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Program
No Sample Left Behind *** In Person Speaker *** Samantha Noyes is an undergraduate student at Florida Atlantic University The American Shark Conservancy was formed in 2017 by Hannah Medd after leaving a global conservation organization so she could focus on the issues in her own backyard in South Florida. ASC is a scientific organization based in Palm Beach Gardens that conducts research that can be applied to management and conservation policies for vulnerable shark species. There are national, regional, and local networks that coordinate responses to injured or deceased marine wildlife, mostly marine mammals and turtles. However, Florida currently has no statewide protocol for responding to injured or deceased sharks. ASC created the Shark Reporting and Response Network (SRRN) to help build the capacity to respond, collect samples, and disseminate those samples to appropriate facilities for research. The value of building out a coordinated effort in responding to these events allows for the collection of samples that would otherwise require lethal sampling but can afford critical insights into the individual’s cause of death as well as insights into the growth, diet, reproduction, and habitat use of vulnerable and endangered species.
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College of Science focusing on Marine Biology and is a fall intern with the American Shark Conservancy through the School of Environmental, Coastal and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS) program..jpg)
Overseas Diving Update
Trip Announcements:
2027:
Tubbataha, Philippines
May 8-15, 2027
This is the most pristine spot in the Philippines - one of the few liveaboard spots in the world that sells at full price. We are going on the same boat as we used in 2025, Philippines Aggressor (I). Right now I hold a Deluxe room and a spot for a single female. Other options on request.
Full description and signup form (March): Tubbataha 2027
Salaya Beach Houses, Philippines
April 30 - May 7, 2027
Dumaguete, upscale; 6 days of 2 or 3 dives a day; 1 Full day trip to Apo Island. Great feedback from our 2025 visit. Right now I hold a single room.
Full description and signup form (July): Salaya 2027
VP Overseas Diving
It is that time of year for our club to elect our Board of Directors. If you are interested in joining the board, please submit your information. All organizations benefit from new blood and ideas, so we welcome anybody interested in joining the Board of Directors. The following are the members up for election for the following positions:
We want to thank our members that have served in these positions for many years and have helped our club grow and be as successful as we have been. The position of Secretary is open, so we need a member(s) to step up and help the club. For a change in recent memory, we have two people running for our Treasurer position. I will be sending out introductions written by each person running for the position to help you make your decision in advance of voting. The online voting opens the week after our Holiday party for a week. Our schedule is filling up with new Local Dives and Social Events, please come out and join your fellow members. We all joined the club for these activities and the friends we have made through the years. Happy diving, Chris Hardham Hospitality Hut Greetings From The Hospitality Hut, I am pleased to announce we had 1 new guest attend the October general meeting of the USA Dive Club. Dr. Rick and Rick II accompanied guest Sandra Buck Camp. Sandi is not a diver, however it's never too late to learn a new skill. Hope we see you at future meetings. I always look forward to greeting new guests before the meeting. Please remember to bring your friends along for a cocktail at the bar while having a light dinner. I encourage you to visit our home page usadiveclub.org Please click on the calendar and keep up to date on all the diving and non-diving scheduled activities. You may also take a look at the photo gallery and take a peek at past events.
I wish you all Happy Diving. Clare Anthon Hospitality Coordinator | Membership
The members of the USA Dive Club warmly welcome Nick Georgiev to the Club. Nick discovered us while searching online for a local dive club. A resident of Boca Raton, FL, Nick has completed more than 800 dives. He holds numerous SSI certifications, including Divemaster, Dive Guide, NITROX, Advanced Specialty Diver, Snorkel Instructor, and many others. One dive Nick would like to add to his logbook is a deep wreck dive surrounded by lots of big fish. Welcome, Nick! We hope your time with us is fulfilling and memorable. Remember that USA Dive Club has a great Facebook Page. Laura posts many interesting articles and upcoming Club events. Click on the following link and Like…Like…Like. USA’s Facebook Page. We’d love for you to check out our extensive Photo Gallery, where you can dive into all the fun from our social events and diving adventures. We update the albums regularly, so there’s always something fresh for you to enjoy. Happy diving, everyone. Let’s keep the good vibes going!
Local Diving
Overseas Dive Trips
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EDUCATIONAL blogThis article represents the views of the authors. The article has not been fact checked by myself, the Board of Directors or any member of the USA Dive Club. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. A Sudden Lionfish Sting Tests a Diver's First-Aid Skills The waters off the coast of Puerto Rico sparkled as Mia prepared to shore dive with her travel companions. They donned their dive gear and kicked out into the calm bay to begin their descent. Grouped as buddy pairs, the divers stayed relatively shallow and enjoyed spotting sea turtles and parrotfish. Mia was an avid nudibranch enthusiast and loved searching among rocks and overhangs for telltale signs such as gills and rhinophores. She always brought a flashlight to seek out the small, and thus sometimes difficult to spot, slugs. On this dive, however, there was more than a nudibranch hiding under one overhang. When she extended her flashlight under a rocky projection, Mia felt an intense burst of pain on her right hand. As she cradled her hand to her chest she saw a lionfish swimming away; she knew instantly she had been stung. Mia’s eyes watered with pain, but she managed to signal her buddy Liam to make an ascent. After being helped to shore by her dive group, Mia lay in the sand while Liam grabbed water and the first-aid kit from the car. As regular divers in the Caribbean, they knew lionfish stings were a possibility and were aware of the treatment steps. Liam flushed her hand with soap and fresh water. Mia’s pain was so powerful that she couldn’t help but cry. She took some ibuprofen but knew it would be a while before she felt its effect. Liam quickly drove her back to their hotel and filled a plastic container with hot water, being careful to ensure a nonscalding temperature. With her injured hand submerged, over the next hour, Mia’s pain began to ease. Liam refreshed the water regularly to maintain its temperature. Not every sting responds immediately to hot water, but the minor relief allowed Mia to calm down and catch her breath. After extended hot-water soaking, Mia put a gel antibiotic on the puncture site and wrapped it loosely before applying an ice pack. Moderate pain persisted for the next three hours, but Mia was able to use her hand the next morning and was ready to dive again two days later. It’s safe to resume diving after a lionfish sting once the pain is no longer distracting and the wound has healed, preventing infection risk. Although Mia’s case was relatively simple and she felt better within a few hours, lionfish stings affect each person differently. Pain can range from mild to intense, and there may be redness, swelling and blisters at the site of envenomation. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever and muscle weakness. Stings are not usually life-threatening, though rare cases of severe infection and tissue damage have been reported. Avoid lionfish stings by being careful and aware of your surroundings. If you experience a lionfish sting while diving, the most important thing is to remain calm. An uncontrolled ascent is more dangerous than the sting itself. Safely end your dive and manage the pain while a dive buddy reaches out to DAN for professional medical advice. Lessons for Life1 Be prepared. Know if lionfish are present where you dive, and carry a stocked first-aid kit with pain medication and topical antibiotics. 2 Avoid stings. Lionfish often hide in cracks and crevices. Don’t put your hands where you can’t see, and try to be aware of your surroundings and maintain good buoyancy. 3 Treat promptly. Rinse with clean water, immerse in hot (not scalding) water for up to 90 minutes, then clean, apply antibiotic ointment and dress the wound. Take pain relievers as needed and seek medical advice. Link to article: A Sudden Lionfish Sting Tests a Diver's First-Aid Skills | Scuba Diving |
LOBSTER POT
USA's Lobster Pot drawings Include CASH prizes, and a variety of PRIZES donated by Sponsors or Club Members.
Funds from ticket donations help to support our many club activities. Congratulations to all our Lobster Pot participants. Be sure to visit our Local dive shops who support us and say 'Thanks'.
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