Many local divers willingly dedicate their dives to removing debris that others created and helping scientists obtain critical information in some of our troubled local waters. Without question, the actions of divers have had and will continue to have a beneficial effect on marine creatures.

Unfortunately, threats to the world’s underwater environments are on a much greater scale than divers can deal with underwater. While these threats include pollution and overfishing, the biggest threat to the marine habitat is people’s ignorance about them. You can join others and do something on land, as well as underwater, to help our mother oceans... starting right here in the Puget Sound.

The Diver Observation Program in the Hood Canal was developed to monitor trends in the behavior of marine life as dissolved oxygen (DO) levels change throughout the year. Within the local diving community, there is an immense amount of knowledge regarding underwater conditions and the activity of marine life. Scientists and some of the now 37 groups involved in this program can then compile and explore some of this information.

“People protect what they love. All of you love the sea… Help us protect her.” ~ Jacques Yves Cousteau

Local dive shops Pacific Adventure (www.pacadventure.com), Hood Sport ‘n Dive (www.hoodsportndive.com), Mike’s Diving Center, Sound Dive Center (www.sounddive.com), Mike’s Beach Resort (www.mikesbeachresort.com), a dive charter boat and the Skokomish Tribe are participating in the program.

“We’re still trying to stay informed and involved with the low dissolved O2 problem in The Hood. We’re working on getting divers interested in taking critter surveys when they dive with us… if anyone is interested let us know,” said Don Coleman of Pacific Adventure in Brinnon, or call (206) 714-1482.

“On September 12 we’re coordinating a fun and motivational dive with WDFW, University scientists, HCSEG, and some others involved in the DO efforts for volunteers and researchers to get acquainted. On the one hand, recreational divers meet the scientists and learn how they can help, on the other hand, the scientists get out and see what we’re trying to protect!”

Photos here and on their website are part of Coleman’s collection of Hood Canal and other Puget Sound locations.

Data provided by divers is used to examine biota movements over time and to investigate how trends in abundance and depth distribution correspond with dissolved oxygen levels, which are monitored weekly at sites throughout Hood Canal, including Sund Rock Marine Preserve. Trends are compared for different locations in Hood Canal and for different species and groups of species.

Interested divers are encouraged to share their underwater observations. Datasheets are available at the dive shops, dive boat, and online. Divers are able to submit data online or at the participating locations. Observational narratives can also be submitted to provide full descriptions of underwater conditions.

Amid growing concern about fish kills, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists have been researching sources of nitrogen entering Hood Canal. Excess nitrogen causes algae blooms, and when the algae die and settle to the bottom, their decay uses up dissolved oxygen, causing lethally low oxygen levels that kill fish and other species. In a trio of publications released in May 2006, the USGS scientists report that seawater flowing from Puget Sound into Hood Canal contains at least 17 times more algae-feeding nitrogen than all the freshwater inputs combined. Exactly how the seawater circulates in Hood Canal is not yet well understood.

The “sill” at the entrance hinders the exchange of water between the canal and the sound during changing tides and seasons. Therefore, the water of Hood Canal can be highly stratified, with an upper layer that is fresher and warmer than the saltier, colder deep layer. A low rate of exchange between the canal’s upper and lower layers means that dissolved oxygen removed from the lower layer by decaying algae will not be quickly replaced, putting deep-dwelling animals, such as rockfish, at risk. When strong southerly summer winds blow the oxygenated upper layer to the north, oxygen-depleted water rises from the lower layer to the surface, and many fish die.

The Diver Observation Program provides the opportunity for volunteer divers to offer insight to conditions in Hood Canal. Through their contributions, divers are helping to increase understanding of this unique body of water.

The Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen web site (www.hoodcanal.washington.edu) offers the most up-to-date information on programs and research. As data is compiled, trend charts will be available here. There’s loads of information on this site including links to other agencies, the science of hypoxia in Hood Canal, information on legislative grants and more. For more information, contact the HCSEG at (360) 275-9722 or email teresa@hcseg.org. Datasheets can also be downloaded at www.hoodcanal.washington.edu/observations/diver_observations.jsp.

To help improve other troubled Kitsap County watersheds, Coastweeks International Beach Cleanup Event volunteers are invited to take part in the Sinclair Inlet Watershed Shoreline Cleanup, Saturday, Sept. 16, at 11 am. Meeting sites will be in Bremerton at the Downtown Waterfront Boardwalk near Harborside Conference Center parking garage entrance and in Port Orchard; Southern Shoreline Volunteers meet at Annapolis ferry dock kiosk.

Underwater/Certified Scuba Divers must report to the dive master on site for this clean up. Free air is provided by Sound Dive Center (SDC). Rental Gear will be half price for volunteers (please return the same day). Geoff Pentz’s SDC volunteers can contact him at geoffp@wavecable.com or telephone SDC at 360.373.6141. Pentz is a Washington Scuba Alliance (WSA) director and in 2006 helped arrange $200 in funding for Sinclair Inlet cleanups in addition to the assistance to divers involved in the cleanup.
Cleanup sites will include:

• Annapolis and Port Orchard — SR 166 Shoreline
• SR 3 and SR 304, Shoreline Gorst to Naval Base Kitsap Station
• Downtown Bremerton Boardwalk — Underwater Marina and Shoreline
• Port Washington Narrows Shoreline, west of Lebo Blvd/Lions Field

Coastweeks is an international event celebrating the beauty and vitality of our
coasts and coastal communities. This year’s celebrations start Sept. 16th, coinciding with The Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup (www.coastalcleanup.org), and culminate Sept. 27 with National Estuary Day (http://estuaries.gov/neday.html).

Healthy coasts are critical for maintaining vibrant communities and diverse ecosystems. Humans depend on the coast, yet we are placing increasing pressure on them: more than 50 percent of the U.S. population lives in a coastal region and approximately 180 million vacationers visit U.S. coasts each year. In addition to their environmental importance, coasts are critical to sustaining prosperous economies. One-third of U.S. jobs can be directly or indirectly tied to the coast, and coastal economies annually pour $1.5 trillion into the U.S. economy. Coastweeks highlights the enormous importance of this priceless natural resource.

Contact Donald Larson — Bremerton Cleanup Organizer at (360) 373-7593 or KitsapTrees.Don.Larson@gmail.com on behalf of Kitsap Trees & Shoreline Association (KiTSA — “From seas to trees, we promote environmental education, advocacy, and action”), www.kitsaptrees.com, or John Denis — Port Orchard Cleanup Organizer, at (360) 871-2571 or denis_jk@yahoo.com.

Larson has been organizing biannual shoreline and underwater cleanups of Sinclair Inlet for over 16 years on behalf of the Kitsap Diving Association (KDA), one of the three entities making up the new group. Larson was honored last April by the Department of Ecology with its highest environmental award for his leadership to clean up and protect the environment in the Sinclair-Dyes inlet watershed and throughout Kitsap County.

If divers share their love of the sea they can create more protectors. Divers — share your experiences, stories, and love of the underwater with others wherever you go. Remember that even non-divers interested in underwater experiences are more likely to vote in favor of the oceans next election. Talk to schools, businesses, community groups, and forums for opinion. Still Hope Productions (www.stillhopeproductions.com) has produced a beautiful underwater video/DVD entitled “Return of the Plankton” and the Coral Reef Alliance has a slide show prepared for presentation at their website, www.coralreefalliance.org.

In addition to giving presentations about the underwater world, divers and non-divers can write letters to lawmakers urging them to support legislation beneficial to the environment, write letters to businesses and organizations praising their good treatment of the Puget Sound and oceans... as well as contacting businesses and organizations censuring their poor treatment of marine environments. And support organizations that support the oceans.

Partners In Sinclair Inlet Community Cleanups (1990-2006):

• City of Bremerton
• Port of Bremerton
• Pizza Time
• Subway Sandwiches
• Blue Sky Printing of Poulsbo (cleanup notification posters)
• Bremerton Bottling Company, INC. (Pepsi Beverages for volunteers)
• Brem-Air Disposal/Waste Management (6 cubic yard dumpsters & services)
• Diamond Parking (Waives parking lot fees for volunteers)
• Educational Service District #114
• Keyport NUWC Division Volunteers
• Kitsap County Surface & Storm Water Management
• Kitsap County Public Works, Solid Waste Division
• Kitsap Diving Association (KDA) Volunteers
• Kitsap Trees & Shoreline Association (KiTSA) Volunteers
• Olympic High School National Honor Society Volunteers
• Project A.W.A.R.E. (www.projectaware.org)
• Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & IMF Volunteers
• Sound Dive Center, INC. (Air Fills for Divers)
• South Kitsap High School and National Honor Society Volunteers
• Washington Department of Transportation (Cleanup Supplies)
• Washington State Parks Volunteer Coordinator (Press-Release)
• Washington Scuba Alliance (WSA, CFC #3031, Funding assistance)
• Washington Sea Grant, University of Washington (biologist support)