History

I have been diving consistantly in Southern California since the day I moved here in 1979. Over the years while diving, I've sadly noticed a steady decline in the bio-diversity and overall health of S. California's underwater habitats. Therefore I have dedicated my life to restoring these natural treasures so they can properly sustain diverse ocean life.

Since the early 1980's I have volunteered with Marine Forest Society, Friends of the Sea Lion, Pacific Wildlife Project (PWP), and most recently Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS). All these groups do an outstanding job of nurturing the oceans back to health.

As many local divers know there are abandoned lobster traps littering the sea floor at almost every S. California reef. Not only are they an eyesore and a diving hazard, but many continue to trap and kill lobsters and other animals. Over the years while diving with my current dive partner (Tom Weisel), I developed a strong urge to remove these traps from the sea bottom. After talking with anyone who would listen, I decided to see what could be officially done about removing this "ghost gear".

We then went to the Department of Fish and Game to see what their thoughts were about these traps. We met with Ian Tanaguchi and a couple of other biologists at DF&G. They feel the traps need to be removed but do not have the budget nor the personnel to do it. They liked the idea so much that they offered to donate one of their old patrol boats to the cause. It was a nice gesture but the boat was beyond my capabilities to repair.

This is when Ocean Defenders Alliance (ODA) was born. I decided to start a non-profit organization that would actually remove this "abandoned commercial fishing gear". So the next logical thing to do was see if we could locate a better boat. When I was talking with Capt. Paul Watson (founder and President of SSCS) about this dilemma, he said "well I can get you one". True to his word, he donated a 24 foot boat to ODA. It didn't have a working engine and needed a lot of repairs, but it was ours!

John Milligan works miracles in the engine compartment

Brian Cleary creates new interior for the Garibaldi

Thus began the long and tedious project of making the boat, now named the Garibaldi, seaworthy. I managed to sweet talk a friend of mine (Brian Cleary) into letting us store the boat at his house while we made the necessary repairs and upgrades. "We'll be done in 6 months" is what I proclaimed. Next we had to remove and rebuild the engine, complete with all the wiring and electronics. To say this boat was a floating disaster is being kind. But within 6 months the boat received a new paint job, complete with an outstanding mural (thank you Dawn and Dominique Navarro) on the hull, and an equally stunning mural on the forepeak (thank you Holly Gray)!

Well, 3 plus years later we finally had all the mechanical and electrical issue solved and the boat ready for action. ODA has been very fortunate in having several volunteers who have given up significant hours of their lives to transform this boat into a working dive boat. One of our key volunteers is John Milligan, he has been the "brains" behind this newly refurbished boat. His time and expertise make the Garibaldi run. Brian Cleary not only gave us the space to work on the boat, he showed us how to repair the hull, install cabinets and hardware required for securing the scuba tanks, and in general transform the boat from life threatening to life affirming. My brother, Jim Lieber, has been there every weekend helping us with all the mechanical designs and grunt work. Jim has also been an integral part of the dive team. As 1st mate he handles the boat and supports all the demands of the divers and also has taken most of the above water pictures.

Mind you, neither John, Brian or Jim are divers, they just saw a need and were willing to sacrifice countless hours of their free time to help fulfill my dream of being able to give something back to the oceans. These are the unsung heroes of ODA.

Tom and Kerry Weisel have also given many hours to help with not only the boat restoration project but with all the paperwork and legal documents required to get our non-profit status with the state of California. Blake and Carol Storie put in countless hours helping in the restoration project as well as helping develop a strategy to get ODA some funding. Scott Sheckman, a fellow Sea Shepherd volunteer and scuba buddy, has spent many hours building the ODA website and is a one of ODA's down-and-dirty divers along with Chris Bell and Erik Burrows.

By the Summer of 2004, the Girabaldi has been completely renovated and has performed to perfection during the 40 hours of field trails it took to break in the new engine, and all the devices we need to safely dive and retrieve traps have been installed and are working well. By Fall 2004, we have had 14 full days of diving off the boat and have retrieved hundreds of pounds of lost traps and garbage from the sea floor.

Now the REAL test begins.

After putting so much time and money into this project, will the public see this as a worthwhile endeavor? ODA needs funding to pay back the loans we took out to finance this project, and we need volunteers in all kinds of capacities. Divers, grant writers, public relations, marine biologists, deck crew, and computer geeks are all positions we need to fill. If you would like to get involved in this project, or know someone who would, please inform them about ODA and contact us. Keep in mind that none of the volunteers gets paid any money on this project. The payoff is in knowing you contributed to a worthwhile cause. We are on the water most weekends looking for any type of debris that entangle, ensnarl or impede the ability of our underwater habitat to sustain the life that once was an integral part of the underwater landscape.

I hope you share my enthusiasm for exploring and rejuvenating the underwater world that not only gives us food, but revitalizes our inner drive to enjoy this lovely planet and all the organisms that make this planet whole.