The Avalon Harbor Underwater Cleanup is an annual dive event held in Avalon Harbor at Catalina Island once a year on the Saturday following President’s Day. The event was started in the 1970’s by the local dive community in an effort to cleanup Avalon Harbor, and this event is the only time diving is permitted there. The event has grown over the years to become one of the most publicized and popular dive events in Southern California.

Besides offering divers the opportunity to dive in Avalon Harbor, the event brings together a large number of people who share common interests – diving and Catalina. Last year we had over 520 divers who had a great time retrieving things from the harbor as well as celebrating the event. There are numerous parties around town on both Friday and Saturday nights as divers revel in the warm friendly atmosphere of Catalina Island. Several dive clubs also have made this event one of their premier social events of the year.

The proceeds of the Avalon Harbor Underwater Cleanup benefit the Catalina Conservancy’s Ocean Conservation projects and the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber. Catalina Conservancy Divers is a support group of the Catalina Conservancy. The Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber is a life support recompressions chamber on Catalina that is available to serve the thousands of divers who frequent the Catalina waters.

The details of the 2009 Avalon Harbor Underwater Cleanup are as follows:

Date: February 21, 2009

Location: Avalon Harbor, Catalina Island, California

There are three locations from which divers can enter Avalon Harbor for the dive. Divers must enter and exit the water from their assigned location. Upon exiting the water, all divers must check in with their dive master for their entry location, and get their wristband punched, in order to pick up their T-Shirt and goodie bag at Wrigley Stage (NO EXCEPTIONS)!

Cost: $45.00 per person when you register on-line.

REGISTRATION: On-Line Registration is required. Registration opens December 1, 2008.

DEADLINES:
ON-LINE - On-Line registration must be completed on or before February 10, 2009

Opportunity Tickets may be purchased for prize raffles the day of the event only.

IN PERSON — In person submission of an entry form on the morning of the event in Avalon is available, but pre-registration is highy encouraged. (Arrive very early and report to the Wrigley Stage by 7:30 a.m.) Participation cannot be guaranteed for unregistered late arrivals. For questions regarding registration or the cleanup itself, please send an e-mail to: avalonharborcleanup@gmail.com

Registration fee includes one T-Shirt, one door prize ticket, certificates for special offers and discounts from merchants, and a coupon for discount travel to the event on Catalina Express. Confirmation Packet will be mailed two weeks prior to the event.

Opportunity Tickets may be purchased for prize raffles.

Once again the Catalina Conservancy Divers and the USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber are holding an annual contest for the T-Shirt logo design. Please see Annual Harbor Underwater Clean-up T-Shirt Contest

Schedule of Events:

7:30 – 9:00	Check in at Dive Locations
9:00	Mandatory Safety Briefing at Dive Locations
9:30 – 11:00	Cleanup Dive
1:00	Award Ceremony at Wrigley Stage

Diver Registration

On-line pre-registration for the February 21, 2009 Avalon Harbor Underwater Cleanup will open December 1, 2008
REGISTER NOW

The pre-registration cost for participation in the Cleanup is $35.00. The pre-registration deadline is January 31, 2009. Thereafter, you may still participate in the Cleanup by presenting your registration form in person prior to 8:30 a.m. on February 21, 2009, at the Wrigley Stage in Avalon. The cost for registration after January 31, 2009 is $45.00

To be eligible to dive in the Avalon Underwater Cleanup you must be a trained SCUBA diver certified by one of the following nationally recognized agencies:

· LA County
· NAUI
· PADI
· SSI
· YMCA

Approximately 10 days prior to the event, all registered divers will receive a package of information regarding the event, including dive location assignment, waiver forms, opportunity tickets, luggage tags (for delivering equipment to a designated dive location), and other dive event materials.

On the day of the event, all divers must check-in at their assigned dive locations and present the following:

· SCUBA Certification Card
· Properly completed and executive Waiver/Release Form
· Properly completed and executed Safe Diving Practices Form

Awards for unique items found during the Cleanup will be given at the Awards Ceremony to be held at Wrigley Stage, beginning at 1 PM. During the Awards Ceremony, raffle tickets will be drawn to give away prizes donated by the event sponsors. Without the kind and generous support of the various sponsors, this event would not be possible.

Click here to find out how you can become a sponsor of this important event!

Tickets for the raffle prize drawings may still be purchased at Wrigley Stage on the day of the event. Tickets will be sold as follows:

1 ticket for $1

12 tickets $10.

30 tickets $25

70 tickets $50

150 tickets $100

YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN A RAFFLE PRIZE
If you have any questions, please contact:
(310) 510-2595 Ext. 123
Avalonharborcleanup@gmail.com