Shore Diver Class Charity Event...

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To first aid and student divers,

On Saturday, June 14, 2008, students taking the Shore Diver Class run as a charity event for the Pt Pleasant First Aid Squad Dive Team dove the Manasquan Inlet. The dive was a high tide early evening dive. Just before high slack there was a thunder and lightening storm which delayed the entry a bit. Undaunted, the divers and dive leaders got into the water just around high tide. Conditions were very good. Visibility was around 8 feet, water temp was 56 and boats and fishermen were low to moderate likely due to the storm. Student divers Luis, Alison, Kim, Alan, and Dave teamed up with dive leaders Eric, Tom C, Tom G, Chet and Flo so each student had a personal guide on their adventure dive. Divers spent around 45 minutes underwater and got to see numerous fish and marine life creatures. They plan to dive next Sunday to continue their training.

Besides a comprehensive pre dive training lecture delivered by Flo, Chet, and Tom, everyone was treated to a barbecue hosted by Flo and Norva, with food donated by 1877SCUBAUSA. After the dive everyone returned to the squad for gear cleaning followed by cake for dessert.

Tom Gormley, Pt Pleasant Dive Team http://www.pointbeachems.org/

Throw it Back, Throw it Back!!!

Support of the Pt. Pleasant First Aid Squad Dive Team

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Phil Ventura,
1-877- Scuba USA
June 15, 2008

On behalf of the entire Pt Pleasant First Aid Squad Dive Team I want to thank you for your donation of $100 towards the Charity Shore Dive Class by the Pt Pleasant First Aid Squad Dive Team. The team serves a 24/7 year round multipurpose function for the Ocean County area. They do immediate rescues for any water related situation, recovery of missing victims and articles, search and recovery of crime evidence, community service to promote ocean and water environmental awareness, and promote and supervise safe diving in the Ocean County area. It is a volunteer organization manned by members of the First Aid Squad who are also trained rescue divers. Team members train and dive on a continuing basis, and are mainly avid civilian divers adapted to contribute to a civic need.

Your representatives Abe and Milton enjoyed the class and observed the preparation for the first dive made by the shore class students. They were invited back to dive at the next dive which will be next Sunday.

Thanks again for your contribution.

Tom Gormley, Dive Team Member
Chet Nesley, Dive Team Chief
Flo Melo, Dive Team Member

Manasquan Inlet June 2008...

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The Dive Team conducted a routine practice\training dive this weekend at the Manasquan Inlet and the above item was discovered and retrieved by Team Member Tom Sweezy.

It was found at the mouth of the Inlet near the South end jetty and was probably uncovered by the recent dredging of the inlet. Item was found on top of mussel beds and prior day had a strong outgoing tidal flow so object has moved along the inlet since dredging.

Object stands about 3-1\4" and is 2-1\4" diameter at top and bottom...

It is made up by three seperate compartments that are water tight and secured by fine threads and all brass construction. Initial thought was that this was used to store some type of powder, snuff, tobacco, or the likes. I have passed the photos onto several members of the local Bottle collecting club here and they are looking into the identification of it...

Three individual compartments of different sizes. Top compartment 1-1\4", middle 7\8", and smallest compartment at 1\2"...

Located on the bottom of the object is the name "J.W. Forestal" with the date 1876 and "April"... It was noted that it is common practice in military service to have the persons name on all personal items. By including the month "April" to the inscription this may be a service award item and shows the date of end of service. This same practice aided in the identification of the German Submarine U-869 a few years back when a personal item knife was found with a crewmembers name engraved...

Tom Sweezy

Jenkinson's Aquaruim Seal Tank Dive...

The Point Pleasant Beach Dive Rescue Team was invited back to Jenkinson's Aquarium to dive with the resident Seals in their tank and provide information and entertainment for the aquariums patrons.

Upon arrival to the Aquarium the Dive team responded to a first aid call involving a motor vehicle and person riding a bike...

As in the past the Dive team provided information and samples of items found in the ocean and inlets just miles away from the aquarium...

Feeding time for the Seals...

Drive briefing before going into the seal tank...

Dive team members Doug and Eric gear up before entering the Seal Tank...

Dive team member Doug prefers the "Face-first" approach when entering a unknown environment...

Once in the tank and ready for the program Team members Eric and Doug are approached by one of the resident Seals...

Information on Jenkinson's Aquarium can be found here along with a link to their Penquin Webcam here...

Jenkenson's Aquarium Seal Tank Dive...

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On Saturday, April 19, 2008, the dive team went to Jenkenson's Aquarium in Pt Pleasant to do a table display and dive as part of the Earth Day Celebration. Earth Day is on Tuesday this year, but Saturday brings out the best crowds. The purpose of today's program was to explain to aquarium visitors about local underwater environment and diving. Chet, Flo, Sue, Doug, and Tom G were there to do the program and to dive in the seal tank. Jenkenson's asked the team to put on the program for the past several years, and the seal dive has been added for everyone's pleasure including the seals and the team. Visitors apparently loved the show, the divers loved doing it, and the seals have been adapting and apparently enjoy the divers coming into their pool. The aquarium staff was at first a bit worried that the divers would interfere with the seals adapting to humans. It appears that the seals have adapted well.

The dive part of the program is for two divers to enter the pool by way of a controlled seated entry so the seals are protected. The divers then put on a choreographed show of skills for the aquarium visitors. One member of the team is outside the tank and with hand signals directs one of the divers to perform simple skills like mask clear and such. The other diver video records the scene of the diver, the audience, and the seals. An unexpected part of the show occurred when the camera stopped recording and Chet had to instruct Tom how to turn it back on from outside the tank. The viewing audience got to see first hand how diver communication can be a problem since voice cues don't go through the glass and into the tank. It was an unplanned but funny part of the show. Everyone enjoyed it.

The seals have been carefully approaching the divers and kissing their heads. Chet was accused of flirting with a seal. When seals contact the diver's neoprene hood, it is a very light touch. The dive buddy watching gets a better view of the seal activity. Divers wear wet suits, hoods, gloves. and booties in the 60 degree water. The dives have lasted about 20 minutes. Sue and Chet dove in the morning and Tom and Flo dove in the afternoon.

The table display included a diver replica including all of the dive gear. Found bottles and shells were displayed as well as photos of the First Aid Squad and dive team. Team members took the time to explain as much as visitors wanted to learn about local diving and the purpose of the squad and team. Lots of children as well as adults enjoyed the show and display. The team accomplished the educational part of it's list of goals with today's Earth Day Program at Jenkenson's Aquarium. Ocean Conservation Day is in June and the team plans to return for another program on June 7.

Report from Tom Gormley

Pt. Pleasant Dive Team Member...

10 February 2008 Dive Report ~Tom Gormley~

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On Sunday, February 10, 2008 the Pt Pleasant Dive Rescue Team when on a diving drill in spite of the weather forecast, which called for an arctic blast, snow, and gale force winds. Here is the dive report.

Chet N, Tom C, Eric, and Doug from the team along with invited visitor divers Tom G and Mike D went for a dive at the Manasquan Inlet on a nice sunny day in February. The air temp was in the low 40's and there was a 20 to 25 knot west wind. We checked the vis in the inlet before diving and it looked good. Even with the wind driven waves we could see the bottom. The wind was actually pushing 1 to 2 foot waves out of the inlet on an incoming tide. We all decided to dive, so we formed 3 buddy teams and got our gear ready. Chet provided the team and visitors with a dive briefing. We rolled over the wall into the inlet to look for sinkers to be cleaned and possibly sold at the upcoming Ocean Wreck Diver's Fisherman's Flea Market. The team had been accumulating sinkers and lures on several previous drill dives and this might be the final opportunity for this task. The marine life was long gone.

Mike D and Tom G met up with Chet and Eric and Chet advised everyone about the skill for sinker hunting by fanning the sand, which everyone did. Team members had special plastic tubes and lift bags for storing the sinkers and transporting them to the exit point. Tom G and Mike D were picking up a sinker here and there when suddenly a coin was found. It was a well roughened up copper penny. It went into Tom's goody bag. Any coin found underwater is considered a treasure, even a penny. Chet, Doug, Eric, and Tom C were busy stuffing their tubes with sinkers and lures. Tom G found a few more sinkers, and another penny, then a nickel. Seven cents found underwater is a good day!

Suddenly Tom spotted something very different. It was a round hollow shiny object the size of a bottle cap. Only it wasn't a bottle cap. It turned out to be a ring. Wow! Underwater it looked enormous! With heavy mitts on he couldn't try it on for size so it was clipped onto the camera dog clip and made secure. Chet's fanning tip worked very well. Back to the sinker scavenging, everyone was doing well too. After about 35 minutes some of us were getting cold so Tom, Mike and Tom started heading back. It was a long swim especially with lots of sinkers in the goody bag. The water temp was 41 degrees and the vis turned out to be 25 feet. Tom, Mike and Tom did 41 minutes, and some hardy others did over an hour.

Hauling the sinker filled plastic tubes over the rocks and back to the rescue truck is certainly good exercise. After everyone else was safely back on shore, Tom G showed everyone the prize find and got congratulated. The rest of the story goes like this. The dive team got the sinkers, Tom's wife got the ring, and Tom kept the 7 cents. Tom's wife was so happy, she bought coffee for everyone since Tom's 7 cents couldn't cover the bill. Still not a bad day for winter diving in New Jersey.

As far as the weather is concerned, as soon as we got back on dry land, we could see a wall of dark clouds coming rapidly towards us. It looked like sharks teeth in the sky. As soon as it got to us it started to blow and snow. We had gone from clear decent weather to a wicked snowstorm in the time it takes to do a Jersey dive in February.

All in all, we were happy we dove today and didn't listen to the weather man. Especially me.
Safe and fun diving!
Tom Gormley

January 2008...

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Had the opportunity to drive up to NJ to dive with Team members Chet Nesley and Sue Lewicki after checking the water at the Highlands bridge.

Unfortunately water vis was typical N.J. quality and outgoing tide was a bit murky for this time of year. Decided to continue up to Sandy Hook to check water calrity there...

The interesting thing about diving with a marine biologist is that there is always something interesting to find on the shoreline.

Based on your photographic evidence, the specimen can only be a bufflehead. Females and immature winter males look similar, so I can’t for sure identify the sex, but I am certain now of the species. As well, it would not be unusual for that group of birds to be wintering in a New Jersey bay, so we’re OK on the seasonal range too.
Thanks again,
Sue

Stopped in Asbury Park to find the water still pretty bad at the jetties... Ended up doing a incoming drift dive at Shark River Inlet with great visibility and well worth the ride...

M\S Explorer...

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Many reports in the media last week about the M\S Explorer that went down after striking a submerged iceberg off Antarctica. Reports indicated that the damage to the hull produced a hole “the size of a fist” which sounds like the damage should have been controllable. As we all know the media tends to rush to press with whatever info they have without proper follow-up or a reading public that knows better. Photos of the damaged and sinking Explorer shows apparent damage to the hull and it appears that the hole is possibly the size of a fist but runs the length of about 40% of the ship.


Have not been able to find any follow-up stories or info on the damage but I am sure that reports will follow with time. Enviro-cruises have become popular in this area as well as Alaska in somewhat harsh conditions.

Suspecting that the Explorer settled on the bottom on it’s Starboard side, the damage to the hull should be very visible and a great wreck dive. As with any new wreck, plans are in the works for a road trip but problems have developed with locating established 7-Eleven stores along the route to provide the needed sustainable supplies… COFFEE !!!

2007 Underwater Pumpkin Contest...

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Today we hosted our 10th annual Underwater Pumpkin Carving contest. This is to promote NJ Diving ,and to meet new divers. The wind was blowing and the water temp has dropped to 57 degrees but everyone had fun.
Happy Halloween
Flo

Members of the Point Pleasant Rescue Dive Team

Victims of the above mentioned Carving crew...

2007

Michelle K ~2004~

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While conducting some research on the Manasquan Inlet for the blogpost concerning the lost “Kayaker”, I came along these photos of the “Michelle K” incident that happened in 2004...


Chief Diver Chet Nesley advised me that he was at the inlet when the Michelle K incident occurred and witnessed the clam boat running up to the South seawall of the inlet. Reports indicated that the Michelle K first struck the North jetty and then veered South ending up alongside the seawall.


Nesley stated that he was at the South seawall and saw the Michelle K veer across the inlet heading towards the seawall that had numerous fishermen at that time. He then warned the Fishermen of the impending impact and then helped the crew of the Michelle K as they exited the boat. Nesley then called back to the Dive Team that was gathering for a scheduled meeting and advised them of the incident and pending boat sinking in the inlet.





This resulted in a full response by the Point Pleasant Rescue Dive Team, the Point Pleasant First Aid team, the Fire Department, Police department, and Manasquan Inlet Coast Guard.


The Dive Team inspected the hull of the boat to determine the amount of damage and proper steps to secure the vessel to prevent further damage. They advised that the rigger should be tied off to keep the clam boat from rolling to far once the tide went out…


Following is a short report that appeared in a local paper:
Monday, October 04, 2004 The Sinking and Raising of the Michelle K
This is a picture taken of the Michelle K yesterday, after she was raised from the waters of the Manasquan Inlet. (I believe she is a clam boat.) Last week, as she was coming into the inlet, she hit the Northern Jetty and then proceeded across the inlet and sank in front of the parking lot on the Point Pleasant side. The Columbia was used to pump the water out of the Michelle K and raise her from the depths, while two tug boats kept the Columbia in position so she could do her job. This is all the information I have as of right now; most of it coming from my hubby and the talk down at the inlet. I'll keep you posted as I get more info!


Additional Copyrighted photos appear on the following website:

http://artseaphotos.com/photo_gallery1.htm

Coast Guard "Full Service" Charity Car Wash...

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The Manasquan Coast Guard Station had a charity Car wash this past weekend that attracted much attention from visitors to the Inlet on a popular weekend...

This highly visible location tends to attract much attention and is a good place for public functions such as a carwash and the likes... It also tends to attract just about anything that can climb over the sea wall and rustle up some spare change for a good washing...

The crew at the Coast Guard Station were good sports and took the time to clean up some of the locals before releasing them back into the Inlet...

Members and Crews of Coast Guard Station Manasquan, "Thank-You for your service to our country and community"...

Missing "Kayaker" recovered outside of inlet...

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The Kayaker reported missing last week in the Point Pleasant Beach N.J. area last week was recovered about 1.5 miles northeast of Mannasquan Inlet after being reported by a transient boater.

The Point Pleasant Rescue Dive Team was requested by local authorities to search the jetties after the kayak was found approximately 9 miles offshore and found the entry point as reported.

The Asbury Park Press had the following story:
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070918/NEWS/709180324

"The body of 52-year-old Frank D'Alessandro, a Florida real estate broker who had been reported missing since he went kayaking off Point Pleasant Beach last week, was found floating in the Atlantic Ocean near the Manasquan Inlet on Monday morning, authorities confirmed Monday night.
The county medical examiner ruled Monday evening that the death was accidental and the cause was asphyxia due to drowning, according to a statement from Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford."

This story also cross-posted at RightsideVA blog: http://rightsideva.blogspot.com/2007/09/missing-kayaker-recovered-mannasquan.html

Point Pleasant Seafood Festival ~2007~...

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Busy weekend with the Seafood Festival and annual Tube-race held in Point Pleasant. The Dive Team provided support and assistance once again during the event and was welcomed by many...

Dive Team support was positioned all along the beach, in the water, and on the water in the form of "Rescue 34" beyond the surf zone...

Entry into and past the surf zone provided some interesting photos and reactions to some of the "newer" tubers...

Exiting the course thru the surf-zone also provided some interesting photos and reactions by the crowd on the beach...

The Dive Team provided numerous (Five) assists to participants who required assistance in exiting the surf once it was determined "Victory" was pretty much eliminated from the available options...

Congratulations to the members of the Point Pleasant Dive Team on their tenth anniversary...




Both the Team and the blogmaster just don't know what to say about this photo...