SDOF Shifts Focus to the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Issue

The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) was passed by California legislators in 1999 in order to better evaluate the current state of California's coastal waters and to direct the state to create and manage a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) along the California coastline.

Over the past 25 years, the San Diego Oceans Foundation has built a legacy of providing meaningful programs that benefit the needs of the environment. As we enter 2009. we are now working diligently to help provide education and outreach for the MLPA process. In order to be helpful in the MLPA procces, SDOF has put our involvement with artificial reefs on hold. If you would like to help SDOF in our outreach efforts, please contact us at volunteer@sdoceans.org. For more information about MLPAs please visit this link.

Newly Updated REEF Monitoring Project

REEF Invertebrate Identification NOW with Levels
Thursday, March 12th
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Join the San Diego Oceans Foundation's FREE identification training classes and better understand your marine environment!

Our new format makes learning about our marine ecology easier to understand.

Check out the NEW levels:
Level 1 - Signup with reef.org
Level 2 - Be able to identify 16 out of 20 local fish.
Level 3 - Be able to identify 40 out of 50 local fish
(Prerequisite - at least 10 completed surveys)
Levels 4 & 5 are to come!

Whether you're a fish expert or a "newbie diver", this class will leave you full of interesting facts about our underwater world. Once you have finished this fascinating course, you'll be able to put your newfound knowledge to good use by volunteering and completing underwater surveys of local marine populations. Instead of saying "What WAS that," you'll be able to name it...and then some!

*This class will be held at Sumner Auditorium NOT Ocean Enterprises due to a high volume of attendees*

To RSVP, please contact volunteer@sdoceans.org. Space is limited!

REEF Dives w/Herb: La Jolla Shores Parking Lot (7AM)

Sunday, March 15th

Spend Sunday morning diving the Shores with our qualified REEF Instructor! If you've completed one of our REEF ID courses, come out and put your skills to the test! All SCUBA certifications are welcome.

To RSVP, please contact cheryl@sdoceans.org.

* REEF dives are weather-dependent and may be canceled in the event of a storm or unusually high surf *

FREE Continuing Education SeaSeries - Scott Cassell Presents Diving with Demons (Humboldt Squid)

Diving since 1977, Scott has accumulated over 13,000 hours of dive time. His experience ranges from mixed-gas commercial diver, explorer-film maker, and a USCG qualified Submersible Pilot.

He was the first person in history to film the Giant Squid in its natural environment, a 35 to 50 foot long weighing up to 1,800 lbs, as seen in the History Channel’s ‘Monster Quest – Giant Squid: FOUND’ He holds the world record for Longest Distance Traveled by a Diver (52 miles in 9.5 hours non-stop saturation dive) He used a diver tow - glider he invented to cover more range for open-sea underwater filming. The world record was his way of "testing it" and used the event to raise money for a children’s charity.

An Advanced Diving Medical Technician Instructor (1 of 10 in the USA), Commercial Diving Instructor, and Hyperbaric Medical Technician Instructor he taught for years at the College Of Oceaneering. A U.S. Navy qualified Diving Supervisor and Dive Medical Technologist; he has worked in Maritime Counter Terrorism Operations for client companies where his secret operations often involved ‘High Risk’ world regions. He is the presenter and cameraman and in 3 cases, co-producer for 14 documentaries airing on several channels including Discovery, Animal Planet, History Channel, BBC, Disney and MTV. Scott is also a professional circus Trapeze Artist ‘Catcher’ with Trapeze High circus training group as well as performing a rare and extremely difficult Aerial Strap / Cube Act.

Diving With Demons (Humboldt Squid)
The Pearl Hotel - Thursday, April 30th
6PM Cocktail Reception, Lecture @ Sunset

For generations a demon has been fabled to live in the Sea of Cortez. The old world Baja fishermen talk of a man-eating monster called the ‘Demonio Rojo” (Red Demon) that are more dangerous than sharks. Hearing of this legend, Scott Cassell embarked on a expedition to find the root of the legend and found it to be completely true. The legendary Red Demon turned out to be the Giant Humboldt Squid. Spending 2,000 hours underwater observing Humboldt Squid (Dosidicus gigas) Scott Cassell has uncovered many behavioral patterns and physiological attributes of this mysterious animal. With a legendary ferosiousity, weighing over 150 lbs, a metabolism rivaling hummingbirds, three hearts, blue blood and human-like eyes they are intriguing enough, but their behavior suggests surprising intelligence. Using state-of-the-art equipment including a Dissolved Oxygen Meter, Night Vision Camera, True-Red LED Lights and a Pentax Endoscope, Scott has learned some concerning secrets about this enigmatic creature.

Scott discovered that with the reduction of sharks, tuna and marlin (predators of the Humboldt Squid) the squid are spreading to new regions creating unprecedented threats to fish stocks and have reduced several species of Roch Fish and Salmon to historic all time low populations, potentially rendering them extinct in a very short time.

To RSVP for this exciting lecture, please contact cheryl@sdoceans.org

For more information about the programs below, check out the Calendar. To RSVP for any of these activities, email us at volunteer@sdoceans.org

White Seabass Orientations (San Diego Bay)

Thursday, March 12th (4:30PM -5:30PM)

Saturday, March 21st (12:30PM - 1:30PM)

Come out and learn all there is to know about caring for white seabass and replenishing an over-fished marine species. After this short orientation, you will be able to volunteer as a White Seabass Mentor and really contribute to the betterment of our oceans!

Contact cheryl@sdoceans.org to RSVP.

White Seabass Pen Cleanings

Saturday, March 21st (9AM - 12PM)

Are you a certified diver and want to try something new and do not mind getting dirty? We are always looking for dedicated volunteers to help clean our white seabass pens! As time goes by, these pens become COVERED with a variety of marine life that have found the perfect place to settle and take up residency. Problem is that they block out the very vital water and oxygen circulation that are necessary to the health of our little fish! In order to keep them strong and ready for release into the wild, we need to perform regular maintenance on their containment nets. Please contact cheryl@sdoceans.org to dive with a purpose.

* If you are a Dive Master (with insurance) and would like to volunteer a few hours of your time to ensure the safety of others, please let us know. We can't get out there without one!

Marine Specimens for our Ocean In Motion Marine Science Education Program

Thank for the donations we have received, however, we still need more specimens for our Ocean In Motion program such as: shark skin & skeletons, crustaceans molts, preserved fish or invertebrates, turtle shells, whale baleens or any marine taxoderms.

If you set your default search browser to GoodSearch.com and select the San Diego Oceans Foundation as your charity of choice, we will receive a penny for every click! Some nonprofits make over $5,000 a year. It is simple to use and helps support our programs.

Click here to start using GoodSearch.Com!

You can sell anything you would like on eBay and a portion of your choice will be donated to support the San Diego Oceans Foundation!

Click here to find out more information!

We Also Need...

GPS Unit for Canyon Watch Program
Tool Kit
Organizing Supplies (tubs, bins, drawers)
Snorkels
Portable PA System
Docu-Cam
Projection Screen
Music Stand
Podium

Pro Bono Services Needed

Attorney, nonprofit focus
Professional Organizer
eBay Sales Expert
Flash Designer
Web Designer
Graphic Deisgner
Photographer
Florist
Party Rental Services

Contact us at sdoceans@sdoceans.org if you are able to help with any of these items!