January 31, 2023,

Ken Kraft, one of the owners of Lake Hydra, will be addressing the council at our meeting on Jan. 31 about the future of the site that used to be Dutch Springs. He will update us on the site’s conversion and operating plans.

We also will be electing officers. I expect to have one new candidate who is a newcomer to the council but an experienced Jersey wreck diver and instructor. He recently retired from operating his own successful business, so I think he will bring a good background to the council.

Ocean Wreck Divers Flea Market has sold out its expanded space for this year at the Info-Age Science and History Museums in Wall Township on March 10. The council will lend OWD three tables to help defray its costs. Last year’s event generated lots of good feedback with vendors and divers both glad to be back together again. The only complaint was that the room was tight. This year there will be a second room in a building about 150 feet away, so there will be more vendors and, hopefully, more elbow room. I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Beneath the Sea – The council is now in Booth 224, one row over from our location last year. We have some familiar neighbors: The Eastern Dive Boat Association is in Booth 222, while the New Jersey Historical Divers Association will be in Booth 220. Berkley Township Underwater Recovery is in Booth 218. An important task at our January meeting will be scheduling a meeting to discuss booth design and how we can provide a seamless experience across four booths, rather than three. My fall schedule did not allow me time to propose any seminars.

Website update – I will provide an update on the website design at our meeting.

Please email me at njcdcdhair@yahoo.com or call me at (732) 266-7239 if you have feedback, questions or ideas.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mike Lavitt
Chair, New Jersey Council of Divers and Clubs