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A number of the Alacosta Divers joined Burney Ramming aboard the Cat Diver on Thursday. The boat went to the other side of the island, to Eagle Rock, where the Blurb along with witnesses John Beland and Janet Parkins saw 3 examples of a rare looking opistobranch, the yellow umbrella shell, Tylodina fungina (mushroom-like whirling knob), which feeds exclusively on the yellow sponge. Both John and the Blurb took photographs of the beast, though without any type of closeup lens. The imaginative viewer can almost see the thing in the slide. On the next dive that day, at Burney's pinnacles, Bernie and LibAnn Cappelli claim to have seen a sea turtle. Bernie promises slides of the turtle at a future meeting. There are rumors that the Cat Diver may dive for sharks sometime in the near future. If Alacosta is lucky, we may go on one of these trips next year.
Many divers noticed an increase in gorgonians this year. The gorgonians seemed to be much closer to White's Landing than usual. Many of the gorgonians were covered with a yellow zoanthid anemone, perhaps Parazoanthus lucificum.
Destruction of club boats was minimal this year. Only one club engine had a broken choke at the end of the trip. Sometimes diving decreases the ability to use the brain. It is difficult to remember that a circular arrow means that a choke should be turned rather than pulled. A second engine stopped working on Friday. One Zodiac, the Latex Queen, has a fast leak. There will be a boat repair party sometime in the near future.
The pirates were out in force this year. Led by Mike Budd, this crew was seen everywhere, cooking and diving, but they were most noticeable on the astroturf between the Budd and Faircloth tents, where the peacefulness of the Catalina days was occasionally broken by the wild whirling of the wings of plastic pink flamingos.
They didn't make me recite the dive tables, or make fun of my ``flea market special'' wet suit or my F4 pilot's May West (my ``BC''). Instead, we went diving together. That was the day that I met Doug and Dallas Rawlings and buddied with George Colgate. I discovered that these Alacosta dive club people were pretty good folks.
Later that year I went to Catalina with the club and have been going back ever since, as much to be with the people as to be on the island and in the water. About two and a half years ago Bill Silva introduced me to his girl friend's best friend, Kathleen.
This is, of course, the same Kathleen that is now my best friend, my dive buddy, my copilot, and my wife. When making plans for our wedding, it just seemed very natural to want to have it on the island, with the dive club. We want to thank everyone for making our Catalina trip this year very special, and our wedding a truly wonderful, unforgettable experience.
In just a little over an hour,we collect 37 1/2 pounds of trash. Janet won the first place honor with 12 pounds. Matt, Jack, and Tom tied for second with 6 pounds each.
Interesting (or otherwise) statistics: most common by count was cigarette butts, followed by bottle caps; most volume by weight was bottles and other broken glass. Janet found a spiny dogfish carcass, and ``Sex on the Beach'' is not just the name for a drink--there were 4 reported condoms.
Contrary to rumors, the nude beach section was not discovered, but we all enjoyed a big pot of chili after the work.
A big word of THANKS to all who turned out.
blurb@alacosta.org