brad Freelove and all the divers and volunteers helping in the Great American River Clean-Up. The water was moving at a good flow and the diving was a little scary at times, with the water temperature at 61 degrees and the visibility between 6 and 10 feet. Everyone came out safe and sound, but maybe a little waterlogged being in the water for long periods of time. The rafters helping the divers grab the bags and getting them onto the rafts was also appreciated. Also, a big THANK YOU to American River Rentals for suppling the rafts, ores, and life jackets. They are a big reason it is so successful for our club and the community.
Please note, our next Dolphin Club General Meeting will be held in-person on Wednesday,
October 18th, 2023, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at Round Table Pizza (9500 Greenback Lane in Folsom), and via Zoom for those who would prefer to attend remotely. Marilyn will send information on the day of the meeting. You will not want to miss this meeting…everyone is welcome to join!
Hope to see you in the water and bubble up!!
Owen Autry,
President
QUOTES FROM THE SEA
“The best way to observe a fish is to become a fish.” – Jacques Yves Cousteau
“More people are killed every year by pigs than by sharks, which shows you how good we are at evaluating risk.”
— Bruce Schneier
“You’re 30 feet underwater, the ocean is brisk, the slight current is stirring the sand, the colorful fish are swarming, the bright red lobsters are playfully harassing the neon eels — everything seems surreal, especially the fact that you’re breathing underwater.” NATALIE LAVERY
Safety Officer’s Message
By: Brad Freelove
You just spent several hundred dollars on a new regulator. Congratulations to you! Before you hit the water, you will do yourself a great service by changing the mouthpiece on that new source of air. Many mouthpieces on regulators are made to feel just fine in your mouth for a dive or two but end up being painful as the day wears on. The material they are constructed of is probably a little on the hard side and designed for someone with a different bite than you. On a five-day liveaboard dive trip, you might be making 24 or more dives. That new regulator felt fine at the end of day one. By the end of day two, your gums are a little sore. By the end of the third day, you are constantly moving the second stage around in your mouth trying to find a less painful position. That night, you are tempted to steal the mouthpiece off your buddy’s regulator. Whether you are planning a two-tank day trip or an eight-day liveaboard to Socorro, change out that mouthpiece pronto.
I like a mouthpiece that is made of softer silicon with moldable bite pieces. You heat the mouthpiece is warm water, put it in your mouth and bite down. Now you have a mouthpiece that is made just for you. If you have any irregularities in your bite, this custom approach may be the best thing for you. A longer bite mouthpiece can help keep the mouthpiece from rubbing a sore on your jaw. The moldable bite can ease mouth fatigue. All good stuff for multiple-dive days. Don’t be tempted to buy the cheap stuff out there. You can spend as little as a dollar fifty for some. You are buying trouble. There are some good mouthpieces starting at 12 dollars. I have seen them as high as 35 dollars. I use a SeaCure Moldable. I believe it was about 30 dollars but that was a couple years ago. There are many different colors to choose from. Some are soft and pliable. Others are hard as rock. Long or short bite range is another option. Mouthpieces are considered to be universal in fit. Most mouthpieces will fit on most regulators. Before you buy, ask if your mouthpiece will fit on your regulator.
Changing out your mouthpiece is a very easy and simple task. A zip tie, or something like a zip tie is used to attach the mouthpiece to the second state. Some regulators use their very own zip tie like item. They are reusable and a little on the pricy side for what they are so don’t cut them off and toss them in the garbage. When in doubt, head on down to Dolphin Scuba with your regulator in hand. The staff at the store can get you all set up with something that fills your needs. Keep your old mouthpiece as a spare in case something happens to your custom one.
Have a safe dive!
GARCU 2023
(Great American River Clean Up)
Great American River Clean Up
September 23 was the Great American River Clean Up. 41 divers and helpers hit the water at 9 am. The goal was to bring up as much garbage and trash as we could. We had divers from 3 different clubs plus some non-club divers in the mix. Helpers came from as far away as Berkley!
Some divers hit the water right away and started pulling up trash. The first cell phone was found along the clay banks just before the San Juan Rapids. The phone was not in good condition. No chance of finding the owner. We took a 30-minute break at San Juan then headed downstream. As we expected, the bottom was loaded with cans and bottles. Divers were very busy filling the bags. Boat handlers kept an eye on all divers to keep them supplied with empty net bags. Another cell phone was found at the clay banks upstream from Ancil Hoffman.
Lots of sunglasses, cans, and plastic were pulled from the river. Several beach towels were also removed. Removing a double-size, synthetic blend beach towel is the same as removing 40-50 plastic bottles! About 400 lbs of plastic, cans, bottles, and clothing stuff were removed from the river. Thanks to all the divers and helpers that showed up to clean up our water supply.
Underwater Pumpkin Carving
October 22nd – Folsom Point
October 22 at Folsom Point. Bring your own pumpkin and carve up a masterpiece! Prizes for the first 3 places. Diving starts at 9 am and ends at 10 am. You should be back home by noon.
Pictures from the Deep
SPECIAL BIRTHDAY
Longtime Club Member Ken Takata celebrated his 80th Birthday this month!!! Congratulations Ken!
Member News
October Birthdays:
Steve Campbell
Dana Carlson
Connor Carlson
Alejandro Chernak
Elizabeth Clark
Tracy Clarke
Don Hansen
Samantha Herbert
Doug Hillbom
Lisa Knoles
Luci Oja
David Rosas
Steve Volpicelli
New Member:
Alec Morris
Are you interested in becoming a Dolphin Divers of Sacramento member?
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS
FOR THE FULL SCHEDULE PLEASE CLICK HERE
| October 4, 2023 | DDS Board Meeting at Brad Freelove | Owen Autry | bradlinda@frontiernet.net 916-879-3853 | |||
| October 7, 8, 9, 2023 | Albion River, Camping/Diving/Fishing | Jack Millard | (916) 955-8017 jbmillard@aol.com | Combined Dolphin Divers and Seahorses Event | ||
| October 18, 2023 | DDS General Meeting | Owen Autry | John Steenkolk giant Manta’s & Hammerheads in Secorro Islands | |||
| October 22, 2023 | Pumpkin Carving Contest | Brad Freelove | (916) 879-3853 bradlinda@frontiernet.com | Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest. Prizes awarded | ||
| Nov. 1, 2023 | DDS Board | Owen Autry | (916) 955-9105 ocautry@gmail.com | |||
| Nov. 15, 2023 | DDS General Meeting | Owen Autry | (916) 955-9105 ocautry@gmail.com | Presenter to be determined | ||
| Nov. 24, 2023 | Swap meet | Brad Freelove | (916) 879-3853 bradlinda@frontiernet.com | |||
| Dec. 6, 2023 | DDS Board | Owen Autry | (916) 955-9105 ocautry@gmail.com | |||
| Dec. 9, 2023 | Christmas Party | Event Leader Needed | ||||
| Dec. 13, 2023 | DDS Gen Meeting | NO MEETING | NO MEETING | General Meeting Not Held in December |
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: Owen Autry
Vice President: Ken Takata
Treasurer: Marlyn Sepulveda
Secretary: Elizabeth Marchiondo
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
