Bottom Times – May 2025 Edition

                           By Your President-in-Fins

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Welcome to May! Summer is just around the corner — hooray! I will spare you my weather predictions (as many of you have already noticed, my spider senses have been letting me down lately), but we did get a beautiful preview of warmer days this past Sunday, May 11. The sunshine made for a perfect Mother’s Day, and I want to give a heartfelt thank you to all the amazing scuba moms in our community. You have helped raise some fantastic divers, and we are very lucky to have you.💐

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Now, let us dive into some exciting club news. Our 2025 Photo and Video Contest is officially open for submissions! Whether you have been capturing epic reef dives, funny fish faces, or magical topside moments, this is your chance to show them off. You have plenty of time to either shoot something new or dig through your dive logs for the perfect entries. First and second place winners will have their work printed as an 8x10 and professionally framed, complete with a custom brass plaque featuring your name, award title, and placement. We are selecting frames to ensure your artwork is beautifully displayed.

 

Next up, something just as exciting — CID Board Elections are just around the corner. If you have ever thought about volunteering this is your chance. The election will take place in September, and new board terms will begin in October. All positions are open, so whether you are new to club, a seasoned veteran or a current board member, there is room for you to get involved. Some current board members may choose to run again, but ultimately it comes down to a vote. We will be sending more reminders months to come, and this newsletter includes the nomination forms if you would like to check them out early.

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Moving forward, we have three exciting beach dives coming up! First up is Nicholas Canyon. If you are not familiar with it, it is one of my favorite sites when conditions are nice. On my last dive there, the kelp was tall and healthy, and there were plenty of fish😁 — a real treat. I will not be attending this one myself, as I will be off scorching in the Arizona heat. However, fear not — Rob Johnson will be there to lead the dive.

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Next, we head to Palos Verdes for a beach dive on June 1, which coincides with the Scuba Show ( May 31st & June 1st). This is a great opportunity to explore a new dive spot in the morning and still make it to the show. It is shaping up to be an awesome month for diving.

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We are also heading to Picnic Beach in Laguna on June 7. Laguna is beautiful, and this dive will double as a scouting expedition for future club adventures. I am especially looking forward to exploring more of this area — there is so much to see and enjoy!

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Also in June, mark your calendars for Saturday, June 21 — the weekend following our board meeting — for an Introduction to Kayak Diving, led by none other than Mark Thompson. The goal of this event is to give everyone a solid overview of what is needed to successfully dive from a kayak. By the end of the session, you will know which types of kayaks are suitable (and which ones to avoid), how to rig your gear, and — most importantly — how to avoid losing your kayak while you are underwater. (Now that would be a story!) If you do not have a kayak, do not worry. Sign up at this Month's meeting, and I will do my best to find one for you. Just be sure to sign up at the meeting so we have time to make arrangements. Also, you are more than welcome to just attend the intro on shore if you like.

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And last but certainly not least — we have one ticket left for Bonaire!

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So whatever plans you might have had for October... cancel them and come join us! Just imagine it: an entire island to drive, dive, and explore — all in the warm, turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Perfect conditions, breakfast at Sebastiana’s (included), coconuts, unlimited shore diving, and yes — a truck to haul your gear from dive site to dive site. Then we swing by the Cadushy Distillery to investigate the local spirits (strictly for research, of course 😉).

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We will encounter flamingos and make tacos out of them, wander through the colorful towns, explore the pink lake flats, and relax on the beach under the sun with a cold drink and your favorite tunes. Oh yes — and I will be scouting local food spots. There might even be a kayak ride through the mangroves if we get lucky. I can already see it — eyes closed, huge smile on my face, soaking in the beauty of what is sure to be an unforgettable scuba adventure. I cannot wait!

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~Del