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Avalon Underwater Cleanup
February 24, 2007
Story and Photos ©
Elaine Jobin, may not
be reproduced in part or whole without advanced written permission
What special event was last weekend? The Avalon
Harbor Underwater Cleanup. The one day of the year that we can dive
in the Avalon Harbor.
On Saturday morning, I left Long
Beach at 6:15 on a Catalina Express. It was a boat laden with dive
gear and sleepy divers. (Just keep reading, you will figure out
why no one was sleepy for long).
Arrival at Avalon was an easy wake up call. I enjoy
going to annual cleanup. It is an opportunity to see friends, have
fun, and recharge on the energy exuded by hundreds of like minded
recreationalists.
I had a special job. I was a member of the Kayak
Patrol. The Kayak Patrol is comprised of a group of volunteers who
meet at Descanso Beach, paddle around the corner into the harbor,
and try to serve as readily available support to any diver who might
need it. I've done this for several years now. Usually I have to
walk from the Express landing to Descanso, but this time we got
lucky and a van took us there. This is a photo of some of us in
the van and pre departure preparations.
My assigned area was at the Casino "dive site".
This is what it looked like to me from the Kayak.
I had an enjoyable, and mostly uneventful time.
No divers to rescue. My one surprise was someone who popped
up in front of me with an old pitch fork. For a minute I thought
I'd met Neptune.Yikes, maybe I did.
We weren't alone alone on our Kayaks. Baywatch was there too.
After the dive was over, it was time to reconnect
with friends and get some lunch.
Next, most converged on downtown Avalon for the event prizes,
awards presentations, and the lottery drawings.
And, "Dr.
Bill" Bushing. I couldn't help but notice his unusual
method of holding his video camera. He does such great video,
who am I to question.... but....ummmm.....go figure.
One of the sociological oddities of this event is
the "Crowd Chumming". Fun things like hats, T-shirts,
etc. are tossed to the audience. It is seems as much fun for the
chummers, as it is for the chumees
A couple of "chummer" shots
And, a couple of "chumee" shots
It is probably one of the things that makes this
event so much fun for all age groups. Where else can you stick your
hand in the air and maybe something fun will actually land in it?
In the "trash awards", there are too many
categories for me to remember off the top of my head. I do remember
that "Most Valuable Trash" went to a diver who found a
Rolex Watch, no wrist band, that was still working. All trash award
winners received a plaque.
Fiona Macfarlane, Doug Iverson, and Mark Tulin -
Volunteer Crew members at the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber received
recognition plaques for 15 years of service.
And, Jill Boivinm a major organizer of this Clean
Up for many years received an award. Good job Jill!.
As usual, there were lots of terrific prizes
in the lottery. Dive computers, regulators, trips, dive equipment
etc. . The "Grand Prize" - was a super special painted
dive tank. I bought some lottery tickets and won a trip for
two on the King Neptune
out of Avalon. Yipee. Another dive trip, I can bring a friend,
and yes, I get to do another "trip report and photos"
afterwards. The Mayor of Avalon, Bob Kennedy, also presented a speech.
Bob also happens to own and run Catalina
Scuba Luv - YES! The "Silver Tongue" award contestants amused us
with their tall tales and lies about their trash. Tim Fitzhugh,
the editor of the Sea Divers
newsletter, won this award.
The posters for Chamber
Day 2007 were publicly displayed for the first time. Both
photos were taken in tanks at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Don't
forget Chamber Day/Evening is Wednesday May 2, 2007. Whew, it was a jam packed day. Thanks to the organizers,
all of the Prize contributors, and everyone who showed up for
the event. Totally awesome.
Until next time........
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