Good friends with great fellowship.  Incredible and abundant food – including four different abalone dishes on Saturday evenings potluck.   Sunshine including some sunburns.  Fun times.  Decent ocean conditions.  29 abalone taken for the weekend.  Life does not get much better!!!  That summarizes the abalone campout at Ocean Cove Campground on August 26-28, 2011.  Vis was low, so we canceled the dive at Gerstle Cove Preserve.  Club members and non-members came for one night, both nights or just for the day on Saturday.  Everyone was welcome, and everyone is looking forward to the next trip!  A big thank you to Ken and Teresa L. for the incredible job they did to organize this trip and to provide the boat for Saturday’s diving adventures.

Saturday morning abalone dive adventure.

Cleaning Station – Jon, Keith & Sonya.

Kent, Jon, Bruce, Sonya and Pamela.

Game time.  Ty (yellow lab), Ryan, Colleen, Stacey, Jennifer and Jim.

Abalone pounding.  Stacey, Ken, Kent and Bruce.

Sonya preparing the abalone for her world famous abalone cakes.

The line begins for abalone cakes……everyone is in awe of the preparation….

Preparing crab and ribs.  Colleen, Ryan, Jennifer, Jim and Stacey.

Saturday evening potluck – including 4 different recipes of abalone, ribs, crab and then rum cake for dessert.

Saturday night potluck.

Saturday night potluck.  Good friends.  Great food.  An incredible time together.

Join Napa Valley Divers for the second abalone camping trip for 2011.  Ken and Teresa L. will be our hosts on August 26-28, 2011, at the Ocean Cove Campground, just south of Salt Point State Park.  Plans are being made to secure the group campground and it is hopeful that we will have two dive boats to use.  The NVD Salt Point State Park Gerstle Cove Preserve dive has been changed to August 27 and has been combined with this abalone camp out.  We will drive up to Salt Point State Park for the Gerstle Cove Preserve dive(s) on Saturday.  Come up for the day or come camp with us.  For information contact: keith@napavalleydivers.com or any Board member.

Join Napa Valley Divers on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe for the Labor Day Weekend.  Host/coordinators will be NVD club members, Randy and Becky Fitt (also owners of Adventures-Downunder).  Randy, a PADI Master SCUBA diver trainer, will be providing instruction in Open Water, Advanced Open Water, as well as Adventure Dives  To sign up for SCUBA classes, you can contact Randy at randyfitt@comcast.net .  You can also plan your own diving activities or just join us to enjoy the Tahoe area.  Accommodations are being coordinated at the Cedar Glen Lodge, which offers a variety of rooms and cabins, as well as a pool, spa and BBQ area.  Contact Becky Fitt at rebeccamoorefitt@comcast.net, who is coordinating rooms for us at the Cedar Glen Lodge.  You can also contact Randy or Becky at 707-255-6030.  Other nearby accommodations are available, as well as campgrounds for tents and RVs.  Book your rooms soon, as they will fill up for the holiday weekend.  For additional information: contact keith@napavalleydivers.com or any NVD Board member.

Napa Valley Divers meet the second Monday of each month.  Join us at Fillippi’s Pizza Grotto, 645 1st Street, Napa, CA (east of Soscol), 707-254-9700.  Dinner (Dutch treat) begins at 6:00pm and the meeting begins at 7:00pm.  Sign up for our monthly newsletter on the Napa Valley Divers website for our meeting agenda and details of our guest speaker.

AMTRAK TO RENO ON THE CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR
May 14 & 15 OR May 21 & 22 (TBD by response)
Join Napa Valley Divers for a fun weekend adventure on the California Zephyr!  We will combine efforts (potluck) for drinks and food on the train and enjoy the amazing journey through the snow-covered Sierra Nevada.  Once in Reno we can gamble and catch a show or concert.  Are you a party animal???  You can choose to get a room or stay up all night and sleep on the train coming home!  Hotels within walking distance of the Amtrak station include Harrah’s, Eldorado, Silver Legacy, and Golden Phoenix.

The train departs the Davis station (DAV) at 10:36am on Saturday and arrives Reno (RNO) at 4:06pm.  The return train departs Reno (RNO) at 8:36am Sunday (subject to delay!) and arrives Davis (DAV) at 2:44pm.  Everyone is responsible for making their own reservations.  Make your reservations either online at www.amtrak.com or by calling 1-800-872-7245.
Round-trip adult fare is $84.00 (AAA discount of 10% or Senior discount of 15% available!).  Once you have your reservations, please contact Pam Reuter for further trip coordination!
pamela@napavalleydivers.com or 707-321-4119

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED AND A NEW DATE WILL BE SET IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

July 30, 2011  (11:00 – 3:00)  Napa Valley Divers Club Monterey Picnic San Carlos Beach (the Breakwater) in Monterey for the Napa Valley Divers annual picnic.  The club will provide food, sodas and waters!  Come for the day, enjoy the picnic, and enjoy the fellowship!  Arrange your own diving, dive buddies and overnight accommodations.  For additional information, contact: becky@napavalleydivers.com or any club Board member.  Price: TBD

The February 7, 2011 NVD club meeting speaker will be Clay Wiseman.  Clay has worked as an underwater image maker for 30 years.  He has worked in features, documentary, shot for PBS and National Geographic.  His stock footage is carried by Ocean Footage.com.  Clay specializes in documenting unusual marine life behavior in high resolution. An education in marine science and years in the field filming underwater in exotic locations have and continue to allow Clay to collect unique and stunning imagery.  NVD club meeting is held at Filippi’s Pizza Grotto, 645 1st Street, Napa, CA.  Dutch treat dinner at 6pm, Meeting at 7pm.

Napa Valley Divers Bowling Night

Saturday, January 22, 2011, 5:30 – 7:30.  $13.00 for bowling shoes and two games at Napa Bowl, 494 Soscol Ave, Napa.  Pizza and a soft drink provided to NVD club members.  Awards for highest score and lowest score.  Contact:  jackie@napavalleydivers.com for more information or to reserve your spot.

No Monthly General Membership Meeting in December

December 10, 2010 (6:30 – 9:30)  Napa Valley Divers Holiday Party Napa Valley Divers annual Holiday Party will be held at: Wineries of Napa Valley, 1285 Napa Town Center Napa, CA 94559.  Finger Foods, Hot Cider, Holiday Treats, No-Host Wine and Beer, Holiday Gifts available for purchase. For additional information or to RSVP, contact: pamela@napavalleydivers.com or any club Board member.  Cost:  Free for NVD Club Members, $10.00 per person for invited guests.  Bring a wrapped ornament for the exchange. Exciting raffle gifts!

January 10, 2011  Monthly Napa Valley Divers Club Meeting (second Monday of each month) Filippi’s Pizza Grotto, 645 1st Street, Napa (East of Soscol)  Phone: 707-254-9700.  Dinner (Dutch Treat) will begin at 6:00pm.  The meeting begins at 7:00pm.  Tentative Speaker:  Steve & Robin Metoxin of Iguana Bob’s Dive Center, 3087 Solano Ave, Napa, CA.

January 22, 2011   Napa Valley Divers Bowling Night For additional information, contact: jackie@napavalleydivers.com Time and Details: TBD

Feburary 14, 2011  Monthly Napa Valley Divers Club Meeting (second Monday of each month). This meeting will be moved to a new date, due to Valentine’s Day.  Tentative date is February 7, 2011.

March 12, 2011 Napa Valley Divers Movie Night Time and Details: TBD

March 14, 2011  Monthly Napa Valley Divers Club Meeting (second Monday of each month). Tentative Speaker:  Joe Roualdes, writer for “ScubaDiverInfo” and UW photographer and videographer.

April 2, 2011  Pool Refresher Session (Just in time for the Dive Season!) Come join us for the annual tune up at the Napa Valley College swimming pool.  Take the time to practice your skills or do all those little tasks that you don’t do in the ocean, like trim out your weights for perfect buoyancy.  For additional information, contact: jackie@napavalleydivers.com Time and Details: TBD

April 11, 2011  Monthly Napa Valley Divers Club Meeting (second Monday of each month).

May 2011  Reno, Casino, Amtrak Trip   Plans in the making!

May 9, 2011  Monthly Napa Valley Divers Club Meeting (second Monday of each month).

June 4 – 5, 2011   Abalone and Camping Trip Salt Point State Parkin the Woodside Campground.  Come camping or come up for the day on Saturday to hang out in the campground.  Reservations at www.ReserveAmerica.com, you need to reserve your camping sight early!  For additional information, contact: keith@napavalleydivers.com

June 13, 2011  Monthly Napa Valley Divers Club Meeting (second Monday of each month).

July 11, 2011  Monthly Napa Valley Divers Club Meeting (second Monday of each month).

July 30, 2011  (11:00 – 3:00)  Napa Valley Divers Club Monterey Picnic San Carlos Beach (the Breakwater) in Monterey for the Napa Valley Divers annual picnic.  The club will provide food, sodas and waters!  Come for the day, enjoy the picnic, and enjoy the fellowship!  Arrange your own diving, dive buddies and overnight accommodations if you so wish.  For additional information, contact: becky@napavalleydivers.com or any club Board member. Price: TBD

August 8, 2011  Monthly Napa Valley Divers Club Meeting (second Monday of each month).

August 27, 2011  Dive Gerstle Cove Preserve at Salt Point State Park Day trip (unless you reserved a camp site at Salt Point or a nearby campground or lodge).  Come for the day; enjoy the diving, picnic and fellowship!  For additional information, contact: becky@napavalleydivers.com or any club Board member.

August 8, 2011  Monthly Napa Valley Divers Club Meeting (second Monday of each month).

September 2 – 5  Labor Day Weekend Lake Tahoe Campout and Diving  Plans in the making. For additional information, contact any Board Member.

September 12, 2011  Monthly Napa Valley Divers Club Meeting (second Monday of each month).

October 10, 2011  Monthly Napa Valley Divers Club Meeting (second Monday of each month).

October 15 – 16, 2011  San Diego, Catalina, or Channel Islands Plans in the making.  For additional information, contact: becky@napavalleydivers.com or any Board Member.

November 14, 2011  Monthly Napa Valley Divers Club Meeting (second Monday of each month).

Listen for updates on member plans to dive the Philippines and Palau in 2011!!

Upcoming Events  (as of September 2010)

September 25, 2010  Lake Berryessa Clean Up Divers and land support needed to help clean up the environment.  There will be a BBQ following the cleanup and prize drawings!  For additional information, contact: jackie@napavalleydivers.com Location: Pope Creek Bridge at 8:00am

October 11, 2010   Monthly Napa Valley Divers Club Meeting (second Monday of each month) Filippi’s Pizza Grotto, 645 1st Street, Napa (east of Soscol), Phone: (707) 254-9700  Dinner (Dutch treat) will begin at 6:00pm.  The meeting will begin at 7:00pm  Tentative speaker:  Todd from the Napa County Sheriff Dive Team

October 14, 2010  Dive with Great White Sharks Great White Shark Adventures  http://www.greatwhiteadventures.com Napa Valley Divers price: First eight divers receive $200.00 off the regular price of $775.00, when you say the magic words (found at the more detailed event listing on http://napavalleydivers.com).  Non-divers can participate for $375.00.  For additional information, contact: jackie@napavalleydivers.com

October 17, 2010  (1:30 – 7:00)   Napa Valley Divers Club BBQ & Swim Come join us at Keith and Pamela’s.  Pool opens at 1:30 and BBQ at 3:30.  Please bring your drink and a side dish to share.  Napa Valley Divers will provide the meat.  For additional information, location and to RSVP, contact: keith@napavalleydivers.com, pamela@napavalleydivers.com or any club Board member.  Cost:  Free for members, $3.00 per person for non-club members.

November 8, 2010   Monthly Napa Valley Divers Club Meeting (second Monday of each month)  Tentative speaker:  Chris from “All about Scuba” in Fairfield, CA.

No Monthly General Membership Meeting in December

December 10, 2010 (6:30 -  9:30)  Napa Valley Divers Holiday Party Napa Valley Divers annual Holiday Party will be held at: Wineries of Napa Valley, 1285 Napa Town Center Napa, CA 94559.  For additional information, to RSVP, contact: pamela@napavalleydivers.com or any club Board member.  Details: TBD

January 10, 2011  Monthly Napa Valley Divers Club Meeting (second Monday of each month)

January 22, 2011  Napa Valley Divers Bowling Night Time and Details: TBD

March 12, 2011   Napa Valley Divers Movie Night Time and Details: TBD

April 2, 2011   Pool Refresher Session (Just in time for the Dive Season!) Come join us for the annual tune up at the Napa Valley College swimming pool.  Take the time to practices your skills or do all those little tasks that you don’t do in the ocean, like trim out your weights for perfect buoyancy.  For additional information, contact: jackie@napavalleydivers.com Time and Details: TBD

May 2011  Reno, Casino, Amtrak Trip Plans in the making!

June 4 – 5, 2011  Abalone and Camping Trip Salt Point State Park in the Woodside Campground.  Come camping or come up for the day on Saturday to hang out in the campground.  Reservations at www.ReserveAmerica.com, you need to reserve your camping sight early!  For additional information, contact: keith@napavalleydivers.com

July 30, 2011  (11:00 – 3:00)  Napa Valley Divers Club Monterey Picnic San Carlos Beach (the Breakwater) in Monterey for the Napa Valley Divers annual picnic.  The club will provide food, sodas and waters!  Come for the day, enjoy the picnic, and enjoy the fellowship!  Arrange your own diving, dive buddies and overnight accommodations if you so wish.  For additional information, contact: becky@napavalleydivers.com or any club Board member.  Price: TBD

August 27, 2011  Dive Gerstle Cove Preserve at Salt Point State Park Day trip (unless you reserved a camp site at Salt Point or a nearby campground or lodge).  Come for the day; enjoy the diving, picnic and fellowship!  For additional information, contact: becky@napavalleydivers.com or any club Board member.

October 15 – 16, 2011  San Diego, Catalina, or Channel Islands Plans in the making.  For additional information, contact: becky@napavalleydivers.com or any Board Member.

September 2 – 5  Labor Day Weekend  Lake Tahoe Campout and Diving Plans in the making.  For additional information, contact any Board Member.

Listen for updates on member plans to dive the Philippines and Palau in 2011!!