Napa Valley Divers

Weekly Status - Monterey Express - Tim Doreck

David Topper — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:54:09 +0000

Although last weekend was not as warm as the models suggested… the MARINE and DIVE related forecast were every bit as expected and more.

The unexpectedly small dive population on the dive boats (considering the dive conditions) were NOT disappointed. They enjoyed the smooth flat conditions and visibility 30+ in Monterey and Carmel that had been forecast.

This Weekend: could be better with a marine forecast suggesting 3′ seas… even less than the previous weeks.

Sunday’s text forecast is not yet displayed but the models show just a repeat of Saturday.

Saturday
W winds 5 to 15kt. Wind waves 1 to 3ft. NW swell 1 to 3ft.

Spaces remain 6 for Saturday morning… 19 for Sunday.

Tim

Peace Boat Preparations

David Topper — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:23:59 +0000

Peace Boat Preparations

This is my 6th trip on the Peace Boat, and for those of you who are new to the Peace Boat experience, here are some of my personal recommendations to make your trip comfortable. This is somewhat geared more towards the gals in the group, but hopefully, you guys will also find some of the suggestions helpful.

Be sure to pack the following…

Travel Dive Bag and Gear (If you plan on doing a night dive, be sure to bring your two dive lights, glow sticks and zip ties or whatever you use to tie the glow stick to your tank or BC).
One pillow and sleeping bag
One tank
Dry Kit (It can get wet on the deck. This is a good place to stash those things you need access to that you want to keep dry; things you need to access during the day, such as meds, motion sickness pills, antacid tablets, sunglasses, etc. You cannot go down below to your bunk in wet suits or wet gear. Period.
A beach towel
A warm jacket that fits over your wet suit. My PADI dive jacket is perfect.
A small (with the emphasis on small) bag with your change of clothes, etc. I bring a gym bag. You have to store all your personal items in your bunk, so less truly is more. I usually bring a T-shirt and leggings for sleeping, and a couple of T-shirts, shorts, a swim suit, and one pair of sweats (top and bottom) in case it gets cold. Flip-flops are perfect for top side.
A very small cosmetic bag that holds your comb, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a small face towel. You store this up in a common area off the galley, and it is a very small space. Given that this is a fully-packed-with-divers boat on this trip, bring as few toiletry items as possible. You won’t be showering daily, girls. There is a hot tub for getting the salt out of swimsuits, skin and hair. You will most likely be taking a shower after your last dive of the trip on Sat, so you only need to bring enough shampoo for that one shower. Leave the make-up at home. You don’t need it and it takes up valuable space. They really ask you to be conservative in your use of water, as we are limited to what we have stored aboard for the entire trip.
Of course, bring sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
A good book to read in case you are too tired to dive, or just want to chill out on deck.
A camera
Be sure to bring sufficient cash for a good tip for the crew. They have a common jar, shaped like a shark, that they put out in the galley on the trip back to Ventura. Be generous. This is a hard-working crew and they work non-stop in making sure we are well-fed, comfortable and safe. They really earn their keep!
You may want to bring some earplugs in case you are bunked near a snorer. I usually find that I am so tired that I couldn’t hear a cannon blast, but be prepared in case you are a light sleeper. An iPod will also help to drown out any bothersome night noise, but really, I have not found this to be a problem.

Anything else you want to bring is, of course, up to you. Just remember, space is a very, very limited.

Let’s go diving!

Joan Lord

Weekly Status - Monterey Express - Tim Doreck

David Topper — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 04:28:20 +0000

Flat seas. VERY light breezes and a smooth as glass ride ALL day

First dive:
Pinnacles… super smooth down and up… with 30′ and a bit of a blue/green tint. ZERO surge, ZERO wind, almost ZERO swell.

Second Dive:

35′ much cleaner and less green tint. One of the best… Strawberry Hillwhich is a tall pinnacle starting at 82 feet and quickly rising (very quickly) to about 18′ to 20′ straight out from Pt. Pinos Light House.

Too close to the breaking surf line for about 360 days out of the year… BUT on same days… WOW! Today… one of those. Tomorrow… maybe… maybe not… BUT We hope so… it is THAT GOOD!

Lots of spaces remain. Never the less… it is so sweet out there… we are going even with 6 divers now booked. Not going to let them miss this one.

Tim

This Saturday, June 14 - BBQ Location Change

David Topper — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:15:19 +0000

June 14, 2008 11:00 am

June 15, 2008 5:00 pm

To All Napa Valley Divers:

We have changed the venue for our Potluck BBQ!

The annual Berryessa Club “Potluck BBQ” which is scheduled for this Saturday, June 14 (11am) has been moved from Berryessa to Napa!

Through our conversations with various club members, we discovered that many would like to attend this social BBQ but couldn’t afford the time for an entire day event at Berryessa, so… we made it local.

Come one, come all, children welcome!

Same time… new location!

Jayma Claus & Steve Kuehn
3328 David Drive
Napa CA 94558

Phone: 252-8388
RSVP: jayma@napavalleydivers.com

When you RSVP to Jayma, she can assist you with some ideas for the potluck.

Directions: Take First Street and that turns into Brown’s Valley Road. To Stay on Browns Valley Road you have to make a left turn just beyond the Browns Valley Market. Left on Buhman (stop sign), Left at the second street — Twin Oaks, Left at the third street — David Drive, Take the third driveway on the left with a purple and yellow mail box.

Their house is at the top of the hill.

We look forward to seeing you all at the BBQ!

Weekly Status - Monterey Express - Tim Doreck

David Topper — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:13:19 +0000

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Light winds… becoming W 10kt in the afternoon.
Wind waves 1ft or less.
NW swell 2 to 4ft at 9 seconds.
Patchy fog.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

W winds 5 to 10kt.
Wind waves 1ft or less.
NW swell 3 to 5ft.
Patchy fog with a further decreasing swell exceeding the wednesday forecast…mid 70’s in Monterey and the need for sunscreen… looking like a fine day in paradise

Spaces remain on Saturday and Sunday charters. Both afternoon charters have been removed from the schedule for this weekend.

Morning dive, afternoon dive, and the night dive on 6/28 seem to be pulling in an increasing number of divers. Carpooling a possible option if we have enough time to bring you and another together for the trip down. Select YES on the reservation question and I will attempt to coordinate a “connection” between you and another from your general area. Maybe a central geographic spot that the participants may know. A particular shopping center, parking garage, Bart station etc.

Tim

Weekly Status - Monterey Express - Tim Doreck

David Topper — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:38:20 +0000

Temperatures above normal in all areas including Monterey (mid 70’s), RAPIDLY diminishing seas with an almost imperceptible swell and winds (<10 knots) are going to make it a MUST DIVE weekend.

Sunshine an almost zero cloud coverage… so bring your sunscreen and set up your UW cameras.

Lots of spaces on board this weekend but the afternoon charters will be leaving the schedule today so the morning on Saturday and Sunday are the choices.

Night Dive On Saturday the 28th, 6:30 pm for boarding, first dive DUSK, 2nd dive… ‘gonna need lights!

Carpooling is an area we are attempting to assist with so ensure you at least take the opportunity to make a YES response during your booking. I will try and find your car pooling dive buddy in the reservations for the day of your dive.

Tim

At Berryessa, resorts begin to close

David Topper — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:32:44 +0000

The following letter was received by email…

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

At Berryessa, resorts begin to close, owners angry, future uncertain

By JENNIFER HUFFMAN, Register Business Writer

Normally by this time of year, Rancho Monticello Resort at Lake Berryessa would be gearing up for months of family fun. Instead, owner Bob White is packing up and preparing to close shop. His contract to run the facility expires June 15.

White is one of four lake concessionaires given deadlines from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to end operations and move out over the next three months. Lake Berryessa, which hosts an estimated 1.5 million visitors each year for boating, water skiing, camping and more, is in for a very different kind of summer.

“The whole lake is in limbo,” said White.

click for larger map

The closures stem from a June 2006 decision by the Bureau ordering the removal of approximately 1,300 privately owned trailers from the seven lakeside resorts. All of the contracts to run the resorts, 50-year deals between the federal government and the concessionaires that expire over the next several months, were put up for bid.

In April, federal authorities awarded Arizona-based Pensus Group the contracts to operate five concessions at the lakeshore. But as of this week, Pensus hasn’t signed any contracts, leaving many resort owners wondering when, or if, new facilities will open.

“Not only are we in limbo, so is the public,” said White.

Bureau of Reclamation officials are confident the deal with Pensus will be struck soon, and the lake will begin to take on new life with updated facilities and operations.

“We’re working very hard with Pensus to get a contract signed as soon as possible,” said Pete Lucero, acting public affairs officer for the Bureau of Reclamation in the mid-Pacific region. But Lucero was not optimistic about completing one by June 15.

“The next (deadline) is July 13,” he said. “We are hoping to hit that date to have a contract in place. We are trying to make this as smooth a transition as possible, but there are a lot of issues to deal with in a contract like this.”

Lucero said the Bureau sees a “bright future” for the lake, with a wider range of overnight amenities, access to the lakeshore and recreational opportunities.

Jeremy Crotts, vice president with the Pensus Group in Arizona, said, “We are currently in negotiations with the BOR on that project and as a result are unable to comment on anything. We’re hoping to have a contract settled as soon as possible.”

Uncertainty at the shore

While the timing of the deal is uncertain, one thing is clear. Between the time when each resort closes and the new vendor takes over, “There will be no recreation within those concession areas,” said Lucero. “If we don’t have a contract in place there will be no one to operate the resorts.”

Without new contracts, visitors are unable to make reservations beyond the end dates of the present contracts for four out of the seven area resorts: Putah Creek, Rancho Monticello, Spanish Flat and the Berryessa Marina.

“There may be some reduced level of overnight camping and RV sites because of the potential closure of the four westside resorts,” said Lucero.

“However, Reclamation is working on a plan to provide some expanded amenities at their own managed facilities at Oak Shores and Camp Berryessa as well as working with the three existing contractors (with) contracts that don’t expire this summer — Steele Park Resort, Markley Cove Resort and Pleasure Cove Resort — to provide additional overnight recreational opportunities,” he said.

“We’re really working to try and minimize the disruption by trying to provide additional services at other locations.”

At Rancho Monticello, by this time of the year White would have normally booked 12,000 visitor days — or two-thirds of his summer season. But with his June 15 closure date, “We were only able to book a couple hundred,” said White.

White’s afraid the new Pensus concessions will take years to develop. In the meantime, his resort is empty, “And it looks like a war zone,” he said.

Forced to remove the longstanding trailers and other improvements, only concrete pads, posts, stairs and patios leading to nowhere remain.

“There are a lot of unanswered questions” about the handover, said White.

He’d like to know who will pay for security for the property to prevent vandalism of his employee housing and other improvements after he moves out. Pensus was awarded the bid, he said, “but until they sign a contract with the Bureau they have no obligations.”

Lucero responded, “We are working on a strategy to provide some level of security for the property. It could include patrols, working with the existing concessionaires to provide their own security, or providing a security service. We need to determine what will fit best.”

White also expressed concern about his workers.

“In the record of decision the Bureau promised preferences for current employees to be hired by the new (operators). But I have to remove all the employee housing,” said White. “Which means the employees will go away.”

His biggest question is “When is (Pensus) going to sign?”

White is also concerned that Pensus may delay signing a contract due to a lawsuit filed in federal court on behalf of four current concessionaires.

“We would like a smooth transition and are not getting one,” said White.

Lucero said unsigned contracts have “nothing to do” with the current resort owners’ lawsuit in Washington, D.C., said Lucero.

‘People were not prepared’

Rich Delaney, partner at Spanish Flat Resort, must shut down operations by July 13 and remove all his permanent facilities.

“That is a monumental job,” he said, referring to buildings, roads, parking lots and a sewer treatment plant. “We’re scrambling around trying to answer the request,” he said.

Delaney was also wishing for a smoother handover. “I’ve never seen anything quite as unorganized,” he said. “I would like to find our employees a job but at this point we don’t even know there will be a new operator.”

Delaney, a partner in the resort since 1989, said normally by this time most summer reservations would have been booked, especially in the resort’s travel trailer park.

“But we’ve had to tell everyone to remove their trailers. It’s pretty much a ghost town.”

Heavy moving equipment has displaced the trailers, many now in Dumpsters or carted away.

“People were not prepared. Maybe they didn’t really think it would come to this,” said Delaney.

“It’s a fiasco,” said Spanish Flat Resort partner Jim Kenney. “The deal with the new concession owner should have been resolved a year ago. These negotiations should have been done prior to the fact, not after the termination date of the lease,” he said.

A summer closure “screwed us,” he said. With a number of new cabins — now 23 total — and 24 fishing tournaments planned, “This year would have been our best year,” said Kenney. Instead, “We are down to 30 trailers, from 200 and a waiting list.”

If he hadn’t faced closure, Kenney estimated $2.2 million in gross revenue for the year.

Instead, the resort has cut off reservations as of July 13. After that, “We don’t know what’s going to go on.”

“Where else have you got a lake where you can go fishing, boating and camping, that’s within 90 minutes of the Bay Area?” asked Kenney. “A lot of this is just an absolute waste.”

Lucero said the bureau is working to handle all the concerns of the departing concessionaires, while also setting the stage for a revitalized lakeshore. Things will come into focus, he said, when the contract with the new operator is signed.

“Contractor-designees are coming in to make some major capital improvements and provide an expanded level of service and an unprecedented level of access to the general public,” said Lucero. “That development will take place over the course of the next few years with development beginning almost as soon as we have contracts signed.”

Peter Kilkus
1515 Headlands Drive
Napa, CA 94558
415-307-6906, pkilkus@gmail.com

Filippi’s Pizza Grotto

David Topper — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:00:39 +0000

To All Napa Valley Divers:

Our next meeting will be Monday, June 9, 2008

We would like to thank those of you that took the time to complete our online survey about where to meet and what criteria was important to you for our location selection.

Based on those valuable responses, please note our NEW meeting location:

Filippi’s Pizza Grotto
645 1st Street, Napa (east of Soscol)
Phone: (707) 254-9700

Dinner (Dutch treat) will begin at 6:15pm (order off the regular menu)
The meeting will begin at 7:00pm

We look forward to seeing you all at Filippi’s Pizza Grotto!

Weekly Status - Monterey Express - Tim Doreck

David Topper — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:57:49 +0000

The Friday 4am NOAA forecast, the 1am CDIP and the 4am Scripps weather models are in near perfect agreement. The dive forecast is SUPERB.

NOAA forecast for Saturday and Sunday (May 31 and June 1, 2008)

Saturday

SW winds 5 KT… Becoming W 5 to 15 KT in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. Mixed swell NW 1 to 3 ft at 9 seconds and S 2 ft at 16 seconds.

Sunday

W winds 5 to 15 KT. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. NW swell 2 to 4 ft and S 2 ft.

Not much to add to this. It pretty much says it all. If you can pull it together to enjoy this window of opportunity I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Spaces remain on Saturday and Sunday morning charters.

montereyexpress.com

Select “Instant Reservation” and we hope to see some of you on the boat this weekend.

If your looking for a dive buddy to carpool with from you area… contact me… maybe I can help you make the connection. Many of you unknowingly come from the same area and sometimes from the same zip code and can be only a few miles away… just a thought.

Tim

Weekly Status - Monterey Express - Tim Doreck

David Topper — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:14:42 +0000

Ok… last weekend was the VERY BEST weekend for 2008.

With seas so flat you could stand a champagne glass on the surface and not spill a drop. A mirror finish!

Clarity a minimum of 30′ to 40′ no matter where you went and ZERO winds ALL weekend.

The same on Monday when I had the fortunate opportunity to captain the Escapade for Jim Capwell to Carmel for a specialty tech course.

Unbelievable… whales… humpback whale activity everywhere with rare “spy hopping”, breaching and many magnificent tail fluke appearances yesterday afternoon.

The long range forecast for this coming weekend looks like it could be equal to the AWESOME conditions we experienced over the last 3 days.

The 3 am Tuesday forecast for Saturday (5/31/08):
NW winds 5 to 10 KT. wind waves 2 FT or less.
NW swell 3 to 4 FT.

Spaces remain for Saturday and Sunday morning… Saturday afternoon is now filled and Sunday morning will remain closed for this weekend.

Tim