Descend Downunder
Lets Go Diving...
The weather is warming up, the days are getting longer and its time to start thinking about going for a dive. If you haven't already dusted the cob-webs off your gear and brought it in for its annual service, bring it in now so its all ready for the upcoming season.
Twilight Dive..
What better way to get yourself back into the water than a nice, easy, shallow shake down dive at The Pit. Join us on Friday 31st October for a Twilight Dive followed by chicken and champagne. Cost is only $10/head + gear. Meet at The Pit at 5:30. Everyone welcome. Book Now on 60 411 405
Dive Merimbula..
Perhaps a weekend over the coast is more your style. Join us for a weekend of diving, fun and perhaps a little wine drinking (so I'm told by Lloyd Mildren) at Merimbula on the weekend of the 29th & 30th November.
Dive Club Package includes:
2 x nights accommodation
4 x boat dives
All airfills
Unlimited shore dives
Cost per non-diver $25/night
Limited places available
Hire gear additional
Only $225 incl. GST
Deposit of $100 required by the 31st October
Club Night..
For those who couldn't make our Club Night with Rory McGuiness you really did miss a great night. We watched the film on the Discovery of the wreck of the PT109, with running commentary from Rory on the making of the film and special effects etc. Rory was then asked a heap of questions about exciting adventures he had been involved in. Drinks, nibbles and all in all a great night. We will try and arrange it again sometime.
Xmas Party..
Now you're probably thinking we're jumping the gun a little but we've already organised our Xmas Party. This year we decided to try something a little different - our own private Cocktail Party. Put this date in your diary now.
Saturday 20th December from 7:00pm in the Banksia Room at the Commercial Club, Albury.
Cost $25/head which includes a cocktail on arrival and finger food
(umm. & lots of it)
Secure your place now with a $10 deposit. Limited numbers available.
Truk Lagoon..
Yes the rumors are true. We are planning a return to Truk in 2004. (How excited am I already??) With prices down some 20% on previous year's trips, who can resist? Dates are yet to be confirmed but sometime next September, so if your keen put your name down now!! (Top of the list is Kristy followed closely by Des - he may disagree with that).
Spectacular Reading..
See Stan's article below from his Divelog - Descend's Trip To Vanuatu (way back in 1986)
From My Dive Log. By Stan Bugg.
Descend Trip to Port Vila. 28/8/86: Go to Plan "B".
The Semle Federeson was a coastal freighter which, having failed survey, was scuttled in 34m for divers to enjoy. It is a super dive, where vis often exceeds 40m.
On this particular day, several charter boats were anchored there at the same time, and there were at least 16 divers on the wreck. Brian Cornell and I had enjoyed a long, relaxed dive, and were working our way up the deco bars under our boat. Suddenly our quiet contemplation of the dive was broken by a series of bizarre events.
First up, I noticed a SCUBA unit rise rapidly from the depths, unaccompanied by a diver! I glanced at BC, and his puzzled look confirmed that he had also seen it, and more importantly, that I was not imagining it.
Next, a single fin drifted past us. We looked up and saw a great deal of frantic activity on the surface. Several people were jumping into the water, and appeared to be assisting someone onto the duckboard. BC and I exchanged more puzzled looks, but were left to wonder as we completed our deco.
When we finally surfaced, things had pretty much resolved themselves.
A group of divers from another boat had entered after us. Once on the bottom, one of them noticed that the inflator mechanism was jammed on, and was continually inflating his BC. He decided to remove the SCUBA unit to sort out the problem. In the time it took to say, "OH SHIT", the SCUBA unit broke away from him and headed towards the surface.
The diver looked to his buddy for air and moral support, but he was swimming away at 34m, totally ignorant of his partner's plight.
The hapless diver was confronted with an urgent decision;
- Plan A..chase buddy and ask for air, or;
- Plan B..head to the surface.
He chose plan B. In his haste a fin came off, but he completed the free ascent using the technique once described to me as 'like a scared rat climbing a ladder."
He hit the surface just astern of our boat with an almighty woosh, and rolled back, semi conscious.
Prompt action from members of our group soon had him on board, in the lateral position, and on oxygen. He was taken in hand by no less than three instructors, and a respiratory physiotherapist who assessed his condition ( not too bad considering) and made him comfortable for the 20 minute ride back to port. By the time we reached the harbour, he was fully conscious and lucid.
The diver was taken to the Port Vila hospital for observation. To everyone's surprise he was seen walking around the town the next day, having suffered no obvious ill effects from his adventure. He was back diving within a few days.
His buddy had completed his dive solo, never having considered that his dive partner might have had a problem.
P.S. The Semle now sits in depths 38-55m. She slid into deeper water after a cyclone hit the region in 1988.
Copyright sbugg. 2003.
Checklist of Things to Remember
Bring your gear in now for a service
Book onto Twilight dive at The Pit
Book onto Club Weekend at Merimbula
Pay deposit for Xmas Cocktail Party so as not to miss out
Consider Truk Lagoon for a lifetime diving opportunity for 2004
Pop into Descend and say g'day and pick up the latest Divelog.
We hope to see you all soon.
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