Fund-raiser will provide underwater peek

Paul Clinton

CRYSTAL COVE -- For the first time in history, attendees of a

high-tech fund-raiser will be given a glimpse of the hidden underwater

world of the cove without donning a wetsuit.

Organizers of the Oct. 20 event have announced plans to hand wireless

video cameras to scuba divers so the public can get a front-row seat of

the cove’s ecosystem.

Monitors mounted on the sandy beach of Crystal Cove State Park will

display the images. As an an added attraction, visitors will be able to

throw out questions to the divers that will be answered on the spot.

Plans are in the works to broadcast the event, which is being

organized by a broad coalition of groups, over the Internet.

“The state is using this as an opportunity to try to open up the

underwater world for everyone,” said Ken Kramer, the chief lifeguard at

the cove. “We’ve had a dream since 1979 to showcase the underwater world

of Crystal Cove.”

The state bought the more than three-mile coastline and cottages from

the Irvine Co. in 1979 for $32.6 million.

More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the all-day event, which

is open to the public.

Local environmentalists have said they will also install a diorama

showing the way polluted water flows into the ocean, an exhibit on

dolphin birthing behavior, live demonstrations of efforts to regrow kelp

and displays about the area’s tide pools.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the restoration of the 46

historic cottages in the state park vacated in July by longtime

residents.

“Our goal is to raise public awareness so the community gets

involved,” said Laura Davick, the founder of the Alliance to Rescue

Crystal Cove. “It’s really going to put this on the map for what’s going

to be a state-of-the-art educational facility.”

The state, with the input of local environmentalists, is crafting a

plan for the district. On Sept. 13, the state released a preliminary plan

that could include overnight rental of the cottages for $20 to $150 a

night. Also part of the plan is a visitors center, museum and other

educational or scientific elements.

Funds raised by the event will go to the Crystal Cove Conservancy, a

nonprofit organization founded by Davick and Joan Irvine Smith, until

they can be used to help renovate the cottages.

Smith has donated $12,000 in video and other equipment. The state will

chip in $10,000.

On the day of the event, Smith said she will pass out brochures

detailing the history of the cove that she has written.

“This [area] had a very colorful history and people don’t know it,”

Smith said.

Davick and others said they hoped the event could raise as much as

$50,000.

* Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

paul.clinton@latimes.comf7 .