NOVEMBER PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

We have some important business to take care of at our next two meetings. November will be the nominations of our executive board and December will be our elections. All positions are open and I encourage everyone to consider running for an office. You can nominate yourself or ask someone to nominate you. New blood is always welcome.

Our biggest social event of the year will be here before we know it. December is right around the corner and I am looking forward to having a great time at the Holiday Party which will be held on December second this year. Please feel free to bring as many guests as you like. The more the merrier! This year we were forced to change the venue to the VFW. Our usual venue is unavailable to us this year due to renovations. At the VFW we are unable to have open bar so it will be a cash bar. Please do not bring your own alcohol to the VFW.

The water will be cooling down a bit soon but it is still quite nice. Think about joining us for some diving. For a great time plan on joining us for the sinking of the Christmas tree on December 9. It’s always a lot of fun and of course the more the merrier. What we do is sink the Christmas tree from the holiday party on one of our wrecks. Once it is settled on the wreck, we descend in our holiday garb, and decorate the tree with things that fish like to eat, typically other fish. Once the decorating is done we back off and the feeding frenzy begins. It is always a great photo opportunity.

We had such a good time last year on the holiday lights cruise that we will be doing it again. We pretty much get the Sea Experience to ourselves and cruise the Intracoastal Waterway and admire the water front homes decorated for the holidays. We bring our own beverages and snacks and appetizers to share. This year it will be on December 17. Please consider joining us. It’s always a fun time.

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OCTOBER PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Once again we had a really good time on the Keys weekend. We returned to the Ragged Edge and again had the whole resort to ourselves. That makes it really nice. We were blessed with good weather and flat seas for our dives on Saturday morning and we even managed to catch a few lobsters. Conch Republic Dive Center always treats us well.

Our sea food fest was a really good time despite the fact that we had a low turnout. As you know, I sent out an email asking if there was a reason people didn’t attend. So far the majority of the responses I have received tell me we aren’t doing something wrong. Many people were traveling and some had other commitments. I guess we all lead pretty busy lives. I hope that next year we will have a bigger turnout.

Summer is officially over but our weather is still good and the water is still warm. Check out the calendar and join us for a dive.

Our holiday party will be held at the VFW this year due to our usual venue being unavailable to us. It will be a little different this year as a result. Please check for details on the calendar and save the date, December 2.

A big thank you to Joe Smariga for coordinating the Keys weekend and for doing the cooking at the seafood fest.

I hope to see many of you soon on a dive, a meeting or any of the other events we have coming up.

Live long and lobster.

Jeff

SEPTEMBER PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Our summer is practically over! Where did it go? We patiently wait for its arrival all winter and dream about warm water, it comes, and then it’s gone. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the water is still warm and we still have a couple of months to enjoy it before it chills down.
Our annual seafood festival will be held at the VFW on September 23.To avoid the ire of Joe, make sure your seafood is defrosted. Don’t forget to bring an appetizer, side dish or dessert. We will provide the usual wine, beer, soft drinks and water. Please do not bring your own alcohol. I hope to see a lot of you there. Feel free to invite guests. Price for members $10 and for guests $15
On September 16 and 17 we are going to hopefully get a glimpse of the Goliath Groupers that use that wrecks as a romantic getaway. We will be on the Kyalami Two. Please see the calendar for all of the details.
Despite my somber opening, we still have lots of warm water dives on the schedule. Be sure to sign up and join us.

Live long and lobster!

Jeff Raffa

President SFDI

AUGUST PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Our annual member appreciation beach picnic was a great success. We had almost 40 people in attendance and I think everyone had a good time. The weather could not have been better and the food was terrific. Much gratitude to Steve Oller who plans the whole thing, shops for the food and gets it to the beach. Thanks also to Joe Smariga for manning the grill. We appreciate your efforts.

Lobster mini season was pretty successful, from what I hear most everyone caught their limit on Wednesday. I didn’t go out on Thursday but I hear it wasn’t bad. I’m hoping that opening day will be productive with good sea conditions.

The water is quite warm now, at long last. It’s so nice to only have to wear a one ml wetsuit and shed some of the lead. It sure is easier climbing up the ladder with less weight.

The El President birthday dive was a fun day. There were twelve of us on the boat to join me in celebrating my birthday. We did two reef dives up in Boynton  Beach. It was like diving in
an aquarium, lots of fish and lots of interesting stuff. Two great dives. Afterwards we went to lunch at Two George’s which is always good. Thanks to everyone who came out to play with me.

We have several dives on the calendar so let’s get diving. As I said, the water is more than balmy so lets take advantage of it.

I hope to see many of you at the August meeting and hopefully on a dive boat.

Live long and lobster

Jeff Raffa
President SFDI
Jeff