LOSS OF LADDER FROM PORT NOARLUNGA JETTY

Port Noarlunga jetty at low tide (Sources:

www.users.bigpond.com/sch57/portnorfront.html

http://users.tpg.com.au/honeydin/Portnoarlunga/portnoarlunga/images/pictures/pnshorelow.jpg

http://users.tpg.com.au/honeydin/Portnoarlunga/portnoarlunga/water/water.html)

The ladder on the divers’ steps at Port Noarlunga jetty broke off on 21^st November. As it was low tide when some divers returned to exit at the steps, they had to swim towards shore to exit. Presumably, they were able to exit at the shore steps. The matter was reported to the SDFSA that same day and we were able to send an email message straight off to the Onkaparinga Council, asking them to investigate the matter.

FISH FEEDING DANGER AT PORT NOARLUNGA

The (3 years old) web page found at http://users.tpg.com.au/honeydin/Portnoarlunga/portnoarlunga/water/water.html says, “it is not unusual to be confronted by schools of sweep waiting for the bread that many divers bring with them”. If this is so, it needs a big re-think when one considers the following details: -

Tim Folwell and his wife were snorkelling at the Port Noarlunga reef last summer when someone threw a loaf of bread off the jetty. All of a sudden, the fish that they had been swimming with before suddenly turned on Tim and started biting him all over the body. (It is assumed that Tim was not wearing a wetsuit at the time of his snorkel at the reef.) A few days later he got very sick. The wound became infected, the bacteria spread to his aorta and developed into staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, which resulted in him losing 80% of his skin. Once the infection got into his blood stream, it caused a septic shock in which all the organs in the body were starved of essential oxygen and blood and began to fail. Tim’s kidneys failed, his liver began to fail and his heart wasn't working properly. After months in intensive care in the burns unit, he had a leg amputated and had to learn to walk with prosthesis at the Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre. Tim’s story was told on ABC TV’s “Stateline” program and it can be seen at http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/11/05/3058877.htm .

We tried to contact the owner of the web page found at http://users.tpg.com.au/honeydin/Portnoarlunga/portnoarlunga/water/water.html, but the email address was invalid.

On Sunday 21^st November, it was reported that snorkellers were in the water (a.m.) with bread (one person had 2 loaves).

World Record underwater broadcast in open water

Cam Williams from Channel 9 TV’s Weekend Today show successfully completed the longest underwater broadcast in open water at Great Keppel Island. Visit http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/cam-underwater/xd7murp to see some video footage of the successful world record attempt by Cam.

Last meetings for this year

The Marine Life Society held its last meeting for 2010 on 17/11. Neville Skinner gave a talk about a recent dive trip to the Nullabor.
The next Scuba Divers Federation of SA meeting on 14/12 will be their last one for this year. Both organisations will start up again next February.

Climate change corporate plan for DENR

This is part of a page out of the new corporate plan for the SA Department for Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It is spruiking all about climate change.

START TIME FOR SDFSA MEETINGS

SDFSA meetings now start at 7.15pm. They are being held at the Hilton RSL Club, 147 Sir Donald Bradman Dr, Hilton. Make sure that your clubs sends a delegate along to represent your members.

Picaninnie Ponds on "Postcards"

Click on these images to enlarge the details. keep clicking to enlarge them even more. There haven't been many postings to this blog as of late because I've been busy posting to other blogs & sites, such as my shark blog, shipwreck blog & SA Scuba Diving Site. Channel 9 TV's "Postcards" program recently featured a report about diving in Picaninnie Ponds, near Port MacDonnell. Details can be found at http://www.postcards-sa.com.au/features2010/piccaninnie_ponds_secret.html . These images can also been found there.

CLOSED SEASON FOR ROCK LOBSTERS IN SA WATERS

Please note that the 2010-11 Southern Zone rock lobster season will now re-open on 1st November. It will now run from 6am on 1st November 2010 until 6pm on 30th April 2011. It seems that the 2010-11 Northern Zone rock lobster season will also re-open (at 12noon) on 1st November still, although it normally runs until 6pm on 31st May (2011).

"Wik" photographic website - "Steve's Shots"

I am in the process of setting up a "Wik" photographic website called "Steve's Shots" at http://www.wix.com/SteveReynolds/Steves-Shots?gu%5Fid=13dc92c4%2D60b1%2D48c5%2Db58a%2Df4e644d700c4&orgDocID=Bo%3B%5FHz%5FExUM%2Da&experiment%5Fid=empty&partner%5Fid=WMGs4POB1ko%2Da&wixComputerID=jout8rskz5y3lT4qKF1xnwri0neJDANDrr1ysqTclKc8dbl8fyiTChfaKjzxV%2Bjy3fRkFwMnHXHPXnMbAHtjcg%3D%3D&wsess (http://www.wix.com/SteveReynolds/Steves-Shots). Please bear with me whilst I build up this site to something worthwhile.

SA wreck mooring buoys still not replaced

Star of Greece wreck

I understand that the mooring buoys missing from both the Norma and the Star of Greece wrecks have still not been replaced yet. It is hoped that the DEH will soon do the right thing.

INFESTATION OF JAPANESE KELP IN APOLLO BAY

The invasive Japanese Kelp, which had become widely established in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, has now started to become established inside Apollo Bay Harbour.

Dismay over Sunday Mail's promotion of SA restaurant selling shark fin soup

On April 18th, Adelaide's Sunday Mail ran a 2-page spread about a local restaurant selling a seafood soup of which shark fin was a main ingredient. Residents of Adelaide responded beautifully, with the 1st response to the item on the AdelaideNow website being posted 1st thing Sunday morning. Many of SA's divers & scientists have now expressed their dismay. There had been some 150 responses within a few days, several of them coming from overseas. My own response read: - "Clearly the Sunday Mail has overstepped the mark by promoting shark fin soup in this era. I'm glad to see that Adelaide has responded en masse. But this is not the end of the matter. It will be brought to the attention of a wider audience which expected to express its dismay in a huge way." Dive Log magazine & SportDiving magazine have offered to make a stand against the Mail's thoughtlessness in promoting both the restaurant and the meal. The page 24 article can also be read at http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/soup-of-the-day-for-450/story-e6fref5u-1225854379693. Be sure to study the numerous responses to the article.

WETSUITS FOR SALE

Craig Mattiske from Coromandel Valley is asking for $150 each for two wet suits that he has for sale. Both are 7mm 2-piece (1 male, 1 female). They are both in good condition. They are both small size – sml mens & sml womens. Craig used to be a slim 179cms (5' 10 1/2") and his wife was a slim 163cm (5'4"). Contact Craig at mattiske4@adam.com.au. Photos of both suits can be found at http://sites.google.com/site/sascubadivingsite/ian-s-page .

My new SA SCUBA Diving Site website now taking shape

Peter Gower surrounded by yellowtail scad at Port Hughes jetty

My new SA SCUBA Diving Site web site at http://sites.google.com/site/sascubadivingsite/home is now taking shape and is well worth a look. There are many web pages covering a variety of topics of interest. Your ideas regarding the site are most welcome.

Google "SA SCUBA Diving Site" website

I've just commenced a Google website (SA SCUBA Diving Site) at http://sites.google.com/site/sascubadivingsite/. I hope to be able to promote scuba diving in South Australia through this site. Please bear with me though, as I learn the ropes and build the site up.

Big cray caught off NZ

This is an 8kg crayfish caught off the coast of New Plymouth, NZ . It took 2 divers to bring it up. The cray is sitting on a full size dive tank! The cray below it is of a legal size.

AIR FILLS ON SOUTHERN FLEURIEU PENINSULA

To the best of my knowledge, air fills are no longer available on the southern Fleurieu Peninsula. This means that multiple dive cylinders will be needed for multiple dives in the area if a compressor is not available. Divers can no longer get cylinders filled at either Victor Harbor or Normanville, or any where in between. The closest dive shops offering air fills are at either Port Noarlunga or Christies Beach.

DIVE SAFETY SEMINAR IN MELBOURNE

(Presented by DAN & The Alfred, Sunday 21st February)
In conjunction with The Alfred, DAN Asia-Pacific is holding a Dive Safety Seminar. This event provides a unique opportunity for divers to hear from experts in diving health and safety. Speakers include: -- Dan Orr, President, DAN America - Professor Alessandro Marroni, President, DAN Europe - Frans Cronje, President, DAN Southern Africa - John Lippmann, Executive Director, DAN Asia-Pacific - Dr Ian Millar, Director, Hyperbaric Medicine, Alfred Hospital - Dr Andrew Fock, Hyperbaric Consultant, Alfred Hospital - Dr Lisa Gershwin, Jellyfish Expert - Dr David Wilkinson, Co-ordinator Divers Emergency Service
Numbers are limited so register early. All attendees will receive a show bag and there will be a great range of prizes given out on the day. The Dive Safety Seminar is being held on Sunday 21st February, 9.00am – 6.00pm, at the Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Victoria. Cost: DAN Members: $30, Non-DAN Members: $40 (Inclusive of morning & afternoon tea). To reserve your place, call 03-9886 9166 or email to communications@danasiapacific.org with your Name, Member Number, Phone Number, and Credit Card Details. Payment is required to confirm booking.

A LADDER NOW AT SECOND VALLEY JETTY

A ladder has now been installed on the Second Valley jetty. It is a good one, quite reasonable for use by divers exiting (& entering?) the water. Photos of the new ladder have been posted at http://picasaweb.google.com.au/stevereynolds600/NewLadderNowAtSecondValleyJetty. (My apologies for those above water shots with water still on the lens.) Other options at this stage, apart from using the ladder, are entry (& exit) from the beach, rocks, or walking to the second bay to the left of the jetty. The District Council of Yankalilla is working towards the building of replacement steps for the jetty. They will report the works to be undertaken on the jetty to replace the steps in the new year. The jetty & causeway are a State Heritage listed Council Asset. As such, they require DEH, DTEI & development approval. Council staffs have been “working with these departments, proposing improvements that adhere to heritage principles & meet the requirements of the community & their recreational needs”.