On September 6, 2014, the Active Divers Association (ADA) received training and participated in a coral reef restoration dive with the Coral Restoration Foundation in Key Largo, Florida. A classroom session was conducted at the CRF facilities. Divers gained familiarity with the mechanics of growing and planting corals and with the tools needed to perform the various delicate operations.

Once the divers learned how to do the coral restoration activities above-water, it was time to take their new-found skills to the ocean. The first dive consisted of harvesting and planting staghorn coral in the CRF nursery. A second dive followed to attach the harvested corals on a nearby reef. In all, 50 new pieces of coral were planted. See a related story on the coral reef initiative below.

To see a 9 minute YouTube video of the dive, click here. Additional photos may be found in the Photo Gallery under "CRF", or click here to view the photos.

Fiji Dive/Cruise Vacation Update

--by Daryl Johnson

Four ADA members have signed up for the Fiji trip and were able to take advantage of early booking discounts we were able to secure to date.There is still space on the ship for both divers and non-divers, although the price will vary over time. The ship, the Reef Endeavor operated by Captain Cook Cruises out of Australia, is a small cruise ship ideally suited for navigating the waters off the Fiji Islands.

I will continue to keep the pricing information and other details updated in the trip briefing on our ADA website page located at Fiji.html. If more ADA divers show interest in the trip, I may be able to negotiate an additional discount. If you have any questions contact Dan at dmbaeza@bellsouth.net or Daryl at diverdaryl@bellsouth.net

Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative

--by Roy Wasson

The Active Divers Association supports the Coral Restoration Foundation's work in restoring the reef eco-system in south Florida. In addition to ADA’s role in supporting the mission of the Coral Restoration Foundation, there are numerous other opportunities for us to help preserve and restore Florida’s coral reefs.  I recently was invited to attend a monthly meeting of the South Community Working Group of the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (“SEFCRI”) held at Nova Southeastern University’s Oceanographic Center in Dania Beach.  Below is an overview of that initiative.

In 2000, the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) adopted a National Action Plan to conserve coral reefs. With guidance from the USCRTF, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission coordinated the formation of a team of interagency and non-agency marine resource professionals, scientists, resource users and other stakeholders. This SEFCRI Team, first gathered in May 2003 to develop local action strategies targeting coral reefs and associated reef resources from Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties to improve the coordination of technical and financial support for the conservation and management of coral reefs. SEFCRI is targeting this region because the coral habitats are close to shore and co-exist with intensely urbanized areas that lack a coordinated management plan (like that of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary)

The SEFCRI Team is comprised of four focus teams, each responsible for addressing one of the four focus areas of concern: 1) Awareness and Appreciation; 2) Fishing, Diving and Other Uses; 3) Land-Based Sources of Pollution and Water Quality; and 4) Maritime Industry and Coastal Construction Impacts.

SEFCRI focus teams have identified issues and threats to coral reefs and have developed and are implementing Local Action Strategies (LAS) for their component of the SEFCRI. This includes defining and revising goals, objectives and actions, priority setting, budget development, building implementation teams and tracking progress. Numerous stakeholders participated in the development of Florida’s LAS, using a facilitated process including public review and input. The outcome is a coordinated plan to address causes of coral reef degradation and provide a roadmap for successful conservation and management.

More detailed information about SEFCRI and its programs can be found at www.southeastfloridareefs.net/.

Caribbean Reef in Paradise Meets Sanford & Sons

Author’s Name Intentionally Withheld
(currently in the witness protection program)

As you may recall, this year’s international diving adventure took us to Bonaire in the Netherlands Antilles.  It is a diver’s paradise with crystal clear water, 100’+ visibility, and lots of fish and coral.  About a dozen of us were fortunate enough to be able to go on this July 2014 trip, planned by our adventure dive aficionados Daryl Johnson and Dr. Dan Baeza.

This article is not about how great the diving was, the pristine reefs, the abundant sea life and the great people on the trip.  Yes, it was an absolutely fabulous trip, but that’s a story for someone else to tell.  This story is about a particular reef dive a few of us took one afternoon off the dock of the hotel in Bonaire.

Just north of the hotel resort was the pier dock.  It is a relatively small pier where the cruise and cargo ships dock.  As the sign says … “It is Strictly Prohibited to Dive Near or Under a Cruise or Other Ship While Docked, at the North Pier”.  So I won’t say we did that, and I won’t even admit to being on the dive, but I will say that some of us were curious to see what the reef looked like near the pier, so off we went.

Bonaire is breezy and sunny year round, and it hardly ever rains.  But, just as we were ready to jump off of the dock it began to rain.   Fortunately, it never rains underwater, so everyone jumped into the water and we started the dive.  Initially, the reef was beautiful, just like the reef we dove a couple of days earlier in the southern direction.  However, the closer we got to the pier, the more it changed.  Initially, the water was crystal clear, and the reef dive started off with coral, and fish, and sponges.  But the reef quickly transitioned to crystal clear water with tires, old timber pilings, a boat or car motor, assorted pieces of unidentifiable objects of all sizes, and a whole lot garbage that probably had been pushed off of the pier for decades.  It was

a bit surprising, especially since Bonaire is surrounded and protected as a National Marine Park.  The sky above and the water became darker...... and then there was a low pitch “rumbling” sound in the water.   It was really creepy. All that was missing was the “shark” music from the movie “Jaws” and a couple of underwater sniper “frogmen” in hot pursuit shooting at us.  To increase our discomfort, we had been diving for a few days, so the 82 degree water was becoming a cold to some of us.  Cold, dark and kind of creepy was the dive, with a touch of Fred and Lamont Sanford to describe the underwater junkyard.  It was an interesting departure from the beautiful pristine reefs of the days before and after.

Twenty minutes out, twenty minutes back, and we were at the dock again and out of the water.  It was time for a lukewarm shower and a quick nap before dinner. Another day in paradise!

(