Steve's Underwater Photos

I have started posting some of my own underwater photos at ttp://picasaweb.google.com.au/stevereynolds600/SteveSUnderwaterPhotos?authkey=ZTQvXlJB9BM

Ray Trezise's underwater photos

Ray Trezise says that he took thousands of underwater photos in SA over the years and he has used them to give slide shows to schools, Lions clubs, rotary clubs, etc. Ray now lives in Tasmania and doesn't dive any more but his collection of photos are something very special. A selection of them can be seen at http://picasaweb.google.com.au/stevereynolds600/RayTreziseSUnderwaterPhotos

SPEARFISHING BAN AT SECOND VALLEY

More than 2 months have passed since I reported witnessing several youths carrying hand spears at Second Valley in January & nothing seems to have been done about it at all. No FishWatch officer was immediately available to take the report on the January incident and investigate the matter at the time. Two attempts to report the matter to FishWatch resulted in ‘blank looks’ from operators having no knowledge of a spearfishing ban at Second Valley, even though such a ban was proclaimed in March 1992. Signage regarding the spearfishing ban in the area was no longer evident and needs to be replaced. I returned to the location at the end of March to find that there is still no signage. There has not been any further contact from FishWatch since making my report.

Yellow-tail schooling at Port Hughes jetty

Peter Gower and I recently enjoyed a dive at Port Hughes jetty where yellow-tail often school around you. Check out a short video of the schooling on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH9I5wdh7aI.

Struck by stargazer @ Second Valley

Scuba Steve may have been struck by a stargazer at Second Valley on Saturday 17th January. The 30cm-plus specimen may have struck me on the legs as I lay on the seabed. When I turned to see what had struck me, I saw what appeared to be a fish carcass settling on a nearby sand patch. A closer inspection revealed that it was actually a live stargazer. I managed to take a photo of the fish before it turned around on the spot and proceeded to bury itself in the sand. I managed to take a second shot of it before it completely disappeared into the sand. It seems to be an eastern stargazer, Kathetostoma laeve. Large specimens are said to be known to bite divers during night dives.

UEC's RAAF Avro Anson expedition on the Murray (1968)

The Swan Reach Museum has approached the UEC to see if they have any information or photos of the club's "RAAF Avro Anson" expedition on the River Murray in 1968. The plane crashed in the river at Monteith (near Tailem Bend) in 1942. Eight airmen were killed, including one from Swan Reach (Dudley Haines). The UEC dived the site mid-1968 in order to salvage items from the crash. The Swan Reach Museum has been given a grant by the federal government to create a display of the incident. If you dived the site, or were involved in any way, or have any information or photos, please contact me.

2009 TIDE PREDICTIONS FOR PORT ADELAIDE

A chart of Port Adelaide tide predictions which show when dodge tides occur is available at http://www.bom.gov.au/oceanography/tides/dodge/oh2009pre.pdf .

SEAWEEK

Seaweek is the Marine Education Society of Australasia’s (MESA) major national public awareness campaign. It is conducted annually to focus community awareness, provide information and encourage an appreciation of the sea. For more information visit http://www.mesa.edu.au/seaweek2009/default.asp .

Diving Incident Monitoring Study (DIMS)

I found a link to the Diving Incident Monitoring Study (DIMS) on "DiveDoc.net". A DIMS form for the reporting of diving incdents can be found at http://www.divedoc.net/diving_medicine/dims_form.asp. I have added the site (for the form) to my links.

Richard "Harry" Harris's website

I have just discovered Richard "Harry" Harris's website "DiveDoc -Harry's home on the web" at http://www.divedoc.net/default.asp. This great site features lots re cavediving and underwater imaging. I have added the site to my links.

Reef Balls

Reef balls are made using a special mix of concrete that allows algae to grow quickly, creating ideal marine habitat for fish and invertebrates. According to the web page found at http://www.reefballaustralia.com.au/ , Reef Ball Australia “design and build:
Artificial reefs for fishing, diving, snorkeling
Reefs for beach protection and tourism, e.g. multipurpose breakwaters
Fish friendly structures for coastal developments, jetties, resorts, marinas
Man-made reefs for offsetting environmental impacts, coral restoration
Reef Balls are a scientifically proven concrete artificial reef unit now being used in over 59 countries to enhance, protect and rehabilitate reefs and beaches. The key to their success is that they mimic natural reefs in form and function, quickly increasing fish numbers and diversity as well as being rapidly colonised by corals, algae and sponges.
Reef Ball Australia is the authorised Australian contractor for the Reef Ball technology. Over half a million Reef Balls have been deployed in over 59 countries and 3,200 projects. Reef Ball Australia’s services include: Supply of concrete artificial reef units, Site assessment, Reef design,
Assistance with permits, Deployment, Coral rehabilitation, Monitoring. Wikipedia has a page about the Reef Ball Foundation at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reef_Ball_Foundation.

Public submissions addressing the proposed Adelaide Desalination Plant Environmental Impact Statement

Public submissions addressing the proposed Adelaide Desalination Plant Environmental Impact Statement prepared by SA Water are now available on line at www.planning.sa.gov.au/go/adelaidedesalinationplant. SA Water has been preparing a Response Document, addressing issues raised in submissions. This should have been completed by now (mid-late January 2009). The next step in the process is for the Minister for Urban Development and Planning to prepare a Response Document (that considers the EIS, submissions and Response Document). The Assessment Report is then considered by Cabinet and a decision made by the Governor (likely to be within the first quarter of 2009). Following the decision by the Governor the Assessment Report and Response Document are made available to the public.