Jetty Dive’s Latest Newsletter May 2015
Jetty Dive’s Latest Newsletter May 2015
The Solitary Islands Dive News at Coffs Harbour
What’s in this edition!
- LOCAL CONDITIONS AND NEWS REPORT
- JETTY DIVE NOW 100% PROJECT AWARE
- SOLOMON ISLAND’S UEPI TRIP
- BIG CAT MORTON BAY LIVEABOARD TRIP
- PHOTOGRAPHY TRAINING WEEKEND
- MONTHLY PADI SPECIALTY DEALS
- HOLLIS REBREATHER COURSE
Hi Everyone!
Welcome Again to another Jetty Dive newsletter! May 2015
Make sure you keep an eye on our Dive reports. This will keep you up to date with all the latest conditions. We update them after everyday of diving.!
Local Conditions and News…
With Summer over and Winter in our sites it has now become that time of the year to put away the summer wetsuit and reach into the cupboard for something a little thicker! It’s not all bad though, we are now starting to see greater numbers of Grey Nurse Sharks around the northern end of South Solitary Island and very soon our Humpback friends will be making their journey north along our coastline.
Overall, the diving conditions during summer were great, we even had multiple Leopard Shark sightings at South Solitary Island. The water was also very warm this summer, reaching a top of 27 degrees. As per usual we still copped our fair share of bad weather, the months of March and April were hit with nasty east coast low pressure systems which reeked havoc along the mid-north coast. Lets hope that the weather during the coming months will be kinder to us.
JETTY DIVE CENTRE IS NOW 100% PROJECT A.W.A.R.E
What is Project Aware?
More than 20 years ago, a group of environmental advocates at the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) founded Project AWARE. They were deeply concerned about emerging threats to the underwater world.
For two decades Project AWARE’s mission was to educate divers about emerging ocean issues and encourage participation in underwater conservation activities. More than 1000 dive operators and countless dive volunteers committed to marine protection efforts worldwide.
Jetty Dive is now 100% Project aware
Jetty Dive Centre has made a commitment to donate to the Project Aware Foundation each time a student diver is certified.
The money from these donations will help to;
• Collect data and remove devastating debris worldwide while tackling prevention and policy efforts addressing long-term solutions.
• Secure protection for the world’s most threatened shark species.
• Strengthen shark finning bans and closing loopholes.
• Engage divers in education and conservation actions worldwide.
Every diver that completes a diving certification with Jetty Dive Centre will now receive a Project Aware certification card like the one pictured here.
What can you do to help?
You too can show your support by making a small donation to Project Aware by clicking here
COMING SOON! ONLY ONE OVERSEAS HOLIDAY FOR 2015 LEFT!!!
Solomon Islands’ best location Uepi Island Resort
7th to 14th August 2015 8 days/7 Nights for $3,495 Ex Brisbane
Now offering an Optional extension in Honiara, 4 nights and 4 Dives for $760 taking trip to 18th August.
This Trip Includes Flights, Accommodation and MEALS, 11 dives and all transfers.
Our last trip to Uepi seemed only last year, however it was back in 2009. We love Uepi with it’s luxury and comfort of the Bungalows fringing the Maravo Lagoon.
The island is a remote location, and yet the layout and hosting that the staff offer makes you fall in love with the place.
Flying from Brisbane, it is only just over 2 hours to Honiara, where we transfer to a small plane to the airstrip at Seghe. From Seghe we are loaded into the Resort boats for a trip across the Lagoon to the fringing Islands where Uepi is located. The closest local village is 14kms away, so it is pure wilderness.
The diving is pure tropical
With deep walls of coral, caves and even wrecks, along with the attraction of the sharks and fish that surround the area. Uepi offers everything from small critters to big fish. Water temp is 30c and dive sites are often only minutes away from the dive wharf.
All meals at Uepi included
The rooms are very nice, all have outdoor areas where your lunch is delivered daily, along with beautiful views of the remote islands. Nice touches like plunger coffee add to the little extras that make Uepi special. The other great feature with this trip is the meals are all included. Every night they have a smorgasbord of three or four main dishes, which includes the freshest seafood you can get. The only thing you will pay for is your drinks.
BIG CAT Lady Elliot BARRIER REEF TRIP 19-22 June 3 days and nights
Look at this trip we have just put together! We have organised a 3 Day weekend trip to Lady Elliot Island to dive with MANTA RAYS! This Big Cat liveaboard trip is departing from Bundaberg (5 hours drive north of Brisbane) at early evening on Friday 19th June. By Saturday morning we are ready for our first dive on the Barrier Reef! The trip is for 3 days with up to 5 dives on Saturday and 5 dives on Sunday, with 3 dives on Monday 22nd before we travel back to port at Bundaberg. Total cost of the 3 Day Live-Aboard trip which includes Dives Meals and bunk style accommodation is $950. Great value when you consider we will be diving with the majestic Manta Rays of Lady Elliot island.
If you want to extend the adventure, we are considering a stop at Mooloolaba on the Monday night and diving the wreck of the Brisbane on Tuesday, before returning home.
Book your spot now on the Big Cat Liveaboard trip with us
DSLR UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
July 25-26th at the Solitary Islands aboard Wildfin!
Presented by Gary Bell – Award winning underwater photographer with more than 30 years of experience 
behind the camera.
Gary Bell is one of Australia’s most accomplished nature and wildlife photographers with International acclaim. His images have featured in major magazines and books around the world, limited edition coins, postage stamps, newspapers, advertisements, signage and many other publications. Gary’s latest coffee table book, The Great Barrier Reef – A World Heritage National Park, contains more than 250 vibrant portraits of the Great Barrier Reef.
Gary has worked on photography assignments for National Geographic magazine and Television Division, Australia’s CSIRO Division of Fisheries, Australian Geographic magazine, Travelling in Australia magazine and other nature related journals.
He is the founder and Manager of OceanwideImages.com, a leading Stock Photo Agency specializing in natural history photography; and was one of the judges in the 2012-13 Underwater Australasia Shootout competition.
We are pleased to announce that in conjunction with Jetty Dive, Gary Bell will be hosting a 2 day DSLR underwater photography workshop on the weekend of July 24-26, which will commence on Friday evening, July 4. Four practical field boat dives are included in the workshop, where participants get to practice their new underwater photography skills in the Solitary Islands Marine Sanctuary, famous for abundant marine life and friendly fish. Gary will be sharing his knowledge and experiences in underwater photography to bring your technical photography skills to a whole new level, even if you are just a beginner Gary is catering for all levels on this course!!!
If you are interested in taking part in this once in a lifetime opportunity, please contact Jetty Dive on (02) 6651 1611 for more details.
A Digital SLR camera is desired, however high end Digital cameras with the ability to operate all the controls in the Manual setting is OK. Strobe lights are also required.
Accommodation can be arranged to suit any budget, should this be required.
Amazing Value at only $495 per person
Includes:
- 4 Dives on Wildfin at the Solitary Islands
- 3 Workshop sessions, Friday evening and Saturday and Sunday after the dives.
- Includes Tanks and weights and airfills, Does not include equipment. Bookings are essential so give us a call or send us an email if you are interested.
SPECIALTY OF THE MONTH OFFER
Bonus Double Dive with PADI Specialty Training
For the next 5 months we will offer a PADI SPECIALTY COURSE each month!
Take up the offer in that month and you will get a BONUS Double Dive Trip to the Solitary Islands aboard Wildfin*
May is PADI Enriched Air (NITROX) Specialty Month
Wreck diving, Underwater Photography, or a vacation in some tropical paradise. The Enriched Air Diver course helps you get more out of diving by giving you more time underwater!
June is PADI Shark Awareness Specialty Month
What a month to do PADI Shark Awareness Specialty! This is when we see a large amount of Grey Nurse come visit Manta Arch. Up to 40 sharks can hang around the area, making the dives spectacular. All proceeds of this specialty go towards Project Aware, a foundation that support conservation of our underwater world.
July is PADI Deep Diver Specialty Month
Deep Dive past sharks at Manta Arch and find pipefish at 32mtr at Buchanan’s Wall. Learn the skills that may be needed when you dive deep, like using redundant air supply and SMB deployment.
August is PADI Night Diver Specialty Month
Sometimes not easy to get the boat out, the Night specialty in August will include some shore dives off Muttonbird if needed. Three dives to complete the specialty which can also take place over several months. Start in August and get a free Double (day) Dive
September is PADI Under Water Videography Specialty Month
Learn the fundamentals of taking Underwater Video, from equipment setup to shot types and sequencing. The PADI Underwater Videographer Specialty course shows you how to create videos that are interesting, entertaining and worth watching again and again.
THE PADI SPECIALTY DIVER COURSES COUNTS TOWARDS YOUR MASTER SCUBA DIVER RATING. Get your Master Scuba Diver Card FREE this year from PADI!
Great New Product and Training
HOLLIS EXPLORER REBREATHER COURSE
Keen to try diving without bubbles?!
The Hollis Explorer is a true recreational Rebreather. The unit is neither a fully closed circuit Rebreather nor a pure semi-closed system, but
an intelligent hybrid that utilizes the best of both worlds. Its compact, lightweight and extremely easy to use.
The Explorer is unique in using a single gas; Nitrox, and is electronically controlled to achieve an optimal balance of PPO2 and dive time. Plug and Play absorbent cartridges, easy guided setup with go or no go, optional CO2 tracking, and 2 hour design duration make this a dream for any recreational diver.
The Explorer diver will benefit from breathing warm gas, have lots of bottom time, and since it does not produce any invasive bubbles, see more sea life than ever before.
Mike and Garry have both dived the Hollis Explorer for over 6 months now and have found it is an easy and fantastic way to dive without Bubbles. The most liked feature is the quiet operation without noisy bubbles.
We are planning an Explorer Rebreather course for a weekend in July (date to be advised), Here is your Chance!
Contact Mike if you are interested!
YOU WILL BE MISSED!
We would also like to congratulate Alexia, our Part-time instructor, who has moved to Lizard Island to work in the marine science field.
Two of our Dive Masters, Bryce and Madison, have also both left to start new career paths. Bryce has moved to the Dominican Republic to do a PADI Instructor intern-ship for 6 months and Madison has moved to Fraser Island to work as a Ranger.
Congratulations and good luck to you all 🙂
That’s all Folks! Hope you like it.
Signed
Mike…. For the Team at Jetty Dive Centre
P.S. If you have any comments, I would like to hear them, just email me with a click here
