TWARS (This Week at Reef Seekers) - August 8-15

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Ken Kurtis

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Messages
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Location
Beverly Hills, CA
# of dives
5000 - ∞
Flying, Zoom Seekers, Dutch Springs, and more
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We're just chock full of little tidbits this week . . .

TRAVELING - I just came back from a few days back east visiting family (it was my Uncle Tom's 90th birthday). Very interesting COVID-wise. First of all, both the planes and the airports (LAX, Dulles in DC, and Orlando) were packed. And the regular TSA lines were very long while the Pre-Check and Clear lanes were empty in all three airports. But everyone was masked up and there were no incidents. Slightly different story on the ground. We flew to DC because we had to wrap up some stuff in Delaware where they're not quite as masked up as we're used to seeing here in Los Angeles. Then we flew down to Florida for the b-day festivities. Somewhat different story there (we were in The Villages, a hotbed of conservatism) although it wasn't like no one was masked. Staff at our hotel was masked but the servers and staff where the party was held were not. And some of my family not only think the masks are either ineffective or overkill, but a couple are vaccine-skeptics. Four of them have already had COVID and survived with no known ill effects so we had some interesting discussions about the whole thing. But happy to be home (and masked up when needed).

ZOOM SEEKERS THIS TUESDAY - Make a note for this Tuesday at 7:30PM as our next Zoom Seekers guest is good friend Bill Acker, founder and owner of Manta Ray Bay in Yap, and fondly known as "The Manta Man." (Bill gets off easy because it will be 12:30PM on Wednesday in Yap for him.) A few years ago, Bill was inducted into the International Diving Hall of Fame for his pioneering work in making Yap a dive destination as well as his efforts in Manta conservation and protection. But Yap's more than just mantas. Bill will enlighten us on all the other things Yap has to offer as well as bring us up to speed on the prospects of re-opening Yap. Bill's always got great stories and loves to answer questions. Hope to see you Tuesday evening. Here's the link:
ZOOM SEEKERS - BILL ACKER
"YAP: MORE THAN JUST MANTAS"


DUTCH SPRINGS TO CLOSE - If you got certified or did any training on the east coast, Dutch Springs was likely a place where you might have done your open-water training. So it'll come as a shock to east coasters that the popular site, located north of Philadelphia and west of New York in the Lehigh Valley, is going to be sold and the land developed. You can read more about it here: DUTCH SPRINGS TO CLOSE.

AVALON TRIP NEXT WEEK - We're doing another avoid-the-weekend trip to the Avalon Underwater Park next week but note that it will be on Monday, August 16. (We usually go on Wednesdays.) We'll also be leaving from Long Beach instead of San Pedro because the sked is a bit more convenient. But we'll get in three dives, take a peek (and likely do some minor cleaning) at the Cousteau Plaque, look for Giant Sea Bass, and see what else the Park has to offer. $160 to Reef Seekers covers you for boat, taxi, dives (with tanks & air), and all the fun you can handle. Call us at 310/652-4990 if you want to join up.

SPEAKING OF THE PARK - There was a fatality there last week that might underscore the need to be cautious as you resume diving after the COVID-induced layoff. It seems the victim never submerged but had a medical issue that turned fatal as he went down the stairs and entered the water. So don't push yourself. If it's hot, make sure you're cooling yourself off and stay hydrated. And just take it easy since in general since you're likely not as fit-to-dive as you were a year and a half ago (assuming you were fit-to-dive back then).

CAYMAN ANNOUNCES REOPENING PLANS - They've got a six-phase plan in place that includes the reintroduction of limited tourism (if all goes well) starting September 9 and hopefully back to normal by late January, 2022. You can see the timeline and read the details here: CAYMAN REOPENING PLANS.

SOCORRO TRIP IN MARCH IS ALMOST FULL - We are now down to ONE spot (in the co-ed triple) on our Socorro trip in March of 2022. As we mentioned the other week and in the newsletter, this is a limited-load dive as the boat only takes 19 people when full and we have four people who have asked for single supplements, so that reduces us to 15. And there's nothing like combining great diving with an uncrowded vessel. 310/652-4990 if you want to snag that last spot.

And that'll do it for now. Hope you have a great week, and let's go diving soon!!!

- Ken
 

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