Descend Downunder
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| Congratulations to our latest Open Water Divers! |
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The day dawned bright and clear, not a breeze in the sky (its not often I can say that about a weekend spent at Port Phillip Bay), but that’s exactly the conditions we experienced over the weekend at Queenscliff. I kept saying to our open water group "It just doesn’t get any better than this". Water temperature a lovely 19 deg. C, visibility 5m+, and the flattest of seas. Be sure to get there soon & experience great diving conditions.
Course Congratulations..
To Scott Harbridge, Matthew Witherden, Kylie Moffat, James Mainwaring, Dean Luhrs, Simon Hyde, Steven Watson and Wayne Delpiano who completed their open water course last weekend. We’ll be seeing you for a reunion dive at The Pit soon. See the link below for more great pictures:
http://www.descend.com.au/training/gallery/PhotoGallery.asp?whichcategory=Open%20Water%20-%20March%202006&AreaID=17
 | | The group after a great dive at Jervis Bay |  |
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Jervis Bay..
Over the January long weekend 11 lucky divers joined Rick for a fun- packed weekend diving Jervis Bay. Again, some great conditions and some great dives. We hear sharks aren't too keen to have their photo taken when it involves shoving a flash in their face, just ask Glenda!!
Pre-Easter Warning..  | | A great shore dive at Queenscliff - Cottage by the sea | |
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We are booked out for the whole of March with sport courses, commercial courses, commercial contracts and a backlog of repairs – unfortunately we just cant fit anything else in so if your going away for Easter check your gear now – its only 5 weeks away and we’re booked out for the next three!!!
Wedding Congratulations..
Congratulations to Narelle Meade and Pete who were married on 25th March. We wish you both much happiness together.
Engagement Congratulations..  | | Congratulations Bec & Ash! | |
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And now for the big news….
Ashley and Bec are engaged. Ashley who is currently working on Norfolk Island asked Bec for her hand in marriage last Friday.
Congratulations guys!!!
Follow a Course..
Week by week – blow by blow - Check out our latest commercial Course. Course no. 47 currently in week 8 of their 12 week training. Select the link below:
http://www.descend.com.au/training/courses/index.htm
Bicheno
Dive Club Package Includes;
4 x nights accommodation
2 x double boat dives - includes cylinder & air
Unlimited shore dives - includes cylinder & air
Return bus transfers Launceston to Bicheno
Must organise own flights to Launceston
Flights available from only $69 each way
Bus departs Launceston 5:00pm on Friday 21st
to Bicheno
Payment due to Descend by 13th April  | | Three tonne lift bags to assist divers with flotation | |
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Hey, Hey, Hay - By Des
Sounds like Yogi Bear but Hay is actually a small township on the Murrumbidgee River in the western district of NSW. Its flat and dry out there and the last place you would expect to see a dive team, but that’s where we found ourselves last week.
The job was to install and seal a bulkhead in front of gate one on the Hay weir. Now this is usually a simple job that normally involves fitting pre-made bulks into slots in the weir and sealing them with felt, saw dust or cinders. In this case, not so simple.
The bulkhead turned out to be a one-piece 30 tonne, prefabricated gate that has flotation tanks built in. The gate is floated into place and the floatation tanks flooded to sink it into place. The angle of the gate is controlled by additional flotation provided by three, three tonne enclosed lift bags.
This particular bulkhead has not been used in this weir before and to make things a little more awkward the pylons that the bulkhead was meant to seal against are one metre out of alignment. This means that the gate is on an angle which would normally not be a problem however in this case it angles across a join in the concrete which has about a 75mm height difference. Once we found what the problem was we tried re-floating and re-positioning the gate however it was never going to seal while it crosses the joint. The solution is to fit an extension to one end of the gate so that it fits squarely and will seal on even concrete. Ah well, you cant win them all. A very big 16 ˝ hour day.
For more photos selectthe link below:
http://www.descend.com.au/training/gallery/PhotoGallery.asp?AreaID=17&LibraryID=426&whichcategory=Hay%20Commercial%20Job
Solomons Update - Departure Date 19th September
ITINERARY
TUE 19 SEP 6.05 AM Depart Melbourne on QANTAS flight QF 600
8.10 AM Arrive Brisbane. Transfer terminals
10.00 AM Depart Brisbane on Solomon Airlines flight IE 701
2.00 PM Arrive Honiara. Transfer terminals.
3.00 PM Depart Honiara on Solomon Airlines flight IE 142
4.40 PM Arrive Gizo
IN: 19 SEP Gizo Hotel
OUT: 26 SEP P.O. Box 30
Gizo Island TEL: (677) 60199 FAX: (677) 60137
Situated on the waters of Gizo township, the hotel offers an excellent base to dive the Western Province. Accommodation offered include seafront or poolside rooms that feature air-conditioning, IDD telephone and tea/coffee making facilities. Standard rooms are also available. These have the same facilities but with ceiling fans instead of air-conditioning. An open-air restaurant with views of the harbour features seafood and local produce.7 nights in a twin share downstairs poolside room
Return airport transfersDive package through Adventure Sports:
10 dives per person, plus 2 free dives
Plus 2 free residual air dives and free night dive Petaj wreck
tanks/weights/air fills/light lunch
TUE 26 SEP 12.20 PM Depart Gizo on Solomon Airlines flight IE 107
1.50 PM Arrive Honiara. Transfer terminals.
3.00 PM Depart Honiara on Solomon Airlines flight IE 700
5.00 PM Arrive Brisbane. Clear Customs and transfer terminals.
7.50 PM Depart Brisbane on QANTAS AIRWAYS flight QF 639
10.10 PM Arrive Melbourne.
This itinerary is a Proposed Itinerary and is subject to flight availability at the time of booking.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of arrival back into Australia. Check that all names booked are spelt correctly as per your passport.
Please consult a medical professional in regards to preventative medication required for the destination you are travelling to.
Only... $2,799 Per Diver $2,200 Per Non-diver Plus $220.00 taxes/fuel surcharge
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