All participants are welcome to camp at A.W.Way on Thursday night. The Mattole Salmon Group will host an optional (but recommended for first-timers) dive and identification training on Thursday afternoon at 6:00 PM.
Friday, July 12: Meet at A.W. Way County Park at 8:00 AM sharp.
We will distribute gear, assign teams and carpools, give background information, safety procedures, and dive tips. All divers will depart A.W.Way at 9:00 AM.
All divers return by 6:00 PM.
Saturday, July 13:
Meet at A.W.Way at 8:30 AM sharp.
We will distribute gear, and assign teams and carpools. All divers will depart A.W.Way at 9:00 AM.
All divers return by 6:00 PM.
MSG will host a thank-you BBQ on Saturday night!
Gear:
Please bring your own gear if possible, or borrow from a friend. All personal gear needs to be decontaminated before entering the Mattole River.
How to decontaminate your gear before leaving your home:1) Manually remove all debris and dirt.
2) Either a) thoroughly dry in a low-humidity setting for at least 48 hours, or
b) freeze all gear overnight, or
c) submerge in QUAT solution for at least 10 minutes.
See link below for more details:
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=92821&inline or e
mail emma@mattolesalmon.org for questions regarding decontamination.
The MSG has some gear available to lend, but please do not show up and assume we will have gear for you. Let us know your gear needs in the RSVP form below.
Gear to bring:
• Mask and Snorkel**
• Dive/Wading Boots (Old tennis shoes can work, but NO NEOPRENE BOOTIES!)
• Neoprene hood and gloves for colder, upriver reaches or if you run cold.
• Wetsuit (4 or 5mm is best)
• Dry Bag/Waterproof Container for your lunch (IMPORTANT! You will be submerged in water all day).
•
Small daypack to hold your drybag (or something to attach your drybag to your body, like a wading belt)
•
Water bottle, snacks
• Camping gear + food if you will be staying at A. W. Way
• Several pairs of wool or neoprene socks that can get wet (if you are planning on wearing streamboots)
• Food to pack a lunch on your dive day/s
• Reef friendly sunscreen
**Special note for prescription lens wearers: the MSG does not have prescription masks and glasses will not fit properly within a dive mask. Please keep this in mind when planning for the dives or bring your own prescription mask if you have one.
Vehicles:
To facilitate the carpool, we will need to rely on some surveyor vehicles. Thank you in advance to those who are able to volunteer your vehicles for the dives. Please note it is not required, but it is much appreciated! Please see vehicle RSVP information below.
Food and Camping:
If you are camping please bring your own camping gear and cooking supplies. You can show up to camp as early as Thursday afternoon.
You will need to bring:
- Thursday, Friday dinner;
- Friday, Saturday, Sunday breakfast;
- Friday, Saturday lunches (in a waterproof container!)
- High energy snacks or any additional food you may need
- BYOB + ice
To reduce waste, please bring your own eating utensils and plates for the Saturday BBQ.
Fill up your vehicle up with gas prior to the dives in either Garberville, Fortuna, or Eureka. There are general stores with gas and some groceries in Petrolia and Honeydew, but hours and selection are limited and sometimes unreliable -
come prepared with food and gas.RSVP by July 5th. This RSVP form will close on July 5th at 5 p.m.
If your plans change, please notify Emma (
emma@mattolesalmon.org) at least 24 hours prior to the dives.