Event will unveil the underwater cove

Paul Clinton

CRYSTAL COVE -- A state-of-the-art fund-raiser Saturday will give

visitors a front-row seat to an extraordinary show -- giant kelp,

starfish, horn sharks, neon gobi, garibaldi and other marine life.

“The event will be spectacular,” said Joe Valencic, who will manage

the event’s technical side, which will put underwater cameras into the

hands of scuba divers. “The idea of a live, interactive broadcast is a

very compelling experience.”

From 1985 to 1988, Valencic was the chief underwater scientist for

California State Parks, which owns Crystal Cove State Park.

Event visitors standing along the beach will be able to watch live

monitors set up in one of the historic buildings on the beach capturing

the images of underwater life.

Crystal Cove holds a dual state designation as one of 34 Areas of

Special Biological Significance and one of 15 underwater parks in the

State Parks system.

Other underwater treasures include Emerald Bay State Park in Lake

Tahoe, Point Lobos State Reserve near Carmel and Cardiff State Beach on

the San Diego coastline.

Event organizers said the free public event will serve as a first-rate

educational tool for children and students interested in the cove’s

uniqueness.

A bevy of educational dioramas and exhibits about the cove’s

dolphin-birthing area, urban runoff problems, history of the 46 cottages

and the tide pools clustered at the northern and southern borders of the

3.5-mile coastline will also inform event visitors.

The event is being organized by the Crystal Cove Conservancy, founded

by Joan Irvine Smith and Laura Davick and State Parks.

More than 1,000 visitors are expected to attend the event, which could

raise as much as $50,000 for the restoration of the cottages.

FYI

* WHAT: Crystal Cove Underwater fund-raiser

* WHEN: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

* WHERE: Crystal Cove State Park

* HOW MUCH: Free

* INFORMATION: (949) 240-3957 or o7 https://www.crystalcove.net

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