Dive HMAS Brisbane Report 14th September - 21st September 2009

Dive Report
We have enjoyed some great dive conditions with calm seas over the past week and it looks like they will continue to be very calm right through next weekend. The visibility varied between 5-8metres with it increasing to 10 metres during the week and then finishing up at 8 metres again. Water temp was on 19C. This didn't hamper the night dive at all with all divers returning really pumped after a great night dive on the ex HMAS Brisbane.

During the week Paul and I completed a number of dives to complete our TDI Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Diving Instructor program. We will be offering both of those courses through Sunreef very shortly. It was a great program, very challenging at times, however very rewarding. Special thanks to Richard Taylor for the very well conducted program.

Getting back in the water after a bit of a break, for me, was fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed the dives inspite of the slightly less than ideal conditions on one dive in particular. A very cold thermocline which brought with it some dirty water, coupled with a fairly strong current running north to south over the HMAS Brisbane wreck and then surge to deal with on top of that was less than ideal. However, as it happens on numerous dives, that was the dive we saw the 2 huge Queensland Grouper that came in so close to us, the big school of Kingies and then all of the hard and soft corals and nudibranchs are just stunning. Thankfully these conditions didn't persist throughout the week and conditions got back to being quite good by Friday.
The ABC TV program, Stateline, asked us to comment on the illegal fishing that goes on at the HMAS BRISBANE conservation park. This was aired on Friday night and again on Saturday. We have had some good positive feed back and a lot of encouraging comments from many who saw the program. At present the segment is available for viewing on the ABC TV website. Search for "Stateline" and go to Queensland archives. The story is titled "Ranger Row".
Have a great week and don't stay out of the water too long.

Greg Riddell from Sunreef
HMAS Brisbane dive specialists Sunshine Coast Queensland Australia

Dive HMAS BRISBANE with Sunreef.