Hi Everyone,
Just a reminder - This trip will be running next weekend (Friday night to
Monday evening) and there are still a couple of spots. If you are interested
please fill in the form (link at bottom) or get in contact ASAP.
Adrian.
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Adrian Vinnell <adrianvinnell@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: MASC General <masc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, 25 May 2015, 23:51
Subject: Non Cave Divers Cave Diving Trip - Queens Birthday Long Weekend 6-8
June 2015
Hi Everyone,
Do you know a cave diver?
You know, those strange ones that like to spend their time underground away
from little luxuries us surface dwellers take for granted. Yeah, I'm talking
about luxuries like: warmth, daylight, oxygen and such...
If you too are interested in finding out WHY people go cave diving and want to
try an easy non-overhead cave dive for yourself, this is the trip for you! We
are planning to get into a couple of safe "open" sites that give you some idea
of the CRYSTAL CLEAR water and fresh water that cave divers take for granted.
The main drawcard will be Ewen's ponds which is a series of interconnected
spring fed ponds about 10m deep, and Piccaninnie Ponds which opens up into the
"Chasm" a limestone carved feature which goes... Deep...
You will not need cave training and open water divers are welcome, however you
MUST have excellent buoyancy control to avoid damaging the fragile environment
and covering your fellow divers in silt. Real cave divers are MOST WELCOME and
perhaps can show us some of the sites and explain what this cave diving stuff
is all about?
The plan is to leave Melbourne on Friday night (5th June) and head to a
Portland (5 hrs) where we will be based (in a house!). We will make day trips
from there to various sites above and below water. We would return home on
Monday afternoon. Sites and activities would be based on popular choice:
- Piccaninnie Ponds (snorkelling only - no scuba allowed)
- Piccaninnie Ponds - Walk and beach
- Ewens Ponds (SCUBA)
- Portland Ocean diving (boat/shore diving)
- Lower Glenelg and neaby National Parks
- Mt Gambier
The downside is the water will be cold and weather wintery. Probably about 12
degrees in the ocean and 15 in the freshwater ponds, you will need a good
wetsuit or drysuit, however there is no long boat ride back from the cave sites
and warm car heaters. Land based activities such as exploring the National
Parks are also possible.
Costs:Estimated and approximate costs are:
- Carpooling $120 each (costs split between everyone - over 1000kms return)
- Food $25? (shared main meals)
- Accommodation $5 per night
- Compressor use $5 per day
- Piccaninnie snorkel permit $15
If you are interested in coming along please fill in the form by Friday 29th
May. We need to make bookings based on the final numbers. (also see a photo in
the form from our previous trip for extra encouragement)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dqRxasfZRJsBrC_9Da6vNmTQ0eZdaYcQTy4eonu15mA/viewform?usp=send_form
Finally, I'm not a cave diver however did get the chance to dive Ewen's Ponds
(one of the sites we will be diving) and thought it was excellent, hence going
back again for more!
We will be using the MONUC compressor so you will need to be MONUC member for
this trip ($20 for students), however MASC membership is not required.
Look forward to seeing you all soon! Let me know if you have any questions.
Adrian.