SCUBA Show 2008/Casino Night Huge Success

Casino Night was attended by over 250 people. This year's event was held in Captain Morgan's Bar, directly across from the SCUBA Show 2008 Exhibit Hall. The venue is more intimate and with the gaming tables in place, actually felt like a casino. We had over $30,000 in Silent Auction and End-of-Night Drawing prizes, so everyone gambled heavily to win those extra raffle tickets to win major prizes. Below is the list of winners of the two top prizes along with the winning bidders in the Silent Auction.

End-of-Night Major Winners

Grand Prize - 12-night Indonesia Dive Vacation for One donated by Scuba Travel Adventures was won by Michael DuRoss of Long Beach.

Second Prize - 7-night Yap Dive Vacation for Two donated by Traders Ridge Resort was won by Scott Anderson of San Diego.

Silent Auction Winning Bidders

#1748 PC LED donated by Ikelite -- Tony Zawimil
#9100 BC Jacket donated by TUSA -- Karen Gladstone
Two Yukon Valve Handles donated by San Diego Oceans Foundation (SDOF) -- Phil Bergeron
Aqua Lung Legend Regulator donated by Pacific Wilderness -- Kelly King
Bomber Jacket donated by Diving Unlimited International (DUI) -- Tony Zawamil
Two Yukon Battle Lanterns donated by SDOF -- EJ Fonda
Catalina Lodging for Six donated by Hermosa Hotel -- Kelly King
Three QuadBag Lift Bags donated by SubSalve -- Bob Huskisson
Yukon Main Shaft RPM Repeater donated by SDOF -- Dick Long
#6910 BC Jacket donated by TUSA -- Leah Schmiedeke
Cozumel Dive Trip for Two donated by Dive Paradise/Margarita Divers -- Lawanda Johnson
Impulse3 Snorkel, Micro Mask & Slingshot Fins donated by Aqua Lung -- Tony Zawamil
14” Hi-tec Divers Platform donated by The Divers Platform -- Bill Wilson Two Yukon Battle Lanterns donated by SDOF -- Ben Briggs
San Dollar 1-Day Catalina Dive Trip for Two donated by Diving Charters -- Carlos Linares
Wrap Skirt & Collared Vest donated by Chammyz -- Eleanore Rewerts
Smoke Fins, ARC Mask & SV2 Snorkel donated by Atomic Aquatics -- Kelly King
Psalty5 1-day Dive Trip for Two donated by Psalty Adventures -- Marvin Oliver
Two Yukon Battle Lanterns donated by SDOF -- Ron Nusbaum
Yukon High Pressure Compressed Air Gauge donated by SDOF -- Kelly King
Marissa 3-tank Dive Trip for Two donated by Marissa Dive Charters -- Robert Walls
Spare Air Package donated by Submersible Systems -- Michalle Hoalton
Yukon Port Hold donated by SDOF -- Debbie Karimoto
5-day Guadalupe Island Great White Shark Liveaboard for One donated by Horizon Charters Dive & Eco Adventures -- Lynda Guenther
UWATEC SmartPro Computer donated by Pacific Wilderness -- Chris Phillips
Sherwood SR1 Regulator donated by Cramer Decker -- Jovencio A. Belmonte

DUI Special Raffle Winners

3rd Prize DUI Weight Trim Harness -- Carl Mayhugh
2nd Prize DUI BC -- Al Kholos
1st Prize DUI Dry Suit -- Mike Petschek

Reefing is Now!

Pushing Pushing!! Ever feel like that’s ALL Dick Long knows how to do? Well, he and those of us that have been working with him closely over the past few months understand that if we don’t get our act together NOW, this project may NEVER come to fruition. We cannot get complacent and believe “Oh well, we can always get a ship next year!” The issues listed below are very time sensitive. Time is of the essence and we, as a team, need to move quickly.
Read more here.

Why We Need a National Reefing Program

One of the things we learned in New Jersey was that, in fact, the Feds (Navy and MARAD), don't really want to have ships reefed. It is easier for them to pay a private contractor to haul the ships away and dismantle them, even though it costs as much or more to do it that way than to reef them. Read more here.

Phase 2 Committee Charters

Click here for a list of charters and meeting updates.

About CS2R

California Ships to Reefs envisions:
Establishing a regional system of reefed ships along the California coast accomplished via a statewide coalition of Sink Groups
Establishing California as an international dive destination
Enhancing the tourism industry centered on fishing and diving
Enhancing California ground fish populations [more...]

EXPLORE MEMBERSHIP WITH US

Join us as we make the Golden State a world-class wreck diving destination. [more...]

News Flash

Vandenberg artificial reef plans sinking fast
Efforts to scuttle a 520-foot former military ship off Key West as an artificial reef now appear to be sinking faster than any vessel could. Read more here.

NOAA to Conduct Environmental Study of Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet
NOAA will assess the potential environmental impact of more than 70 federally owned obsolete and decommissioned vessels moored in Suisun Bay, Calif., during a series of field tests in July and August. Read more here.

Exorcising the Mothball Fleet of Suisun Bay
More than 70 ships that once served our country are now just rusting away, polluting Northern California waterways. Everyone agrees that's a problem, but is the plan to dismantle them dead in the water? Read more here.

Return trip to sunken ship reveals much change
What a difference three years makes! Pulling myself down a mooring line attached to the bow of the sunken U.S. Navy ship Spiegel Grove, I felt like I was seeing it for the first time. No longer just a mammoth metallic hulk, the Keys' largest artificial reef deployment has sprouted a vast, colorful, underwater garden. Read more here.

Raising the 'Widowmaker': Sub prepares for a comeback
The Russian submarine Juliett 484 once aimed nuclear-tipped missiles at U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. It's final military mission may be as a training site for Army and Navy divers. Read more here.