UECWA Newsletter

19th August 2026

Upcoming Dives

Stragglers Double - Sat 22nd Aug

Carpet Emporium & Flat Top - Sun 30th Aug

Goon Bag & Cigar Bommie - Sun 6th Sept

Opera House & The Vault - Sat 12th Sept

Christmas Island Adventure Report

Photo credit - Mel Daws

What a fantastic week we had on Christmas Island! Nine of us happily left the cold Perth weather behind and headed north to our tropical paradise.

We enjoyed beautiful diving every morning with the team at Extra Divers in the warm, crystal-clear waters. We saw a huge variety of unique fish, tiny shrimp, healthy coral, enormous sea fans and more morays than you could count. We even had a few baby sharks, spinner dolphins and turtles making baby turtles!

Photo credit - Dave

Most of us spent our time slowly poking around the reef, searching for tiny creatures hiding in the cracks and crevices, while the fish nuts among us had an absolute ball documenting the many interesting fish species and unique hybrids the island has to offer.

We did have one little adventure of our own when we “lost” a diver at the end of a dive. In pursuit of that perfect porcelain crab shot, he quickly found himself out of sight of the group. Thankfully, he calmly deployed his DSMB from depth like an expert and was soon carried away by the current. He surfaced safely about 100 metres from the rest of the group, where we were able to pick him up. A timely reminder that practising your SMB deployment on a reel is a very good idea — you never know when you might need it!

Photo credit - Phil Clark

Afternoons were mostly spent exploring the gorgeous sites of the island in our hire cars, dodging plentiful crabs, bird watching (aka pterodactyl watching!) and, of course, fitting in the odd afternoon nap. Sharing the Divers Villa with such a fun and generous group was fantastic, with plenty of laughs, good times and new friendships forged along the way. We even had a crack at opening some fresh coconuts — which turned out to be considerably more work than expected with a rusty old machete!

Photo credit - Jen Pryor

Many meals were shared during the week, especially at the gorgeous Rumah Tinggi. With stunning views, a laid-back atmosphere and delicious food, it quickly became the group’s favourite place to eat.

A huge thank you to the expert team at Extra Divers. They made us feel incredibly welcome on the island and were fabulous from start to finish. Dave kept us both informed and entertained on the boat, while Kitty ensured we all had safe and enjoyable dives. Thanks so much, team — we highly recommend paying them a visit!

Photo credit - Jen Pryor

It was an unforgettable week of diving, exploring, plenty of laughs and great company. We’re already looking forward to the next club adventure to Banda Aceh next year! Thanks for joining us! 

Photo credit - Kitty

Important Payment Update

From 1 October 2026, the Underwater Explorers Club of WA will be moving to EFT payments only.

Due to upcoming changes by the Reserve Bank of Australia, businesses and organisations will no longer be able to pass on card transaction fees. As a volunteer-run, not-for-profit club, we'd rather invest those funds back into our club than absorb ongoing bank charges.

💙 Please save our bank details in your banking app now to make future payments quick and easy.💙

UECWA Bank Details
BSB: 066 136
Account Number: 0090 1972

When making a payment, please include your name and a brief reference so we can easily identify it.

Thank you for supporting the club—we appreciate your understanding, and every dollar saved on bank fees helps us do more for our members!

2027 Travel - Indonesia's Hidden Dive Paradise

Join UECWA next June as we explore one of Indonesia's best-kept diving secrets—Pulau Weh Dive Resort in Banda Aceh.

With warm tropical waters, spectacular reefs, abundant marine life and a relaxed beachfront resort, it's the perfect destination for divers looking for something beyond the usual tourist hotspots.

Your package includes six nights' accommodation, full board meals, and a five-day dive package with up to three guided dives per day.

Flights aren't included, however we'll be organising a group booking from Perth for members who'd like to travel together, while still allowing the flexibility to use frequent flyer points or make independent arrangements.

13-19 June 2027

More information can be found on our website - https://www.uecwa.com.au/upcoming-club-trips

Ready to book? Follow this link to secure your spot - https://secure.diveadventures.com.au/pages/booking-final.php?booking=30503&agent=UECWA&consultant=Eirin&destination=Indonesia&departuredate=13/06/27&departurepoint=Indonesia&DepositAmt=1100

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