Richmond Dive Club October Meeting

[Richmond Diveclub]

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Our guest speaker for the October 14, 2014 meeting will be Karen Flynn. The current proposed expansion of the boundaries of the NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary (MNMS) and the expansion of the Navy Sunken Military Craft Act (SMCA) of 2004 may impact our free access to the oceans and every shipwreck off the coast of North Carolina - and beyond. If NOAA and the Navy get their way, public access to shipwrecks we currently frequent off the Atlantic coast will be either disallowed or severely restricted. Diving and the industry as we know it will be forever changed. Prohibitions against sport and commercial fishing and recreational diving will result in economic catastrophe as charter boats, dive shops, tackle shops, restaurants, and motels are forced out of business by the loss of tourism. Previous guest speakers, such as Gary Gentile, have expressed the same concerns in his latest book “NOAA's Ark”. Karen has frequented MD, VA, NC wrecks most of her adult life and is a Trimix/re-breather diver. She has been the guiding force of the “Atlantic Wreck Divers” of Maryland for many years. Atlantic Wreck Divers is a club made up of experienced divers interested in exploring the many sunken ships along the Atlantic coast. She has followed the MNMS and SMCA regulation for many years. Don’t miss out on Karen’ presentation and gain new insights into this expanding regulatory environment which threatens our free access to the ocean and shipwrecks we have enjoyed for over many decades.
Socializing begins at 6:00 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. Mi Hacienda Mexican Restaurant, located at 8250 Midlothian Turnpike, in Richmond.