We're Back!

[Rickster]

All of us Reef Check Scientific Data Collectors came back to the main land yesterday evening. This training trip was the best.

#1-The Explorer crew went out of their way to make sure we were taken care of. So much thanks to them.

#2-The trainers of Reef Check did an excellent job training, answering questions, providing training materials, the fish identification, and the predive and post dive briefings were the best. Lots of encouragement really helps. Thanks guys.

#3-The students, who could forget us? We were the best company, encouragement, dive buddies, anyone could ever want to be with on a small boat for three days. Love Ya all.

We did a non training night dive, that was the best I have done in a long time. I felt excitement that I haven't felt since I first started diving! It was at Pelican Ancourage, on Santa Cruz Island. I am sure someone will be posting a dive report, so I won't go into details here.

I highly recommend Reef Check training to everyone. Get in on the next classes, they will fill up quick. This is a way to put something back into the ocean for giving us our enjoyment, while diving. As of now there are plenty positions open, we are just building teams, and alot more are needed.

Get in touch with Craig or Chris @

Reef Check

Thank you,
Rick

 

[Glycerin]

It was at Pelican Ancourage, on Santa Rosa Island.

I think you mean Santa Cruz Island

 

[Rickster]

I think you mean Santa Cruz Island

oops! I fixed it

As Claudette said, it must be the dive hangover. I got out of bed this morning and almost ran into the wall. Still have my sea legs.

See you later, Rosebud!

Rick

 

[LAJim]

Couple of points from the trip. 1. On Sunday we dove an isolated spot on Santa Cruz that is not flagged on commercial dive maps of the Channel Islands. Santa Cruz could easily be a much better dive destination that Anacapa if the SoCal boat diving community was willing to pay the freight for middle of the night departures. 2. Task loading makes for a very different diving experience (this thought is not original, but Reef Check brought this home to me). On our last dive Rick and I had a set of tasks that required 45 minutes to perform and we were able to get them done accurately and on schedule through training, pre-dive planning and excellent buddy skills. Also diving with a lot of extra gear such as transect lines makes for a different experience.

Jim

 

[red_infinity]

Sounds like you guys had fun...I'm looking forward to doing this in the fall if I get in it

 

[veek]

I had a great time, too, and I learned a lot and had the opportunity to meet quite a few divers committed to ensuring the health of California's marine environment.

Even if you can't get into a Reef Check training since there's been tremendous interest, you should consider supporting Reef Check California's 1000 Diver Campaign (on the back of CA Diving News and online here: http://www.reefcheck.org/california/rcca1000diver.asp) By joining, you can show that you are concerned about protecting California reefs and support Reef Check California.