Lobster Diving Rodeo Set for July 23, 2007
KEY WEST, FL, Feb. 20, 2007 The two-day Spiny Lobster Sport Season is one of the most popular summer boating and diving events in the Florida Keys. Unfortunately, in recent years, it has become one of the most dangerous for divers. In 2006, 5 people died and many were injured in Monroe County, Florida, during the 2 days. Local marine public safety agencies say thats too many.
A lot of these accidents occurred in shallow water with divers forgetting very basic skills, says Robert Guhl, a member of the Monroe County Sheriffs Office Dive Team. Most were preventable had divers reviewed skills and checked equipment properly.
A diving safety initiative involving the U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Monroe County Sheriffs Office and Key West Police Department Marine Patrols, National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys Community College Dive Program, and others are cooperating to prevent unnecessary SCUBA diving and snorkeling deaths in the Florida Keys, especially during the Mini Lobster Season.
We decided to combine our agencies resources to prevent accidents rather than responding to them, says Captain Scott Buschman, Commanding Officer U.S. Coast Guard, Key West. Guhl adds, We wanted to do it in a fun and educational way for the whole community so we created the Florida Keys Safe Diving Initiative, Dive Alive (also known as FKSDI).
The FKSDI includes a Lobster Diving Rodeo and Dive Safety Expo to help recreational divers refresh their dive skills and knowledge in a fun and controlled environment. The free event will occur on Monday, July 23, 2007, 2 days before Mini Lobster Season begins. It will be held from 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. at the Dive Campus of Florida Keys Community College, 5901 College Rd., Key West, Florida.
The event will combine SCUBA and snorkeling skills stations and games with mini safety briefings. Skills stations will vary from basic mask clearing, controlled emergency swimming ascents and weight dropping to tickling and bagging simulated lobsters. Activities geared specifically toward children will also be included. To participate in SCUBA activities, attendees must bring a SCUBA certification card and their own gear. Air fills will be available. Non-certified divers can participate in snorkeling activities.
Mini briefings will include safe boating skills, dive flag use, proper lobster gauging, gear demos, Marine Sanctuary rules, and bends avoidance. Participants can also tour FKCCs hyperbaric chamber facility.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Participants will be eligible for prizes, drawings and discounts from local dive shops.
For more information on the Florida Keys Safe Diving Initiative, contact Dan LiBrando, U.S. Coast Guard, 305/292-8809. For more information on the Lobster Diving Rodeo, contact Mary Martin, FKCC, 305/809-3570.
