A Brief History of Scuba2
by Mark Dyson and Cheryl Pech
A Club is born
This is not a complete history but, for newcomers, it outlines our origins, achievements and traditions. On 2nd October 1987, twenty-seven divers, interested in forming a dive club, met at the shop Scuba2 Dive, at 78 Scarborough Beach Road, Scarborough, Perth, Western Australia. This is now the site of the Peppercorn restaurant. Richard Hughes chaired the meeting. The name ‘Scuba 2 The Club’ was selected. The meeting discussed objectives and formed a steering committee to draft a constitution. Nick Hilliard chaired this steering committee, which met on 6th October 1987 at Scuba2 Dive. Our first constitution was based on that of the Action Outdoors Association. Our first AGM was called on 29th October 1987 at Scuba2 Dive. The first committee consisted of Nick Hilliard (President), Sue Wilkes (Vice President), Richard Wells (Treasurer), Cheryl Hilliard (Publications Officer), Cathy McCarthy (Secretary) and liason with the Dive Shop was through Scuba2 Dive personnel. Our first General Meeting was on 1st December 1987 at Scuba2 Dive. However, the original Scuba 2 The Club was disbanded, as from 1st January 1988, presumably as part of incorporation requirements.
Incorporation
On 25th February 1988 the first notice of intended incorporation of a club was placed in The West Australian newspaper, as required by the Associations Incorporation Act. Membership fees were set at $45 single and $90 family (which included a club T Shirt) and a $5 joining fee. Other categories of membership were much as they are today. The first meeting of our newly incorporated club was held at the White Sands Motor Hotel, 23 Hastings Street, Scarborough (now the Indian Ocean Motor Hotel) on 5th April 1988.
A bumpy ride at first
The period early 1989 to mid 1990 was particularly trying for the committee and the membership due to political wrangling. This was compounded by an uncertain relationship with the shop (Scuba2 Dive) which was experiencing financial difficulties. The shop closed and the staff commenced trading as ‘Sea House’, specialising in diving education, located at The Garden Centre, opposite Alf Barbagello motors in Scarborough Beach Road. This only lasted a few months when the business moved to Charles Street, North Perth as a dive shop. Meanwhile, Scuba2 The Club continued to use Sea House as a base, after members voted between an alliance with Sea House or Allsports in Hutton Street, Osborne Park, which had a diving section.
However, due to more changes at Sea House, the relationship further deteriorated until the club severed its relationship with the shop and became independent for the first time. Sorrento Quay Dive became a source of new members and helped with promotion. This served both parties very well, until Sorrento Quay Dive formed their own club. However, the relationship continued on good terms, with discounts to club members and donations to the club from the owners (brothers Rick and Dave Hall).
A gradual evolution
In 1990 and 1991 the club started to become more professional, left behind its internal problems and started to become what it is now, despite the odd hiccup. For example, at one time the club had no less than 3 committees. On occasions, these committees organised events that clashed, as they hadn’t communicated! To its credit, the club learned from all this and the running of the club settled to what it is today. The best measure of our success is the high regard and respect we enjoy from the diving community.
The clubs meeting venue was, initially, at the White Sands Motor Hotel. This became the Indian Ocean Motor Hotel, with a consequent change in format. This proved unsuitable when inebriated hotel patrons wandered into meetings during guest speaker presentations, causing embarrassment to all. On 5th January 1993, Scuba2 met at the Mt Flora Museum Meeting Room for the first time and passed a motion confirming this new meeting venue. We have been there ever since. The proportion of members who regularly participate in diving and social events is exceptional. Attendance at club meetings is very high and invariably includes new faces.
In its first year, the cash-flow of the club was about $3,500; now it is ten times that. The club membership has been fairly constant; about 55 - 65 members. However, these days more of them are active, so we have more successful trips and meetings than before.
Early emphasis on safety was due to contact with the shop and PADI endorsed training, with ready access to its educational material and resources. We were also very fortunate to have Geordie, Neil, Barb and Graham as instructors, who were all concerned with good diver education, took time to teach students and ensure their comfort in the water. Continuing diver education featured in the club’s early years, driven largely by the PADI marketing machine, however it has recently re-emerged, this time driven by the interests of members who consider it important to diving safety. The committee now includes an Education Officer to provide information about courses, equipment and the marine environment.
Environmental concerns were non-existent in the early days; thankfully, we’ve come a very long way since. We have been actively involved with environmental issues, largely due to the interests and professions of some members. On different occasions, members have assisted with sea-grass pod collection for CSIRO, underwater clean-ups for Clean Up Australia Day, fish counts at Cottesloe, educational touch pools for Friends of Marmion Marine Park, cleaning the turtle enclosures at Underwater World and the Rottnest Island Pocillopora Reef survey. We have guest speakers covering topics ranging from whale sharks, the crayfish industry in W.A., birds, chitons and limpets, diving medicine and technical diving, all of which stimulate discussion.
The Club now
The Club has organised some memorable dive trips. Some were so popular, they are now annual events. Local Trips vary from regular shore dives to Cottesloe, North and South Mole in Fremantle, Robb Jetty, Ammunition Jetty, Woodman Point, Rockingham Wrecks, Point Peron and various sites on the Swan River and include regular boat dives off Rottnest and to the Marmion Marine Park.
For those interested in wreck diving, there are regular trips to Dunsborough to dive the Swan (30 m) and off Ledge Point to dive the Key Biscayne (40 m).
Wandering further afield there have been numerous trips to Esperance and Albany, Augusta, Point Peron, Shark Bay, Exmouth (whale sharks) and Ningaloo Reef, the Rowley Shoals, the Abrolhos Is and Jurien Bay (sealions). Overseas trips have included expeditions to Bali, Manado, Cocos and Christmas Islands and Fiji.
Over the years, Scuba2 members have contributed positively to budding legislation and regulation such as the Dept of Transport boating regulations (as they affect divers), the HMAS Derwent sinking, Department of Fisheries amateur fishing regulations and, in particular, spear-fishing regulations, and submissions to CALM re access difficulties to the Boy-in-a-Boat dive site.
Traditions and regular events
In 1988, the club held an early morning Chicken and Champagne dive that has since evolved into the Start of Season Dive, held annually in November, followed by a breakfast barbie.
In 1991, on a Point Peron trip, a volley-ball was run over by a reversing boat trailer. This created the infamous Helmet Award, which is given, with humour, each month to anyone who has done something particularly ‘dumb’ and is an important and lasting club tradition.
On June 11th 1995, a much-loved member of the club, Karen Mitchell, died suddenly in her sleep. Members rallied to support her family from Melbourne and arranged a memorial service. In June 1996 members helped scatter some of her ashes on a dive at Woodman’s Point. She is still affectionately remembered on an annual dive at the South Mole every year, at which her favourite chocolate is consumed in her honour.
The club holds annual skills reviews to brush up on diving safety skills with a pool session in October or November and a recompression chamber ‘dive’ in winter.
Communication and Publication
The Club has entered the information technology age. We have a very professional newsletter, complete with scanned photographs and contributions from members. The first Publication Officer tapped out each issue of The LogBook on a typewriter, cutting and pasting the old-fashioned way and photocopied the end result, It is now prepared electronically and professionally printed. Information and messages are distributed through a club email listing and the club has its own website, so we’re now on show to the international diving community.
The result
Although the impetus for forming the club in 1987 first came from the proprietors and staff of the shop SCUBA 2 Dive, Neil Ringshaw, Geordie Clapin and Richard Hughes, it has been the contributions of the members that have ensured its continuing success and growth twenty years later.
In a recent survey, new members were asked what they found appealing about Scuba 2. Replies included: encouragement, safety, education, social activities, supportive attitudes, acceptance, participation, our newsletter the Log Book and informative guest speakers. A view often expressed is that experienced divers are surprisingly ready to dive with and pass their knowledge to newcomers. Inclusiveness is our strength.
Past Presidents since 1987 have been: Nick Hilliard, Wayne Harding, John Brady, Peter Brown, Mark Dyson, Neil Ringshaw, Jim Hilder, Mark Jackson, Peter Heaven, Liz Brown, Ron Curry, Hazel Cheney, David Lennon, Ray McGrath, Judi Willmott, Mick Betts. It is their leadership and energy, with the support of their committees and the club membership at large, that has made the Club the success it is today.
The old Club Logo!
