PDG Rick Mendoza (2002-2003), of the Redondo Beach Rotary Club, has been a travel agent for many years, and is also a Certified Underwater Instructor (wearing his red instructor’s jacket). He was introduced tonight by Bob Welbourn, an experienced SCUBA diver in our Club.
 
Rick showed a series of slides of underwater photos he has taken in the South Pacific and elsewhere. He showed close-up underwater photos of many kinds of tropical fish, lobsters (including an 11-pounder), moray eels, rays, groupers, many kinds of coral, sea squirts, sponges, nudibranchs, urchins, anemones, starfish and a turtle. The clarity of the water was striking.
 
 
He also showed a professional video (downloaded online) of scuba divers swimming among a variety of dense schools of tropical fish, colorful coral reefs, a venomous sea snake slithering across coral, venomous lionfish, seahorses, whales, and octopus.
 
He answered our questions afterward. He reminded everyone to know our limitations and not dive if we are not experienced and well qualified. Snorkeling without a scuba tank is simpler for shallower waters, although the underwater time and depth are much more limited.