New Gold Coast Dive Attraction

[Dive Repairs]

The Gold Coast City Council has recently confirmed they will design and situate a "world-class" dive attraction 3.5 km south of the Gold Coast Seaway. The man made dive site will lay in 15-30 meters of water.


The council has put out a request for information to the public to assist them in coming up with a concept for the dive attraction. They will make the final decision on the design of the site in March 2014 with the attraction being completed by the 2018 Commonwealth Games.


We all know that for the Gold Coast to have a world-class dive site we need something such as a decommissioned ship, plane or train etc. But the council has ruled that out because of the costs clean and decontaminate these items prior to sinking them, even though the long term financial return the dive industry would cover this hundreds of times over.


So this leaves us with relying on the council to come up with a dive attraction we hope will make for a great dive. And we need this dive site to attract divers from around the world and importantly make them want to dive it again and again.


I have some ideas of my own which I have put together and presented to the council. But I want to hear as many different ideas as I can from as many different divers.


In hope to generate some ideas I am giving away some books written by my friend, ex work mate and shark attack survivor Paul de Gelder. His book is called No Time For Fear and I am giving four away. I want those who have not yet read the book to read about Paul's strength, determination and freakishly positive attitude in life.


If you have an idea which would make a great dive site on the Gold Coast please share it on my Dive Repairs Facebook page. You will see my post about Paul's Book and you can comment your idea there. You will then have the chance to win one of Paul's books!


You can view my page here - www.facebook.com/diverepairs


I will submit all ideas and concepts to the Gold Coast City Council.


Let's hope with a bit of innovation from the diving community we can get us a good little dive site on the Gold Coast.


David

 

[Stampsalot]

Grab some of pretentiousness that runs through the Gold Coast and dump it out to sea. You'll probably have something to rival the GBR in a few years.

(I say that as a jealous Victorian)

 

[Wobbegong wannabe]

The Gold Coast: From world class dive to world class dive site! Things are looking up...
Seriously, what about another military wreck dive a la ex-HMAS Brisbane? I know the wreck purists get huffy about purpose sunk wrecks, but the Brisbane's very popular with both local
and international recreational divers, even if it costs a bit to set up. an aircraft would be cool; we don't have any others in Australia.

GCCC being GCCC they'd probably like someone to build an underwater casino... More importantly, if they think they can set up something good without either paying for it or dealing with the green issues then tell 'em they're dreaming. Barring a convenient ship wreck (and that's not good enviro wise) nothing comes for free.

 

[Crowy]

.

Very interesting info David

Forum newby here

By a previous post of yours i read,
i'm guessing you have a dive related business here on the Goldy?
Dive shop maybe?

Cheers
Crowy

 

[Dive Repairs]

Hi Crowy,

Yes mate I do have a dive related business on the Gold Coast. I left a ten year career as a Clearance Diver in the Navy earlier this year and opened a scuba service centre in Southport. Have to love moving from one job you love to another!

I agree 100% with Wobbegong Wannabe, a decommissioned Navy ship or aircraft would be the perfect wreck for the Gold Coast. Unfortunately GCCC have cut that away due the the cost of decontaminating, prepping and sinking a ship/aircraft.

But I think any dive attraction is better than no dive attraction. The best concept I have is creating an underwater theme park. The Gold Coast is Australia's theme park capital so why not run with it and put one on the sea floor. They could use all sorts of rides, houses and game stalls. It could be spread out so it is not one crowded structure and marine life would have all sorts of little compartments to call home. There would also be some cool photo opportunities (dodge em cars, carousel, roller coaster etc). There would still be the environment issues of decontaminating used equipment but it may be in the budget...

The GCCC has now put out tenders, side scans and other details of the site etc, so the wheels are in motion. I will post any updated details as I find out.

As far as my business, I don't teach diving but I do like to organise social dives. I alternate between the dive shops on the coast who I service.

I am diving this Sunday 22/12/13 with Tweed Sea Sports. We are doing a double dive at Cook Island. Cost is $100 which includes 2 cylinders with air or nitrox.

Your welcome to come for a dive if your keen Crowy, or anyone else keen to come diving with some fellow Gold Coast divers...

If interested you can email me at david@diverepairs.com.au

David

 

[Wobbegong wannabe]

That's a cute idea. There must be plenty of old theme park rides around that aren't doing anything useful and could have a second career at a dive site.

 

[bracko]

I agree 100% with Wobbegong Wannabe, a decommissioned Navy ship or aircraft would be the perfect wreck for the Gold Coast. Unfortunately GCCC have cut that away due the the cost of decontaminating, prepping and sinking a ship/aircraft.

we've all got the NoShip Action group from Avoca to thank for that.

While I am environmentally minded, they have taken a NIMBY cause and turned it into one which has essentially ruined all purpose sunk vessels as reef's in Australia.

 

[diver257a]

I agree 100% with Wobbegong Wannabe, a decommissioned Navy ship or aircraft would be the perfect wreck for the Gold Coast. Unfortunately GCCC have cut that away due the the cost of decontaminating, prepping and sinking a ship/aircraft.

Hi Dive Repairs,

Supply of suitable ships for sinking is probably a bigger issue than the need to prepare ships for sinking. I remember reading within the last 12 to 18 months that the Commonwealth Government has lost interest in offering decommissioned ships for sinking as artificial reefs as it get cash for selling the ships for scrap. Sinking a ship obliges it to fund the environmental preparation for sinking to tune of several million dollars. During the remainder of this decade, there are at least five new RAN ships to be commissioned meaning that five are likely to be scrapped instead of being sunk.

 

[ozzydamo]

Hi Dive Repairs,

Supply of suitable ships for sinking is probably a bigger issue than the need to prepare ships for sinking. I remember reading within the last 12 to 18 months that the Commonwealth Government has lost interest in offering decommissioned ships for sinking as artificial reefs as it get cash for selling the ships for scrap. Sinking a ship obliges it to fund the environmental preparation for sinking to tune of several million dollars. During the remainder of this decade, there are at least five new RAN ships to be commissioned meaning that five are likely to be scrapped instead of being sunk.

Then they sell it onto a country like India or Bangladesh, which is corrupt and doesn't do the right environmental efforts required and it pollutes the ocean just the same.....funny how a "sale" negates the responsibility on the final outcome.