What can I say? It hardly gets any better than this unless your bringing in Stripers also. It was a beautiful day on the water. The inlet looked like the Caribbean with shades of aquamarine and blue. It must be something about this time of year when the water is still cold. The Bridge looked flat and the water in the shallows was crystal clear without the algae. I decided to head to the inlet and glad that I did. It was also flat. and inviting.

Ran into Rauol and a friend of his named Rusty. He had also taken the day off. They got in a few minutes ahead of me. When I hit the point of the inlet, Raoul's friend Rusty had already bagged a Black Fish that easily looked between 8 to 10 lbs. I headed over into the bowl and settled into the wall of rocks that lines its south east border. Good spot because there were many, many black fish hanging out there. I got these four but lost the opportunity to get even more and a few larger ones due to the time it took me to reload my Riffe. Really cumbersome with the thick cold water gloves. I shot through a fish and hit a rock as a backstop and had to replace a spear tip with one that I was carrying so that cost me another ten to 15 minutes of actually shooting. Really bizarre is that one of my shots was a double header. A small short black swam in front of the spear just as I shot the larger fish. It went through the short and bagged the bigger fish behind it.

Can't wait till it warms up a bit and I can switch to the wet suit and lighter more dextrous gloves. Water temp is still a bit chilly at 50 degrees, though I was quite warm in my dry suit. Raoul complained about how cold the water was in his wet suit and thought he had succombed to some mild hypothermia after the dive. He said he was shivering most of the time he was down.

Visibility was around 15 to 20 past the point towards the bowl and inlet.

Saw skates, fluke, many blacks, bergals, though no stripers. The good thing is that the fish are coming in. Rusty said that he saw a school of short stripers so that is a good sign. They could be moving in and through soon.

Plan on going out Sunday, though it will be late.

Sujon

"Anything else is just bowling" ...is plainly stated on on the logo and tee shirts of their employees.
Last Friday AVSC discovered Harlem Lanes more than lives up to this claim. Its a party atmosphere; The DJ was grinding out a funky beat, folks were dancing in the lanes, we snacked on jerked chicken, barbecued wings, and fried fish. There were several bars and private parties. This was not the kind of bowling lanes I'm use to seeing, otherwise I'd be a better bowler. At the club meeting at York College the week before wolf tickets were flying all over the room. In case you don't know Will collected on all bets. Thanks again Will, for introducing us to Harlem Lanes, it was a lot of fun and a very worthwhile Friday night out.
Now, where to next month, suggestions, ideas?

Norm 5/29/07

Early yesterday morning our pirates descended on the sleepy town of Tom's River New Jersey for the Ocean Wreck Divers Annual Divers Flea Market. It was a day of sacking and pillaging, and at least one unsubstantiated complaint of rape (something about a pony bottle). Grinning from ear to ear our crew hacked their way from table to table filling their bags with booty and leaving vendors in a state of shock and awe. Tanks, regulators, wetsuits, lights, fins, and assorted treasures were to be had at below bargain price. Participants in the rout were Mel Betty, Steve Miller, Joe Muratore, Sam Skeete, George Ellis, Terry Klug, Ivan Donovan, Robert Willis, Paula White, Timothy Johnson, Franklin Solis, and Norman Berhannan. Atlantic Rangers and NABS President Toni McNeal, Bob Williams, and Leon Hammond were along for the fun. After so much blood letting and at the closing minutes of the show, the vendors simply surrendered what they had remaining. Norm was seen to stalk out with three regulators he got for free, all in working condition! As our happy crew headed back to New York with their prizes, remarks were made about the mayhem they had witnessed, others were thoughtfully planning for next years raid. You may want to get on board.

Norm, Pres. AVSC
Submitted 2/19/07

Some of the "usual suspects" attended the Dive Safety Seminar hosted by LIDA at the Nassau University Medical Center last Saturday. They included Norman Berhannan, Mel Betty, Franklin Solis and Paula White.

Among the guest speakers at this all day seminar was Bernie Chowdhury, the author of The Last Dive, Dan Nord, Director DAN Medical Services and several others representing various areas of dive expertise. Topics included the recognition of DCI/DCS symptoms, their treatment and prevention; actual case studies of DCI/DCS; the evolution of diving as a sport/discipline; and the importance of comradery as an essential aspect of one's continued growth in this arena. Perhaps the most surprising information presented was the fact that diving guidelines have evolved largely from the evaluation and analysis of the collective experience of divers over the years, rather than hard and fast scientifically proven facts, as many of us may have assumed!

Besides lunch, compliments of LIDA, a guided tour of the hospital's recompression chamber was offered for those interested in seeing it.

Kudos to AVSC for actively working towards achieving one of its worthy Goals and Objectives, i.e. "To promote dive training and diver education and provide activities to promote comfort and skill level."

I'd like to thank Paula White for writing up this synopsis of our trip to Nassau Medical Center this past Saturday.

Norm, Pres. AVSC
Submitted 2/26/07

Sunday, May 27th, 9 determined divers unloaded there gear pool side at York College. 9 divers determined to get better, to improve their skills, to master the sport.
Becoming proficient requires practice, pool sessions are an opportunity to work on basic skills before heading out to open water. This past Sunday AVSC divers, kicked laps, practiced mask clearing, regulator recovery, front and back entry's, buoyancy control, and doffed and donned gear both in and out of the pool. Tim brought two certified divers with him. Others who participated were Joel, Robert Willis, Ivan, Darnella, Hanna, Joe Place, Judy, and Norm.
It was useful pool time and a lot of fun. Our mission:to be the best dive club with the best divers (period) We're on our way!

Norm
Submitted 5/29/07

I love this place!! Visibility 20ft, gorgeous beach, beautiful day, fresh fish. What could be better! Water was a little cold (47degrees) but well worth it. Thanks Sujon, Dannella, Margaret, and Judy for starting the season off right. I can't wait for the next dive.

Norm
5/7/07

Monday September 3, 2007
Lake Ontario Dive
Reggie Callendar and Norm represented AVSC on dive trip to Lake Ontario sponsored by the MASK Chapter of NABS.  In addition to two divers from the Michigan club, the Atlantic Rangers participated, including NABS President Toni Mc Neil and Vice President Bob Williams, who are also AVSC members.  Norman recommended the dives as an opportunity to experience well preserved wrecks.  Dry suits are needed for diving conditions in the Great Lakes.