UECWA Newsletter
8th January 2025
Upcoming Dives
Dive Report - Saturday 4th January
Photo credit - Jen Pryor
Well done to skipper Chris, who led 11 divers off in what was predicted to be fairly windy conditions. He saw a dip in the winds and swell and decided we could dive Cray Canyon at west end.
Happy divers saw lots of country with a definite Canyon and some beautiful swim throughs and tight spots to squeeze in and out of. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the first part of its name as there were no crays worth bringing back to the boat.
We saw the largest school of Silver Drummers I’ve ever seen, which circled us for a long time, leading to an interesting swim amongst a tonne of Drummer poo. We were rewarded with a massive bull cruising on by and a couple of huge Sambos pretending to be Drummers.
The second dive was on Roe Reef which rarely disappoints and this was no exception. A little milky until you got into the caverns and caves, which were, again, stunning. Lots of fish, including plenty of cute Leopard Wirrah and a baby Circular Stingaree.
Gillian joined Mel and I on both dives and overcame her inability to navigate, bringing us straight back to the anchor on both dives. Well done Gill!!
Huge thanks to Chris and DO Trev for a fun day out, although the journey home was a little wet!
Jen
Dive Report - Sunday 5th January
Photo credit - Troy Thompson
13 divers set out on Sunday with Skipper Jeff and DO Taryn en route to Blue Grouper Cave and Chris’ Cave on the north side of Rotto. Divers were treated to excellent dive conditions whilst Jeff and I could only admire their bubbles from above.
At Blue Grouper Cave, divers reported about 10-12m viz, minimal surface current and a gorgeous cave system with lots to see! This included a 2m Tiger shark hovering around our safety stop, 2 juvenile Dhufish, 3 rays, loads of nudis and, of course, a couple of large Blue Groupers. Our crayfisherman picked up two crays, but apparently there were quite a few spotted during the dive.
As we headed over towards Chris’ cave within Roe Reef, the wind noticeably was very calm before the SW breeze kicked in during the dive as expected. It didn’t seem to affect our divers with everyone reporting back 10m viz and minimal current. As we manifested before our divers jumped in, they were lucky to spot a 2m bronzie, loads of baby blue devils, a large ray, crays and even a turtle!!
Quite the bumpy ride home with the SW breeze well and truly in. Arrived back at the jetty around 1:45pm. Easy day out on the water with no boat issues. Thanks to Damo for buying Jeff and I a beer after we cleaned up the boat. Thanks to Seb and Mick (and anyone else) for helping out on the back deck with that dodgy ladder. Much appreciated
Taryn
Decompression Bubbles Study: Volunteers Needed
Beth, a student from Curtin University, is conducting a study on decompression bubbles in recreational divers. She will be aboard the boat for the next three Saturdays (11th, 18th, and 25th January) and is looking for 2 volunteers each day.
Before the dive, Beth will spend 15 minutes explaining the study, obtaining consent, and collecting basic information. Divers will then do their planned dive, after which they’ll undergo a 60-minute post-dive monitoring period. During this time, they will need to lie flat for 3 minutes at 20, 40, and 60 minutes post-surfacing while Beth scans their hearts for bubbles. Divers can move around during the rest of the surface interval. The study concludes after the last scan.
We look forward to supporting Beth’s important research and thank you for considering joining this study!
2025 Dive Trips Announced!
We have three exciting trips planned for 2025, with club members receiving priority booking. Details and booking info below and on the website, please contact Donna at divebookings@uecwa.com.au if you have any questions.
22nd - 29th March: Rottnest - $1190 AUD
2 dives per day, 7 nights accommodation, and tank fills are included. Meals are not included, and only 8 spots are available. Bookings open now. A $250 deposit is due by 20th Jan, refundable if the trip doesn’t go ahead. Final payment is due on 1st Feb.
9th - 16th July: Halmahera Liveaboard - $4160 AUD (subject to exchange rates)
An 8-day liveaboard to Halmahera, Indonesia, with only 13 spots available. The boat is newly commissioned, and no breakdowns are expected. Bookings open now. Please email Donna.
19th - 25th August: Derawan Island - $2470 AUD (subject to exchange rates)
7 days with 3 dives per day, all meals and accommodation included. There are only 15 spots available. Bookings open now. A $340 deposit is due by 30th April. Priority bookings for club members until 28th Feb. Final payment is due on 30th May.
Important Information for Dive Bookings
All members who have paid their fees for the 2024/2025 year should now have access to the dive calendar on the new website and mobile app. If you're experiencing any issues, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us for assistance.
If you would like to receive notifications about dive cancellations during peak periods, please email Donna at divebookings@uecwa.com.au with your name and phone number to be added to the WhatsApp group.
Guests on the Boat
A reminder: For all boat trips (including Christmas lights), UEC members must be on the boat with any guests booked under their membership.
Cancelling a Dive Ahead of Time
Important to note that you cannot cancel dives using the dive calendar. Cancellation needs to be by email directly to Donna at 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.
Appeals for waivers due to medical reasons or family emergencies can be submitted in writing to the committee.
If you have any questions please check out our FAQ's, Contact Us or chat to your Committee members when you see us on the boat!
Newsletter Editor
Mel Daws - Public Relations
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