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Vol. 48 No.07

July 2020 Program


How to Improve Club Bylaws

by William Dilley

Will Dilley is one of the attorneys who participated in the review of our Club's Bylaws. He will be speaking to us to answer questions about the problems he sees in our Bylaws, to give us more details about how those problems affect an organization like ours, and to suggest ways the Bylaws could be improved.

He was born and raised in Miami, Florida. In 2013, after graduating from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor's of Business Administration, double majoring in Management and Marketing, he earned his Juris Doctor cum laude from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law.

Prior to joining The Law For All, P.A., Will represented multi-national retail giants, global logistics companies, and some of the largest insurance companies in the world. As lead Trial Attorney and head of the Litigation Department, Will currently focuses on representing individuals, professionals and small businesses alike in claims involving fraud, deceptive trade practices, trade secret disputes, intellectual property rights, breach of contract, property disputes, construction disputes, will and trust disputes and general commercial litigation matters throughout the State of Florida.

Will is admitted to practice law in the State of Florida and in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and possesses diverse litigation experience in both the state and federal trial courts. Becoming a member of the team at The Law For All, P.A. has allowed Will to combine his extensive litigation experience with his passion for all things business related.

Will splits his time between Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the Florida Keys, where his family has resided for nearly thirty years. Having represented numerous corporate and insurance giants, it is his professional mission to take everything he has learned and bring effective and efficient resolutions to all of his clients' disputes with a level of creativity, outside-the-box thinking and highly personalized service that you just won't find with "big firm" representation.

Presidents Waves

Roger Cooper

July 2020 President's Waves

June 28, 2020 4:23 PMRoger Cooper

We have been learning more about the best ways to conduct Zoom meetings. Therefore, let's set down some ground rules that should make for a better meeting all around.

Zoom Meeting Ground Rules:

  • We will have 20 minutes of social time before the presentation starts. Everyone will be able to mute and unmute themselves to speak during that time. It will be great to see everyone! Keeping your mic muted while listening is common courtesy for meetings over 8-10 attendees.
  • When it is time for the presentation, the host will mute everyone except for the presenter. After that, you will not be able to unmute yourself.
  • Use Chat to send questions and comments during the presentation. The presenter will respond to questions at the appropriate time in the presentation.
  • If you wish to speak, use the Raise Hand feature in Zoom (see below) to let the host know. The host will unmute you when it is your turn to speak. Please keep comments to a minute or two. The host will mute your microphone before moving to the next raised hand.

 How to use the Raise Hand feature in the Zoom App on a computer:

  1. At the bottom of the Zoom window, click on the Participants button.
  2. That will open the Participants window. At the bottom of that window you should find the Raise hand button. Click that button.
  3. Then in the list of participants, everyone will see a blue hand symbol next to your name. Also, in Gallery view, a white hand within a blue square appears in the corner of your picture. The host will see those symbols and know you wish to speak. The host can lower your hand when you are done speaking.


If you would like to view free Zoom tutorials, you can find them here. Or you can take a free Zoom class from Geeks On Tour here.

Don't forget to keep checking our Facebook page for the interesting articles Howard is posting. https://www.facebook.com/usadiveclub

Happy diving,

Roger Cooper
President

Overseas Dive Trips

Local Diving

  • No upcoming local dives

Mini-Trips

  • No upcoming mini-trips

Social events

  • No upcoming social events

Hospitality Hut

Clare Florio Anthon

Hello From The Hospitality Hut!

We have all been through some very hard months.  It has been a challenge but if we all keep paying attention and respect each other's space, we may soon be able to resume some form of "normal" life.

Some of us continue to visit through ZOOM meetings, some on Face Time or other social media venues.  It is very important to keep in contact with friends and family at times like this, especially those who are alone.   

The Club had a general meeting last moth.  It was nice to see those who could make the time to attend.  Hopefully more of you will be available for future meetings

I encourage you to visit our home page www.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

Dear Members and Want to be Members,

Hello Members from the Membership desk.  Our club continues virtual meetings to keep everyone safe. Please stay tuned to our Zoom meetings and be aware that someday we will meet in person again.

In the mean time hopefully you are doing your best to contain this deadly virus so we can one day safely greet each other in person.

Members continue "unofficial club" diving with local vendors who are themselves meeting local health guidelines.   Our next general meeting is July 9th so come join us "virtually" on Zoom.  Stay safe,  Eunice & Stephanie.

 

Yours truly,  Stephanie & Eunice

(your volunteer membership chairs)
USA Dive Club Membership

Come join the fun. 

Eunice Hamblen                                Stephanie Voris
Membership Coordinators


USA Club Announcements Alert

Please check your spam folder for club emails that coming from our Google Groups email system. Several members have commented that they are not receiving certain announcements that have been sent out. Spam filters are triggered by emails that are sent to numerous email addresses with the same content.

This may be where your club communications are.

Upcoming events

  • July General Meeting

    • July 09, 2020
    • 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (EDT)
    • Zoom virtual meeting

    USA Dive Club members and their guests are invited to attend a virtual meeting using Zoom.

    You must register in advance for this meeting. Click on the link below to register. Members bringing a guest should send the guest's name and email address to president@usadiveclub.org so the guest's registration will be approved. Members and guests must register using this link.
    https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlf-utrD4uHNe4qc8-akY6CFCh4_FxbW7K

    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information you will need to join the meeting. You must register before 5:00 PM on the day of the meeting.

    Please join the meeting a little early to allow time to admit people from the waiting room before the meeting starts.

    We will start the meeting with 20 minutes of social time so we can catch up with our friends. Then we will turn the meeting over to our speaker.

    Meeting Ground Rules:

    • Everyone will be able to mute and unmute themselves to speak during the 20 minutes of social time. It will be great to see everyone! Keeping your mic muted while listening is common courtesy for meetings over 8-10 attendees.
    • When it is time for the presentation, the host will mute everyone except for the presenter. After that, you will not be able to unmute yourself.
    • Use Chat to send questions and comments during the presentation. The presenter will respond to questions at the appropriate time in the presentation.
    • If you wish to speak, use the Raise Hand feature in Zoom to let the host know. The host will unmute you when it is your turn to speak. Please keep comments to a minute or two. The host will mute your microphone before moving to the next raised hand.

    Program:

    How to Improve Club Bylaws

    by William Dilley

    Will Dilley is one of the attorneys who participated in the review of our Club's Bylaws. He will be speaking to us to answer questions about the problems he sees in our Bylaws, to give us more details about how those problems affect an organization like ours, and to suggest ways the Bylaws could be improved.

    He was born and raised in Miami, Florida. In 2013, after graduating from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor's of Business Administration, double majoring in Management and Marketing, he earned his Juris Doctor cum laude from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law.

    Prior to joining The Law For All, P.A., Will represented multi-national retail giants, global logistics companies, and some of the largest insurance companies in the world. As lead Trial Attorney and head of the Litigation Department, Will currently focuses on representing individuals, professionals and small businesses alike in claims involving fraud, deceptive trade practices, trade secret disputes, intellectual property rights, breach of contract, property disputes, construction disputes, will and trust disputes and general commercial litigation matters throughout the State of Florida.

    Will is admitted to practice law in the State of Florida and in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and possesses diverse litigation experience in both the state and federal trial courts. Becoming a member of the team at The Law For All, P.A. has allowed Will to combine his extensive litigation experience with his passion for all things business related.

    Will splits his time between Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the Florida Keys, where his family has resided for nearly thirty years. Having represented numerous corporate and insurance giants, it is his professional mission to take everything he has learned and bring effective and efficient resolutions to all of his clients' disputes with a level of creativity, outside-the-box thinking and highly personalized service that you just won't find with "big firm" representation.

    Show details

  • July Board of Directors meeting

    • July 16, 2020
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (EDT)
    • Home of Roger Cooper and Amy Wellman

    Agenda - More details available later

    1. Call to Order
    2. Roll Call -- Secretary
    3. Motions to approve Minutes as distributed by Secretary
    4. Distribute new member applications (if any)
    5. Old Business
    6. New Business
      1. Vote on new membership applications (if any)
    7. Reports
      1. President (Roger Cooper)
      2. VP of Programs (Ken Glaser)
      3. Promotions (Ken Glaser)
      4. VP of Overseas Diving (Nils Jacobsen)
      5. VP of Local Diving (Ryan Goheen)
      6. Mini-Trips (Ryan Goheen)
      7. Secretary (Amy Wellman)
      8. Treasurer (Ronnie Farr)
      9. Hospitality (Clare Anthon)
      10. Membership (Eunice Hamblen and Stephanie Voris)
      11. Audio/Video (John Ficarra)
      12. Newsletter (Chris Hardham)
      13. Social Media Coordinator (Howard Ratsch)
      14. Safety Coordinator (Howard Ratsch)
      15. Historian (Robert Shearer)
    8. Adjournment

    All members are welcome to attend Board of Directors meetings as observers.

    Show details

  • August General Meeting

    • August 06, 2020
    • 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM (EDT)
    • Courtyard Marriott Ft. Lauderdale North

    Courtyard Marriott North Ft Lauderdale
    2440 W. Cypress Creek Road
    Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309-1829

    Feel free to join us for dinner @ 6:00 PM in The Bistro, food and beverage service provided, located in the Courtyard By Marriott North Fort Lauderdale/Cypress Creek.  Social Time begins around 7:00 PM in the Florida Room.  The general meeting starts at 7:30 PM with current events, announcements of local dives, mini-trips, status of overseas trips, announcements of social activities, and the Lobster Pot! Then our monthly guest speaker takes center stage for an informative, often educational, definitely entertaining presentation on a dive subject, exotic dive destination, or perhaps new equipment.  Please come to one of our meetings the first Thursday of each month.  Visitors and guests are welcome.

    Show details

  • August Board of Directors meeting

    • August 13, 2020
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (EDT)
    • Home of Roger Cooper and Amy Wellman

    Agenda - More details available later

    1. Call to Order
    2. Roll Call -- Secretary
    3. Motions to approve Minutes as distributed by Secretary
    4. Distribute new member applications (if any)
    5. Old Business
    6. New Business
      1. Vote on new membership applications (if any)
    7. Reports
      1. President (Roger Cooper)
      2. VP of Programs (Ken Glaser)
      3. Promotions (Ken Glaser)
      4. VP of Overseas Diving (Nils Jacobsen)
      5. VP of Local Diving (Ryan Goheen)
      6. Mini-Trips (Ryan Goheen)
      7. Secretary (Amy Wellman)
      8. Treasurer (Ronnie Farr)
      9. Hospitality (Clare Anthon)
      10. Membership (Eunice Hamblen and Stephanie Voris)
      11. Audio/Video (John Ficarra)
      12. Newsletter (Chris Hardham)
      13. Social Media Coordinator (Howard Ratsch)
      14. Safety Coordinator (Howard Ratsch)
      15. Historian (Robert Shearer)
    8. Adjournment

    All members are welcome to attend Board of Directors meetings as observers.

    Show details

  • September General Meeting

    • September 03, 2020
    • 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM (EDT)
    • Courtyard Marriott Ft. Lauderdale North

    Courtyard Marriott North Ft Lauderdale
    2440 W. Cypress Creek Road
    Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309-1829

    Feel free to join us for dinner @ 6:00 PM in The Bistro, food and beverage service provided, located in the Courtyard By Marriott North Fort Lauderdale/Cypress Creek.  Social Time begins around 7:00 PM in the Florida Room.  The general meeting starts at 7:30 PM with current events, announcements of local dives, mini-trips, status of overseas trips, announcements of social activities, and the Lobster Pot! Then our monthly guest speaker takes center stage for an informative, often educational, definitely entertaining presentation on a dive subject, exotic dive destination, or perhaps new equipment.  Please come to one of our meetings the first Thursday of each month.  Visitors and guests are welcome.

    Show details

  • September Board of Directors meeting

    • September 10, 2020
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (EDT)
    • Home of Roger Cooper and Amy Wellman

    Agenda - More details available later

    1. Call to Order
    2. Roll Call -- Secretary
    3. Motions to approve Minutes as distributed by Secretary
    4. Distribute new member applications (if any)
    5. Old Business
    6. New Business
      1. Vote on new membership applications (if any)
    7. Reports
      1. President (Roger Cooper)
      2. VP of Programs (Ken Glaser)
      3. Promotions (Ken Glaser)
      4. VP of Overseas Diving (Nils Jacobsen)
      5. VP of Local Diving (Ryan Goheen)
      6. Mini-Trips (Ryan Goheen)
      7. Secretary (Amy Wellman)
      8. Treasurer (Ronnie Farr)
      9. Hospitality (Clare Anthon)
      10. Membership (Eunice Hamblen and Stephanie Voris)
      11. Audio/Video (John Ficarra)
      12. Newsletter (Chris Hardham)
      13. Social Media Coordinator (Howard Ratsch)
      14. Safety Coordinator (Howard Ratsch)
      15. Historian (Robert Shearer)
    8. Adjournment

    All members are welcome to attend Board of Directors meetings as observers.

    Show details

  • October General Meeting

    • October 01, 2020
    • 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM (EDT)
    • Courtyard Marriott Ft. Lauderdale North

    Courtyard Marriott North Ft Lauderdale
    2440 W. Cypress Creek Road
    Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309-1829

    Feel free to join us for dinner @ 6:00 PM in The Bistro, food and beverage service provided, located in the Courtyard By Marriott North Fort Lauderdale/Cypress Creek.  Social Time begins around 7:00 PM in the Florida Room.  The general meeting starts at 7:30 PM with current events, announcements of local dives, mini-trips, status of overseas trips, announcements of social activities, and the Lobster Pot! Then our monthly guest speaker takes center stage for an informative, often educational, definitely entertaining presentation on a dive subject, exotic dive destination, or perhaps new equipment.  Please come to one of our meetings the first Thursday of each month.  Visitors and guests are welcome.

    Show details

  • October Board of Directors meeting

    • October 08, 2020
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (EDT)
    • Home of Roger Cooper and Amy Wellman

    Agenda - More details available later

    1. Call to Order
    2. Roll Call -- Secretary
    3. Motions to approve Minutes as distributed by Secretary
    4. Distribute new member applications (if any)
    5. Old Business
    6. New Business
      1. Vote on new membership applications (if any)
    7. Reports
      1. President (Roger Cooper)
      2. VP of Programs (Ken Glaser)
      3. Promotions (Ken Glaser)
      4. VP of Overseas Diving (Nils Jacobsen)
      5. VP of Local Diving (Ryan Goheen)
      6. Mini-Trips (Ryan Goheen)
      7. Secretary (Amy Wellman)
      8. Treasurer (Ronnie Farr)
      9. Hospitality (Clare Anthon)
      10. Membership (Eunice Hamblen and Stephanie Voris)
      11. Audio/Video (John Ficarra)
      12. Newsletter (Chris Hardham)
      13. Social Media Coordinator (Howard Ratsch)
      14. Safety Coordinator (Howard Ratsch)
      15. Historian (Robert Shearer)
    8. Adjournment

    All members are welcome to attend Board of Directors meetings as observers.

    Show details

  • November General Meeting

    • November 05, 2020
    • 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM (EST)
    • Courtyard Marriott Ft. Lauderdale North

    Courtyard Marriott North Ft Lauderdale
    2440 W. Cypress Creek Road
    Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309-1829

    Feel free to join us for dinner @ 6:00 PM in The Bistro, food and beverage service provided, located in the Courtyard By Marriott North Fort Lauderdale/Cypress Creek.  Social Time begins around 7:00 PM in the Florida Room.  The general meeting starts at 7:30 PM with current events, announcements of local dives, mini-trips, status of overseas trips, announcements of social activities, and the Lobster Pot! Then our monthly guest speaker takes center stage for an informative, often educational, definitely entertaining presentation on a dive subject, exotic dive destination, or perhaps new equipment.  Please come to one of our meetings the first Thursday of each month.  Visitors and guests are welcome.

    Show details

  • November Board of Directors meeting

    • November 12, 2020
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (EST)
    • Home of Roger Cooper and Amy Wellman

    Agenda - More details available later

    1. Call to Order
    2. Roll Call -- Secretary
    3. Motions to approve Minutes as distributed by Secretary
    4. Distribute new member applications (if any)
    5. Old Business
    6. New Business
      1. Vote on new membership applications (if any)
    7. Reports
      1. President (Roger Cooper)
      2. VP of Programs (Ken Glaser)
      3. Promotions (Ken Glaser)
      4. VP of Overseas Diving (Nils Jacobsen)
      5. VP of Local Diving (Ryan Goheen)
      6. Mini-Trips (Ryan Goheen)
      7. Secretary (Amy Wellman)
      8. Treasurer (Ronnie Farr)
      9. Hospitality (Clare Anthon)
      10. Membership (Eunice Hamblen and Stephanie Voris)
      11. Audio/Video (John Ficarra)
      12. Newsletter (Chris Hardham)
      13. Social Media Coordinator (Howard Ratsch)
      14. Safety Coordinator (Howard Ratsch)
      15. Historian (Robert Shearer)
    8. Adjournment

    All members are welcome to attend Board of Directors meetings as observers.

    Show details

  • Little Cayman 2021

    • April 03, 2021
    • (EDT)
    • April 10, 2021
    • (EDT)
    • Little Cayman Beach Resort

    IT’s Back! It’s Bigger! It’s Better!

    And we have a new date!

    April 3 – 10, 2021!

    DEMA special = free Nitrox

    Price is based on a $100 repeat customer discount

    UPDATE – May – due to Corona – the trip got rescheduled.
    Same price as before (even better deal than before as we are now in high season). We have room for more divers – on a first come basis. We also have airline tickets for more divers. We will add rooms, only as they sell. Some uncertainty about the price of airfare. We have Ocean View upgrades available. Ronnie has an email with the latest Security and cleanliness protocol from LCBR. (Their website seems to be a week behind.)

    Spend a relaxing week at the premier, deluxe, full service resort on Little Cayman Island. We have been there multiple years running, and we’re going back again – because it’s just that good! Rated as the number one destination in the Caribbean for wall diving, number two for favorite reef diving, the sea life and underwater photography, the dive sites, water temps and visibility are outstanding, never to be forgotten by those who have experienced them. For those of you who have not experienced the diving at Little Cayman, it’s everything you can dream about, dramatic vistas, amazing photo opportunities/views, wildlife that must be seen to be believed - like the friendly groupers that follow you like a puppy everywhere!

    Divers don’t have to lug gear every day from their rooms or even onto the boat. Your gear will be collected once you arrive and stored at the shop next to the dock. You set up your gear the first day on the boat and after that, the Reef Diver crew set up your gear and change your tanks for you. You need only to stroll down the dock, jump on a boat - large, comfortable, covered boats! - And go diving. The four boats are 42 to 46 ft long and 16 ft. wide and have freshwater showers and restrooms. Rinse tanks and a drying room are on the dock for mask, fins and wet suits.

    Ronnie will be your trip leader. The trip starts at Miami airport, then to Little Cayman. Little Cayman Airways is instituting a $25 fee for luggage. Here is the link to the Cayman Airways new baggage fee structure as well, so as always, pack light, but the good news is that they have reduced their extra baggage fees:

    https://www.caymanairways.com/NewBaggageFeeStructure

    Interested in cutting down on your luggage fees – Ronnie does have a price list for rental gear …

    Once there, we dive, eat, relax, and just generally have a fantastic time for the whole week! There is a pool, Wi-Fi, beach chairs and hammocks, and you can rent kayaks, sailboats, and paddleboards as well. All diving and dining will be done at the Little Cayman Resort. Nitrox is included! And you can also purchase extra afternoon dives either as a package or as individual add-ons. Doing 2-3 afternoon dives: it is a bargain to book from home.

    It’s always wise to purchase travel insurance for any trip. Here are a few links you can use if interested:

    To see some photos from prior trips – go to:

    Trip Prices / payment schedule:

    Click here for the signup form.

    Airfare is estimated high – there is an 80-90% chance that airfare will be dropped by $45. Your passport must be valid until at least 10/11/2021.

    If you attended the 2019 – and lost one/two dives due to weather – you are entitled to a discount $25/$50: Please check w/ Ronnie/Nils – it will be added to you final refund post-trip.

    Trip Lead: Ronnie: treasurer@usadiveclub.org

    Show details

  • Solomon Islands - Bilikiki liveaboard

    • May 22, 2021
    • (EDT)
    • June 01, 2021
    • (EDT)
    • Solomon Islands

    Solomon Islands

    Bilikiki Live aboard – May 22 June 1, 2021

    The Solomon Islands is an interesting tropical destination inside the Triangle of Diversity. Biodiversity example – they have 50 species of seahorses. Solomon is located south of Equator, closer to PNG than to Fiji. The latitude is very similar to Micronesia. This is in more ways than one a “trip of a lifetime” Our club in our 49 year history has never been there. And if you look at a list of places that might not be here in another 100 years due to sea level raising Solomon is on top of that list! Solomon Islands are the third largest group of islands in the Pacific. We are going there in the dry season – for visibility.

    Click here to see full details of the trip.

    Click here to download the signup form.

    Show details

  • Belize Aggressor IV - 2021

    • July 24, 2021
    • (EDT)
    • July 31, 2021
    • (EDT)
    • Belize Aggressor IV

    DEMA Special

    July 24 - 31, 2021


    Belize Aggressor 4 picture

    $2850 without air

    Includes:

    • Accommodations aboard the yacht
    • Diving - up to 5 dives a day – 5.5 days
    • Tanks, weights, belts
    • Airport and/or Hotel transfers on day of charter
    • All meals and snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, local beer and wine
    • Tips

    Does not include:

    • Nitrox $100
    • Port Fee $110
    • Airfare: FLL-BZE - Please book your own flights when they become available
      • Southwest (#629 [10:55] / #1027) when available for July 24 - 31
      • Starting mid-January, check Southwest site daily to book ticket early
      • Flights in early August were recently selling for $308
    • Friday Night Dinner - We are on our own in town.

    We can board on arrival at the dock, after 3 pm.

    Your passport must be valid until at least 2/1/2022.

    This is a trip that the club has done several times – but not as often as we would have liked due to high airfare cost. Now with Southwest as the second carrier the prices for air have dropped 60% or more. Together with the DEMA special pricing ($600 rebate) we are able to offer this trip at a very attractive price point. We are likely to be greeted by a known face - Captain Dennis Gautreau – who was our captain in Bahamas in 2014.

    Belize mapMost of the diving will be off Lighthouse Reef, but we will occasionally also do Turnefe. Expect to see both large and small animals: Tarpon, Grouper, Eagle Rays, Squid, Octopi, Seahorses, Frogfish, etc.

    Boat-site: https://www.aggressor.com/belize-iv.php

    It’s always wise to purchase travel insurance for any trip. Here are a few links you can use if interested:

    To see some photos from prior trips - BZE AGG III - 2015
    https://usadiveclub.org/Photos - and check out 2015

    Trip Prices / payment schedule:

    Click here for the signup form.

    Trip Lead: Nils: overseasdiving@usadiveclub.org

    Show details

Past events

June 11, 2020 June Board of Directors meeting
June 04, 2020 June General Meeting
May 07, 2020 May General Meeting
March 28, 2020 March 28th, Loggerhead, 10 spots at 7am - $60
March 20, 2020 Bowling for Turtles
March 14, 2020 Founder's Day Party at Kathi's House
March 12, 2020 Fiji - March 2020
March 05, 2020 March General Meeting
February 19, 2020 Bimini Mini Trip - Dive with Hammerheads!
February 16, 2020 Feb 16th with Scuba Tyme, 7:30 AM, $55, 5 spots
February 15, 2020 Visit the Bonnet House
February 13, 2020 February Board of Directors meeting
February 08, 2020 Manatee Swim in Crystal River
February 06, 2020 February General Meeting
January 16, 2020 Board of Directors meeting
January 09, 2020 January General Meeting
December 14, 2019 December Board of Directors Holiday Party
December 07, 2019 Christmas Party
November 21, 2019 November Board of Directors meeting
November 10, 2019 Potluck Picnic/BBQ
November 07, 2019 November General Meeting
October 26, 2019 Sat Oct 26th - Blue Heron Bridge 6:33 PM to 8:33 PM
October 17, 2019 October Board of Directors meeting
October 06, 2019 Oct 6th w/ Scuba Tyme
October 03, 2019 October General Meeting
September 28, 2019 Flagler Museum Tour and Lunch - New Date and Time
September 27, 2019 September 28-29th In Islamorada
September 15, 2019 Sept 8th - GOLIATH GROUPERS! with Jim Abernanthy!
September 14, 2019 Sept 14th - Loggerhead
September 12, 2019 September Board of Directors meeting - Canceled
September 05, 2019 September General Meeting - Canceled
August 24, 2019 August 24-25th With Sea Dwellers in Key Largo
August 17, 2019 August 17th w/ Starfish
August 14, 2019 August Board of Directors meeting
August 11, 2019 August 11th w/ Parrot Island - LOBSTER!
August 01, 2019 August General Meeting
July 21, 2019 Scuba Tyme, July 21st
July 20, 2019 Scuba Tyme, July 20th
July 17, 2019 July Board of Directors meeting
July 13, 2019 Loggerhead, July 13th
July 06, 2019 Cuba – Garden of Queens – July 6-13
June 30, 2019 June 30th, Odyssey Divers
June 22, 2019 June 22nd, Parrot Island
June 19, 2019 June Board of Directors meeting
June 09, 2019 June 9th, ScubaTyme
June 06, 2019 June General Meeting
May 25, 2019 Little Cayman, May 25 - June 1st
May 19, 2019 Silverball Museum followed by Lunch at Bru's Room
May 18, 2019 May 18th, Dive Boat Diversity
May 09, 2019 May Board of Directors meeting
May 04, 2019 May 4th with Loggerhead
May 02, 2019 May General Meeting
April 27, 2019 Water Taxi Tour & Lunch in Fort Lauderdale
April 20, 2019 April 20th with Splashdown, 7:30 A.M.
April 11, 2019 April Board of Directors meeting
April 06, 2019 April 6th with Scuba Tyme, 7:30 A.M.
April 04, 2019 April General Meeting
March 29, 2019 Bowling for Turtles with Force-E
March 14, 2019 March Board of Directors meeting
March 09, 2019 Potluck Dinner & House/Pool Party at Kathi's
March 07, 2019 March General Meeting
February 07, 2019 February General Meeting
January 31, 2019 Yap - Palau, Feb. 2019
January 27, 2019 Lunch at Shooters followed by Intercoastal Boat Tour
January 10, 2019 Board of Directors meeting
January 03, 2019 January General Meeting
December 16, 2018 Board of Directors meeting
December 08, 2018 USA Dive Club Holiday Party
December 06, 2018 December General Meeting and Elections
November 10, 2018 Lion Country Safari
November 08, 2018 November Board of Directors meeting
November 01, 2018 November General Meeting
October 18, 2018 Board of Directors meeting
October 14, 2018 Oct 14th with Diversity
October 13, 2018 October 13th with Scuba Tyme
October 07, 2018 Coral Reef Day at Museum of Discovery & Science
October 06, 2018 October 6th with Parrot Island
October 04, 2018 October General Meeting
September 29, 2018 Key Dives in Islamorada
September 23, 2018 September 23rd with Scuba Tyme
September 22, 2018 Funky Buddha Brewery
September 15, 2018 September 15th with Diversity
September 13, 2018 Board of Directors meeting
September 06, 2018 September General Meeting
August 19, 2018 August 19th with Scuba Tyme
August 11, 2018 Bonaire - Divi Flamingo Resort - August 11-18, 2018
August 09, 2018 Board of Directors meeting
August 05, 2018 August 5th with Loggerhead
August 02, 2018 August General Meeting
July 28, 2018 Tour of Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse & Lunch at Two Georges at the Cove
July 21, 2018 July 21st with Diversity
July 12, 2018 July Board of Directors meeting
July 08, 2018 July 8th with South Florida
July 05, 2018 July General Meeting
July 01, 2018 Wine tasting and Dinner at CoopersHawk Restaurant
June 30, 2018 June 30th with Odyssey Divers
June 24, 2018 June 24th with Scuba Tyme
June 16, 2018 Cozumel - Iberostar June 16 - 23, 2018
June 14, 2018 Board of Directors meeting
June 09, 2018 June 9th with Loggerhead Divers
June 07, 2018 June General Meeting
June 02, 2018 COBALT COAST DIVE RESORT, GRAND CAYMAN
May 26, 2018 May 26th with Odyssey Divers
May 16, 2018 Mini-Trip to Bimini
May 12, 2018 Kayaking event - Winton Manners Loop
May 10, 2018 Board of Directors meeting
May 05, 2018 CANCELLED - May 5th with Parrot Island Scuba
May 03, 2018 May General Meeting
April 29, 2018 iFly Experience and Lunch
April 23, 2018 April 22nd with Logerhead
April 14, 2018 BAHAMAS AGGRESSOR - April 14-21, 2018
April 10, 2018 Board of Directors Meeting
April 07, 2018 April 7th with Diversity
April 05, 2018 April General Meeting
March 31, 2018 Kayaking in the Keys!
March 17, 2018 March 17th with Scuba Tyme
March 10, 2018 Potluck Dinner with Fireworks
March 08, 2018 Board of Directors meeting
March 01, 2018 March General Meeting
February 03, 2018 Manatee Festival 2018 at Manatee Lagoon
February 01, 2018 February General Meeting
January 27, 2018 Kayaking - Jonathan Dickinson State Park
January 21, 2018 Monster Miniature Golf & Lunch at Casa Tequila
January 17, 2018 Tommy Younger - Celebration of Life
January 11, 2018 Board of Directors meeting
January 04, 2018 January General Meeting
December 07, 2017 2017 Holiday Party
November 09, 2017 Board of Directors meeting
November 02, 2017 November General Meeting
October 22, 2017 Eat, Drink and Play
October 14, 2017 Diving with Starfish
October 07, 2017 Diving with Diversity
October 05, 2017 October General Meeting
September 29, 2017 Black Fin Resort in Marathon ** CANCELED **
September 23, 2017 Diving with Scuba Tyme
September 17, 2017 Diving with Dixie Divers
September 10, 2017 Diving with Kyalami ** CANCELED **
September 07, 2017 September General Meeting ** CANCELED **
August 26, 2017 Diving with Odyssey
August 12, 2017 Diving with Loggerhead
August 12, 2017 Cozumel - August 12-19, 2017
August 05, 2017 Diving with Starfish
August 03, 2017 August General Meeting
July 22, 2017 Mini-Trip to Islamorada
July 11, 2017 South Florida Underwater Photography Society meeting
July 08, 2017 Diving with Parrot Island Scuba
July 06, 2017 July General Meeting
SAFETY REPORT
Howard Ratsch


After COVID 19


http://divemagazine.co.uk/skills/8907-serious-problems-diving-after-covid19

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.

New Advice Cautions Against Rushed Return to Diving for Coronavirus Patients

By Mark 'Crowley' Russell

The Coronavirus pandemic has already had a devastating impact on the scuba diving world – but there's another question on divers' minds: 'What happens if I get it? Can I dive after COVID-19?' And the answer is not straightforward.

An article published in the German magazine Wetnotes (click here for a Google Translated English version) on 15 April gives an insight into the medical problems that scuba divers who have contracted SARS-CoV-2 might face. In it, Dr Frank Hartig, a senior consultant and response crisis coordinator/disaster officer for SARS-CoV-2 at Innsbruck University Hospital in Austria – and a scuba diver himself – describes some of the problems he has already encountered as a physician.

The acronym SARS – as in SARS-CoV-2, the official name of COVID-19 – stands for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. SARS attacks the lungs, and while research into the long-term effects of the novel coronavirus is only just beginning, its physical impacts are all too tragically well known. Lung damage caused by conditions such as pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been widely reported. It is also known to attack other organs, including the heart, although cardiac damage may go unnoticed until the heart is actually checked. Although we might not know much about the coronavirus itself, it has long been established that scuba diving with a compromised cardiopulmonary system can lead to serious injury, even death.

In his article, Dr Hartig describes his involvement with six active scuba divers who were hospitalised with conditions brought on by SARS-CoV-2 and who subsequently recovered and were discharged. When they returned for a check-up several weeks later, they all outwardly appeared to be healthy, but a closer examination proved otherwise.

'The first checks of these six divers, who came to the check-up clinically healthy after 5 to 6 weeks, are interesting,' writes Dr Hartig (translated from German). 'In two of them, we saw significant oxygen deficiency when under stress as a typical sign of a persistent pulmonary shunt. In two others, bronchial tubes were still very irritable during exercise, as in asthmatics. Four of the six divers in the check-up CT [scan] still had significant lung changes. None of the six divers can be released for diving for the time being, despite their wellbeing.'

Exercise-induced asthma is a well-known contraindication to diving, and in layman's terms, a pulmonary shunt is when blood fails to pick up more oxygen as it passes through the lungs, which leads to the body being starved of oxygen. It is often caused by fluid in the lungs, also the result of pneumonia and pulmonary oedema, a condition becoming widely recognised as a leading cause of diver fatalities. 

At this stage, any questions over long-term damage to the lungs caused by SARS-CoV-2 would be entirely speculative, but it is clear from Dr Hartig's assessment that divers who have been affected by the coronavirus should not dive until they have had a thorough medical examination – even if they otherwise appear healthy. As Dr Hartig notes, if proper precautions are not taken, 'Young, COVID-healthy people who want to dive again quickly and appear healthy at first could [slip through our fingers].'

A report published on 12 April by the Belgian Society for Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine gives advice to scuba divers who may have contracted and recovered from Covid-19 based on current medical knowledge. To summarise, the report states that:

1.                    Risk of Infection: Someone who has been infected with COVID-19 can still spread the virus to others. In a diving context that would be especially likely when conducting air sharing or rescue training exercises. Before returning to diving, divers should, therefore:

·                                      Wait a minimum of two, preferably three months, if they had symptoms of the virus 

·                                      Wait a minimum of one month if they tested positive for the virus but were asymptomatic.

·                                      Those who have not been tested and never had symptoms may still be susceptible to infection and should 'observe a waiting period' after lockdowns are lifted, which may be variable depending on location and type of diving.

·                                      Divers and dive centres should strictly observe guidelines for gear disinfection as distributed by DAN

2.                    Risk of Pulmonary Barotrauma: People who have had COVID-19 may have significant damage to their lungs for an unknown period of time, possibly permanently, and therefore have an increased risk of pulmonary barotrauma – or lung overexpansion injury – even if they don't make rapid, breath-holding ascents. A diver who was hospitalised with lung-related problems should wait at least three months and undergo complete pulmonary function testing and a high-resolution CT scan of the lungs before returning to diving. Divers who had lung-related symptoms but were not hospitalised are still strongly recommended to have the test.

3.                    Risk of Cardiac Events: Damage to the heart caused by COVID-19 may go unnoticed during the acute phase of the disease, but may lead to heart failure during diving. Therefore, it is recommended that a diver who was hospitalised with cardiac or pulmonary symptoms should, after the three-month waiting period, undergo a thorough cardiac evaluation with echocardiography and exercise testing (exercise electrocardiography – sometimes called the 'stress test'). Those who had symptoms but were not hospitalised are strongly advised to have the tests as well.

  1. Pulmonary oxygen toxicity: It appears that some COVID-19 patients' symptoms worsened after being given pure oxygen. Although little is known about an increased pulmonary sensitivity to oxygen, the report suggests it would be 'prudent' to avoid technical diving involving the prolonged breathing of hyperoxic gas with a pO2 of 1.3 ATA or higher. Simple nitrox diving (maximum pO2 of 1.4 ATA) should not present any problem.
  2. Decompression illness: tiny bubbles of inert gas form even on normal dives and are safely eliminated through the lungs during breathing. However, damage to the lungs may prevent the lungs' 'bubble filter' from working and lead to an arterial gas embolism or other form of decompression illness. Ddivers who have suffered from pulmonary symptoms of COVID-19 should, therefore, remain well within the no-decompression limits of their dives.

Click here for the full report (available in French, Dutch and English)

A complete assessment of the problems that divers might face following a COVID-19 / SARS-CoV-2 infection is undoubtedly many months away and, as Dr Hartig notes, any long-term medical advice will remain speculative until clinical trials have been conducted. 

In the short-term, however, the advice is clear. SARS-CoV-2 can damage the lungs and the heart. Scuba diving with damage to any part of the cardiovascular system can lead to serious injury and death. Much as we might all wish to rush back into the water as soon as we can, doing so without proper medical consideration may cause more harm than good.

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