April 2015

TUSA Dive, Deep Sea Divers Den, Reef Magic Cruises, Mike Ball Dive Expeditions, Cairns SCUBA Air, Calypso Reef Cruises, Poseidon Cruises

Nautilus SCUBA Club Newsletter

Cairns QLD AUSTRALIA http://www.nautilus-scuba.net

Dive Trips

Club Meetings

Guest Speakers

Trip Reports Email: secretary@nautilus-scuba.net

Image by Andy Ratter

April 2015

CLUB DIVES

DISCOUNTED DIVING AND DIVE

GEAR FROM OUR “FRIENDS OF

THE CLUB”

MEET NEW DIVE BUDDIES

RECEIVE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

EMAILED TO YOU

ANNUAL OVERSEAS TRIPS… AT

CLUB PRICES !

Photo by Phil Woodhead

April 2015 Meeting

Nautilus Club Monthly Meeting Wed 22nd April, 2015

from 7pm… BBQ included !!

Mark Earney, Cairns SCUBA Air Everything you ever wanted to know

about in the care of your regulator … and more !!

Nautilus Club Dive with Reel Cray Zee

Sun 12th April, 2015

Wrecks! My first passion in diving, but unfortunately the local dive operators here in Cairns don’t seem to be inter-ested in catering for those of us who love our dive sites rusty. So, when the club was able to organise a charter with Innisfail based Reel Crayzee Charters to dive the wrecks of the Lady Bowen and an unidentified fishing vessel known as the ‘Black Pearl’ I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity.

At 5.45am Sunday morning eight of us met outside Divers World on Sheridan Street for a 6am pickup. Reel Crayzee have their own air-conditioned van which comfortably transported us and our gear to Mission Beach via a short

coffee break at McDonald’s, Innisfail. Arriving at the Mission Beach boat ramp at around 8.30am we assembled our units and loaded our gear into the dive boat, a very comfortable, immaculately maintained and clean 9 me-tre shark cat with twin 300 h.p. outboards. Despite some surface chop creat-ed by some inclement weather, the boat comfortably sat on 20 knots. By 10am we were about 10 nautical miles east of Dunk Island and moored over the wreck of the Lady Bowen.

Built in 1868, the 66 metre Lady Bowen was originally an iron hulled two masted, twin engine paddle steamer. In 1889 she underwent extensive modifications and was converted to a four masted schooner. She sank in

1894 and now rests on her keel in 34 metres of water.

As we were gearing up to enter the water someone spotted what they thought was rope floating on the surface. As the ‘rope’ drifted closer, we soon saw it was in fact a large olive sea snake. We were soon to discover it had many friends. The dive boat is set up to allow for either a stride entry or a backward roll, whichever you prefer. Once in the water the chop and moderate current made the surface condi-tions somewhat challenging, so Pat and I didn’t waste any time in beginning our descent. Visibility was about 10 metres and as we descended onto the wreck we could clearly identify we were at the stern. Although the hull of the wreck is very recognizable, most of the super structure and decking have either collapsed or been damaged over the years by cyclones such as Larry and Yasi. The bow, the large stockless ‘navy type’ anchor and chain are easily identifiable as is the ship’s capstan or anchor winch. I even recognized a few pieces of brass such as a large lock and some decorative rails at the stern. The wreck and everything on it though are protected by the Historic Shipwrecks Act, so it’s strictly “look but don’t touch” and leave things there for others to enjoy.

Pat and I set off from the stern along the starboard side of the wreck and within a minute or so saw an eagle ray. There was a profusion of fish life including large trevally, barracuda and coral trout. Lying in the sand at the bow was a 2.5 metre leopard shark. We saw another not far from the port side of the stern just before we made our as-cent. What really grabbed my attention though, were the sea snakes. I would have seen more than 20 without look-

Images by Akiko Murakami

Nautilus Club Dive with Reel Cray Zee Sun 12th April, 2015

Once we were back on the boat at the end of the first dive we all enjoyed a fresh anti-pasto plate and bottles of ice cold water or cans of soft drink de-pending on your preference. The surface conditions were beginning to flatten off and discussion began about the great dive we had just had and why not do it all again. Akiko was keen to do the ‘Black Pearl” but agreed that by remaining on site and diving the Lady Bowen once more, we would have a good reason to come back and do another charter, this time making sure we did the ‘Black Pearl’.

After a 2 hour surface interval we were all back in the water. Although the surface conditions had flattened off, the visibility had also dropped and was now about 8 metres. Another stunning dive though, very much like the first. Lots of fish, big rays, sea snakes, grouper – the list goes on. Given the lim-ited time at 34 metres, diving the wreck twice ensured we were able to get a good appreciation of the site. We all exited the water extremely satisfied

with our day’s diving and enjoyed a tasty lunch of ham and salad rolls and fresh chicken.

After the anchor had been winched up, we enjoyed a very scenic and calm trip back to Mourilyan Harbour. Oscar and Jess from Real Crayzee Charters were there with the trailer and helped unload our gear. There was time to have a rinse and get changed before hopping in the van for the trip back to Divers World via McDonald’s, Innisfail for another coffee.

Arriving back in Cairns at about 6.15pm we unloaded and posed for the ob-ligatory group photo. Great company, great boat and skipper, great service and an excellent dive site made this the best single day’s diving out of Cairns I’ve had since arriving here 5 years ago. The Lady Bowen is a ‘must do’ site if you’re suitably qualified and I can highly recommend Real Crayzee Charters.

Very safe and professional service without the over the top and rigid briefs and procedures that seem to define many Cairns based charter opera-tors. Thanks to Mark, Libby, Akiko, Frank, Claire, Chris and my buddy Pat for making the day so en-joyable. Thanks also to the team at Real Crayzee Charters for their service and particularly to our dive coordinator Glen Docherty for all his time and hard work in making this excellent day possible.

John Hubbard

Images by Akiko Murakami

May Club Dive Sun 10th May, 2015

Aboard Calypso, Port Douglas

Boarding: 8.20am at Port Douglas Marina

Booking: Contact Calypso ph: 4099 6999 (tell them you are with Nautilus)

Spots will be held until 5 days prior to the date.

Tell Glen Docherty when you book

E: divecoordinator@nautilus-scuba.net

M: 0437 312 488

Remember your dive cert card and Nautilus Club Card.

Photo by Rick Evans

NOVICE......... All you new camera toting members out there, here’s your chance. This category is open to any current club member who has never entered our underwater photo contest before, images can be from compact or DSLR digital cameras, just enter your best three (3) shots, can be wide angle, macro, or portrait.

COMPACT...... Three categories, wide angle, macro and portrait, up to 3 images per category.

DSLR, including Mirror-less digital cameras with interchangeable lenses.............. Three categories, wide angle, macro and portrait, up to 3 images per category.

Images can be from anywhere around the globe but must have been taken underwater- fresh or salt, splitshots will be accepted but not swimming pool shots, and must have taken with in the last two yearsprior to the closing date of 31st May 2015.

Judging will be by a pair of independent none club member underwater photographers.

All entered images will be displayed on June 24th at the Cairns Colonial Club, winners announcedand prizes and much applause awarded.

IMAGE SIZE FOR ALL CATEGORIES SHOULD BE 4000 PIXELS ON THEIR LONGEST EDGE AND IMAGE RESOLUTION SHOULD BE 240 PIXELS /INCH

SUPPLIED AS HIGH QUALITY JPEGS

YES THERE WILL BE PRIZES

naut

ilus sc

uba club . cairns

AUSTRALIA 2015 UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY CONTESTIT’S ON AGAIN, THE

This year there will be 3 categories..............

So get started! More info to follow, rules, entry form,

how and who to send images too. Sponsors and prize info

Cost is $15 per entrant, for 1 or 9 images

Underwater Photo Competition 2015Conditions of entry:

* All entrants must be a �nancial member of the Nautilus Scuba Club Cairns* All images submitted to be the work of the submitting photographer* No Aquarium images* Images submitted should be taken between June 2013 and May 2015* Electronic retouching and cropping of images is permissible.* No composite images permitted* Closing date for Images to be submitted is Saturday 31st May 2015 no entries will be accepted after this date.* Images to be submitted on line via www.wetransfer.com to wetimage@ledanet.com.au*Entrance fee to competition to paid on-line. * All �les must have the name of entrant and category of image as their title* Images can be portrait or landscape, but must be at least 3969 pixels at 240 ppi on their longest edge.* Files submitted to be high quality JPEG* Maximum of 3 images per photographer per category.* Cost of entry is $15.00 per entrant. (for one or nine images)* Judging of images will be by professional underwater photographers who are not club members.* Judges decisions are �nal and not open for debate.* Entries will be displayed at the club meeting on Wed June 24th 2015 (which will be held at the Cairns Colonial Club) and the judges decisions announced.* Prizes for �st and second place of each category will be awarded..* There will be a club members choice award.Categories:

Novice de�ned as a club member who had never entered the Nautilus Underwater Photo comp

Digital SLR which includes mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses

Compact Cameras are de�ned as mirrorless cameras with a �xed none interchangeable lens.

The categories will be judged separately, The type of photo category are the same for all contest entrants.

Novice: 3 (three images) can be any mix or all the same of the following three categories

Macro: any photo that shows a smaller angle of view than the human eye (35mm focal length). As a guideline, macro subjects are generally 6 inches across or smaller. Images that have beenexcessively cropped to create a macro shot will be discarded.

Portrait: A portrait shot usually focuses on 1 subject. It could be a full body shot, or, for example, just focus on just the face/head, or perhaps one subject against a backdropof many.

Wide Angle: - any photo that shows a wider angle of view than the human eye (35mm focal length), including over-under shots and close-focus wide angle photos.

Underwater Photo Competition 2015Entry form:

1M 2M 3M 1 2 31P 2P 3P 1WA 2WA 3WA

Name:

Macro PortraitWide Angle

Images sized and titled correctly

Images sized and titled correctly

Images uploaded via www.wetransfer.com to wetimage@ledanet.com.au

Images received via www.wetransfer.com to wetimage@ledanet.com.au

Digital SLR Compact Camera NoviceCategory

Sign:

* Label the image �les supplied with your name and category

Closing date for entries is the 31st May 2015.The total cost of entry is $15 for one or 9 images.

Payment made on-line to Nautilus Club Bendigo Account, and an email sent to the treasurer.

Entrants payment con�rmed by treasurer.

eg. The title of the image should be your name and 1M etc

2015

Entrant checklist:

A scanned copy or photo of entry form included with images (or complete form electronically )

Entry form included with images

Save the image as a highest quality jpeg

notes on size:

Image size is A3 which is 420mm on the longest edge and 297mm on the shortest edge

or: 42cm x 29.7cm or: 3969 pixels x 2806 pixels

Maximum resolution should be no more than 300 pixels per inch or 118.11 pixels per centimeter.

at 240 pixels per inch or 94.48 pixels per centimeter which should be your minimum resolution

which means the same size image of A3, 420mm x 297mm or 42cm x 29.7cm would now be 4961 pixels x 3508 pixels as there is more pixel information in the same size area

Committee use only

Date:

Novice

BSB: 633-000 account: 113625982 Ref: name+photo comp

For Sale

Canon Powershot S95 camera

Recsea WHC-S95 aluminium housing

Tray, handles and two arms

Inon AD Double Lens Holder

Dyron AD and M67 Lens Adapters

Inon UFL-165AD Fisheye Lens

Inon UCL-165AD Close-up Lens

Genuine Canon NB-6L batteries and

charger

Great condition.

All original packaging and manuals

You just need to add strobe/s of your choice

Price: $850

Contact: Eden Gray Spence. 0417 874 682

Nautilus Club Dives coming up !!

Sun 10 May Day trip— Calypso, Port Douglas 26-30 June 2015

Minke Whale Trip with TAKA. Enquire with John Brown at Deep Sea Divers Den

Check the website for more details

For more details, contact Glen Docherty (Trip Coordinator) Email: divecoordinator@nautilus-scuba.net or Mobile: 0437 312 488

Photo by Libby Sterling

2015 Nautilus SCUBA Club Calendar

$10 each

Buy FOUR get one free !

Pre-order only… enquiries can be made at Club Meetings

Contact: Tracey Hale (auzziebird71@hotmail.com)

April 2015

Club Member

Information

Any advertising for the newsletter will need to be presented at a Committee Meeting (once per month) for approval

Nautilus Club Policies and Rules can be found on the club website

For ALL transactions (membership, club trips) please use the Club’s Bank Account (BSB: 633000 – Acct: 1136 25982)

Any questions ??... do not hesitate to contact Committee Members.. details available on the website

Confirmed offers for Nautilus Club Members

www.tusadive.com

TUSA Dive

“After 8 rate”

Any member booking a trip after 8pm on the day before departure will receive a 50%

discount off the normal trip price

Dive Shop Discount

Members receive a minimum 20% discount off regular retail price of stock in the shop

Spirit of Freedom

25% discount off full trip rate, confirmed

50% discount off full price on a standby basis, to be confirmed 24hrs prior to departure.

http://www.nautilus-scuba.net/

April 2015

NAUTILUS SCUBA CLUB Postal Secretary PO Box 737 North Cairns QLD 4870 AUSTRALIA Website http://www.nautilus-scuba.net/ Email secretary@nautilus-scuba.net

Cairns, QLD, AUSTRALIA

Photo by Aaron Smith