September - Underwater Explorers Club of SA

.
SEPTEMBER–2015
GENERAL MEETING
Wednesday –2nd
September
1945 for 2000
RSL Club, 147 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Hilton
All members, past members and potential members are invited to attend.
Our guest speaker for this meeting will be author / photographer Garry Searle.
Through his website Seaside Lights, Garry illustrates his enthusiasm about
light houses around the coast of Australia. This interest has led to the production
of his book
First Order –Australia’
s Highway of Lighthouses.
This project will form the basis of his presentation
Prior to the meeting, you are invited to join with those members
enjoying a meal at the Fasta Pasta, Henley Beach Road, Mile End.
Meet there at 1815.
COMMITTEE ............. 2015-2016
President .............. Bob
Vice President .............. Al
BUTTERFIELD
CHANDLER
Treasurer .............. Robyn
Secretary .............. Keith
Web Manager .............. Hugh
Training & Safety Officer .............. Mary
Newsletter Editor .............. Peter
BUTTERFIELD
LOCKWOOD
SPARROW
HOOD
MANSFIELD
CONTACTS ................ 2015-2016
SDF Representatives .............. Hugh
SPARROW
(September)
Email .............. [email protected]
Website .............. www.uecofsa.org.au
Postal Address .............. Underwater
Explorers Club of SA Inc
P.O. Box 74
Kent Town
SA
5071
DISCLAIMER - The opinions expressed by authors of material in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the UEC
SEPTEMBER

Sun 13-9
Tide times — [ H ]
0450 2.2
Second Valley / Lassiter’s Reef
[ L ] 1043 0.5 [ H ] 1650 2.5
The jetty is only a short walk from the carpark. There are a few options here. Snorkel or dive to the point where you'll find, in 9M, plenty of
large brown algae, colonial anemones, herring kale, a blue devil or two, or even a leafy sea dragon! Further around the point there are
shallow caves to inspect; bring a torch but be wary of swirling seagrass. Wrasse and old wives pairs will greet you. On a calm day, try a
snorkel and dive to Lassiter's Reef, a 2M interesting bommie about 150M from shore, that has abalone or even a crayfish. Bring a compass.

Sun 20-9
Tide times — [ L ]
0045 0.5
Dive Officer’s Choice
[ H ] 0711 2.4 [ L ]
1328 0.6
(Outer Harbour)
Don't forget this mid-week dive we schedule each month. If you are not working, give Bob a call and organise a buddy.

The Dive Calendar has been uploaded to the website for easy access. I reiterate
there are a number of away trips over the next 12 months which will require
accommodation to be booked. These trips are —
20-22 November –Stansbury
4-6 December
–Hobart
22-26 January
–Pt MacDonnell
19-21 February
–Pt Hughes
3-6 March
–Hobart/Cleanup Dive Rapid Bay Jetty
24-29 March
–(Easter) Marion Bay
22-25 April
–(Anzac Day) Edithburgh
10-13 June –Whyalla
Most of these trips are long weekends, when accommodation is at a premium. Sign-up sheets will be
available or you can register your interest on the website. Please consider these dates and get on board as
soon as possible.
We also have a number of Social Events coming up —
Fri 18th Sept
–Reef Watch Quiz Night 7.00pm at The Joinery, 111 Franklin St Adelaide
Sun 1st Nov
–Patrons Day BBQ 12.00 noon at Peter Christopher’
s home
Sat 7th Nov
–SDF Splash Ball 7.00pm at Barcoo Function Centre, West Beach
Please book in for these events
Last Sunday, quite a number of present and past members and friends joined our Patron, Peter Christopher
on his guided tour over the City of Adelaide. It was an excellent day followed by lunch at the Port Dock Hotel.
Our Sister Club in Perth, the Underwater Explorers Club of WA has initiated an opportunity for interstate dive
club members to dive with them when visiting Perth. Information is available on their website at the “Interstate
Friends of UEC”section. They have encouraged other clubs around the country to do likewise. At UEC of SA,
we have always welcomed visitors to join our dives and social events and we will continue to do so.
I hope to see you at a dive or social event in the near future.
Cheers
Bob Butterfield

Revisiting the Safety Officer’s report from June —
In June I reported on a DAN Incident Report entitled …
Do you need to turn your tank valve back a half turn?
The article stated –
The days when we needed to turn our valve
back half-a-turn are long gone, but still some
instructors teach divers to do this. Why? The
safest way to ensure you have adequate gas for
any dive is to open your tank valve all the way,
then look at your SPG while taking a couple of
breaths.
11111111
If your needle does not move then your valve must
be open and if your needle goes down towards ‘
Zero' then your valve must be closed.
If you are in the habit of turning it back half-a-turn then, like this diver discovered, you
might have enough gas to breath normally at the surface but you could find yourself
short of breath at depth. Remember, the safest way is to turn your tank valve all the
way open or all the way closed ~ Peter Buzzacott, MPH, PhD
At the UEC general meeting on 5th August those present discussed this opinion. None at the
meeting agreed with this point of view. There was disagreement that turning the valve all the
way on or all the way off was clearer indication of anything and therefore more safe. The
counter argument was put that turning the valve back half a turn ensured it did not become
stuck. Most dive instructors here generally still advise the half return of the valve.
So, the consensus is - keep going as we did before.
Cheers.
Mary
About our Guest Speaker
GARRY SEARLE has been fascinated by lighthouses for many years –stemming from his youth, growing
up in the seaside city of Wollongong, New South Wales, a port that has two lighthouses.
Over the past 15 years Garry has participated in the relighting of a number of decommissioned lighthouses
on special occasions such as International Lighthouse weekend and he serves on the committee of
Lighthouses of Australia.
Garry is delighted to share his interest of lighthouse photography with his
son William, and the two of them can often be found in the cold darkness of
pre-dawn waiting for that perfect image. Together with a photograph taken
by Garry’
s father in the 1970s, three generations of Searle photos appear in
the book.
First Order is the result of Garry’
s passion for photography, his captivation
by the ingenuity and artistry of lighthouse lens design, a respect for the
dedication of the keepers and families and his curiosity about the history
surrounding this part of Australia’
s maritime story. All of these aspects have
been moulded together to give an appreciation of a history that needs to be
preserved for future generations.
The photography and research for First Order has taken Garry to all of the
sites covered in the book, an adventure in itself. Research was conducted
not only in each of the states of Australia, but also in England and France.
See more of his work at
http://www.seasidelights.com.au/photo/
And if your appetite for lighthouses has been whetted a visit to the following website will link lighthouses
and stamps https://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=4596&start=200

Quiz Night
Friday 18th September
7pm for 7:30 pm start (Finish approx 10:30pm)
The Joinery
111 Franklin Street, Adelaide
$15 ($10 unwaged) pay on the night
BYO food and drinks
A night of enjoyment, merriment, fiction & fact!
There will be something for everyone
–you do not need to be a marine biologist, diver or involved in Reef Watch.
Loads of fantastic prizes and games!
Bookings essential –numbers are limited: include table name, captain and contact details.
Contact Steve Leske –[email protected]
or phone 8223 5155.
SDF Splash Ball
Saturday 7 November
The SDF is holding their (cocktail dress?) “Splash Ball”at the Sea Rescue Squadron at
West Beach. It is a combined social event for both clubs and shops. They will use it to
help raise money for artificial reefs.
Cost will be $30 per head, with drinks available from the bar. The band “Smarty Boys”has
been booked for the evening and door prize tickets will be issued.
Stansbury Away trip
Friday 20  Sun 22 November
This trip has been re-scheduled, and our original accommodation re-booked.
Regardless of unfavourable winds etc, centred at Stansbury there is access to a number
of interesting dive sites.
For this away trip, sign up at the general meeting or book via the website.
Alternatively, contact Bob Butterfield (0417 838 387)
SUBSCRIPTIONS 2015-2016
are now OVERDUE
Full Members & Life Members continuing to dive — $70
Social Members — $35
PLANTS and ANIMALS of the UNDERWATER WORLD
SA Marine Pests — 8
EUROPEAN FAN WORM
Sabella spallanzanii
Multi-layered spiral fan of feeding tentacles
protruding from a long, flexible semi-hardened
mucus tube. Fan colour varies from white/pale
fawn/orange/ banded to red/brown.
Habitat.
Found in sheltered temperate waters to 30 m deep
attached to hard surfaces, artificial structures,
rocks, shell, sediment and amongst seagrass.
Threat
Forms dense colonies consuming large amounts of plankton. No known predators in Australia. Fouls
aquaculture structures increasing costs for industry.
SizeCHXC-SNVY-ENY8-F763-IBAC
Feeding tentacles extend up to 20 cm. Tubes up to 40 cm long, solitary or in dense groups.
Where did it come from?
Native to the Mediterranean.
How could it get here?
Most likely attached to hull or in ballast water of large international ships and then translocated within
Australian waters via coastal shipping and recreational vessels.
Where has it been found?
SA: Metropolitan Adelaide coast, Port Adelaide - Barker Inlet system, St Vincent Marina, Port Vincent
Marina, Port Lincoln, Whyalla and Kangaroo Island. WA: Cockburn Sound, Fremantle, Bunbury, Albany
and Esperance Victoria: Port Phillip Bay Tasmania: Devonport NSW: Eden
Native species that look similar.
The native fan worm is often mistaken for the European fan worm but has no spiral form to its feeding
tentacles.
Paper ticket sales have nearly finished and our thanks are extended to
those members who undertook the task of selling a book for us.
You can still buy a ticket (or tickets) by visiting our on-line site at —
www.peopleschoicecu.com.au/underwater-explorers-club-of-sa
For details of the prizes on offer (158 of them with a prize pool of $360,000),
visit the lottery home site at www.peopleschoicecu.com.au/community-lottery-home/
and click on 2015 prize list –Check it now
Once again, it is an impressive array of prizes.
Seafood Sensation —
Banana prawn risotto
INGREDIENTS
 3/4 cup shredded parmesan
 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
 1 tablespoon lemon zest
INSTRUCTIONS

In a small heavy-based saucepan, heat the chicken stock over high
heat until hot, but not boiling. Cover and keep warm.

Meanwhile, heat a large, heavy-based, non-stick, high-sided frying
pan over medium heat. Add the oil and allow it to heat for 2 mins. Add
the pumpkin and cook for 5 mins, or until it begins to brown. Add the
fennel, onion and garlic and cook for 3 mins, or until the vegetables
begin to soften. Add the rice and stir for about 1 min, or until it is well
coated with oil and hot. Add the wine and stir constantly for about 1
min, or until most of the wine has evaporated. Stir in the lemon zest.

Add 1 cup of the hot stock to the rice mixture and cook, stirring almost
constantly and keeping the mixture at a steady simmer, for about 2
mins, or until it is absorbed. Continue adding the hot stock, 1 cup at a
time, stirring until each addition is almost completely absorbed before
adding more, and cook for about 18 mins, or until the rice is al dente
and creamy.

Stir in the prawns and cook, while stirring and adding more stock as
needed, for about 4 mins, or until the prawns are just cooked through
but still tender. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the parsley
and 1/2 cup of the parmesan. Stir in lemon juice and season to taste
with salt.

Divide the risotto among four wide serving bowls. Garnish with
remaining parmesan and freshly ground black pepper, to serve
 500g raw banana prawns, peeled
and deveined
 2 tablespoons finely chopped
fresh flat-leaf parsley
 6 cups chicken stock
 2 tablespoons olive oil
 2 cups of 1cm dice, peeled,
butternut pumpkin
 1 cup finely chopped fresh fennel
 1/2 medium brown onion, finely
chopped
 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
 2 cups arborio rice
 1 1/2 cups dry white wine
Magazines of Interest to Divers
ozdiver
http://www.ozdiver.com.au/home/index.php/view-magazine
marine life
http://marinelife.org.au/?page_id=68
City of Adelaide Tour
On Sunday, 23rd August, club members visited the City of Adelaide Clipper Ship
at Port Adelaide. We were blessed with a sunny day for the outing and gathered
afterwards at the Port Dock Hotel where we sat down for a fine lunch.
Peter Christopher, a Director of Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Ltd hosted the tour
and gave us a detailed history of the ship. The tour took us on board the ship
and Peter explained the contrast in conditions experienced by the first and
second class passengers.
The ship was purpose built to bring immigrants directly from London to Adelaide
and return with a cargo of copper and wool. She made 23 return journeys
between 1864 and 1887, playing an important role in the immigration of South
Australia.
The ship is interesting because it was built during a time when sailing ships had
reached a pinnacle in sailing technology. Wooden sailing ships had been crossing the oceans for hundreds of
years but by the second half of the nineteenth century commercial pressure had resulted in the largest and
fastest sailing ships ever built. In order to make the hull as light and as strong as possible, steel frames were
used. Because steel frames are stronger than timber, they could be built smaller resulting in additional space
being available below decks. Because the hulls were lighter they could carry heavier loads. This grand era of
sail was short lived due to the advent of steam powered vessels. Steam ships were able to navigate the newly
opened Suez Canal. Although early steam ships were slower than the sailing vessels they competed against,
they maintained their speed through the light breezes and doldrums of the tropics and were able to operate to a
more regular schedule. As sailing ships became larger, they needed taller masts and larger sail area and there
is a limit to how large a sailing ship can be. Steam ships were not bound by this size limitation and gradually
steam took over from sail.
The City of Adelaide is one of the last remaining sailing ships from this era. She is also one of the finest.
Hugh Sparrow
There will be no General Meeting in October as the majority of the
committee will be away on the Cocos Keeling & Christmas Island trip.
Jeanette Smith is organising a weekend diving in Edithburgh
on 10 and 11 October.
She has accommodation booked and has space for some extras.
If you are interested, please email Jeanette at
[email protected]
Display your skills and submit 3 photographs
for consideration in our on-going
bi-monthly competition.
Next subject is
\ Underwater Oddities
With the following theme being
\ Wrecks
Photographs should be 7”x 5”which is
2100 x 1500 pixels when resolution is 300 pixels/in
File should be jpeg, with a size less than 400 Kb
Forward to [email protected]
by 15-October 2015
Huge Japanese WWII Battleship Found
Mar 2015
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has found the wreck of the WWII Japanese battleship
Musashi, one of the world’s largest and most technologically advanced battleships,
more than 70 years after U.S. forces sank it.
The battleship was located Sunday by Allen’s luxury yacht and exploration ship, the M/Y
Octopus, at the depth of 1 km (0.6 miles) in the Sibuyan Sea off the Philippines. A
Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) with a high-definition camera confirmed the identity of
the wreckage as Musashi.
The WW2 Battleship Musashi which sank in 1944 was found 1,000 meters deep. Allen
had been searching the ship for more than eight years.
Commissioned in 1942, the Musashi, along with her sister ship Yamato, was the pride
of the Japanese Imperial Fleet.Measuring 263 meters (862 feet), it was the largest
battleship ever built, weighing in at 73,000 tons fully loaded. The huge battleship
featured 18-inch armor plating and was armed with nine 18-inch guns, the largest ever
mounted on a warship.
The Musashi fought in several battles, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea. On
Oct. 24, 1944 it was sunk by an estimated 19 torpedoes and 17 bombs in the lead up to
the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which is considered the WWII’s largest naval battle. There, U.S.
and Australian forces defeated the Japanese.
Of the battleship’s 2,399 crew members, approximately 1,023 lost their lives.
The Yamato was also damaged in the battle and was finally sank a year later by
American warships as it tried to reach Okinawa.
Despite numerous eyewitness accounts, the exact location of the Musashi sinking
remained unknown.
Allen’s team combined historical records with advanced technology to narrow the
search area in the Sibuyan Sea. Data from a hypsometric bathymetric survey of the
ocean floor ruled out large areas, allowing a BlueFin-12 Autonomous Underwater
Vehicle (AUV) to scour a narrowly defined section of the seafloor in search of the wreck.
The AUV detected the wreckage of Musashi on only its third dive.
“I am honored to play a part in finding this key vessel in naval history and honoring the memory of the incredible bravery of the men
who served aboard her,” Allen said. He added that he intends to work with the Japanese government to ensure the site is treated
respectfully as a war grave and in accordance with Japanese traditions.
CALENDAR
 All Sunday dives to be booked on the Website by the Thursday before the dive 
 All Wednesday dives to be booked by the Monday before the dive 
(Dive departure times as shown)
SEPTEMBER
DL – Robyn Butterfield (0419 866 460)
Wed 2nd
 Sun 13th
Tues 15th
ä
Fri 18th
ä
 Sun 20th
Tues 22nd
ä
ä
SO – Hugh Sparrow (0418 814 735)
General Meeting — RSL Club, Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Hilton
Second Valley/Lassiter’s Reef
Wirrina
Committee Meeting
Newsletter items due
Diver’s Choice
SDF Meeting — Uni SA City West Campus, North Tce, Adelaide
2000
1000
1930
0830
1900
OCTOBER
DL – Jeanette Smith (0427 484 756)
 Sun 4th
 Sun 18th
Tues 20th
ä
 Thur 22nd
Fri 23rd
ä
Tues 27th
ä
SO – Hugh Sparrow (0418 814 735)
Diver’s Choice
Port Noarlunga Jetty
Committee Meeting
Diver’s Choice
Newsletter items due
SDF Meeting — Uni SA City West Campus, North Tce, Adelaide
0830
0830
1930
0830
1900
NOVEMBER
DL –
Sun 1st
Wed 4th
ä
 Sun 8th
 Thur 12th
Tues 17th
ä
Fri 20th
ä
 Fri 20th > Sun 22nd
Tues 24th
ä
ä
SO –
Patron’s Day BBQ
General Meeting — RSL Club, Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Hilton
O’Sullivans Beach
Hallett Cove Reef
Diver’s Choice
Committee Meeting
Newsletter items due
Stansbury - Away
SDF Meeting — Uni SA City West Campus, North Tce, Adelaide
1200
2000
0830
0830
1930
1900
ITEMS FOR THE NEWSLETTER ARE ALWAYS WELCOME
Send them by the date shown in the calendar to —
Peter Mansfield, 4 Delange Avenue, Banksia Park SA 5091 or
email to [email protected]