Aquarium of the Pacific opens exhibit tank to divers

For the first time, general certified divers are invited into the Aquarium of the Pacific’s largest exhibit tank, the 350,000-gallon Tropical Reef Habitat.  With the new pay-to-dive program, guests will have the opportunity to interact with more than 2,000 tropical fish and animals, including an olive ridley sea turtle, bonnethead and zebra sharks, cownose rays and a queensland grouper.

In this 2 1/2-hour experience, divers will also get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Aquarium’s dive program, including a look at what it takes to manage one of the largest aquariums in the United States. As part of their dive inside the Tropical Reef Habitat, participants will have full use of an underwater camera and will receive a certificate of completion, souvenir towel and a data stick with their photos. All equipment is provided (though divers are welcome to bring their own mask, booties and underwater camera).

Open to divers age 15 and older, the cost is $299 per person ($279 for members) and includes Aquarium admission. Dives take place from 3 to 5:30 p.m. daily, with a limit of four participants per session. A valid diver certification and driver's license or other form of I.D. is required. Divers who are 15 to 17 years old must be accompanied by an adult who also signs up to dive.

For more information and reservations, call (562) 590-3100, ext. 0, or visit the Aquarium of the Pacific website.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: A child waves to a diver inside the Tropical Reef Habitat. Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific

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Fish and Game Q&A: Can I use an air tank while photographing abalone divers?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: I would like to photograph abalone divers diving, but I need to use an air tank to obtain the imagery I want. How can I go about this without getting in trouble with Department of Fish and Game? (Andrew B., Salt Lake City)

Answer: It is legal for you to photograph abalone free-divers while you are using a tank, as long as you observe a couple of regulations.

According to DFG Associate Marine Biologist Ed Roberts, the California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 29.15(e) prohibits the use of scuba gear or surface-supplied air while taking abalone. If you are using a tank while photographing abalone free-divers, you cannot assist them with taking abalone. You cannot help them pop abalone off the rocks, or spot abalone for them, or do anything else that could be construed as giving assistance in taking abalone. In addition, under this section the possession of abalone is prohibited aboard a vessel that also contains scuba gear or surface-supplied air. This means you will have to use a separate boat -- you cannot board the same boat that the abalone free-divers are using while you are using scuba gear.

Q: Is it legal to use mice as bait for stripers and bass? (Chris M.)

U.S. registers sharp drop in shark attacks last year

Surfers and other ocean-sport enthusiasts might find solace in the news that shark attacks in the United States declined in 2009, according to a University of Florida report released Monday.

"The big story is that the number of attacks in the United States dropped dramatically from 41 in 2008 to 28 in 2009," said George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File at the university. "Considering there were 50 attacks in 2007, we may have a bit of a trend, but only time will tell."

One possibility for the decline of attacks in U.S. coastal waters may be that fewer people visited the shore due to the recession.

"Florida's population hasn't gone down, so I suppose the economy could have had an effect on how many times people can afford to put gas in their cars and go to the beach," added Burgess.

Worldwide is a different story, however, with attacks edging up ever so slightly, from 60 in 2008 to 61 in 2009.

"More than half the attacks -- 33 out of 61 -- were surfers and this continues a trend that we've been seeing for quite awhile," said Burgess.

Fred Hall Show opens Wednesday at the Long Beach Convention Center

The 64th annual Fred Hall Fishing Tackle and Boat Show hits Southern California this week, opening Wednesday at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.

Occupying nearly 750,000 square feet of space, this extravaganza of exhibits and seminars is a must-visit for any outdoor enthusiast.

To refer to the Fred Hall Show as a fishing tackle and boat show seems a misnomer these days. The exhibitor list has grown to include hunting lodges, firearms manufacturers, outdoor adventures, shooting sports and fishing destination resorts worldwide.

But not to worry -- fishing will still be well represented in the approximately 600 vendor booths and 400 seminars taking place over five days. Plus, 16 boat dealers representing 30 watercraft manufacturers will be on site.

"The Fred Hall Shows, both in Long Beach and Del Mar, are the only major boat shows left in California," Bart Hall, Fred's son, told Outposts. "The boating industry in this state has been decimated by the recession -- nearly 50 dealers statewide have gone out of business -- but last year there was no recession at the Fred Hall Shows, and we expect it to be the same this year as well."

Harbor seal pupping season will close a portion of Point Reyes National Seashore

Ocean-sports enthusiasts visiting California's Point Reyes National Seashore will need to make certain to stay away from Drakes Estero from March 1 through the end of June.

It's pup-birthing season for harbor seals, and that area of the park is popular with the animals. They must not be disturbed during this sensitive time of year.

The National Park Service requests that park visitors -- including ocean kayakers, surfers, abalone divers and recreational anglers -- avoid disturbing seals to ensure a successful pupping season.

Maps indicating specific area closures are available at the park's three visitor centers.

Point Reyes, located about 30 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 1, has the second-largest population of harbor seals in California, with 20% of the state’s harbor seals living or breeding within the park’s boundaries. (Channel Islands has the largest.)

Military halts its cleanup of failed artificial reef off Florida coast

U.S. military divers who have been cleaning up a failed artificial reef made of tires off the Florida coast have been pulled off the project for the time being because crews are stretched too thin elsewhere, the Associated Press reports.

About 700,000 tires were sunk a mile off the coast of Fort Lauderdale in 1972 as a well-intentioned effort to create an artificial reef, beneficial to sea life as well as an attractant to divers.

Unfortunately, the reef never materialized. Little sea life formed, and some of the tires that were bundled together with nylon and steel cable broke loose and scattered across the ocean floor, damaging natural coral reefs.

The Army and Navy began cleaning up the ecological mess in 2007 as a training exercise for their divers, and at no cost to the state. The crews have been pulled off the project to help with efforts in Haiti as well as the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"Unfortunately, they're not having a lot of time to train because they're committed, as the whole military is pretty well swamped," said David McGinnis, principal deputy assistant secretary of Defense for reserve affairs.

The soonest the cleanup effort may resume is 2012, McGinnis said, provided the current schedule holds for withdrawing troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Divers pick up one of the old tires that was dumped in the ocean off of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with the intent of creating an artificial reef.  Credit: Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press

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Fish and Game Q&A: Is it legal for one diver to get a second limit of lobsters for another diver?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday afternoon or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: I’ve got a question regarding situations when buddies are diving together for lobsters. Each diver has a license, bag and measuring device, but one is experienced and the other is a rookie. The skilled diver gets his limit and finds out the other diver isn’t getting anything. The skilled diver then continues diving with the intention of helping out his buddy, but because they are separated, he puts the over-limit of bugs in his own bag, with the intention to transfer the extras to his buddy while still in the water. In other words, the bugs will be placed in another bag “during the hunt” for when they regroup. Is it legal for one diver to get a second limit of lobsters for his buddy who is having trouble getting his limit? (Jim C., Redondo Beach)

Answer: No. Each diver may only take and possess their own limit (currently seven lobsters), and may not take additional lobsters on any day after taking a limit. Diving is not a team sport in this sense. Once the diver takes game in excess of the legal daily bag limit and they are under his control, he is in possession of an over-limit.

Hawaii implements nation's first marine debris action plan

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released news of a sweeping plan to actively assess and remove man-made marine debris from coastal waters and coral reefs on and near the Hawaiian islands.

This is the first such plan implemented in the nation, and hopefully not the last. Marine debris is not only a blight undersea and along shorelines, it is also hazardous to all forms of sea life. Thousands of pounds of marine debris wash ashore each year.

"This rollout demonstrates NOAA’s continued commitment to working with partners from across the state of Hawaii on the issue of marine debris,” David M. Kennedy, acting assistant administrator for NOAA’s National Ocean Service, said in a news release. “We are proud to take part in the development of the nation’s first marine debris action plan in Hawaii.”

Numerous agencies have been working with NOAA's Marine Debris program to develop the Hawaii Marine Debris Action Plan. Building on ongoing and previous marine debris community efforts, the plan establishes a framework for activities and projects across the state in an effort to, in part, reduce fishing gear disposal at sea, land-based debris in waterways and the current backlog of marine debris both on land and in the ocean.

Various strategies and activities fall under each of these goal areas, many of them already underway by Hawaii’s marine debris partners. These include emergency response and cleanup efforts as well as prevention and outreach campaigns.

“For too long marine debris has marred the natural beauty of our ocean and threatened our marine ecosystem,” Hawaii Sen. Daniel K. Inouye said.“I am proud that Hawaii is taking the lead in finding a solution to this global problem.”

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Thousands of pounds of derelict nets wash ashore and snag on reefs across the Hawaiian archipelago each year. Credit: NOAA MDP

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Fish and Game Q&A: Why can't I hunt deer and elk in California during the rut?

In support of the California Department of Fish and Game and its effort to keep hunters and anglers informed, Outposts, on Thursday afternoon or Friday, posts marine biologist Carrie Wilson's weekly Q&A column:

Question: While watching hunting shows on TV, I see that most of them are hunting during the rut. Why can’t deer and elk hunters in California also hunt during the rut? (Terry C.)

Answer: It’s all about providing more hunting opportunities to more people. According to Deer Program Manager Craig Stowers, seasons are set with certain harvest objectives in mind. Later in the season as the animals go into the rut (breeding period), they become more bold in their attempts to find a mate and are thus easier to hunt. If the season was held during the rut, the hunter harvest success rate would be higher, and fewer hunters would be able to hunt before the harvest objectives were reached.

Hunter survey data show most hunters simply want an opportunity to hunt. The archery and gun seasons begin in different zones around the state in July and August, respectively. By starting the season early and allowing it to run until late fall when the animals are just going into the rut, more hunters have more opportunities to participate.

Drowned Point Loma scuba diver identified

A scuba diver who drowned Tuesday off Point Loma in San Diego has been identified as 46-year-old
Daniel Forchione from Tucson, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Forchione, a University of Arizona police officer, had been vacationing with his family in San Diego
and went diving about a mile off the coast at Sunset Cliffs.

According to Rich Sillanpa, president of Dive Connections in Mission Bay, Forchione had completed a second dive and was heading back to the chartered boat when he became separated from the two companions he was diving with.

Forchione took off his tank at the surface, but still had his weight belt on and it appears he may have panicked and sank, Sillanpa said.

Forchione is survived by his wife and their 8-month-old daughter.

--Kelly Burgess

Scuba diver drowns off Point Loma

A man scuba diving off Point Loma in San Diego drowned Tuesday after apparently taking off his breathing equipment and sinking.

The 46-year-old from Arizona was diving with a group on a charter boat a mile off the coast at Sunset Cliffs when he disappeared, according to a report on TV station San Diego 6.

City lifeguards who responded and searched the area found him below the surface about an hour after he went missing.

"He took off his buoyancy compensator which had his scuba tank on board and as soon as he did that, likely he submerged, because he was still wearing his dive belt," said city lifeguard Lt. Andy Lerum, who responded to the missing diver call.

CPR was performed both while transporting the diver to the lifeguard headquarters on Mission Bay and by city paramedics once on land but all attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

The man's name has not been released.

--Kelly Burgess

Subway car artificial reef program discontinued

A New Jersey program using subway cars to build artificial reefs has now been discontinued when it was discovered that the cars weren't holding up as expected.

According to an article in the Press of Atlantic City, the operation was originally suspended in February because the stainless steel cars were disintegrating after only seven months in the ocean.

Darlene Yuhas, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, told the Press that a survey of the 48 cars submerged at the Atlantic City Reef revealed that only two of them remained intact and upright.

"All the evidence suggested they would be long-lasting. In fact, the EPA [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] data was these cars should last 25 years," Yuhas said.

State officials want to find out why the cars are deteriorating at a faster rate than anticipated. Yuhas stressed that they pose no threat and still provide "some level of habitat," though not the quality that meets state standards.

Only 100 of the expected 600 decommissioned New York City subway cars had been deployed. Artificial reefs are popular with scuba divers as well as recreational anglers.

Subway cars used previously, called Redbirds, have not shown the same problem. The Redbirds are made of steel rather than stainless steel and have been used on New Jersey reef projects since 2003.

DEP still has plans to sink other items to build up the reefs, including rocks, boats and prefabricated reef balls.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Subway cars on a barge prior to deployment. Credit: NJDEP Department of Fish and Wildlife