Anybody into SCUBA Diving

[Campfire]

Gawd - there's endless campfire diving stories out among Swaggers. Gr8 pics 'n' stories. Glad to hear there's such depth of experience (and continued interest).

Likewise, am also a PADI DM. Stopped logging dives decades ago (been scuba diving for 30+ years - learned at age 13). Will one day scan my slides (Nikonos V and 15mm wide angle + Aqua Sea twin stobes) and share digitally. Locations/dives too numerous, but highlights would be Osprey Reef (Coral Sea) 86.4m on air - young and stupid - nearly passed out from oxygen toxicity - felt like the Ed Harris scene from The Abyss as he plummets down that endless wall. President Coolidge on honeymoon. Countless NSW wrecks, though Yongala will always be best Aussie wreck, IMHO. Freediving with a humpback off Coffs Harbour - back in the days before distance restrictions. Oh - and Pimpernel Rock off Wooli/Brooms Head - surely the most perfect underwater formation in NSW.

Looking fwd to getting my two boys into it. Even specified a boat rack and outboard bracket on the CT so I can take a RIB to SW Rocks, Jervis Bay etc, and introduce the boys to Fish Rock cave, The Docks, Cathedral Cave, and in years to come... Stoney Creek (lushest temperate water growth in NSW).

I can feel a MySwag camp/dive/spearo trip coming on. Jervis Bay, Seal Rocks or SW Rocks would be good location starters for those in NSW.

G Day Finners,

Endless dive stories looks pretty good in my book. Just reading your thread response you certainly have a few notches on the diving belt. To go 86 metres on air as a beginner very impressive, I thought I doing good as kid doing 27 metres on a dive before I even did a course.

Great to see so many bubble heads on the my swag forum.

Maybe you might be onto something there with a swaggers trip away for scuba divers/ spearos. I've dived south coast before and think it would be a pretty good location, plenty of holiday parks down that way. I suppose if you were keen on the idea you would need to run it by the group moderators and find out via a forum trip thread for expressions of interest. If something like that was arranged I would be happy to tag along with dive gear or spear guns, but you would need to put it to the group (good idea though).

cheers

Campfire

[DeBe]

Never dived with tanks, just snorkel and mainly hookah (uncle was an Abalone diver) but havent been diving for years (fear of sharks has set in) because I have only ever dived on Yorke Peninsula it is a very real fear as I know they are out there (have seen BIG white pointers from boats while fishing) I do miss it and the Crayfish though....Michael..   Dive around SYP all my life as well as Wedje & Nth Neptunes, but dont dive any more without aShark Shield, been to many White pointers around in the last few years.

[PeterO]

Here is another mad keen diver... Diving mostly wrecks, last was the Aaron Ward in Solomons (February this year) I go frequently to Truk Lagoon, this year it is going to be no 6 for me. Needless to say, love the place. The most exotic were probably Bikini Atoll and Cocos Island (Costa Rica). But I love going to SWR and Wooli and consider Stan Young who owns the Wooli Dive Shop to be a friend. Solitary Islands is probably in the top 5 locations in the country, at least for me. Did a lot of wreck dives on Sydney's Long Reef, but unlike BigJules I get cold all the time, so these days I prefer to go north 

A camper trailer dive trip one day sounds good to me 

Cheers
Peter

[Campfire]

Here is a photo I had taken around 40-50 metres deep on a troop ship, this photo shows the deck gun.



cheers

Campfire

[Diksta]

bugger you lot, i love it haven't been for about 10yrs due to a lung illness i suffered about 10yrs ago, like has already been said the sense of freedom is amazing.
favorite dive spot was at the red sea in Aquaba Jordon, was a advanced diver, deepest was 40m at vanuatu.

pick was taken with a disposable camera in the whitsundays about 15yrs ago.

love the pics guys keep them coming.

cheers Diksta

[MrHorsepower]

Dive around SYP all my life as well as Wedje & Nth Neptunes, but dont dive any more without aShark Shield, been to many White pointers around in the last few years.

How do you feel about the Shark Sheild DeBe, I mean do you have proof it does what its supposed to ? I talked to the Semaphore Water Cops about it when there for work and they said they have NEVER seen a shark while diving...Cheers ..Michael..

[Finners]

How old are the boys, I've started Ryan in the pool and a couple of shallow shore dives. Next time you come past Byron give us a yell. Pretty good.

Great Julian Rocks pics Renno. Only dived Byron a couple of times and look fwd to getting back. My sister lives b/ween Byron and Lismore, good camping on her property, so no excuses not to.

Boys are only 7 and 5, and just introduced them to snorkelling this last summer. Hopefully this winter will get to Heron or similar and start them off with SWMBO's type of diving - tropical! How old is Ryan?

Mantas are the best aren't they. I've seen them as far south as Jervis Bay (no-one on the boat believed me!), and often around Pimpernel Rock during deco and of course the manta bommies in the southern capricorn group. Their gentle intelligence, fearlessness of humans and sometimes playfullness makes any dive with them special.

Seals are another favourite - the colony on Montague Island - endless fun. Release a tennis ball at sea floor, and it never gets to the surface!

I think the camping at Seal Rocks - down toward Treachery - would be my prefered camp/dive/snorkel-spear option. Combines almost-bush camping with one of the least commercialised parts of the coast.

Always nurses at Little Seal. Edith breaker a great multi-chamber reef dive. And amongst the best wreck diving. And the Satara (40m) is a favourite wreck of mine. I'm too old now to do the Catterhun (58m) - as good as it is - I get narked off my scone unless on mixed gasses. And penultimate time I dived it, heliox on bottom and nitrox on deco - nice long bottom time - was sublime. But next time on air - I got bent! Fat'n'forty syndrome. Just a shoulder bend - a few soaks in PoW's hyperbaric unit fixed me. But SWMBO has banned me from diving beyond 50m  ;(

Very envious of those who've done Truk Lagoon! On the Must Do list.

- Finners

[Campfire]

Finners,

Seal Rocks / Treachery Point would be an ideal location for camping/ diving/ spearing/ fishing trip. Place has good opportunities for underwater photography, and it's also a nice little hideaway for camping.

I like staying up that way as it's not too far from where I live. Grey Nurse sharks are always good value when diving.

If by any chance your testing the waters ( pardon the pun) for expressions of interest with a diving / snorkeling or evening spearing trip away in campers up treachery /seal rocks areas, then you can count me.

I've yet to dive with seals and surprised after 15 years in scuba I haven't done it already. I did look at some weekend dive package trips with a Sydney Dive Shop who advertises online when the seal diving experience is happening ( seasonal thing).

Never heard of the tennis ball trick, but will remember that one when I get the chance to dive with seals.

I'm thinking of dragging my scuba gear out and going for a dive at Nelson Bay this weekend if the weather is half decent.

Cheers

Campfire

[Renno]

Great Julian Rocks pics Renno. Only dived Byron a couple of times and look fwd to getting back. My sister lives b/ween Byron and Lismore, good camping on her property, so no excuses not to.

Boys are only 7 and 5, and just introduced them to snorkelling this last summer. Hopefully this winter will get to Heron or similar and start them off with SWMBO's type of diving - tropical! How old is Ryan?

Mantas are the best aren't they. I've seen them as far south as Jervis Bay (no-one on the boat believed me!), and often around Pimpernel Rock during deco and of course the manta bommies in the southern capricorn group. Their gentle intelligence, fearlessness of humans and sometimes playfullness makes any dive with them special.

Seals are another favourite - the colony on Montague Island - endless fun. Release a tennis ball at sea floor, and it never gets to the surface!

I think the camping at Seal Rocks - down toward Treachery - would be my prefered camp/dive/snorkel-spear option. Combines almost-bush camping with one of the least commercialised parts of the coast.

Always nurses at Little Seal. Edith breaker a great multi-chamber reef dive. And amongst the best wreck diving. And the Satara (40m) is a favourite wreck of mine. I'm too old now to do the Catterhun (58m) - as good as it is - I get narked off my scone unless on mixed gasses. And penultimate time I dived it, heliox on bottom and nitrox on deco - nice long bottom time - was sublime. But next time on air - I got bent! Fat'n'forty syndrome. Just a shoulder bend - a few soaks in PoW's hyperbaric unit fixed me. But SWMBO has banned me from diving beyond 50m  ;(

Very envious of those who've done Truk Lagoon! On the Must Do list.

- Finners

Next time your up this way make sure you let me know and I'll take you out. Ryan will be 8 In October. I pay him to vacuum the pool with his scuba tank. Trying to make it become second nature. All good fun. Teach him basic drills. Bought him a harness that made a lot of difference. Not using the wing at the moment as he is way to young to understand buoyancy. Maybe in a couple of years. 
I'm still trying to get down to pebbly Beach.  :'(

   

[PeterO]

Always nurses at Little Seal. Edith breaker a great multi-chamber reef dive. And amongst the best wreck diving. And the Satara (40m) is a favourite wreck of mine. I'm too old now to do the Catterhun (58m) - as good as it is - I get narked off my scone unless on mixed gasses. And penultimate time I dived it, heliox on bottom and nitrox on deco - nice long bottom time - was sublime. But next time on air - I got bent! Fat'n'forty syndrome. Just a shoulder bend - a few soaks in PoW's hyperbaric unit fixed me. But SWMBO has banned me from diving beyond 50m  ;(

Very envious of those who've done Truk Lagoon! On the Must Do list.

- Finners

Don't talk about being too old please, I'm running well ahead of you Did 67m dive on Aaron Ward this February on air (twins) plus 50mix for a deco. You have plenty of time young man and plenty of deep dives if you so desire. Year before last a young Dutch guy got bent on a dive with us in Truk Lagoon - did everything right, cleared his computer and still got it. This is not an exact science and there is always a risk, isn't it...

Truk is my favourite destination, couldn't recommend it higher to anybody who is into wreck diving.
Cheers
Peter

[Campfire]

Any of you guys have any really good dive photos of Truk, I wouldn't mind seeing them if you have them.

Truk is also on my wish list as I haven't been there yet and have heard so much about it.

Cheers

Campfire

[PeterO]

Only have few from my first trip in 2005. Haven't been taking camera with me since, too much gear to cart around :-)

[DeBe]

How do you feel about the Shark Sheild DeBe, I mean do you have proof it does what its supposed to ? I talked to the Semaphore Water Cops about it when there for work and they said they have NEVER seen a shark while diving...Cheers ..Michael.. They may not have seen a shark, but most pople who have survived an atack didnt see the shark beforehand. Ive worked around seals & White pointers fix on a target & go full on for the target. What eventualy convinced me about the Shark shield was a Prawn trawler was geting lots of net damage from sharks. He fitted a divers shark shield to the net & atacks stoped. At south Neptunes watched a large White pointer try & get a large Seal. The seal was lucky to see the pointer first & was able to turn sharper than the shark when it took a run for it. This went on for several runs & the seal actualy got ashore very exhausted. I just find diving with a Shark Shield just a lot more enjoyable.

[MrHorsepower]

They may not have seen a shark, but most pople who have survived an atack didnt see the shark beforehand. Ive worked around seals & White pointers fix on a target & go full on for the target. What eventualy convinced me about the Shark shield was a Prawn trawler was geting lots of net damage from sharks. He fitted a divers shark shield to the net & atacks stoped. At south Neptunes watched a large White pointer try & get a large Seal. The seal was lucky to see the pointer first & was able to turn sharper than the shark when it took a run for it. This went on for several runs & the seal actualy got ashore very exhausted. I just find diving with a Shark Shield just a lot more enjoyable.

Sorry DeBe might have confused the situation The Semaphore Water Cops ALL use Shark Sheild and thus have NEVER seen a shark while diving, I think it will be the only way I will dive again especially after a story in the paper today Kayak Attacked By 6metre White Pointer in INNES Nat Park (I have dived near there as you probably have as well)..Cheers ..Michael..

[LC]

Have just got back from a couple of dives this morning around broughton island off the coast port stephens / hawks nest. Water is a balmy 22° and the vis is easily 20 metres with the water being that nice deep blue colour. On our second dive, which we did on the northern side of North Rock, there were heaps of Grey Nurse sharks with one mighty big male shark in amongst them.

Got trashed by the southerly front on the way home, probably took us 20 mins longer than it normally would have, but well the effort. Shame my dive buddy has to go to work during the week!!!

[Bird]

So I need to trying to get son away from electronics - this may require surgery and several months at a gaming rehab place but I wouldn't mind getting wet again either..

Anyone got any basic gear they are lookin to sell to suit skinny arsed tall 15yr old??  Stuff you've out grown

Mask/Snorkel/Fins round size 10

[below sea level]

Instructor here, so you could say I'm into it. 

I try to get out to some local sites every couple of weeks. Hoping to get the CT down to South West Rocks sometime in the next few months.

[Bird]

just figured out one of my old bosses runs a dive shop in Port Douglas... LOL..

[WilSurf]

I have always said that I wanted to learn scuba diving, but it never comes to it.
Too busy, not even time to go camping.

[GGV8Cruza]

I am after a second kit as well Bird, keep your eye out in case there could be a group buy. Not too worried on the BCD size, more after the regs and cylinder if possible.

GG

[Bird]

I am after a second kit as well Bird, keep your eye out in case there could be a group buy. Not too worried on the BCD size, more after the regs and cylinder if possible.

GG

This joint seems cheap in Berwick
http://www.rcboatingandleisure.com.au/

Might check the quality out on the weekend..

[Bird]

I have always said that I wanted to learn scuba diving, but it never comes to it.
Too busy, not even time to go camping.

Do it, you'll love it....

I gotta find my old dive card.. did the online search on NAUI site and name doesn't come up, but then again the bloke we learnt from was a shonk.. Knew his Shit backwards, but .... when it came to $$$$ run and hidfe.

[aussie9]

I would love to the course, but it involves swimming for 200 metres and I can't swim despite having a pool and my wife being a swimming teacher and coach
She reckons my bones are made of lead as even when I hold my breath, I sink straight to the bottom
I've had to make do with snorkelling


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[speewa158]

Geeeez its not an Olympic sport , its SCUBA . Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. l achieved PADI Dive Master  . After 22 years & 10000 logged dives  , decided  l was over getting wet .                 

[scarpsD40]

Geeeez its not an Olympic sport , its SCUBA . Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. l achieved PADI Dive Master  . After 22 years & 10000 logged dives  , decided  l was over getting wet .                 

sooooooooo, you don't go diving much these days?