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.

What you should know about great white sharks

Phil Kemp's shark booklet "What you should know about Great White Sharks" can now be viewed online at http://www.adam.com.au/sdfsa/WHAT%20YOU%20SHOULD%20KNOW%20ABOUT%20GREAT%20WHITE%20SHARKSabc.pdf

UNDERWATER TRAIL PLAQUES NEEDS CLEANING

(Photo of Port Noarlunga jetty (top) taken by Peter Gower. Photo (bottom) of Mitchell Busbridge by one of the underwater trail plaques taken by Steve Reynolds)
The Port Noarlunga Underwater Trail plaques may need some cleaning work done on them. If you are planning to do a dive in the vicinity of any of the plinths, please think to take a plastic brush along with you on your dive so that you can give the face of the plaques a bit of a scrub to remove any growth on them (but please leave edges alone).

Scuba diver drowns during 1st accredited dive

According to MICHAEL MILNES, POLICE REPORTER for The Advertiser, "A MAN who was believed to be on his first diving trip has drowned in waters near Encounter Bay.It is understood the man, 35 from Ingle Farm was scuba diving with another person at a spot referred to by locals as "Shark Alley'' between the Bluff and Wright Island this morning (December 21, 2008). Witnesses have told The Advertiser the man's diving companion was forced to inflate his safety vest underwater to get him to the surface when he lost consciousness. The man was able to attract the attention of a nearyby boat - by "waving furiously'' - that picked up the two men about 10.30am. A witness told The Advertiser the crew on the boat initially thought the man was a seal waving its flipper and almost went passed him. The crew of the boat tried to revive the man, but they were unable to. Ambulance officers were also unable to revive the man. A report will now be prepared by the coroner."

E-BOOK ON SOUTHERN AUSTRALIAN FISHES OF CONSERVATION CONCERN

Janine Baker says that 55 chapters of the e-book on southern Australian fishes of conservation concern are now available on the SA Reef Watch website (www.reefwatch.asn.au ) including synopses for approximately 220 species. The home page for the e-book is available at http://www.reefwatch.asn.au/pages/bin/view/Publications/SamsccHome . The chapters themselves are listed at http://www.reefwatch.asn.au/pages/bin/view/Publications/SamsccBonyFamilies. There are links to the full Bibliography (3,600+ refs, to November 2008) at http://www.reefwatch.asn.au/pages/bin/view/Publications/SamsccHome and the Foreword (by Dr Scoresby Shepherd, AO) is available at http://www.reefwatch.asn.au/pages/bin/view/Publications/SamsccForeword