LAKE SACACOMIE: 20 METERS PLUS VISIBILITY

Divers are so fond of "Saco" lake that they have nicknamed it like a dive buddy. It is one of the clearest lakes in the weekend lake area surrounding Montreal. The cold and clear waters often reach in excess of 20 meters visibility during summer. Winter under ice diving conditions are ideal with a pristine 30 to 40 metres visibility.

As the case in most very clear lakes, fish observation is not at its best. Trouts are fugacious and other foraging species such as suckers and minnows not the talk of the town. Rock formations, deep diving and the exhilaration of floating "in air" in this crystal clear water environment attracts all southern Quebec scuba diving clubs at least once a year.

Lake owner association limits public access to protect the natural settings. The public boat ramp has a limited parking area. The site is definitely intended for anglers and local boaters traffic. Definitively not the place for a good relaxing weekend dive! Bring your runabout or your inflatable. Head for the islands and deep remote areas of this eight square kilometre lake. Two Montreal dive shops offer access and board to registered guests. Both can guide groups and offer air and services directly on the site. Lake Sacacomie is close to the village of Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, some 125 kilometres northeast of Montreal, close to Mastigouche natural preserve. For more information contact DIVER Magazine's Quebec contributing editor at (514) 699-6606 Fax (514) 692-8630.

QUEBEC DIVING REGULATION ON STANDBY.

FQAS (Quebec's underwater council) recently published an update on the up-coming Quebec Safety in Sports regulations regarding diving. The fall edition of En Profondeur, the council's tabloid newsletter, states that "RSSQ (Quebec Safety in Sports agency) proposed a bill to provincial legislature. The agency asks for extended jurisdiction in all safety fields of non professional sports" (this could be indirectly understood to include scuba diving). "No specific regulation regarding scuba diving is therefore in the immediate picture. Nevertheless RSSQ is working on rules related to scuba in the fields of instructor qualifications and safety measures regarding the teaching process".

FQAS follows this note by adding that it appointed personnel to attend all coroner's inquiries. "FQAS made plans to consult its members during fall...but the hasty RSSQ proposition has modified the strategy and lessened chances to efficiently lobby on the subject."

1996 UNDERWATER PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

Monique Bellefeuille, contest director, fielded the winners sheet for the seventh edition of the International Underwater Photo Contest of Montreal. Best Canadian: Alberta-based Carson Gansi, best Ontario, Don McLeod of London, best Quebec: Corinne Nicolotti and best USA: Ray Berch of Michigan. Prizes sponsored by COREL Corporation were awarded to the winners.

Corinne Nicolotti de l'Outaouais a remporté le prix de la meilleure photo catégorie Québec dans le cadre du septième concours international de photographie sous-marine organisé par Monique Bellefeuille. L'albertain Carson Ganci a remporté le prix du meilleur canadien, tandis que Don McLeod de London a raflé les honneurs pour l'Ontario. La compagnie COREL s'est associé cette année au concours en offrant des logiciels aux heureux gagnants.

TWELVE YOUNG POSTER DESIGNERS CHEERED BY COMMUNITY

The 1996 International Poster Contest for Youth (IPCFY) awards ceremony was hosted by Diane Brown and the Preville Elementary school in Saint-Lambert (QC). Twelve Canadian jury members selected the winners who received prizes from Montreal's Biosphere, Quebec Société Linnéenne, and many local merchants. PADI Canada Project AWARE and Société Aqua Plein-Air dive shop sponsored the event. Some three hundred visitors cheered the youngsters age 6 to 16. Parents visited the Underwater Gymnasium which had been completely refurbished for the occasion by nature science students to resemble the coral reef ecosystem. The twelve winning posters will be sent to the International contest jury in New-York for worldwide award selection. The IPCFY aims at educating young people to environment preservation by stimulating awareness and artistic creativity. The 1996 theme, "Save the coral reef", gets kids from many countries to better understand the fragility of this beautiful ecosystem. For information contact Diane Brown (514) 671-3011.

Diane Brown a récompensé le 27 novembre dernier les jeunes gagnants du second Concours international d'affiches environnementales pour la jeunesse pour le Canada. Ce concours est proposé aux élèves du primaire et du secondaire dans plusieurs pays. Les oeuvres des gagnants canadiens seront soumises au jury international de New-York.

Plus de trois cents personnes ont visité le gymnase de l'école Préville de Saint-Lambert, transformé pour l'occasion en "site de plongée" de papier et de carton par les jeunes artistes illustrant ainsi le thème 1996 "Sauvons les récifs coralliens". Les jeunes lauréats de Laval, de la Montérégie et de l'Estrie se sont mérité des prix offerts par les commanditaires locaux. Le programme PADI A.W.A.R.E., la Biosphère de Montréal, la Société Linnéenne du Québec et la boutique de plongée Aqua Plein-Air ont encouragé et soutenu le concours. Une sculpture autochtone originale de Michael Bellefeuille, intitulée "L'Amie des enfants" et représentant une tortue marine, a été offerte lors d'un tirage parmi les jeunes et parents de l'auditoire.