DIVE LOG AUSTRALASIA FEB 2026

With insufficient turnover to afford professional, service-oriented staff - and a need to maintain cash-flow by teaching courses - some dive operators tolerate the presence of folk like these because of their willingness to, “mind the store for a few days”, without pay. An act of folly that helps prove that although learning to dive might be easy, actually going diving once you’re certified is an altogether different kettle of kippers. I stumbled across this practice recently when, following the advice given to divers of always seeking an orientation to new diving areas, I telephoned a local dive store: “Hello! I’m planning a week-end dive trip for a large group and I’d like some preliminary information on your area” “You’ve come to the right place. We’ve got some of the best diving in the world! You must have heard of Apocalypse Reef. It’s where the offshore sewage outlet empties. Even on a bad day, you can find things floating around out there that you’ll never see anywhere else.”

Except at the moment. Last week one of our divers fired his spear-gun through the RIB’s inflation tube and the owner, Jack, hasn’t got around to patching it yet - but usually every day.”

“What about hire equipment?”

“Right at the moment, Jack’s using both sets on a course that he’s teaching. But we’ve got a few bits and pieces of second-hand gear for sale.”

“And what’s the best time of the year to dive in your area?”

“Ah! Now that’s a good question, isn’t it? Jack’s the best person to answer that and he’s out diving at the moment. Why don’t you call him back sometime next week. Make it in the morning, though. He’s not usually sober after lunch.” It’s almost as if some dive operators are genuinely concerned by the thought that if every certified diver in the world elected to go diving on the same day and at the same time, then the global rise in sea levels might cause devastating coastal flooding. And that, of course, would put them out of business.

“What about boat dives?”

“Every day regardless of the sea conditions.

—-ENDS—-

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DIVE LOG Australasia #416 February ‘26

www.divelog.net.au