OP
I, too, assumed you were laughing so much because you had a tank of nitrous oxide with you, Dave! It was good to see that the LA Times, OC Register and Daily Breeze all carried stories on this.
Gaining Media Attention for Removal of Dangerous Fishing Net
- Thread starter drbill
- Start date
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Divebum Don
Contributor
First off I know this IS a commercial diving job. Commercial divers with all the right stuff would make short order of this task safely. Lift bags maybe? but more like bundle and hoist. The problem is there's no real funding for this type of humane recovery work (except for a small group out of UC Davis whom I've worked with before, but they are hard to get onsite)
The Catalina Island tech teams headed up these dives and did ALL the hard work, hoods off to them, they kicked ass! Jason Manix, Bob Kennedy, Cinde MacGugan, Donny Neel, Paul Thatreau, "Izzy", and David Jordan were all geared up and well trained for deep diving. There were no RB's on board. Most the doubles tech kits were filled with a Nitrox blend of about 25% with 50/50 Deco bottles and a 100% 02 Cyl. for the last 10ft only. Some dove air, with a 50/50 Deco Cyl. and a bailout bottle. Bottom times were 15 to 25+ minutes with 20++ minutes of deco. If you want to argue or discuss bends call Bob, Haaa! 2 hang bottles were deployed with multi 2nd stages and air only, these got used. A few of us, dove straight Rec profiles on air with bailouts. Sorry, but nobody dove any N2O, Haa! I loved that! The Times photog guy was a diver, onboard all day Sunday and couldn't get Nitrox right :~) The Harbor Department's William Slickenger provided excellent chase boat and second vessel assistance. Thanks also to diver (Musical)Mike D. from Trident for suppling shears, safe cutters and slates.
The main Times photo with Jason was staged, he was wearing the LA Times photographers kit and did a surface swim with a control bag and net. Catalina Divers Supply also provided an apartment Island side for 4 of us, Thanks Cinde! and "Dinghy Docks" in Avalon provided food and beverages for the teams, Thank You too.
There will be a pro video produced with top and bottom side to help show the whole story. Thanks Ron Moore and Bert Skura for the deep footage. Numerous trips will be made back on site to clear this new reef of it's deadly net canopy. Can't wait!
Ocean Defenders Alliance and Kurt Leiber have been doing this type of work for many years, just not THIS deep. It seems there is nobody responsible for open ocean dumping. What the heck?? Anyway, we at ODA NEED your help today, this is a non profit, grass roots organization committed to clearing our oceans and offshore neighborhoods of deadly left over, out of site and out of mind JUNK! I don't want this crap on my underwater trails system. Can you imagine walking through Griffith Park and seeing a garbage truck abandoned with dead animals all around? it's sickening.
Can you please help by making a generous donation to ODA today. Kurt and a few key donars keep ODA afloat, but times are tough and funds are tight. Monthly slip fees for the "Clearwater" and operational expenses stretch this group to the Max. There is a fund raising event scheduled at Cabrillo Aquarium this Spring, but today we need YOUR help please.
Thanks,
Don Robarge
Dive Team Coordinator, ODA
PS, don't bother asking for the numbers (GPS) for now ;~) thanks.
The Catalina Island tech teams headed up these dives and did ALL the hard work, hoods off to them, they kicked ass! Jason Manix, Bob Kennedy, Cinde MacGugan, Donny Neel, Paul Thatreau, "Izzy", and David Jordan were all geared up and well trained for deep diving. There were no RB's on board. Most the doubles tech kits were filled with a Nitrox blend of about 25% with 50/50 Deco bottles and a 100% 02 Cyl. for the last 10ft only. Some dove air, with a 50/50 Deco Cyl. and a bailout bottle. Bottom times were 15 to 25+ minutes with 20++ minutes of deco. If you want to argue or discuss bends call Bob, Haaa! 2 hang bottles were deployed with multi 2nd stages and air only, these got used. A few of us, dove straight Rec profiles on air with bailouts. Sorry, but nobody dove any N2O, Haa! I loved that! The Times photog guy was a diver, onboard all day Sunday and couldn't get Nitrox right :~) The Harbor Department's William Slickenger provided excellent chase boat and second vessel assistance. Thanks also to diver (Musical)Mike D. from Trident for suppling shears, safe cutters and slates.
The main Times photo with Jason was staged, he was wearing the LA Times photographers kit and did a surface swim with a control bag and net. Catalina Divers Supply also provided an apartment Island side for 4 of us, Thanks Cinde! and "Dinghy Docks" in Avalon provided food and beverages for the teams, Thank You too.
There will be a pro video produced with top and bottom side to help show the whole story. Thanks Ron Moore and Bert Skura for the deep footage. Numerous trips will be made back on site to clear this new reef of it's deadly net canopy. Can't wait!
Ocean Defenders Alliance and Kurt Leiber have been doing this type of work for many years, just not THIS deep. It seems there is nobody responsible for open ocean dumping. What the heck?? Anyway, we at ODA NEED your help today, this is a non profit, grass roots organization committed to clearing our oceans and offshore neighborhoods of deadly left over, out of site and out of mind JUNK! I don't want this crap on my underwater trails system. Can you imagine walking through Griffith Park and seeing a garbage truck abandoned with dead animals all around? it's sickening.
Can you please help by making a generous donation to ODA today. Kurt and a few key donars keep ODA afloat, but times are tough and funds are tight. Monthly slip fees for the "Clearwater" and operational expenses stretch this group to the Max. There is a fund raising event scheduled at Cabrillo Aquarium this Spring, but today we need YOUR help please.
Thanks,
Don Robarge
Dive Team Coordinator, ODA
PS, don't bother asking for the numbers (GPS) for now ;~) thanks.
TeqP
Contributor
Here is the KTLA (channel 5) video link from the LA Times that they added.
KTLA Video
Los Angeles Times Video
To add to Don's post, Ocean Defenders Alliance (Ocean Defenders Alliance) is a registered California 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law - please check with your tax advisor for more details. Receipts are available upon request (your processed check is a receipt, too).
Beside donating money, which may be hard during these times, Kurt's crew is always looking for divers/surface support to go out with them to help clean up the ocean. It's a fun group of people who like to dive and help the ocean's creatures by cleaning up their environment.
KTLA Video
Los Angeles Times Video
To add to Don's post, Ocean Defenders Alliance (Ocean Defenders Alliance) is a registered California 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law - please check with your tax advisor for more details. Receipts are available upon request (your processed check is a receipt, too).
Beside donating money, which may be hard during these times, Kurt's crew is always looking for divers/surface support to go out with them to help clean up the ocean. It's a fun group of people who like to dive and help the ocean's creatures by cleaning up their environment.
Codyjp
Contributor
A non diving friend at work asked me if I was going to help remove it. He read it in the OC register so I guess the word is out. If a 20 year old who doesn't dive knows then everybody must!
OP
Thanks Don for your post. I have only known Kurt a few years and haven't been able to go on any of his removal projects. However, I think his dedication to conducting these operations is very admirable. Thanks to those who participated in this activity... hopefully I'll dive on some of the future visits.
OP
Just watched the KTLA video... interested in the unfinished glass of white wine behind Kurt's head!
TeqP
Contributor
Dr. Bill - I didn't think people would pay attention to that. I thought it was kinda funny as well. You need to go to one of Kurt's fundraisers at his house, he's a gracious host!drbill:
Hope you can make it to one of their other clean-up projects.
Dive safe,
Phil
bchalberg
Guest
Just heard a nice story about removing the net on 1/15 NPR All Things Considered radio program. Thanks Bill Chalberg
OP
Kurt said he's even gotten requests for interviews from Korea! I think this one definitely resonated with the media... very cool. Kudos to Kurt. ODA, the dive team... and the "liberal media" (couldn't resist).
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