24th Annual Avalon Harbor Clean Up

By Jody Thompson

Despite some pretty dreary weather the Southern California Dive Club of the Inland Empire showed up in force at the recent 24th Annual Avalon Harbor Clean Up on Saturday February 21, 2004.

Although I was unable to dive, it was my first weekend of fun for several months due to my recent surgery. It was great to join the nearly twenty five SCDCIE members and several hundred other divers on Catalina Island for the annual scavenger hunt and raffle prize frenzy.

We were told it was a record year for event registrations but by all accounts the weather kept many divers away. The good news is that meant more chances to win the raffle prizes. It was also announced that it is the single largest SCUBA diving event held in the United States! Although there were some people wanted to argue about that fact.

Some members came over for the day while others made a weekend of it as a bunch of us have for several years now. While most of us came by the usual means of transportation… via Catalina Express, there were a couple of brave souls who sailed over on their own, specifically Jarvis “Jay” Justus and Jerry Dyer. Nice boat Jarvis!

As usual there was plenty of trash collected and some unique items too including several bottles with clams that had grown up inside that could no longer get out. In addition two octopuses were rescued from the trash and returned to the harbor.

Club members attending the event included:

Norm Corlew Haley Contreras

Anthony "Striker" Piunno Joe Contreras

Dave Garthwaite Jody Thompson

Tracy Garthwaite Elissa Mayo.Thompson

Dave Carter David Gray

Krista Lee Susan Lerma

Joe Kiszeli Bridget Lerma

Rick Hartley Brenda Query

Dan Hayler Jarvis “Jay” Justus

Leticia Hayler Vicki Sewell

Alyssa Hayler Mark Sewell

Jerry Dyer