Reef Check Dive - Flinders Reef QLD - 15th September

[Mantra]

That helps clarify further. Incompetence rather than corruption. Thanks, Ferris213. OD's point about poor anchoring practices while the moorings were gone still stands, but given the tone his posts have taken I'm disinclined to engage further. It's useful information - shame about the delivery.

OD - alas, I do not mate for a living, no.

 

[AussiePro]

Good luck with promoting this dive, if I was in Brisbane I would certainly be interested in coming along. It has been a number of years since I did any recreational diving in SEQ. Coming down to dive the HMAS Brisbane next month though, which should be good.

 

[Mantra]

Meh. I just thought it might be a good chance to catch up with other SB folk if anyone was around. They've now dropped the cost to $150 for the dives I note. Reefcheck plus the museum means there will be some real experts onboard and it seems a constructive way to engage with conservation efforts. We are really looking forward to it! If the weather holds up, it looks like a treat.

AP, let us all know when you will be doing the Brisbane if you like. I'd love to get back there. We will be over at Straddie on the 12th to the 15th with the dreaded unidive club working on skills, but other than that don't have October diving locked in yet.

 

[ozzydamo]

I pulled the below quote from Dive-oz.

Here is the official response from the Ranger in Charge of Marine Parks Operations - Moreton Bay

Dear Mr. Parker

In recognition of the increasing demand for public moorings in Flinders Reef no anchoring area, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) arranged for the construction, installation and load testing of eleven new moorings at the site. Unfortunately, the contractor failed to supply a successful load test following installation. Moorings are load tested and assigned a class (A, B, C or D) that determines the size of vessel that can safely tie up to the mooring under certain operating conditions. It is essential therefore that the mooring loads are assessed correctly. Flinders Reef is located in exposed offshore waters and a mooring failure could lead to a significant marine incident. As a consequence, in the interest of public safety, the mooring tackle was removed last year while alternative arrangements were made to have the moorings re-tested.

Prolonged rough sea conditions have hindered the new contractors ability to load test the moorings, however, I am advised that recent advice from the contractor indicates that tackle can be re-instated for Class A and B moorings. These moorings will facilitate access for most vessels and QPWS intends to connect this tackle to the mooring blocks as soon as weather and sea conditions are suitable. Load testing by the contractors will be undertaken as soon as physically possible.

If you have any further concerns please dont hesitate to contact me.

Kind Regards,
Jody

They have had a few discussions about the moorings. I think I remember reading that the original ones either weren't tested at all, or had failed recent load testing and were therefore removed. It seems that one of the operators did place some new moorings, but DERM removed them fairly quickly because they were 'unofficial' and were also not rated. Jason form Dive Dive Dive was involved I think so a call to him would probably give a clearer idea of what went on.

The moorings have since been replaced (6odd of them at the northern side took 18months to "rate" them, more legal BS and tax payers cost). We'll see if they place some on the southern and west mooring site, but with the budget cuts it will doubtful.

I don't see the need for commercial operators to anchor at all really, except to save fuel costs, they often need to pick up divers anyhow.

Thing I don't like about those bigger boats is how they have macerating toilets, which affect the reef itself with extra algae growth on corals stopping them from being re-seeded in the spawning time.

---------- Post Merged on September 9th, 2012 at 12:06 AM ---------- Previous Post was on September 8th, 2012 at 11:51 PM ----------

Meh. I just thought it might be a good chance to catch up with other SB folk if anyone was around. They've now dropped the cost to $150 for the dives I note. Reefcheck plus the museum means there will be some real experts onboard and it seems a constructive way to engage with conservation efforts. We are really looking forward to it! If the weather holds up, it looks like a treat.

AP, let us all know when you will be doing the Brisbane if you like. I'd love to get back there. We will be over at Straddie on the 12th to the 15th with the dreaded unidive club working on skills, but other than that don't have October diving locked in yet.

Still expensive at $75/dive using your own gear- considering Go dive does a Friday dive special for $45/dive