UECWA Newsletter

28th January 2026

Upcoming Dives

Parker Point Drop Off & Sandy Cave - Sat 31st Jan

Flat Top & Kerries Cavern  - Sun 1st Feb

Skippers Choice Double - Sat 7th Feb

Nurses Quarters & Servants Quarters - Sun 8th Feb

Dive Report - Saturday 24th January

With 12 divers on board and a trainee DO, we set off to Rotto with an expected stiff breeze and 1.8 m swell. With this in mind, we headed for Blue Grouper cave for a slightly deeper dive to avoid the swell. Surprised we were to find hardly any swell and great surface conditions. Unfortunately, Sebastian had the curse of all divers. Just had my gear serviced and now its leaking, and he missed the first dive. Spare reg on board, so all good to go for second.

Only four crayfish wanted a trip back to Perth. Lots of marine life to see, but alas, no blue grouper.  Everyone except Sebastian enjoyed the dive. Sigh poor SEB.

Dive two Catherine Grotto. A great dive was had by all with our usual sightings of stingrays, bulls eyes, cuttlefish and all the local Rotto residents. Smooth trip back to Port Coogee and a debrief in the pub.

John De Boer

Dive Report - Sunday 25th January

A much better forecast for the dive today and 12 divers off to Rotto. The weather bureau really needs a new set of darts. The forecast was way off.  Much stronger winds and the swell was higher than forecast. So let's find a better site. Our fearless skipper checked out a few potential sites, but the swell said NO. Baby Jackson's tunnel was selected and, in the divers, went. Vis was good at about 10 -15 meters and there was an abundance of marine life as expected. A great dive was had by all. There was a feeling that we should dive this site again but Mike and John had found a really nice cave system about 200 meters away. Up anchor and a short 200 meters later, in we went.  Fantastic dive with different ray species, large port Jackson shark, cuttlefish and lots of crayfish. The crew were entertained by watching two divers from a nearby charter doing a 400m swim against the current back to their boat. I am sure they will be thinking of better navigation next time.

John De Boer

Weekend Notes & Skills Reminders

Following last weekend’s diving, the Dive Officer has shared a few observations and reminders worth passing on to the wider club. These are all fundamentals — but strong basics make for safer, smoother, and more enjoyable dives for everyone.

Gear Checks & Servicing

Please ensure your gear is properly serviced and checked before diving — and checked again once assembled on the boat.

A simple post-service check at home is strongly recommended:

• Attach regs to a full cylinder
• Submerge both second stages and the first stage
  → After a minute or so, there should be no bubbles
• Leave one reg submerged and breathe from the other
  → You should get air, and the submerged reg should not free-flow
• Repeat for the other reg
• Submerge your SPG and check for leaks

Once onboard, assemble your gear and do a final check before diving.

Buddy Briefings & Navigation

Before every dive, please take time to properly brief with your buddy:

• Refresh hand signals
• Confirm the dive plan
• Decide who will lead (alternating dives keeps it fun and fair)

As a club of advanced divers, we should all be comfortable with basic underwater navigation. While diving as a buddy team is essential, we shouldn’t be relying on our buddies to do all the navigating for us. Navigation skills fade if they’re not practiced — so let’s make a conscious effort to keep them sharp. We’ll be sharing a helpful PADI navigation refresher alongside this article.

Lost Buddy Procedure (Important)

If you lose your buddy:

• Search for ONE minute only
• Look all around, including up
• Look for bubbles
• Use your torch in all directions, even while ascending

If you don’t reconnect within one minute, surface and immediately alert the crew. The crew has a much better vantage point and can usually spot divers quickly, allowing the dive to continue safely.

Prevention is key: plan your dive, signal your direction clearly, and check for your buddy often.

Crayfish Reminder

A brief reminder following recent communications:

• Measure crays underwater
• Check carefully for tar spot and berried females
• If a cray needs to be released, walk it to the back of the boat and gently lower it into the water

Please don’t throw crays over the side. If you need assistance, ask the crew.

These reminders are about keeping our diving safe, relaxed, and enjoyable for everyone onboard.

Plan well, dive smart, look after each other — and most importantly, have fun.

2026 Club Trips

Last chance for 2025 pricing!
We’re heading to this laid-back Indonesian island for crystal-clear waters, vibrant reefs, and the chance to spot big pelagics alongside healthy coral gardens. With uncrowded dive sites, warm water, and a relaxed island vibe, Pulau Weh dive resort is shaping up to be a 2025 favourite. Bonus: we’ve secured 2025 pricing until 31st January — after that, 2026 rates apply, with the base Twin Diver package increasing by $153 per person. Lock it in early to save! Please note this price does not include flights. However, we are planning on doing a group booking to save money, so no need to book your own flights.

Click on Upcoming Club Trips for more information on the website about our 2026 club trips.

Important Information for Dive Bookings

• Please do not book dives for other divers. If we receive double bookings from one diver, the second booking will be automatically cancelled.
• If you would like to receive notifications about dive cancellations, please email divebookings@uecwa.com.au with your name and phone number to be added to the WhatsApp group.
• Important to note that you cannot cancel dives using the dive calendar. Cancellation needs to be made by email directly to divebookings@uecwa.com.au

Please note our cancellation policy below as per the club bylaws:

Cancellations between 07:45 and 16:00 the day before: 50% cancellation fee.

Cancellations after 16:00 the day before: 100% cancellation fee.

No-shows: Full event fee.

If you have any questions, please check out our FAQ's, Contact Us or chat with your Committee members when you see us on the boat! All current club members are welcome to attend monthly committee meetings. 

Newsletter Editor

Mel Daws - Public Relations