Buffalo Aqua Club
P.O. Box 735
West Seneca, New York
14224
(716)823-5881
www.BuffaloAquaClub.org
NEWS AND VIEWS
April - May 2008
Officers
President – Chip Campbell Vice-President – Jeff Wilson
Treasurer
– Sandy Modzelewski Secretary – Mike
Gesel
Board of Directors
Chrissy Gesel Richard Becht Larry Howie Nancy Becht Desiree Benoit
Alternates - Alice Green Walt Olszowy
Newsletter Editor - Mark Modzelewski (M.Modzelewski@verizon.net)
Webmaster - Rick
Peters (1Scuber@roadrunner.com)
Calendar
of Events
May June
17 Brave Souls Dive – Lake Chautauqua 4 Wednesday Night Dives begin
Champagne Party – Fachko’s Grill Meet at 5 pm Rich Marine
20 BAC Board/Membership Meeting 7 First Saturday Dives begin
Lower Lakes Historical Society @ 7pm 13 –15 NYSDA Weekend Clayton N.Y.
23-26 Memorial Weekend-Findley Lake 17 BAC Board/Membership Meeting
Lower Lakes Historical Society @ 7pm
Dive Meetings at the Lower Lakes
Historical Society on the Third Tuesday of each Month,
Saturday Morning Dives- Meet at Tim Hortons near Ontario and Niagara St. 9am-Call Walt O for details
Wednesday Evening-Meet at Rich Marina between 5 and 6 pm.
If you would like to do a boat dive call Bill Owens (675-3958) to reserve space on his boat.
AQUA NOTES
Get Well
Best wishes to Dan Wild on his recovery from his heart
attack.
Good luck to Tony Anderson on his recovery from his
fall. Hope your leg gets better.
Benefit for Lorri Lazarz
A heartfelt thank you to all of those who supported Lorri in her benefit we really appreciate everything the club members have done for us. Gary & Gayle
2008 Niagara Divers
Association 14th Annual Shipwrecks Symposium
By
Gary Nochajski
The Niagara Divers association held it’s annual extravaganza Saturday April 5th at the Centennial Secondary School 240 Thorold Road, Welland Ontario. The event drew divers and shipwreck enthusiasts from across the Niagara peninsula, Western New York and beyond.
I had a brief opportunity to chat with Bernie Chowdhury and David Trotter before the symposium’s prompt opening in the auditorium at 9 AM. Both of these diving legends are easily approachable, it is evident that they have a deep love of the diving community and are eager to share their wisdom and experiences with others. Their presentations were well received during the symposium.
Bernie educated the large audience on hand about the controversial war wrecks of the Orkney Islands located at Scapa Flow Scotland. These wrecks present diving opportunities for all levels of divers. The main attraction being the wrecks of the German World War I high seas fleet. The remaining captured German crew who refused to surrender their fleet to the allies scuttled them. Bernie is the author of “The Last Dive” which is a great book that has received critical acclaim. To his credit he has been the 2001 Diver of the year by Beneath the Sea which hosts North America’s largest consumer scuba diving show. He has been on the board of Canadian based Diver magazine previously Immersed magazine. This was Bernie’s third presentation at Shipwrecks. I look forward to seeing him at future events.
David Trotter keeps coming back to the event year after year presenting his impressive discoveries of wrecks found in the Great Lakes. David estimates that he has found and identified 80 to 90 wrecks over 30 years of diving. He has written several articles that have been published in historical journals and diving publications. He is featured in the new book the Shipwreck Hunter written by Gerry Van Volgenau. I purchased this book and video “Diving Across Time”. Perhaps we can plan for the club to see it after a meeting.
Jill Heinrerth has established herself as a pioneering diver in the technical diving community. She is an award winning filmmaker with many diving, photographic and film-making awards to her credit. A proud Canadian with a determined will and spirit, she presented the National Geographic documentary film Ice Island. It highlighted her expedition to the Antarctic to explore the largest known iceberg ever. This adventure was captured on film and is truly beautiful and exciting. Exciting cave diving videos and expeditions to Mexico’s Cenote’s were also included. If you get a chance to see her energetic presentation do not pass this opportunity by.
Valerie and Jack Van Heest’s presentation of the sinking of the Hennepin is an historic wreck. It is the first ever self unloading steamer which has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This pristine wreck was located with the help of David Trotter in 230’ of water off South Haven, Michigan.
Other presenters included David Gilchrist and his presentation of Ontario’s paddlewheel shipwreck, Tom Kowalczk and David VanZandton the new discovery of the wreck of the Anthony Wayne, believed to be the oldest steamer in lake Erie located in 50 feet of water off of Vermillion, Ohio.
_________________________________________________________FUN
FACTS TRIVIA
1) Which state has the longest coastline?
2) Name the only place in the world where you can see the sun rise on the Pacific and set on the Atlantic?
3) True or False- Frogs never drink.
4) True of False- A Crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.
5) True or False- One-day weather forecast requires about 10 billion mathematical calculations.
6) Name the last ship built in Buffalo?
7) Which of the five Great Lakes was discovered last?
8) Which Great Lake was discovered first?
9) The first Grain Elevator in the world was built where?
10) Which lake is lined by the world’s largest freshwater dunes?
ANSWERS
1) Michigan 2) Panama 3) True 4) True 5) True 6)Canadiana 7) Lake Erie by Joliet 1669.
8) Lake Huron in 1615 by French explorers Le Caron and Champlain 9) Buffalo, 1842
10)Lake Michigan Cover page answer-Mike Gesel and Foot of Ferry Street.
NEW
YORK STATE
DIVERS ASSOCIATION
46TH ANNUAL
CONVENTION
JUNE 13TH –
15TH 2008 CLAYTON, NY
Schedule of Events
Friday June 13th
Early Bird
Diving 8:30pm-Registration & Get Together at C-WAY MOTEL -Business Meeting
Saturday June 14th
All day Diving
in Saint Lawrence River- NYSDA Banquet
at Natali’s Restaurant
6:30
Decompression time-7:30 pm Dinner-Election of officers and Awards-After Dinner
Speaker
Sunday June 15th
More Scuba
Diving in Saint Lawrence River
Guest Speaker
Michael Ryan of EOARA, Eastern Ontario Artificial Reef
Association will be speaking on their work on sinking the HMCS Terra
Nova as an
artificial dive site in the St Lawrence near Brockville.
CONVENTION REGISTRATION
BEFORE 6/3/08
MEMBERS $5.00 ___ NON-MEMBERS $10.00 ___
AFTER 6/3/08
MEMBERS $8.00 ___ NON-MEMBERS $15.00
___
NYSDA MEMBERSHIP $25
BANQUET: $25
Roast Prime Ribs of Beef served with au jus
and baked potato ( we need to give them a headcount
on this one ahead of time so they can order )
Chicken Parmigiana boneless breast lightly breaded and fried, with a side of pasta
Broiled Haddock
broiled in their special butter sauce, served with a baked potato
ALL DINNERS INCLUDE DINNER SALAD, ROLLS, DESSERT, COFFEE, TEA OR ICED
TEA, TAX
& GRATUITY
DINNER RESERVATION NEED TO BE MADE IN ADVANCE OR YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
GET DINNER
SEND
REGISTRATION AND BANQUET PAYMENTS TO:
RAY TUCKER
9226 SLY HILL RD, AVA, NY 13303
MAKE CHECKS
PAYABLE TO NYSDA
CALL C-WAY
MOTEL FOR ROOM RESERVATION 1-866-292-9778
Call before
May 15th and MENTION NYSDA FOR DISCOUNT
Route 12, PO
Box 406, Clayton, NY 13624
Pro Shop
(315)686-4562 - Restaurant (315)686-3102 - Motel (315)686-4214 cwayresort@yahoo.com
FOR
INQUIRIES AND MOTEL RESERVATIONS
PLEASE CALL
TOLL FREE: 1-866-CWAYRST (292-9778)
NYSDA
website: www.Scubany.org
Convention
contact person James Sears jos3@cornell.edu, 607-844-9088
OPEN SEASON DIVE EVENTS
SATURDAY MAY 17TH
2008
Get Immersed In A Day of Club Events
BRAVE SOULS DIVE
Chautauqua Lake-Shore Diving at Prendergast
Point
We will meet at the Angola Rest Stop
(McDonalds or Burger King) at 9am eat and move on.
Take the I-190 New
York State Thruway to the Angola Rest Stop.
-Take the I-90 W/ NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY W via EXIT 54-61 toward ERIE (Portions toll).
-Take the RT-394 exit, EXIT 60, toward WESTFIELD/ MAYVILLE. 0.7 mi
-Turn LEFT onto NY-394/ N PORTAGE ST. Continue to follow NY-394. 13.0 mi
-Turn LEFT onto FALCON RD. 0.1 mi 8:
-End at Prendergast Point, NY
Champagne
Party
We continue the rest of the Diving
Day with the annual
“Champagne Party”
Fachko’s
Bar and Grill @ 7pm
Located on 1738 William on the
corner of Benzinger Street
Brave Souls Dive Silver Lake-Mark-Ray
Early 1990’s
Bring a Dish to
Pass!Join us for a celebration of the beginning of the dive season. Enjoy an
evening of food and discussion of the days diving. Bring your diver finds of
the day and any photos you may want to share. There will be sign up sheets for
up coming dives!
MEMORIAL
WEEKEND DIVING - PLEASE CALL MARK FOR DETAILS 675-8547
NYSDA WEEKEND-Please contact Mark if you are interested. He will be making the reservations and planning his diving soon. NYSDA puts out a fun and interesting weekend.
Gary
and Rick have been working hard on the Web Site. Please check it out and put
your comments in the forum.
2008 Dive Calendar
April
5th
- Shipwrecks 2008
15th - Membership meeting
19th - Women’s Luncheon at
Nancy’s
May
17th -Champaign Party 7 PM Contact Chip
for details
17th - Brave Soul’s Dive
thru Alice Green in Chautauqua Lake
20th - Membership meeting
23rd-26th-
Memorial Weekend in Findley Lake
June
4th - Wednesday night dives
begin, 5PM at Rich Marina
7th - Saturday dives begin,
meet at Tim Hortons on Ontario & Niagara
13th - 15th NYSDA
Weekend in Clayton, NY
17th - Membership meeting
July
4th - Holiday dive?
6th - Picnic & dive in
Barcelona Harbor
12th - 13th -
Ohio outing with Jack Mesmer hosting
15th - Membership meeting
23rd - Wednesday, early
arrival to 1000 Islands Weekend
25th - regular arrival to
1000 Islands Weekend Gary & Gayle Nochajski hosting
August
17th - Picnic at Beaver
Island State Park
19th - Membership meeting
September
6th - Niagara on the Lake
drift & picnic
13th - Intercoastal
Waterways Cleanup TBA
16th - Membership meeting,
nomination for Officers
October
18th - Halloween Pumpkin
dive
21st - Membership meeting,
Election of Officers
25th - Halloween Party at
Gary & Gayle Nochajski
November
8th - Fall Dinner
18th - Membership meeting
December
16th - Membership
meeting,
Christmas Party
(TBA) Chris & Desiree Benoit’s
Winter Dive Charter get-away
Brave Souls Dive - Silver Lake Dive 2007
DIVING WILL BE STARTING SHORTLY. LETS DO IT !
TRIVIA-WHO IS THE DIVER TO
THE RIGHT AND WHERE IS HE DIVING?
Buffalo
Aqua Club
P.O.
Box 735
West
Seneca, N.Y. 14224
www.BuffaloAquaClub.org
April 27
th 2008
Lake Erie Temp 40 degrees
Lake Ontario Temp. 44 degrees
DUST OFF THAT DIVE GEAR, HERE WE GO !