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!!

August 28, 2010   (11:00 – 3:00)   Annual Club Picnic in Monterey

Look for the Napa Valley Divers canopy at the 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.  Cost:  $10.00 for members, $13.00 for non-members.  For additional information or to RSVP, contact:  Joan  at jlordnapa@aol.com.

Commitment needed:  We need a minimum of 10 commitments from club members and guests by August 15th to secure this event.

Monterey Express
Amazing Dive Forecast for June 6 and 7, 2009 

This is only the second time in 13 years I have seen a forecast with a swell model of LESS than 2. The first time was last weekend. It does NOT get any better than this.

A report from Dan Bermingham for dives he made on Needles (a.k.a Half Dome) off of Pt. Lobos on Wednesday mentioned 80′ of visibility!

Here is the NOAA marine forecast for this weekend:

SATURDAY

SW WINDS 5 KT… BECOMING W IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. SWELL 2 FT OR LESS. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS

SUNDAY

W WINDS 5 KT… INCREASING TO 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS… SWELL 2 FT OR LESS.

Visibility in Monterey is 40′ or greater and with these conditions, our plan for the weekend is to head South to Yankee or Lobos Rocks, if we have enough divers. If you have been waiting for great dive conditions, AWESOME visibility, and a sweet ride too, this would be YOUR weekend.

Many spaces remain for both Saturday and Sunday charters and at this time. SATURDAY is a GO BOAT no matter what!

Tim
(831) 915-0752

This weekend (5/30 and 5/31, 2009) in Monterey, it looks like we will have some of the sweetest sea surface conditions I have seen in a few months.

Saturday Forecast:

SW WINDS 5 TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS
NW SWELL 2 TO 4 FT. PATCHY FOG

Sunday Forecast:

SW WINDS 5 KT…BECOMING W 10 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS
W SWELL 2 TO 4 FT. PATCHY FOG

On the 17th a few lucky divers from Napa experienced 70′ of vis at Yankee Point, a location about 2 miles south of Point Lobos. A dive day they should remember as one of the best they have probably ever seen.

Although sea conditions do not always indicate clear water, it does provide the greatest possibility that clear blue conditions have the best chance of occurring. The swell model this coming weekend is almost HALF of what it was on that day 2 weeks ago

3 spaces remain on Sunday BUT Saturday still has at least 13 at this time (9:26pm Wednesday – 5/27)

If divers wish to take the best opportunity to see just how great dive conditions can be in Monterey, and spend their money for the best chance for that experience, this weekend might be the one.

Make reservations!

Captain Tim
Monterey Express

In a recent survey sent out by the folks at Monterey Express in January 2009, the respondents expressed an interest in receiving information about their Frequent Diver Program (FDP) discounts.

This program offers divers significant savings on charters when the diver elects to pre-purchase any of the FDP packages offered. The discounts vary according to the number of charters you may wish to purchase.

The Monterey Express brought together 4 packages which offer a range of discounts that many of you will find exciting with savings up to 30% on your recreational diving aboard the Monterey Express in 2009 and into 2010.

Frequent Diver Program Discount Packages – Sale ends March 31, 2009

1. Purchase 3 charters, receive a 15% discount. Cost: $229.50 ($270.00 retail value)
2. Purchase 4 charters, receive a 20% discount. Cost: $288.00 ($360,00 retail value)
3. Purchase 5 charters, receive a 25% discount. Cost: $337.50 ($450.00 retail value)
4. Purchase 6 charters, receive a 30% discount. Cost: $378.00 ($540.00 retail value – this discount is nearly equal to TWO free charters!)

For purchases, contact Monterey Express:

• Email: capttim@montereyexpress.com
• Phone: 831-915-0752

Or send check or money order to:

Monterey Express
PO Box 2600
Monterey, CA 93942

Please identify the FDP package you wish to purchase when ordering.

This offer is for recreational diving only and is not offered for certification training events or as group discounts. Discount package is for SINGLE diver use and may not be transferred to another person or used for multiple divers nor combined with any other offers. Reservations are required.

Purchasers of FDP discounts are immune from charter rate increase for the duration of their FDP package.

Captain Tim Doreck
Monterey Express

Saturday:
NW winds 5kt becoming N. wind waves 1ft or less. NW swell 2 to 5ft. Patchy fog.

Sunday:
NW Winds 5kt becoming W. wind waves 1ft or less. NW swell 1 to 4ft. Patchy fog.

Already looking better than last week and last week was SUPERB!! Although vis was generally 25′ to maybe 35′ in most areas, the sea state was gentle and the weather was great… although Sunday a bit cooler with some overcast.

This Week: The direction of the marine forecast appears to be excellent for both marine weather and dive conditions.

Yesterday… we were diving Monterey Bay (Aumentos) with 40′ of vis and ZERO swell and wind. Overcast yes, but diving OUTSTANDING!

The Saturday and Sunday afternoon charters are now closed for reservations… BUT the mornings both have many spaces available and this would be the time to get in some excellent diving as we move into Fall.

Tim

A SUPERB weekend for Monterey. GO FOR IT…

Simply put… warm weather flat seas, almost ZERO swell. GO FOR IT this weekend. The Fall season of diving which is always the best is with us this weekend.

Spaces remain on Saturday morning and Sunday morning. NOTHING in the forecast tell us to stay local.

Saturday
NE winds 5kt becoming W in the afternoon.
Wind waves 1ft or less. Mixed swell NW 3 to 5ft at 11 seconds and SW 2 to 3ft at 13 seconds.

Sunday
W winds 5 to 10kt Wind waves 2ft or less.
NW swell 3 to 5ft and SW 2ft

Tim

Ok… I hit the water yesterday aboard the Beach Hopper (Yes that was me)… joining my very close friends MaryJo Nelson and Brian.

In the bay 80ft of water depth and 60ft+ visibility with maybe 1 – 2ft surge… AWESOME!

StrawBerry Hill (outside Pt. Pinos) 50ft of vis <2ft of surge… superb!.

A decreasing swell beginning on Friday. Should clear the way for some good really good diving in and outside Monterey this weekend. I know it is my plan to get wet as long as there is the time and opportunity.

Spaces remain for Sunday morning BUT you will need to watch for those as they occur.

Some large Mola Mola’s in Monterey 300lb+ and the small shrimp population still feeding the reef and critters in and around this GREAT marine environment.

The Sunday outlook will be SWEET and although a bit early… here it is:
W winds 5 to 15kt wind waves 1 to 2ft NW swell 2 to 4ft and S 2ft patchy fog.

ALSO… don’t forget the night dive on the 30th (15 max for this dive).

ALSO… offering a discount for THAT weekend for those wishing to join on 2 charters during that weekends activities. Call or email me for details if interested.

Tim

Join us in Monterey for our annual Napa Valley Divers club picnic! See the flyer.

Photo: 2007 Club Picnic in Monterey

When: Saturday, September 6, 2008
Where: Breakwater (San Carlos Beach)
Time: 11am until ?
Cost: Free for Members, $20 for general public

On Sunday, September 7… many divers have chosen to go for a morning boat dive on the Monterey Express. Make your reservations here.

Ok… for those of you who know Monterey… your going to say… Yeah… it could happen. IT DID!!!!

No LESS than 100′ maybe 110′ of visibility in MONTEREY BAY at Ball Buster (about 2 miles from the harbor).

(Reported from Monterey Express divers, Escapade divers and Beach Hopper divers… and my DM Luke Robert).

Tim