UECWA Newsletter

7th January 2026

Upcoming Dives

Stragglers Single Dive - Sat 10th Jan

Presidents Palace & Crayfish Canyon - Sun 11th Jan

Skippers Choice Double - Sat 17th Jan

Victoria's Station & Exploration (Rotto Drop Off) - Sun 18th Jan

Dive Report - Wednesday 31st December

Photo credit - Jim Stedman

An absolutely wonderful day on the water and under it. 13 divers headed out including the two crew members to dive the SI. We went to Stragglers, close to home and a very underrated area when people compare it to Rotto, but all divers loved it.

Dive 1 was at Stragglers Lagoon, a site we rarely get to dive unless conditions are perfect… less than 1m swell and low, ideally very little wind and if there is wind it’s an easterly…. Yep these boxes were ticked this morning. It was absolutely lovely. Great vis and all the crays bagged were well over the size limit, likely because it’s rarely dived. Fish life was abundant with a great variety including a couple of Baldchin Gropers. Crays snagged here were 14.

Dive 2 was at Dark Cave. Wow this was like diving in an aquarium… every diver came back gushing with pleasure at the site, the water had come close to glass off and vis was 25+ metres… the fish were plentiful with some absolutely stunning coral in the many caves, swim throughs and overhangs. 9 well sized crays were caught here. Bringing the boat total four crays to 23.

Thanks to all crew, Jeff, Steve, a little rusty as a DO but he did a Stirling job. Thanks to the extra crew onboard for helping with the boat as always.

Donna Gratton

Dive Report - Thursday 1st January

Photo credit - Sue Haste

What a lovely way to kick off New Year’s Day! Ten keen divers jumped aboard Cape Cruiser and headed out to Straggler’s Reef, diving the aptly named site “Nice Caves and Overhangs” — and it absolutely lived up to its name. The stunning topography revealed a labyrinth of lovely caves and overhangs to weave through and explore, making for a seriously enjoyable dive.

It was a little blowy to start with, with some surface chop and a bit of surge below, but nothing too dramatic, and the conditions settled nicely with around 15m visibility. The dive was packed with life: a moray eel cruising through the seaweed, a gorgeous Flabellina nudibranch, baldchin groper, morwongs and drummers, plus a few crayfish that made the trip home for dinner. One particularly angry little damselfish even left its mark, biting hard enough to bruise through my 5mm wetsuit — rude.

Huge thanks to our volunteer crew Chris and Will for making the day happen. It was absolutely bloody hot back at Coogee, so we did what any sensible divers would do and waited (patiently… mostly) outside the pub for it to open so we could grab a well-earned beverage and lunch. A fantastic day all round and everyone had a fab time!

Mel Daws

Dive Report - Sunday 4th January

Photo credit - Craig Robertson

Warm day, light winds, pretty calm sea - what more can you ask for ? Under the expert command of Carl, the Cape Cruiser and 11 divers went out for a magnificent day out. First up were the “Stables”. The divers really enjoyed the picturesque country, reaching a max depth of about 18m. Despite the promise that the “crays are as big as horses here”, they turned out pretty small. 
We headed to the second scheduled site, “The Swirl Reef”, but were beaten to it by not just 1 but 2 dive boats and skipper Carl decided to skip the crowds and headed to the Kingston Spit. The divers were not disappointed here with magnificent views of huge schools of fish like the old wives and western pomfrets. The crays were also more bountiful here.  One diver had to unfortunately sit this one out due to equipment malfunction – but with a pleasant wind to cool us down and magnificent views, the top of the boat wasn’t the worst place to be.

Filip Welna

RSVP for our Sundowner, This Weekend!

Come join the Underwater Explorers Club WA this weekend for a laid-back “It’s not Christmas, but it IS New Year” Sundowner at The Shoe Bar, Yagan Square from 3–5pm 

Please RSVP in events so we know how many people to expect. Thanks!

Yellow Weight Amnesty

Our bright yellow dive weights have been spotted… everywhere except the boat.... If you’ve accidentally borrowed one (or a few 😄), we’re declaring a no-questions-asked Weight Amnesty.

We’re always happy to lend weights, but they do need to stay on Cape Cruiser at the end of the day — and our onboard supply is getting a bit low.

Please check weight pockets, belts, dive bags, garages and gear tubs. Those yellow bricks are hard to miss once you start looking!

Thanks legends 💛

Pulau Weh, Sumatra - June 2026

Pulau Weh is calling!
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 is shaping up to be a 2025 favourite. Bonus: we’ve secured 2025 pricing until 24 January — after that, 2026 rates apply, with the base Twin Diver package increasing by $153 per person. Lock it in early to save! 

Click on Upcoming Club Trips for more information on the website.

Christmas Island - August 2026

We’re off to Christmas Island next August, and there are only a couple of spots left!

Click on Upcoming Club Trips for more information on the website.

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