NEADC GENERAL MEETING   Wednesday, May 19th, 2004 The Meeting will begin in the Conference Center at the New England Aquarium The doors to the Conference Center open at 6:15 p.m. If you would like to join, need a temporary membership card, or would like to purchase tickets for any of our raffles and participate in the GOT drawing, please arrive on time. Officer announcements will begin promptly at 6:30 with the night's drawings taking place at 6:55 p.m. We will then join the Lowell Lecture at 7:00 p.m. Immersion Theater “Undersea Aliens, the Jellies of the Open Sea” Guest Speaker: Laurence P. Madin, Ph.D. Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Dr. Madin has spent much of his career searching the ocean for these translucent animals made of 95 percent water. He has found them in every part of the ocean, from the surface to the deepest depths. These varied, adaptable, simple, spineless creatures may have a lot to teach those of us with backbones and complex brains. Dr. Madin will use many of his breathtaking photographs to illustrate lessons he is learning from sea jellies.   Next issue is the annual special June edition! You can list your dives, charters, and contact information for free! Just send your information before May 15th to newsletter@neadc.org. Thank you! NEWSLETTER DEADLINE Submit your news for the next Newsletter by Monday, May 24, 2004! This is for the JUNE EDITION of the NEADC Newsletter. Submissions must be in writing, preferably via e-mail to newsletter@neadc.org. Thank you!

INFORMAL MEETING The June Informal Meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 2nd, at 6:30 p.m., hosted by Angela Ponte and Barry Rabinovitz, 467 Quincy Shore Drive, North Quincy, Ma. (617) 328-7080. DIRECTIONS: From Route 93 South: Take Exit 12 Neponset-Marina Bay; go straight ahead off the exit ramp past Staples and Walgreen's. Follow signs for Quincy through the traffic light. Then bear left following signs for Wollaston Beach. You are now on Quincy Shore Drive. Continue straight. You will see a Dunkin Donuts at the beginning of the beach. Continue for six streets on the right (they come quick) then turn right on Webster Street. We are on the corner of Webster Street and Quincy Shore Drive. Look for the Dominica Sperm Whale weathervane. From Route 93 North: Take the E.Milton/N.Quincy exit. Continue straight at 1st set of lights in E. Milton Square. At the second set of lights, turn right onto Squantum Street. Follow straight for about 1 mile, you will cross over Hancock Street (No Quincy High will be on your left) continue straight for about 3/4 mile and turn right on Webster Street. Follow to the end - last house on the left before the water. Look for the Dominica Sperm Whale weathervane.           THIS MONTH'S CONTENTS         Directions to Informal..................................................... Page 1         Officers/Voice Mail.......................................................... Page 2         From the Officers............................................................ Page 2         Great White Shark raffle................................................. Page 4         Whale Watch reschedule / NEADC Seal Dive........... Page 4         Fish ID Seminar............................................................... Page 5         Eelgrass / DUI Demo Days............................................ Page 6         BSC Treasure Hunt........................................................ Page 7         RIMAP / Advertising......................................................... Page 8         MA Biodiversity Celebration..................................... Pages 8-9         NEADC Picnic / Lowell Lecture Programs.............. Page 10         NEADC Calendar of Events & Dives.......................... Page 11         Membership Application............................................. Page 12

I am donating a GIANT OCEAN TANK DIVE for July 3rd, 2004. If you've always dreamed about diving in our Giant Ocean Tank, this is your perfect opportunity. We will be announcing the lucky winner at our June formal meeting (you do not have to be present to win -- just be the highest bidder). We have the bidding form posted on our website - you can bid on-line or by phone to me. All the proceeds from this event will be used to finance our Cownose Ray Project. Current bid $525.

DIVE TRAVEL:

OCTOBER 2004:  GREAT WHITE SHARK DIVING---October 26th - 30^th. Imagine diving in 100ft visibility and water temps of 74 degrees surrounded by 7-10 great whites. Shark Adventures in California has found a location that is offering the most incredible cage diving with great whites on the planet today. They combine this with world-class tuna fishing (shark bait!!) on an 86' luxury long-range dive boat. These 5-day boat trips are only available during October and part of November. We have reserved the boat for Oct 2004 at the cost of $2100 per diver. This price will include a video of our trip. Update: the price for 2004 has been increased to $2400 per diver; we will still have the opportunity to pay 2003 prices. When speaking to Patrick from Shark Adventures, he told me they had several large encounters - one 16-footer!!! 2 spots left!

JANUARY 15th-22nd 2005 - DOMINICA - $1045, which includes: 7 nights hotel, 7 breakfasts, 7 dinners, 2 night dives, 5 days of 2-tank boat dives, unlimited shore dives, tanks, weights, and weight belt, kayaking, welcome rum punch, r/t airport transfers, service charges, and taxes. Reserve now - this trip fills up fast!

MARCH 2005 - ALL NEW WHALE SHARK EXPEDITIONS OF HONDURAS- SHARK DIVER LODGE - $1895. Discover the shark diving adventure of a lifetime - an encounter with the ocean's largest shark, the Whale Shark. The new inclusive "Shark Diver Lodge," located in the crystal waters of the Caribbean in the Honduras, is the latest amazing shark dive destination. Little was known about this site until just recently, when once again reports from local fishermen and scientists came in of these magnificent animals just off the coast. Absolute divers visited the site in early 2004, where diving with the Whale Sharks truly is an incredible experience. This is your chance to be one of the first shark divers to encounter these 30-50 foot leviathans in 100-foot visibility and all just a short 5-hour average flight away. While you are there, fish for world-class Tarpon, Snook, and Bonefish; dive the multitude of regular reefs surrounding the island; or just sit on the white sands of the Caribbean and soak up the sun. It is all included. Located just off the coast of Honduras in the warm clear waters of the Caribbean, our inclusive Shark Diver Lodge features three dive boats for unlimited regular diving along reefs, walls, and open water pinnacles. Discover fan corals, Groupers, Spotted Eagle Rays and more. Plus enjoy roomy accommodations in your private tropical waterfront bungalows. Our lodge also features kayaks, great food, and a game room with pool table, and satellite television.

MAY 2005 - BAHAMAS LIVE-ABOARD - the most amazing live-aboard in the Caribbean - swimming with dolphins, incredible shark dives, and virgin reefs. More info in the next newsletter.

For information on any of these trips or to enter a bid, please contact Al Bozza at (617) 212-9108, programs@neadc.org.

All my dives after the June Fish ID will also be surveys. Divers will have the option to fish survey at all my listed dives so far this year, including night dives. No one will have to survey, but it will be an option. NO EXPERIENCE necessary for fish surveys. I have come up with a commando-style crash course at the site, for anyone who later in the year wants to participate and missed the seminar. I have made some handy "tools" for surveying.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events. For info, contact Alicia @ (617) 285-6737, environmental@neadc.org.

Sun, May 23, 2004                          BSC/South Shore Neptunes Annual Treasure Hunt. Join the NEADC TEAM!

Sat, July 17, 2004                            GAFC – Halibut Shores - Advanced Dive; Stage Fort Park for NEADC Picnic

Sat, Sept. 25, 2004                          CoastSweep 2004/NEU Marine Lab Open House; Cleanup - Great Family Event - Prizes!

More to come throughout the dive season. Check the Dive Calendar on the website, www.neadc.org, and in the newsletters.

P.S. DIVE IN TO EARTH DAY WAS A BLAST.

GREAT WHITE SHARK!!! Okay, folks, here is your chance to win a signed, limited edition JOHN PERRY sculpture! As part of the NEADC Cownose Ray fund raising, this 24” Great White mounted on burlwood is being raffled off for only $5 per ticket. Only 100 tickets will be sold. Retail price of this piece is $175. Tickets are available at club informal and general meetings, or by calling Dick Whitehouse at (508) 947-0063.

NOTICE: The New England Aquarium Dive Club 2004 Whale Watch has been rescheduled for the Fall. Keep checking upcoming newsletters and the website, www.neadc.org, for updates.

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NEADC 7th ANNUAL SEAL DIVE

Monday August 16th, 2004  7am – 5pm, - Isles of Shoals, ME

A two-tank all day boat trip departing from Gloucester Marina to the Isles of Shoals to dive with seal colonies aboard Cape Ann Diver's large spacious boat that has hot showers. This is a very shallow dive near shore 5-25 feet, which makes for great seal underwater encounters. We have had fantastic seal encounters every year. We stay in the same dive spot for two seal dives. Our club has the boat for the day. Dive with people you know!

NEADC group price is $85/person. Non-divers, observers, and snorkelers are welcome. Bring or rent your own tanks, weights, water, and lunch since we stay at sea all day! First come/First served - Limited to 14 divers max and 2 observers/snorkelers.

Hold your spot before it sells out – see below.

On Wednesday, June 3^rd, 2004, you will receive a confirmation e-mail stating your check was received, your spot was reserved along with directions, a detailed FAQ, and an itinerary.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Enclose payment and this registration slip to secure your spot

Diver Name                                                                                                                                        

Address                                                                                                                                              

Phone                                                                                                                                                  

E-mail                                                                                                                                                  

FOR:      Seal Dive  Monday August 16, 2004

Make check payable to:      Donna Romano

MAIL TO:                                 124 Prince St #3R

                                                Boston, MA 02113-1037

                OR: NEW!!!!  Use www.paypal.com to pay safetystop@mac.com (my e-mail). Create you own account in minutes

                and use your CREDIT CARD to pay. In the “note field” put your name and status (diver, snorkeler, or observer).

                Add $2.75 for paypal fees to price. Send $87.75.

Questions call:   (617) 723-3212   or  e-mail safetystop@mac.com.

                          

Recognize this Fish?

Call me with the answer before the class and win a prize!

Learn How to Identify Local Coastal Fish

                When?             June 16, 2004, 6:30pm

                Where?  Immersion Theater, NEAq

                Why?       You love the North Atlantic!

                Contact? Environmental@neadc.org

(Alicia Lenci 617 285 6737)

If you attend this seminar and you dive or snorkel, you will be eligible to participate in the Great Annual Fish Counts* that will take place this year.

You need not participate in fish counts to attend this seminar.

Come learn more about the most common fish in your “backyard” and it’s FREE!

*The "Great Annual Fish Count" (GAFC) is an event coordinated by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) that mobilizes and trains volunteer divers and snorkelers in established methodologies to identify and document fish diversity and population trends in marine sanctuaries and coastal areas. This annual event takes place the month of July, and serves both to introduce and inspire recreational divers and snorkelers to: participate in REEF's year-round volunteer monitoring programs; raise awareness among both the diving community and public-at-large regarding marine habitats and trends in fish populations; and provide researchers, marine resource managers and policy makers with this useful information that would otherwise be unavailable. 

NOTE: The 2004 Invertebrate Workshop hosted by the New England Aquarium Dive Club will be on October 23, 2004, at the Conference Center. Contact Brandy Derickson at derickba@netzero.net.

Spring 2004 Eelgrass Transplants!

We've increased our efforts this spring! Space for transplants on the M/V Alletta Morris are limited, so sign up early and often! We will work from 9am to 5pm and lunch, snacks, and beverages will be provided. A full day commitment is necessary for transplants but not for harvests.

Harvest volunteer opportunities include: diving, sorting, and kayaking

Transplant volunteer opportunities include: diving and supporting divers

Date	Activity	Location
Thursday May 27	Harvest	Kings Beach, Newport
Friday May 28	Harvest	Kings Beach, Newport
Saturday May 29	Transplant	Fogland Point (Tiverton)¹
Sunday May 30	Transplant	Fogland Point (Tiverton)¹
Thursday June 10	Harvest	Fort Getty, Jamestown
Friday June 11	Harvest	Fort Getty, Jamestown
Saturday June 12	Transplant	Prudence Island²
Sunday June 13	Transplant	Prudence Island²
Thursday June 24	Harvest	Kings Beach, Newport
Friday June 25	Harvest	Fort Getty, Jamestown
Saturday June 26	Transplant	Sauga Point (N. Kingstown)²
Sunday June 27	Transplant	Sauga Point (N. Kingstown)²

¹ Meet at the Tiverton Town Dock located next to Grinnell Beach
² Meet in N. Kingstown at the dock at the end of W. Main Street (next to Champlin's Seafood Market).

If you are interested in signing up for dates, please contact Michelle Denault at mdenault@savebay.org or (401) 272-3540, ext. 114

We look forward to seeing you at the transplant!

For the 3rd year, DUI will be hosting a fantastic weekend diving opportunity at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, MA on May 22-23. DUI is best known for its drysuits and we will be bringing over 75 suits for divers to demo in the ocean that weekend. This is a great chance to try out some new gear and also to have a fun dive day with divers from all over New England. DUI wants to celebrate the fun of local diving with you and hope you will join us for a great weekend of diving and camaraderie. In addition to diving in the latest gear from DUI, we will have Reefmaster digital cameras to demo, a lunch barbeque each day, a pig roast dinner on Saturday night and informative and fun presentations throughout the weekend. Fee charged.

Since we know how important dive clubs are to the local diver, we are also inviting the local dive clubs to have a table at the event where you can advertise membership and your events. Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries will also be there for those who have questions about lobster regulations, etc. On Sunday, the Bay State Council of Divers will be running their annual Treasure Hunt. Stage Fort Park will definitely be the place to be on May 22nd and 23rd. We hope you will join us in celebrating local diving this May!

If you have any questions, please contact me at faith@dui-online.com or call 800-325-8439, or check on-line at http://www.dui-online.com/newsite/dog_main_2004.htm. Thanks, Faith Ortins, DUI VP, and former New Englander.

Bay State Council of Divers 19^th Annual Treasure Hunt

            Date: Sunday May 23, 2004 (Rain or Shine)                 Time: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

                                    Place: Stage Fort Park Gloucester, MA

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Free Parking (no fee until Memorial Day)
• Bring your own food and beverages (no alcohol allowed)
• Cooking OK - - Bring your own grill
• Take-out food available
  

TREASURE HUNT

• Objective — To find small objects in shallow water
• Independents and dive club members welcome
• Prizes — Diving equipment, dive charters, etc.
• SCUBA Event - - Everyone will be on their own in this scramble for prizes
• Snorkel Event — Team Snorkel Competition 1:00 - 2:00 PM
• 6 person teams club or shop
• Proof of certification required for SCUBA event
• Treasure Hunt entrance fee (includes both events)
• Advanced Registration $ 7.50
• Day of Event $10.00

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

For SCUBA Event - - Wet or dry Suit with buoyancy compensator, tank, regulator with pressure gauge, weight belt, mask, fins, snorkel, knife and catch bag.

For Snorkel Event - - All of the above except tank and regulator.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

09:00 - 10:00 am   Registration

11:00 - 12:00 pm   SCUBA Event

01:00 - 02:00 pm   Snorkel Event

02:30 - 03:00 pm  Trophies & Prizes

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Bay State Council of Divers Treasure Hunt - - Advanced Registration

(Must be postmarked no later than May 10, 2004)

Yes, I want to participate in the 2004 Bay State Council Of Divers Treasure Hunt. Enclosed is my $7.50 advanced registration fee (non-refundable).  Make your check payable to BAY STATE COUNCIL and mail it to: Bay State Council of Divers P.O. Box 518 Quincy, MA 02169    Name:________________________________

                    

The Rhode Island Marine Archeology Project 2004 Educational Offerings

Class	Date	Time
Ship Construction for U/W Archeology	May 15	2-4 pm
Small Boat Construction & What to do Before you Buy*	May 16	2-4 pm
Shipwrecks & National Register of Historic Places	May 22	2-4 pm
Artifact Management*	May 23	2-4 pm
Remote Sensing in U/W Archaeology	June 5	1-4 pm
Submerged Prehistoric Archaeology*	June 6	1-3 pm
RI in the Revolution	June 12	1-3 pm
Safe Boat Handling for Archaeology	June 13	1-3 pm
Archaeological Photography	June 1	1-3 pm
Intro to U/W Archaeology	June 26	9 am – 4 pm

*Sample class or New addition                                          For more information, please contact www.rimap.org .

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For Rent - House in Nahant, MA. (North Shore). Walking distance to 40 Steps dive site and the NE Marine Research Station. Bordered on two plus sides by Audubon property. $950/mo.

                                    Contact George at (617) 876-0390 or gbeng@world.std.com.

For Sale: Wetsuits: (2) Two SeaQuest 7mm coldwater wetsuits. Both full two-piece; shorty and farmer john. Men's Medium black with gray accents and Men's Large black with fluorescent green accents. Like new. $100.00 ea. or bro.       Please contact Ron Migliozzi @ (978) 346-8495.

For Sale: FINS: (1) pair of Scubapro Jet Fins; X-large; black; w/ strap pulls; now $50.

                                    Leonor Desmarais (508) 485-4903.

As many of you may know, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will not be coordinating MA Biodiversity Days for 2004 due to a lack of funding. There is a plan underway where the MA Association of Conservation Commissions will assume this role beginning in 2005. 

Until that time, many associations involved with MA Biodiversity Days will continue with the tradition and hold their own individual bio-blitz events in 2004. We will once again be partnering with the folks at Joppa Flats (MA Audubon Society) and The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS) on June 6, 2004. We will conduct fish and invertebrate surveys in both the salt mashes of Joppa Flats near the mouth of the Merrimack River and in the ocean from the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (Plum Island).

For those brave souls who joined me last year (Nor' Easter with gale force winds and zero viz), conditions should be much better. I am looking for 2 teams of divers this year - one to survey Joppa Flats (great for new members with little experience - shallow snorkel/dive) and a second, which I will lead off Plum Island (possible strong currents - suggested for more experienced divers). I need to limit the total number to the first 20 divers who respond due to parking and space restrictions at the facility.

Divers will meet at The Audubon Society's Joppa Flats visitors center in Newburyport at 11:00 a.m. to enter the water between 12-12:30 p.m. The tide is favorable with low tide at 8:30 a.m., so conditions and visibility should be optimum (barring another Nor' Easter).

The following is a schedule of the day’s events - this is a family oriented event, so feel free to bring your families!! Please contact me at pbm.inc@verizon.net if you are interested in joining me for this event.

BIODIVERSITY CELEBRATION - JUNE 6, 2004

Sponsored by the Parker River Clean Water Association,

Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center, and Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

ALL ACTIVITIES FREE

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.       Early Bird Walk at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Leader:  Bill Gette. Meet at Joppa Flats Education Center (JFEC).

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.         Test drive an environmentally efficient Honda Hybrid from the JFEC parking lot.

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.         Exploring the Eliza Little Walking Trail at the Spencer Peirce Little Farm. Leaders:                                        Joppa Staff. Meet at JFEC.

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.     Open House at Newburyport Sewage Treatment Plant. Celebrate the 30^th     anniversary of the Clean Water Act and improved river habitat. Leader: Brendan     O’Regan, Superintendent. Meet at the Sewage Treatment Plant, 157 Water Street,    Newburyport.

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.     Refuge Cross-Dune, Shore to Marsh Estuary Nature Walk. Leaders: Dr. Peter Burn,                                        Suffolk University biologist, and Jean Adams, Refuge Interpreter. Meet at Parker          River NWR Parking Lot #1.

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.     Family Nature and Bug Walk. Leader, Dr. Rob Stevenson, UMass. biologist.

                                       Meet at JFEC.

10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.       Learn how Stormwater Management decreases water pollution. Newbury         Conservation Commission information table at JFEC

11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.     Wonders of the Joppa Flats Salt Pannes. Leader: Cyndy Bourquard. Meet at JFEC

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.       Canoe/Kayak Plum Island Estuary Excursion. Leader: Leslie Goodman, Refuge       Staff. Reservations required. Call 978-465-5753.

12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.       Family Nature and Bobolink Walk along the Eliza Little Walking Trail.

                                       Leader:  Dr. Rob Stevenson

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.         Endangered Live Turtle Show and Tell. Leaders: Mark Grgurovic and Susan Speak   Abruzzi, turtle researchers. On-going at JFEC

1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.         Refuge History Tour. Leader: Jean Adams, Refuge Interpreter. Meet at Parker River NWR Parking Lot #1.

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.         Afternoon Bird Walk at the Refuge. Leaders: Joppa Staff and Volunteers. Meet at     Joppa Flats Education Center.

Underwritten in part by HONDA NORTH of Danvers.

NEADC ANNUAL PICNIC - SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2004 - 10:00 am

Stage Fort Park, Gloucester, Massachusetts

This year we are again combining our event with the

Great Annual Fish Count being held same day, same time.

Raffles, BBQ, door prize, seining for local species and other activities,

Including Fish Count Dives to be announced.

 

2004 Spring Lowell Lecture Programs at the New England Aquarium

All of these lectures are FREE and open to the public on a first-come first-served basis.

Location: The Aquarium's Education Center, on the first floor of the Boston Harbor Garage, adjacent to the New England Aquarium and the Simons IMAX(r) Theatre.

Monday, May 10, 7 p.m.

Free IMAX Screening of Galapagos

Carole Baldwin, Ph.D. Research Biologist, National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution

Special location: Simons IMAX Theatre, adjacent to the Aquarium

Dr. Baldwin explored 3,000 feet below the ocean surface to identify a colorful array of rarely seen animals and plants, including more than a dozen previously unknown species. Baldwin exposes the dynamics of evolution through stunning footage of these creatures. Following a screening of this remarkable 3-D film, Dr. Baldwin will share some of her personal stories and insights about the Galapagos expedition and explain how her observations led to her latest project, “One Fish, Two Fish, Crawfish, Bluefish-The Smithsonian Sustainable Seafood Cookbook.” After the program, Dr. Baldwin, as well as the artist of this beautifully illustrated book, Charlotte Knox, will answer questions and sign copies of the book.

Wednesday, May 12, 7 p.m.

Voyage into the Abyss: The Saga of an Undersea Volcanic Eruption

Richard A. Lutz, Ph.D., Director, Institute of Marine & Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University

Dr. Lutz will share breathtaking photos and video clips in his explanation of biological and geological changes he has observed at an undersea volcanic ridge 2,500 meters deep in the Pacific Ocean. Dr. Lutz's ongoing studies of this unique "natural deep-sea laboratory" are dramatically altering our views of the rates at which many biological and geological processes are occurring on the face of the planet. Dr. Lutz served as Science Director for the IMAX film “Volcanoes of the Deep Sea,” which is currently playing at the Aquarium's Simons IMAX Theatre. (Tickets to the film are not included in this event.)

Monday, May 17, 7 p.m.

Journey with the Manatees

Mark Merrall, Director and Tom Boyd, Producer and Photographer, Machine Age Films

Mr. Merrall and Mr. Boyd are currently working on the production of an IMAX film about manatees. Using amazing film and still images, they will share the mysterious trail of the manatee from its land-dwelling ancestors to its present status as an aquatic celebrity, and onto its uncharted future affected by conflicting human desires that sometimes protect and sometimes threaten these endearing modern "mermaids."

Wednesday, May 19, 7 P.M.

Undersea Aliens, the Jellies of the Open Sea

Laurence P. Madin, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. See page 1 for details.

New England Aquarium Dive Club

2004 Shore Diving and Event Calendar

The leaders for a dive may cancel or modify their dive plans so please contact him or her prior to the dive date. Likewise, if you confirm attendance but then cannot attend a dive for any reason, please notify the dive leader as soon as possible, so that the group does not wait for you at the meeting site on the day of the dive. Note:  Meeting minutes are posted on www.neadc.org.

New England Aquarium Dive Club Membership Form