Upcoming Events

Oceans Benefit 2007
You're Invited to an Exotic Dining Experience at the Bali Hai

You won't want to miss this year's Oceans Benefit Dinner! We've got an array of activities to keep you entertained including: Polynesian dancers, Silent Auction, highlights from the IMAX film, "Deep Sea", and an EXCLUSIVE Underwater Video by Imax Film Makers, Howard & Michele Hall!

The evening will wrap up with Ocean Bingo and an awards ceremony honoring H.P. "Sandy" Purdon, 2007 Roger Revelle Award Recipient and Conrad Wear, 2007 SeaWorld Sponsored Scholarship Winner.

Friday, September 14th at 7:00 pm
Bali Hai Restaurant
2230 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego 92106

$60 per person
Luau Buffet
Hawaiian attire suggested | No host bar

Tickets are going fast (less than 60 remain)! Purchase your tickets by Tuesday, Sept. 11th to ensure a spot is reserved for you! purchase tickets

Sea Series

Continuing Education for Ocean Lovers

Each month SDOF hosts a FREE continuing education event called "Sea Series" for volunteers, members and anyone interested in learning about the marine environment. This month's lecture is sure to be a crowd pleaser, as our very own Dr. Charlie MacVean, SDOF Director and USS Sea Wolf Commander is presenting an exclusive insight into life aboard submarines during the cold war!

Navy Life Aboard Submarines During the Cold War
Dr. Charlie MacVean, USS Sea Wolf Commander
Wed, Sept 26th | 6:45 - 8:00 pm | Ocean Enterprises, 7710 Balboa Ave 92111
RSVP to volunteer@sdoceans.org

We're in the News!

Ocean in Motion marine science education program

On Tuesday, August 21st, columnist Pete Thomas and photographer Allen Schaben joined SDOF on an Ocean in Motion snorkeling trip. The article appeared in the August 24th edition of the LA Times on D10 (back page of the Sports section), as well as online! Below is an excerpt from his article:

Getting a small taste of the Sea
by Pete Thomas
With bulging eyes and giant webbed feet, the intrepid young divers press forth, delving deeper into a realm both mysterious and new. A large school of smelt passes to their left. A bright orange garibaldi darts into the rocks. Tiny brown opaleye hold their ground, allowing for close encounters. But it is a small invertebrate called a keyhole limpet, plucked from a submerged rock by the trip leader, that lures the kids into a circle. There's nothing special about the animal itself: an odd-shaped, algae-grazing cousin of the snail. But there is a myth the leader associates with the limpet. If it tastes sweet, she says, it means seven years of good luck. And if it's salty, then it's just another limpet.

Treading water in a far-flung corner of Mission Bay, the children pass this animal around, and those daring enough press its carrot-colored foot to the tips of their tongues. Salty, the first taster declares. Mine too, says another. It's salty at one end but sweet at the other, proclaims another limpet connoisseur. And so it goes for the eighth-graders from Monarch School in downtown San Diego. Honest appraisals, and hopes not easily raised.

Monarch School serves the at-risk and homeless. Students live on the streets, in shelters, motels or modest apartments -- or some combination thereof.This visit represents a glorious reprieve from classroom lectures, but at the end of the day an air of uncertainty will sweep back over them. However, because of programs such as this -- a joint effort involving Outdoor Outreach and the San Diego Oceans Foundation -- horizons are broadened and dreams are spawned. To read the full article and view pictures, please click here

Program + Event Updates

White Seabass Restocking Project

On Thursday, August 23rd volunteers released 6,301 white seabass into San Diego Bay in just 2 hours... record time! The average white seabass released in this batch was 9.01 inches and weighed 123 grams. Thank you to everyone who came out to help!

Dive-a-Thon Raises $32,000!

The Dive-a-Thon is SDOF's largest fundraiser of the year, with the goal to "get divers diving" - while spreading our message of ocean stewardship. During this year's month long competition, 70 divers raised almost $32,000 in support of SDOF and our programs and 39,686 minutes were spent underwater exploring and enjoying the world below.

In addition to San Diego, Orange County and Catalina, dives were logged from exotic places like Tonga, Bonaire, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, even the Bering Sea!! As a reward for their hard work prizes were awarded, such as a 5 day dive trip to Bonaire, a Seadoo scooter, BCDs, dive computers, wetsuits, and apparel. As an additional perk this year, any diver who raised over $500 is qualified to choose a classroom to receive a 60-minute, hands-on, marine presentation from SDOF. We will be able to bring marine science to 18 additional classrooms thanks to these divers, ensuring that future generations are inspired to become ocean stewards. Thank you to all who participated and made this fundraiser a success!

Volunteer Opportunities

For more details and descriptions of all these events, visit our NEW volunteer calendar: September Calendar

Underwater Coastal Cleanup Day
Saturday, September 15th | 8:00 - 11:00 am
San Diego Bay
The San Diego Oceans Foundation is proud to be the UNDERWATER Site Organizer for California Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 15th. This year we will be cleaning up the waters of the Embarcadero in San Diego Bay! This is a great opportunity not only to dive in a location normally off limits to divers, but to improve the quality of our oceans in a hands on, exciting activity!

DIVER REQUIREMENTS
1) MUST RSVP to courtney@sdoceans.org by Wednesday, September 12th
2) MUST present Diver Certification card at dive check in
3) Divers should have completed 20 previous dives

Directions to the dive site, as well as additional information will be emailed upon receipt of RSVP.

** Not a diver, but still want to help? We need 10 additional "land support" volunteers to help weigh, record and transport trash collected from the divers. RSVP to courtney@sdoceans.org **

SDOF Travel Expo Booth | San Diego Convention Center
Friday, September 28th | 9:00 - 11:00 am | Set-up
Saturday, September 29th | 10:00 - 1:00 | 1:00 - 3:00 | 3:00 - 5:00
Sunday, September 30th | 10:00 - 1:00 | 1:00 - 3:00 | 3:00 - 6:00 (take down)

SHARE YOUR EXCITEMENT! SDOF has been given a complimentary booth in the Environmental section at the Travel Expo to spread our message of ocean stewardship to an estimated attendance of 20,000+. This is a great opportunity to help out at our booth in a high energy environment and share your experiences volunteering with SDOF! We're in the process of coming up with fun and creative ways to attract attention to our booth so we can sign up new volunteers and members who want to get involved. Volunteer a few hours of your weekend to come down and help us out!

Ocean in Motion ~ Snorkeling Trips
Wednesday, September 19th | 3:00 - 5:30
Saturday, September 22nd | 11:30 - 3:30
Wednesday, September 26th | 1:30 - 5:30
Wednesday, October 3rd | 1:30 - 5:30

The Ocean In Motion is SDOF's marine science education program for inner city youth! During the summer we take 10-12 middle school or high school kids per trip snorkeling in Mission Bay and give them a HANDS ON experience with marine life. This is a very special outing for the kids, as many of them have never been swimming in the ocean, even though they have grown up in San Diego county! When you participate in the Ocean In Motion you'll be making a difference in the lives of these kids and have fun at the same time.

White Seabass Orientations
Wednesday, September 12th | 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Wednesday, September 19th | 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Want to be outside on San Diego Bay and help restock the ocean at the same time? Then volunteer for the White Seabass Restocking Project... it's fun, and flexible according to your schedule. Learn more about the project on our website, then sign up for a one hour orientation to get you started!

To RSVP for any of these activities, please email us volunteer@sdoceans.org