Dive Log

The end of August saw the Sydney Project embark on an exploration trip to Bateman’s Bay following up a lead on ‘metal’ which had historically hung many trawler’s nets.

Well, that’s a single sentence to encompass a long lead time of phone calls, favours begged, investigation of online and written data, and securing a suitable boat to charter for the event. Most of this work is down to the SP’s leader/founder/court jester, Samir Alhafith. Regardless of the outcome, without this sort of enterprise and dogged determination, organizations such as the Sydney Project wouldn’t exist, nor do the gaps in our knowledge of maritime history gradually close.

A team of 6 divers and 6 support crew intended to travel to Bateman’s Bay and try their luck on August 30. In the convoy were bottom divers Kevin Okaby, Fil Gray and Frits Breuseker (on Inspiration Classics); Henry Iannitti (Open circuit); Steve Loneragan (Mk 15.5) Andy Del, (modified Classic KISS) Ange Jeffery (dive supervisor, shopping queen, chef and accommodation guru). The information to hand saw us planning to dive from 75m to 90m of water; mixed gas territory. For the technically minded, the most common plan was a bottom mix of 10/70, with intermediate gasses of 15/55, 21/35 and deco gasses of EAN 40 and oxygen. CCR diving makes some aspects of planning much easier. Given a gas that fulfill the needs for avoiding oxygen toxicity, enough helium to ensure a lack of narcosis and easy work of breathing, one can plan on a deep dive and then be able to dive shallower without a huge decompression penalty, or the expense of using up helium that was not really called for.

As is the norm for our busy 21^st century lives, Steve was caught at work and Peter became ill: we were down to 5 bottom divers and one support person on-board. Luckily for us, the Charter Boat Reef Knot came with a helpful skipper (Neil Ennis) and deckie extraordinaire Terry – our plans to dive were possible

The team stayed in Bateman's Bay on Friday night at a flophouse of a motel complete with lots of drinking giggling and arseing about P platers down for drag racing or something. (You should have seen the front of someone’s Falcon the next morning – I hope they were insured with AAMI: the money they saved on their premium…) At least their noise drowned out the snores of various team members, spread out over 3 rooms! With a dinner at the local Catalina Club, the team was ready for an early start, meeting the boat at6.30am.

 Next morning we met Neil and Reef Knot at the public wharf just left of the big bridge on the Highway, loaded up and off we went by 7:00am. As the wharf can driven onto, loading up was a breeze – and much easier on then back! Parking outside the pay car park, due to the machines not being available before 8am (you’ve got to wonder) and no sledgehammers to insert coins with (insert one’s evil smile here) took only minutes. You’ve got to love the difference with big city parking!

Cruising at about 11kts and 13kts flat-out, Reef Knot is a roomy well thought out boat, suitable for both a good day on the water fishing, and a bunch of divers in the water, fishing for a wreck! Some of the features included a well designed dry bins between roomy padded benches on the covered deck, a wide transom door, full size head, a comfortable dry cabin and enough room for everyone to spread out comfortably. Have a look at the image of the ‘gearing up’ hatch! Just 2 steps to the stern door, a step down to the duck board and then fall in. While the boat’s ladder is rather small, all SP members we can all take our gear off in the water. (Right guys? Guys?) At least, I know Tony K and I are accomplished at doing this, due to some diving off rather, ahem, compact boats around Sydney. Judith of Scuba Warehouse in Parramatta is very supportive of the Project and has donated drop tanks and regs for our dives. Don’t they look schmick!

 On the cruise out, we discussed out plans with the Mark, the skipper, and established a few things. First, this was going to be harder than we thought: this mark (and one other he had in mind) were both well known trawling hazards that did not come up well on sounders. So guess what we use to find the mark… Anyway, the trip was an exploration, not a guaranteed virgin wreck, so with a positive outlook, we arrived on our first mark after 2 and a bit hours. The team mowed the ocean for a while with little success. The sounder indicated flat reef, with few gutters or raised sections. Clearly, this was not our day. A second mark was also explored, with the same result, this time on sand. Something hangs the trawler’s nets up, but both they and our team couldn’t find it.

On the return to the wharf, we waited for the tide to start to flow and put enough water over the bar for a safe crossing.

Many people would say it was a wasted day. How wrong. Much was learned and potential wreck marks erased from our list of ‘things to do’.

We removed two possible wreck sites from consideration. Another mark was identified for future exploration. The operator, Neil Ennis is a true gent and runs a great operation. This is a wonderful boat for diving from, friendly crew who fed us, help load and unload, smiled a lot, had cold drinks in the eskie, showed us how to interpret the sounder, got people to drive a bit and made coffee throughout the day.

Even cheaper (and far superior) accommodation was identified by Ange, our accommodation expert. Lastly, we all had a great day out on the water.

Sadly however, Reef Knot is up for sale ($320 000 for those with some extra cash) so it may not be available for charter in the future. The Sydney Project is booked to be back to conclude some unfinished business in the very near future.