Greetings and salutations, amigos!

Spring is just around the corner, and daylight-saving time has returned. Those 7:00 PM sunsets are a gift. It
means something special — the chance to finish a day’s work and still chase the ocean before nightfall.

I am counting the days until my dentist gives me the green light to get back in the water. I miss the cold plunge
of the Pacific. There is something about that first rush of cold water that washes the day away — stress, noise,
deadlines — all of it dissolving in a single breath.

One of my favorite moments is arriving at the shore just as the sun begins to sink. Floating quietly on the
surface, absorbing the beauty of the life around me while watching the last light shimmer across the water. The
ocean turns gold for a moment, and it almost feels like you are dancing on the surface with the sun as it slowly
slips beneath the horizon.

Then you descend.

The world softens. Colors fade away while your torch leads the way. The reef begins its quiet night shift — fish
weaving through the kelp, lobsters emerging from their tiny homes, and there is always that little funny-shaped
crab that seems to come out to greet me.

No surface thoughts to wrestle with during this time.

Just breath.
Bubbles rising.

And when the dive is done, you surface to the night sky.

The moon greets you back, and you release that uncontrollable smile of peace.

What a dive.

Diving has a way of pulling you out of your own head and back into the moment. Just you, the ocean, and the
fish going about their mysterious business.

And with spring arriving, it is the perfect time to get back in the water with your fellow CID dive tribe. We have
some great events coming up, including our Underwater Easter Egg Hunt at Carpinteria State Beach on
March 28. Also tied to this event is the easter egg decorating contest which will take place at this month’s
general meeting. Doors open at 5pm for this fun treat.

This year Dan is leading the event, and I am super excited to see what he has in store for us. It will be his first
event as Dive Coordinator, so please come out and support him and the club. This is a free club event, complete with the classics — burgers and hot dogs on the grill — and of course the highlight of the day: the underwater egg hunt! What prizes are tied to which eggs… well, that is for you to discover.

Bring your friends and family. Just be sure to RSVP so we can get a good headcount and buy enough food to
feed you all. And of course everyone is encouraged to bring a side dish to share.

More than anything, this is about welcoming spring and kicking off another great year of diving together. If you
are new to the club, bring your bestie… easy peasy.

I hope to see many of you out there having fun, getting wet, and starting the season off right.

This month’s club meeting also brings something special. Our very own webmaster Laura Forsyth, and her
partner in crime Eric Taylor, will be sharing highlights from their epic adventure in Tanzania.

It is not their first time presenting to the club, and their talks are among my personal favorites — always plenty
of incredible photos backed by a great narrative, along with their charismatic and humorous storytelling. It is
the perfect evening to pair with dinner and friends.

We are also looking to add a new event to the calendar, the return of our traditional Veterans Day weekend trip
to Catalina Island, complete with many of the classic activities you have all come to enjoy over the years.

All I need from you right now is to read the short article included in this newsletter and let me know if you are
interested in joining the trip. I am trying to get an early headcount so we can begin reserving rooms. The last
time we organized this trip, the group-rate rooms sold out so the sooner I hear from you, the better.

Another adventure we are adding to the calendar this year is a trip down to La Bufadora, Baja California,
about three hours south of San Diego near Punta Banda. This quaint little village just south of Ensenada is
famous for its blowhole, but the real treat for us is the diving. A short panga ride takes divers out to explore big
walls, colorful reefs, and plenty of fish. The plan is to drive down Friday, dive Saturday, and then some may head home Sunday while others — like myself — may stretch the adventure and return Monday. The trip is planned for the weekend of July 18.

I have not dived this area yet, but I have heard great things and it sounds like it is definitely worth the trip. Mark
your calendars. The trip agenda will be posted in April’s newsletter.

Baja diving, good food, ocean views, and the CID dive tribe… sounds like a pretty great weekend to me.

Time to wrap this up and I am looking forward to diving with you all.

Join us this Wednesday, March 18, at 5:00 PM Easter egg decorating contest begins, 6:00 PM dinner/
socializing, and 6:30 PM club meeting.

Come hungry, come thirsty, and bring your dive tribe.