WET & WILD : Divers Back Plan to Keep Coastline Alive

Orange County scuba divers are reacting enthusiastically to a proposed state law that would prohibit the taking of most species of invertebrates and fish from the waters off Laguna Beach, the county’s most popular diving area.

“I’m all for it,” said Chris Carter, a diving instructor who’s been diving in Laguna since 1962 and now manages Laguna Sea Sports, a dive shop in town. “I don’t think we need to go out there and kill everything that moves, which, unfortunately, is what a lot of divers do.”

Sam Miller, another longtime Orange County diver, agrees. “I think it’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened,” he said of the proposed law. “It means that we can protect whatever is left in Laguna.”

Several years ago, the city established marine life refuges at the north and south ends of its coastline to protect the underwater environments there. The new proposal--adopted unanimously by the Laguna City Council earlier this month--would extend those refuges to include virtually the city’s entire seven-mile coastline.

To become law, the measure--which, so far, has not generated any organized opposition--will have to be passed by the state Assembly, scheduled to consider it in June as part of a legislative package sponsored by state Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach). The measure has already been approved by the state Senate. If enacted, the new law would take effect Jan. 1, 1994.

Under its provisions, it would be illegal to take all but 28 species of invertebrates and fish from a protected area extending from the shoreline about 700 feet out to sea. Included on the list of would-be protected species are sea urchins, scallops, mussels and starfish. Among those left unprotected would be lobster, sheepshead, yellowtail, mackerel and a number of other fish.

City officials say they proposed the ordinance after being contacted earlier this year by various citizens’ groups concerned about the apparent degradation of the marine environment, which is generally considered one of Laguna Beach’s major natural resources.

“We’ve had problems with an overabundance of people,” City Manager Kenneth C. Frank said. “Some of them were fishing (or) going into the tide pools and taking things home with them. The species were being depleted.”

While scuba divers were not cited as a particular problem this time around, they certainly have had their scraps with the city in the past. Back in the 1960s, in fact, an extremely vocal group of concerned citizens came very close to getting scuba diving banned in Laguna Beach. And the decades since have seen periodic flare-ups between the diving community and Laguna residents bothered by its noisemaking, illegal parking and taking of game.

Yet over the years, according to Carter, the consciousness of divers has changed. As society at large has become increasingly aware of the environment, he says, so have the explorers who most enjoy its underwater wonders. Thus their support for marine protections, he says, is not so surprising.

“I grew up diving here, and I’ve seen it change,” Carter said. “People are getting more and more ecologically aware; we don’t have the hard-core spearfishermen like we used to. People are more into going out and taking pictures to keep their memories rather than going out and slaughtering.”

Norm Doebel, a Los Angeles real estate appraiser in Laguna Beach recently for a day of sport diving, couldn’t have agreed more. “People tell me the popular dive spots are (nearly) ruined,” said Doebel, who hadn’t been diving in some time. “This is a high-density diving area; if you don’t have restrictions, it’ll all be gone.”