Dave Clancy (largely responsible for the Free The Beaches law) is running his second dive trip to Nova Scotia in August (inspired by one he went on that I ran about 1982). The URL is http://wreckhunter.net/ns-trip-blurb-2004.htm  I plan to go, and do it in a wetsuit.

GIANT OCEAN TANK DIVE UPDATE: Good news - the GOT Dive does not have to be done on Saturday, July 3^rd, 2004. A future date can be chosen if this date is not convenient for you. If you have always dreamed about diving in our Giant Ocean Tank, this is the perfect opportunity. We will be announcing the lucky winner at our June formal meeting (you do not have to be present to win - just the highest bidder). We will have the bidding form posted on our website - you can bid on-line or by phone to me. All proceeds from this event will be used to finance our Cownose Ray Project. Current bid $600.

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 the 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 October 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!!! 1 Spot 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 fast! (8 people have already signed up!!!)

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 search of these magnificent animals just off the coast. Absolute divers visited the site 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 100ft 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 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.

---

Trade in your diving suit

One way to look good at the beach, without counting carbs, is to get a new wetsuit.

Bring your old wetsuit or drysuit to PG Dive and you could get one of the following discounts on your new BARE suit purchase:

Receive $30 off 3/2mm Velocity Fullsuit

Receive $60 off 7mm Arctic SGS Fullsuit

Receive $200 off CD4 Pro Dry

Check out the Bare wetsuits at www.bare-wetsuits.com and contact PG Dive for details. www.pgdive.com 617-969-3483

---

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” it’s FREE!

FREE Seminar provided by Bob Michelson, Stellwagen BankNational Marine Sanctuary.

*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.

PUBLIC RIGHTS/PRIVATE PROPERTY: ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON BEACH ACCESS

Summertime. The living is easy. Fish are jumping'. And right now somewhere along the Massachusetts coast, two people are arguing over whether one of them may walk along the other's beach.

Few issues in Massachusetts can be counted on as such a regular source of conflict. One reason for this is that in the face of the overwhelming desire for people to use our beaches, our laws are not very "friendly" toward beach access. This is because, some 350 years ago, our forefathers gave away much of the public's rights to use the coastline in an attempt to spur the development of wharfs and maritime commerce. On top of that, our laws in this area are complex, confusing, and - to an extent that is surprising in light of centuries of court battles - uncertain. The result is conflict. Those who own property along the coast clash with those who want to walk along it, often without either really knowing what their rights and obligations are. Indeed, sometimes police officers and other public officials called in to deal with this conflict are themselves unclear about the respective rights and responsibilities.

The purpose of this pamphlet is to try to help people understand the law in this area, to the extent that it has been settled. We have tried to provide simple answers to commonly-asked questions about the ownership of the coast. Our hope is that by informing the public of the law, we can move beyond needless conflicts and toward more consensual solutions to the beach access issue. In particular, we have highlighted ways that coastal owners who want to let the public gain access through or along their property can do so while avoiding liability and at the same time preserving their own property rights.

Of necessity, we can state what the public's rights are only in general terms. There are many complications that may arise in individual circumstances.

Questions & Answers

Q: "Someone told me that beaches are privately owned in Massachusetts all the way down to the low tide line. How can that be?"
A: Each state has its own laws regarding who owns the beach. In most coastal states, the public owns the land seaward of the high tide line, and in some states public ownership extends even higher. Massachusetts is different, however. The Massachusetts courts have consistently ruled that in the 1640s, we gave away title to the land between the mean high tide line and the low tide line to the adjacent upland owners. Therefore, this area - known as the "intertidal zone" or "wet sand area" - is generally privately owned in Massachusetts.

Q: "So you're saying that if I own the adjacent upland land, I therefore own the adjacent wet sand area?"
A: Probably, but not necessarily. It is possible that the interest in the wet sand area was separately conveyed ("severed") from the uplands parcel at some time in the past. A final answer to this question may require a complete title search, and even then you might not have a definitive answer. If this issue cannot be resolved by the available evidence, the upland owner is presumed to own the adjacent wet sand area. The boundary issues can be resolved in Land Court.

Q: "You said that I can own down to the 'low tide line,' but the low tide line changes every day. What low tide line are you talking about?"
A: Because the precise tide lines change daily, the average or mean low tide line is used. There is an ongoing dispute, however, as to whether you should use the so-called "mean low tide" line or the "mean extreme low tide line." The former is the average of all low tides, while the latter is the average of extreme low tides "resulting from usual causes and conditions."

Q: "How do you deal with the fact that over time the coastline builds up in certain areas and washes away in others?"
A: The short answer to this question is that the property lines move with the low tide line. Therefore, as land is extended by the natural buildup of sand (known as "accretion"), the private property owners generally enjoy a windfall. But when the opposite happens ("reliction"), the private property owners generally lose ownership of that portion of the land taken by the sea. The fact that property lines change with the whims of the oceans is one of the things that makes private ownership of this area different from private ownership of inland property.

Q: "If I own the wet sand area, why are members of the public claiming they can use it?"
A: Private ownership of the wet sand area is subject to certain public rights that were reserved when the land became private in the first place. Because the public-at-large retains a property interest in the wet sand area, the private owners' property interest in this area is similar to that of people who own private property in other areas subject to public easements (for example, people who abut town roads typically own to the middle of the road, subject to the public's right of passage).

Q: "What are the rights that were reserved to the public?"
A: The original laws that granted private ownership reserved the rights of "fishing, fowling, and navigation." Court cases have also held that reserved public rights include the "natural derivatives" of these uses. There are hundreds of years of court cases that attempt to flesh out precisely what these various words mean.

Q: "Does 'fishing' include shellfishing?"
A: Yes. That means that members of the public may take shellfish from the wet sand area of privately owned property and they may walk along the wet sand area to gain access to the shellfish.

Q: "Does the public's right to use the wet sand area for fishing include the right to do aquaculture, such as quahog farming?"
A: The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court concluded that the public’s right to fish in the wet sand area does not include a right to occupy such areas with aquaculture pens. As a result, someone who wants to perform these aquaculture activities in wet sand areas must obtain the permission of the private owner in addition to applicable state and local licenses.

Q: "What is 'fowling'?"
A: "Fowling" certainly includes the hunting of birds. Our office takes the position that the term also includes other ways that birds can be "used," such as birdwatching. This issue has not yet been addressed by the courts.

Q: "Does 'navigation' include swimming?"
A: Yes, but. According to the courts, swimming in the intertidal zone is included within the reserved public right of navigation, but only so long as your feet don't touch the bottom! And you don't have a right to walk along the wet sand area solely for the purpose of gaining access for swimming.

Public Rights/Private Property: Answers To Frequently Asked Questions On Beach Access (cont.)

Q: "What about walking below the low tide line?"
A: Private property owners cannot interfere with the public's right to walk along the submerged lands that lie seaward of the low tide line. With few exceptions, they don't own that land; the public does.

Q: "Since members of the public have the right to fish, fowl, and navigate in the wet sand area, then they can do whatever fishing, fowling, and navigation they want to do there, right?"
A: So far, we've just been talking about ownership issues. Just as a private property owner's rights are subject to reasonable regulation, the same is true of the public's reserved rights. Thus, for example, the government may require shellfishermen to obtain all applicable state and local permits and to comply with applicable shellfishing regulations. And, of course, members of the public who exercise their public rights to use the wet sand area must comply with other laws, such as the prohibition on littering and the creation of nuisances.

Q: "I've heard people say that all I really need to do to 'be legal' is to carry a fishing line in my pocket?"
A: Carrying a fishing line or a fishing pole would render your walking along the wet sands area legal only if you actually intended to fish.

Q: "Does the public have a right to use off-road vehicles over the wet sand areas to gain access for fishing?"
A: The Supreme Judicial Court has never ruled on whether driving an off-road vehicle across private wet sand areas for the purposes of gaining access to fishing areas is included within the public's right to fish. In any event, the use of off-road vehicles may be regulated by the government.

Q: "Like many of my fellow property owners, I don't mind the public walking along my wet sand area even if they are not 'fishing, fowling, or navigating,' so long as by allowing this, I don't lose any property rights in the process. Is there some way that I can be a 'good citizen' and still retain my property rights?"
A: Yes. What you appear to be worried about is the legal concept known as "prescription" or "adverse possession." This is the idea that if someone uses your property for a sufficiently long time, they may be able to claim a property interest in it. For someone to be able to make this claim, however, their use has to be without your permission. Therefore, openly allowing the public to walk across your land (e.g., by "posting" such permission) is perhaps the best way of defeating someone's ability to accrue such a right. Posting the land in this manner, of course, would not affect any access rights that anyone had already obtained before the posting.

Q: "O.K., that may solve one problem, but how about liability?"
A: Under existing state law, a property owner who allows the public to use his or her land for recreational purposes without charging for such use is shielded from liability for injuries sustained during that use so long as the property owner did not bury hidden booby traps or otherwise act with such "fault" that his or her conduct constituted "willful, wanton or reckless conduct." Here again, the best way for coastal property owners to protect themselves may be to allow the public to walk across their land.

Q: "Wasn't there a state law passed a few years ago that gave the public a right to walk along the wet sand area even if they weren't fishing, fowling, or navigating"?
A: Not exactly. You're referring to chapter 176, section 4 of the Acts of 1991. That law states that the public is to have a general right to walk along the wet sand area during dawn to dusk hours. Such a right is not effective, however, unless the state Department of Environmental Management (DEM) acquires it on behalf of the public through formal eminent domain proceedings involving the specific properties affected, where the private property owners from whom the right was acquired would be compensated.

Q: "How much compensation would a private landowner be due if the state "took" a general easement right pursuant to the 1991 law?"
A: The property owner would be owed the amount, if any, that the market value of his or her land was reduced by the fact that the public now had a general right to walk across the wet sand area, not just to do so for fishing, fowling, and navigation.

Q: "You've talked so far about access along the beach. How about access from inland areas to the beach?"
A: Generally speaking, the land inland of the mean high tide line is owned by private parties, just like other land. Members of the public therefore do not have a right to walk across this land unless they individually or collectively have obtained such a right, or if, in particular circumstances, such rights were reserved when the land was initially granted to a private party. Rights of access can be purchased or taken by eminent domain, or they may be acquired by long term use (e.g., by the doctrine of "prescription" mentioned above).

Q: "How can I resolve whether the public has a right to cross a particular parcel of private property to get to the sea?"
A: Unfortunately, resolving whether the public, or some subset of the public, has a right to use a given path can often be very difficult, requiring an intensive examination of the particular facts and evidence at issue. It can also be very expensive for both sides, especially if a full trial is needed to resolve the issues. As with the wet sand area discussed above, private property owners who want to protect their property rights, but who otherwise don't mind others walking across their land, can accomplish this by "posting" their permission. This would not, of course, affect any access rights that the public had already obtained before the posting.

Q: "What is the Coastal Access Legal & Mediation Service?"
A: The interagency Coastal Access Legal & Mediation Service (CALMS) is a joint effort of the Department of Environmental Management (DEM), the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA), the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Office (MCZM), and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). Its mission is to assist in the resolution of local disputes arising from public vs. private access to coastal properties in Massachusetts, as well as preventing such disputes from developing in the first place. The program acts as a central clearinghouse for pro bono legal and/or mediation assistance to towns, nonprofit organizations, groups, and individuals through a network of volunteer professionals.

For further information, or if you wish to discuss a situation or request an application, contact the Coastal Access Legal and Mediation Services (CALMS) program, by calling John Bolis at Urban Harbors Institute, (617) 287-5568 or (617) 287-5570, or go to:  http://www.state.ma.us/dem/programs/coastal/cap-crs.htm  Additional copies of this brochure can also be found at http://www.ago.state.ma.us/beachacc.pdf.

Office of the Attorney General, Environmental Protection Division, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108, www.ago.state.ma.us.

A SURVEY OF DIVER ETIQUETTE

It is our privilege to be able to dive the shores of New England. Many towns and cities have some control over their beaches (at least to the parking) and the city councils listen to the local residents. If the local residents complain about divers, the beaches could be closed to diving! Beware, it has happened in other beach cities. Common problems are divers dumping their gear on the streets and sidewalks, obstructing traffic and pedestrians, and parking in the residents’ driveways. Of particular note is noise! Don't be loud; show some respect! Do you have any idea how loud and annoying it is to listen to dust caps being blown off by "cracking" your tank valve? If you see someone making a mistake and you don't help to educate them, you just might lose your diving privileges. Below are some suggestions, MADE BY DIVERS THEMSELVES, that you might consider observing at beaches.

·         Keep noise to a minimum, especially in the early morning and evening hours.

·         Whenever possible, enter and exit in sand beach areas, not over rocky points.

·         Prevent clutter. Keep unused diving equipment in your vehicle.

·         Be courteous!!

·         Be discriminate when you dress and undress.

·         Use proper toilet facilities!!! NEED WE EXPLAIN THIS ONE?

·         Shower the sand off your suit BEFORE going into the bathrooms. If you can’t shower, remove wetsuits BEFORE using the facilities.

·         Do not unload your equipment into the street or in no parking/handicap zones.

·         Park in DESIGNATED parking spaces or lots and FEED THE METER!

·         Do not block sidewalks, driveways or stairways with diving equipment.

·         Divers must stay out of the marinas! Diving around boats can be extremely dangerous!

·         If you have a large group, park up at a central site, throw all the gear into a few vehicles, and car pool to keep an area from getting congested.

·         Make sure emergency vehicles and other vehicles have access to all the buildings near the beach. 

·         Keep the boat ramps clear.

·         Please clean up!!! People THINK we use the faculties, take up all the parking and leave the place a mess. It would be very helpful if we could change this image! If you can't find any of your own garbage to throw out, pick up someone else's. Please help keep the beach, parking lots, and bathrooms clean. This is really good P.R. If we don't leave a mess, there is very little they can complain about. It is important to remember that we are guests.

·         Night divers, please try to keep the noise down. This especially means do not blast your regulators dry. Use a towel instead - it's quieter and better for your regulator.

·         Be ready to abort or relocate a dive if the area is too congested and there is no parking.

·         If you are diving Cape Ann and planning on spending money anyway, spend it in on Cape Ann, and let the proprietor of the mini-mart, fast food stand, or restaurant know you are there because of the diving.

·         It never hurts to spend a few minutes before or after a dive talking to the locals. Letting them know what is down there and where it is located can go a long way toward changing their perception of divers.

·         If you run across any lost lures you might consider taking them with you and giving them to the fishermen, paying special attention to any kids there.

·         If anyone argues with you about access, your right to be on the beach or to be diving, don’t argue back. Find out what the complaint is, who the complainer is, and take it up with the proper authorities. If necessary, leave the area and avoid confrontations.

These are only a few suggestions made in conversations over one weekend in Gloucester. Perhaps by following some of these suggestions, you will be doing your part in helping to keep our beaches open to diving. PLEASE CONTRIBUTE YOUR SUGGESTIONS ON THE NEADC FORUM!!!

2004 New England Aquarium Cownose Ray Transport

by Sherrie Floyd

Thanks to efforts of New England Aquarium Fishes Department Staff, and the continued support of the New England Aquarium Dive Club, three cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) arrived safely in Duxbury, MA, at approximately 5:30 AM, on Wednesday, May 12, 2004. The rays were donated by the Virginia Marine Science Museum (VMSM) in Norfolk, Virginia. They were transported from Virginia to Boston in the New England Aquarium transport vehicle, a Mitsubishi fuso cube truck, fully equipped with a marine life support system. The transport team, Sherrie Floyd, Leah Neal, Michelle Olivari, and Barbara Bailey, left the aquarium on Monday, May 10^th, at 8:00 AM, and arrived in Virginia Beach at 10:00 PM. The next morning NEAq staff set up the Mitsubishi transport system, toured the VMSM facility, picked up the rays, and set out for the return trip to Boston at approximately 12:00 PM. For the most part, the trip was uneventful. A combination of biological and mechanical filtration ensured good water quality, and the temperature was maintained with bagged ice, as the air conditioning in the truck was not functioning properly. After a 17-hour return trip, staff and rays arrived exhausted, but in good condition. They (the rays, not the staff) are currently undergoing a short quarantine period in our Duxbury off-site holding facility. Their debut in the Giant Ocean Tank is scheduled for early June. The New England Aquarium is tremendously grateful to the New England Aquarium Dive Club for this generous donation. These animals are a spectacular addition to our centerpiece exhibit.

 

---

Check out DiveNewEngland, which is a resource for divers: www.divenewengland.com.

---

We are Birds Underwater Dive Center. Our last name is Oestreich, hence the "Birds". We are located in Crystal River, FL, home of the West Indian Manatee. Manatee snorkel tours are conducted all year round, but the months of November to mid-March are the best as the manatees shelter here in the 72 degree springs. We are a PADI 5 Star facility, offer all levels of instruction, including technical diving, rental gear, kayak rentals, and Nitrox fills.

Our website is www.birdsunderwater.com.

Thanks, Diane Oestreich.

---

---

Come and experience the beautiful, peaceful coast of Maine with Sea Ventures Charters. We offer custom scheduled, personalized dive trips to Monhegan Island with its spectacular, unspoiled walls and abundant marine life. The scenery, both above and below the surface, is hard to beat and we plan multiple dives per day, usually ending with a shallow dive with the seal colony there. We are once again offering shark cage trips during August and have a few open dates left. We are looking forward to seeing all of our "old" friends from New England as well as meeting new friends. Regards, Dave Sinclair, Sea Ventures Charters, 207-685-4693; www.divefishmaine.com; dave@divefishmaine.com.

---

ANNOUNCEMENT:

The 2004 Northeast Invertebrate Workshop will be hosted by the New England Aquarium Dive Club, Inc. at the New England Aquarium on October 23, 2004 (Conference Center). This is an exclusive Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary diver education program, and the first of its kind in the United States. Contact Brandy Derickson at derickba@netzero.net to enroll.

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 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!

The Rhode Island Marine Archeology Project 2004 Educational Offerings

Class	Date	Time
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
Intro to U/W Archaeology	June 26	9 am – 4 pm

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

MarineFisheries Advisory (Dated May 14, 2004)

HELPMarineFisheries  identify HORSESHOE CRAB spawning beaches.

The Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries)is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying shoreline used as horseshoe crab spawning habitat. Each spring, from late April though June, horseshoe crabs come ashore to lay their eggs. Weather conditions, water temperature, and habitat can affect where and when crabs gather. However, spawning generally occurs on evening high tides near the full and new moons. MarineFisheries is looking for your help in identifying where horseshoe crabs spawn in Massachusetts waters.

Some scientists believe there may be localized population declines. One of the biggest threats to the horseshoe crab is loss of spawning habitat. Each year more and more horseshoe crab spawning beaches are lost because of development such as new bulkheads, piers and beach nourishment projects.

This spring, if you notice crabs spawning, please note the location (beach, nearby street or other landmark) and contact Frank Germano at (508) 563-1779, ext 123, or e-mail frank.germano@state.ma.us. Your assistance in identifying horseshoe crab spawning beaches will help MarineFisheries determine the relative importance of these sites and help us in protecting this important resource in the future.

Hi All,

It is time again to plan on participating in the largest GAFC diving event in the USA for 2 years in a row - let’s make it a 3rd!!

The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary will be hosting their 3rd annual Sanctuary celebration event in conjunction with the Great Annual Fish Count on Saturday, July 17, 2004. This will be a joint event with the NEADC.

The event will be based at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. We have the porch from 10:00am-4:00pm. Divers will need to select which dive site they wish to survey and pre-register with me for one of the following dive sites prior to the event. These sites include:  Folly Cove, Back Beach, Old Garden Beach, Magnolia Rocks, Cathedral Rocks, Halibut Shores, and Nubble Light, York, Maine.

Divers will meet directly at their survey location and begin their survey dives between 8 and 9 am, depending upon what time site leaders call for. There will be a volunteer shore coordinator for each location to assist with parking, etc. I would appreciate volunteers to step up for these positions. Alicia Lenci from NEADC has already volunteered for Halibut Shores.

All divers will then return to Stage Fort Park by 1 pm for lunch and our equipment raffle, which will be drawn at 2 pm. The lunch and raffle are free to all volunteer divers who conduct at least one survey dive on Saturday, 7/17/04.

Our raffle boasted over $6000.00 in dive equipment last year. This year’s raffle is looking to exceed that amount. Divers will all receive one (1) raffle ticket, regardless as to how many survey dives that have been conducted. Each diver will receive their raffle ticket when checking back in at the park after diving and turning in their completed scan forms. The diver will then select which grand prize they would like to win by placing their ticket in the appropriate bowl for that prize. All non-winning tickets will then be placed into a single bowl. Divers will select whatever they would like to take from the prize table in the order that each subsequent winning ticket is drawn.

This year we are looking for volunteers to help set up in the morning, and clean up and break down at the end of the day. Please let me know if you are interested in pitching in.

We will have free booth space available for any dive club, or non-profit environmental group. Just let me know if you are interested so we can arrange for a table and chairs for your group.

Remember - divers need to pre-register with me prior to the event to qualify for the GAFC celebration and prizes.

Warmest regards,

Bob Michelson, SBNMS Fish ID Coordinator, e-mail pbm.inc@verizon.net.

The Merrimack Valley Dive Club is a group of scuba diving enthusiasts based in northeastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Our charter is simply to promote safe sport diving and share the camaraderie of our fellow members. Membership is open to divers and non-divers alike, but all divers must be certified to participate in Club dives.

This year’s activities:

Saturday, 5 June 2004, 9 am            Spring Fling! At Stage Fort Park

Sunday, 6 June 2004, 10 am            Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Joppa Flats dive

Saturday, 19 June 2004                     Boat Dive at the Isles of Shoals

Saturday, 26 June 2004                     Shore Dive at Nubble Light

Saturday, 17 July 2004, 8 am            Great Annual Fish Count 2004 at Stage Fort Park

Monday, 6 Sept. 2004                        Shore Dive at Old Garden Beach

Saturday, 11 Sept. 2004, 9:30 am    CoastSweep 2004 at Back Beach

Saturday, 25 Sept. 2004                     Tropical Fish Viewing/Collecting at Kings Beach, RI

Saturday, 16 Oct. 2004                      Underwater Pumpkin Carving at Back Beach

Friday, 26 Nov. 2004                           Cold Turkey Shore Dive at Old Garden Beach

Tuesday, 7 Dec. 2004                        Holiday Party at Courtyard Marriott

Thanks!!                                Chris Sargent, President, MVDC

---

Please check out N.E.R.D.S. - the Northeast Regional Dive Society at http://www.nerddivers.com. Thanks!

---

 Bubbles Dive Center

55 Chapel St

Newport, RI 02840

Phone 401-847-4985; Alternate phone 401-848-7619

FREEMANTF@NPT.NUWC.NAVY.MIL

 Instructor Trainer for DAN & WASI. PADI Master Instructor, SDI/TDI Instructor with over 40 Specialties to offer by appointment. With over 6300 dives, 34 years of experience, 15 years of Instruction.  We have dived the Pacific, Atlantic, Gulf, Caribbean, underground, freshwater, rivers, author, photographer, explorer, and lecturer. We also have new equipment for sale, and conduct tank hydro’s and inspections.

Open Water Class; Advance; Rescue; Nitrox; Equipment; DAN 02; & Other Specialties available on request.

---

Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions offers recreational and technical diving based out of the north shore of MA. Our specialty is shipwrecks but we visit all popular dive sites, including Halfway Rock, Saturday Night Ledge, and Paddock Rock, among others. This summer, we are introducing our new custom built 36' dive boat and expanding our schedule to include more diving! Fast, comfortable and built for divers, this boat will run out of Salem's Pickering Wharf Marina. We offer recreational training through NAUI and PADI and technical diving education through TDI. Visit http://www.northernatlanticdive.com or call 617-480-5261 to learn more.

Thank you, Heather Knowles

Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions, Inc.

P.O. Box 154

Beverly, MA 01915

http://www.northernatlanticdive.com

Phone: (617) 480-5261; Fax: (781) 639-1467

www.pierdive.com

Charles Walpole

Narragansett Pier Dive Shop

145 Boon St

PO Box 700

Narragansett, RI 02882

401 783 2225

Here are the South Shore Neptunes events for June and July:

Sunday, June 6th, Point Dive (Boat Dive). Location: Three and a Half Fathom Ledge Buzzards Bay.

Leave from Quincy Yacht Club at 8 am, pick up at Pemberton Pier 8:30 am.
Tuesday, June 8th, 8 - 9 pm, BOD Meeting.
Friday, June 11th, Dinner Night Out, 7:30 at the Hilltop in Braintree.

Sunday, June 13th, Boat Dive. Leave from Quincy Yacht Club at 8 am, pick up at Pemberton Pier 8:30 am.
Tuesday, June 15th, 8 - 9 pm, Membership Meeting.
Sunday, June 27th, Club picnic on George's Island. Details to be announced later.

Tuesday, July 6th, 8 - 9 pm, Membership Meeting.
Tuesday, July 13th, 8 - 9 pm, BOD Meeting.
Sunday, July 18th, Point Dive (Boat Dive). Location: Lovell's Island - followed by a picnic on the island.
Leave from Quincy Yacht Club at 8 am, pick up at Pemberton Pier 8:30 am.
Tuesday, July 20th, 8 - 9 pm, Membership Meeting.
Sunday, July 25th, Boat Dive. Leave from Quincy Yacht Club at 8 am, pick up at Pemberton Pier 8:30 am.

The United Divers of New Hampshire (UDNH) Dive Club was founded in 1975 to educate divers and expand the knowledge of diving in both the State of New Hampshire and in New England in general. The club also provides an informal setting for diver interaction. Click the link www.udnh.org for more info. Meetings are usually held the first and third Mondays of each month - check Club Meetings for details. We encourage potential members to attend a meeting or two to experience our club before joining. The meetings are held at the YMCA on 30 Mechanic Street in Manchester, New Hampshire (right off Elm Street). The meetings start at 7:00 PM. Each meeting consists of a short business portion followed by a variety of presentations and discussions. Immediately following, the club has an hour of pool time for swimming, trying out gear, and the occasional game of underwater hockey. Members and guests often meet afterwards at a local restaurant for food and drink - this activity is affectionately referred to as Decompression.

Captain Rob’s – Rye, NH
Captain: Rob Kenney        
Boat: Giant Stride
Web Site: http://www.captainrobs.com          
Phone: (603) 926-9350

You're you looking for a day under water with the seals? Want to snorkel a secluded cove five miles offshore? Or just go diving?  Captain Rob has the boat. Grab a buddy and bring your dive gear.

Enjoy half-day charters aboard the M/V Giant Stride with Captain Rob Kenney. Rob is an experienced Captain with 18 years of diving experience, and he's been the Captain of the Giant Stride since 1995.

Trips and Pricing:
Up to three trips leave daily from Rye Harbor, New Hampshire, just one hour north of Boston.  Charter fees range from $25 to $60 based on number of tanks and destination. A typical 2-tank half-day charter is $60. Special group rates and private charters for diving, snorkeling, fishing or just enjoying a day on the water, are available.

The charter fee of $60.00 is reduced for NEADC members to 50.00. Call to find out more information or reserve a charter.

Captain Rob's Dive Charters is a family owned and operated business.  We thank you for your patronage.

  PilotHouse Charters - Plymouth, MA

Captain: David Iovanna                      Boat: Tip-N-Ring                 Web Site: http://www.pilothousecharters.com/

Phone: (603) 785-8777                      E-Mail: CaptDavid@Pilothousecharters.com

Diving in Plymouth and surrounding South Shore waters aboard a 31’ Parker pilothouse that fits up to 4 divers.

Half Day - 2-tank dives - $65 per diver. Two trips:  8AM-12PM and 1PM-5PM.

Cape Ann Divers - Gloucester

Web Site: http://www.capeanndivers.com/scubacharters.htm

Phone: (978) 281-8082                      E-Mail: contactus@capeanndivers.com

Probably the largest charter operation in New England, Cape Ann has two boats. The Cape Ann Diver is “six-pack” (6 divers) at 31’ and the Cape Ann Diver II is a 45’ off-shore boat that can handle up to 20 divers. We don’t get a club discount with Cape Ann, but they are the biggest game in town and both boats usually go out twice a day.

Most 2 tank dives are $65.  Triple tank dives and Isle of Shoals are $90.

 Cape Cod Bay Charters - Plymouth, MA

Captain: John Carty                            Boat: Lucky Lady                 Web Site: http://www.ccbcharters.com/

Phone: (888) 488-3483                      E-Mail: Ccbcharters@aol.com

Enjoy Cape Cod's finest fishing and diving aboard the fully equipped, custom designed 36' Topaz. Maximum of 6 people per charter are welcome. 4 hour dive charter ~ $75.00 per diver. Provincetown drift dive ~ $100.00 per diver.

  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.

Directions to Stage Fort Park Beach from Boston: -
Take route 93 North to Route 128N/95N. Follow 128N when the two split staying on 128N.
Take exit 14 (to route 133) with a right at the bottom of the ramp following the sign to Gloucester Harbor.
Proceed on route 133 - you will pass the commuter T station on your left after 1.1 miles, then Yankee Tours on your left at 1.9 miles. At about 2.5 miles you'll reach the water, turn Right.
Follow the road for about 0.1 mile, and Stage Fort Park will be on the left.

Divers Down Television - with Mark Stanton.

"Featuring Worldwide Underwater Adventure Travel"

DDTV airs as part of the NESN Outdoors block on New England Sports Network multiple times weekly. Programming is by divers for divers, and includes dive travel destinations from Canada to Australia, as well as regional programs about dive sites right here in the northeast. Divers Down is entering its 19th season.

Typical scheduling is as follows, with some fluctuation during the year (check your local listings):

Sundays------10 pm                             Wednesdays------4 pm                        Fridays------9 pm

NESN is available by cable in all six New England states, and nationwide by satellite on DirecTV channel 623 or Dish Network channel 434.

Programs are available on VHS by mail order. For a list of titles, send a self addressed stamped envelope to:

Divers Down Television

P.O. Box 288

Halifax, MA 02338

247 W. Central St. Natick, MA 01760        (508) 651-0698

www.massdiving.com

MASS Diving is a PADI-5 Star Training Facility and Travel Center offering all levels of SCUBA instruction and the largest selection of SCUBA equipment in New England.

Join us this summer for our MASS Diving Program! We offer guided shore dives, boat dives, and PADI Specialty Dives. See our website for details.

Join us for a warm water dive! Little Cayman – November 2004, Palau – January 2005, Dominica – February 2005, Anthony’s Key Resort in Roatan – March 2005, Grand Cayman – April 2005, Cocos – May 2005, Papua New Guinea – November 2005. Details are on the group travel section of our website.

Cape Ann Charters, Inc.

Hi, my name is Francis Marcoux. I am captain of the dive charter boat, Daybreaker, out of Gloucester, MA.

We are looking forward to another season with you on and under the water. Needless to say, if you know us you know how much we missed being out with everyone. We put a new engine and transmission in the boat this winter as part of our long-term maintenance program. The following is our schedule for the next two months. To get weekly updates during the summer season, all anyone has to do is ask to be put on our e-mail list. We do not sell or give out our list and use it only for our charter business and to share dive information. If you know of someone who would like to be on our list have them email their address to me at franm52@aol.com and I will add them to my list. The fastest and usually best way to contact me is my mobile phone, 508-873-8339, and if you do not reach me directly, leave a message with your daytime and evening phone numbers and the times best to reach you. Please speak clearly when leaving numbers and messages. These dates listed below and others not listed can be chartered for different sites in most cases until we receive a reservation on that date for the site listed. In addition we go to all the normal Cape Ann dive sites plus most of the deep technical wreck dives in the area, so if you have a site in mind and it is not listed, call us and we will try to accommodate you. Our normal AM charters leave the dock at 8 am and we like to have everyone on the boat ready to go at 7:45 am. We try to return between 12:00 and 12:30. The normal PM charter leaves the dock at 1 pm. We like to have everyone on the boat ready to go at 12:45 pm, and we try to return between 5:00 and 5:30 pm. At this time our rates remain the same as last year and we hope to keep it there. You will notice some of our scheduled dives have an * * after them. This indicates one or more of the following: more than 2 dives, longer time out on charter than normal, special skills and equipment needed, depth is greater than 130fsw, additional costs are involved, and the location of where you get on the boat is different than Gloucester. Please call if you need information on these special dives, about anything about the schedule, or if you wish to reserve some spots on our boat. On Monday through Thursdays, we will run the boat with a minimum of 4 divers with the exception of special trips. We have a pretty detailed information sheet, which answers most questions commonly asked so if you have questions, ask and I will e-mail you a copy. We hope you have a safe and fun diving season.

Sincerely

Linda, Fran, Matt, and Ryan Marcoux