Latest Dive Reviews

"The Queens Birthday long weekend saw a strong contingent of TSDC members head up to Bicheno for the annual combined clubs weekend. The 2012 CCW was organised by the Launceston Ocean Divers Club and saw a members representing most Tasmanian dive club heading to Bicheno for the weekend. A number of members from Victorian dive clubs also made the journey across Bass Strait to Bicheno.

The weekend would be packed with all the usual activities we have come to expect from the CCW weekend including the SCUBA Olympics, gnome hunts, golf ball hunts, photographic competitions as well as lots of fantastic diving which was aided by favourable weather conditions and reasonable visibility. There was also many fantastic prizes given away with some people being a little luckier than others, with dive computers, regulator sets, wet suits, and much more up for grabs, (though almost every one seemed end up with a Hook Line and Sinker DVD) which demonstrated the strong sponsor support the event has received in recent years.

The weekend began with a number of TSDC members making their way to Bicheno on the Friday and settling into accommodation, eventually heading to the Beach Front Hotel for a meal and a few beers whilst catching up with friends and renewing acquaintances from the various dive clubs around the state. Not only was Friday night spent consuming a few beers but also undertaking some hasty emergency dry suit repairs with Andrew attaching a new neck seal and my dry suit requiring a bit of aqua-seal attention.

Diving for the weekend concentrated on the Governor Island Marine reserve and immediate surrounds, with dives out of the club boat run to number of the usual Bicheno favourites which seemed to primarily centre on the Golden Bommies and the Mt Everest area, with a dive to Trap Reef and the Steps Reef. A number of members came prepared to do a bit of deco in an effort to maximise bottom time giving us a chance to undertake some very nice long dives including a dive from the Castle, through the narrow chasms into the Canyon then out along Paradise reef to the bommies. Conditions on the water were surprisingly good despite 6m southerly swells being reported on the east coast in the week leading up to the event and visibility was an acceptable 15 metres for much of the weekend.

Late on the Saturday saw an emergency situation develop with one of our member surfacing after a dive in a significant amount of distress, he was pulled from the water put on emergency oxygen and eventually evacuated to Hobart via the rescue helicopter. The diagnosis was pulmonary oedema, a build up of fluid in the lungs, a very serious and worrying situation for all involved with the member fortunately making a good recovery.

The main event concluded on the Sunday night with the judging of the underwater photo comp, showing of videos with the theme of Gillard V Rudd and the announcement of the overall wining club which went to the crew from TUDC who clinched it with a very funny and clever video entry. This year’s CCW was a huge success with over 100 divers attending from around the state and Victoria. ODP did a fantastic job pulling the event together.

Planning has already begun for next year’s event which will be coordinated by us, so if you are interested in helping out let Drew know, your assistance would be very much appreciated
"
By James P

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