Unidive history

Unidive acknowledges that the strength of the club we enjoy today is a reflection of the hard work put in over many years by past members of the club. This page is intended to be a brief history of the Unidive club.

However, we know that the club has been a around much longer than any of us were member (at least 40 years) so if you were a club member in years gone by and can help us fill in some of the missing dates and events we would love to hear from you (president@unidive.org). If you have any old unidive photos prior to say 1998 of things like the original boat, or an early exec meeting we would love to get copies.

Important events we do not have dates for

  • Unidive originated when a group of staff and students got together to form the Uni Scuba which is now known as Unidive.
  • John Curtin is first Unidive member to receive life membership.
  • Phill Best is second Unidive member to receive life membership.
  • First issue of the club newsletter WobbieGossip was printed.
  • First boat was purchased in mid 1970 by Unidive.
  • First boat, sank on the reef and second boat “Uni One” was bought.

1994

  • Graham Cook organised O-Week Bubble, introduction for non divers.
  • Tow vehicle acquired: "Big Bird" a yellow Falcon size(XC 351 v8, c4 gearbox), it was stored with the Uni One in the Boat Shed
  • The club name "Uni Scuba (The University of Queensland Underwater Club)" changes officially to "UniDive (The University of Queensland Underwater Club) Inc"

1995

1996

1997

  • Second boat, “Uni One” was stolen at Lady Musgrave.
  • Second boat Aqua pro (5.3 m rib, takes 5 divers and boat handler) commissioned by Bruce Peters is purchased by Unidive.

1998

  • Unidive has monthly meetings on Monday night in the University of Queensland Staff club.
  • Unidive member Tamsin Terry successfully wrote a proposal which was granted funding from Coastcare to clean wrecks at Curtin Artificial 1 day a month over 10 month period .
  • Monthly club meetings at the UQ staff club.

1999

  • Robin Aurisch and Tamsin Terry design new Unidive boat "Cool Change" and submit the a proposal at the executive committee which is been granted.
  • Unidive received funding from Coastcare to clean up the wrecks at Curtin Artificial over three weekend period.

2000

  • The new Unidive boat "Cool Change" was baptised by Nemo on the Brisbane River and the boat Aqua pro was sold.
  • Unidive members Ben Longstaff, Chris Roelfsema and Tim Caruthers wrote a proposal, which was successfully granted funding from Coastcare to: A baseline assessment of the flora and fauna of North Stradbroke Island dive sites, Queensland.
  • Unidive go's online with the help of David Place.
  • North West Island trip organised by Trent Simon and Laura Martin.
  • Weekly Monday night pool training is started.

2001

  • Unidive members get trained by University of Queensland marine biologists in survey techniques for monitoring marine habitats. During 2001-2002 Unidive members conducted over 460 dives with Ken Holzheimer Point Look Out SCUBA, in six weekends, marine surveys at the Point Look Out dive sites.
  • Weekly club meetings on Thursday night at the gear shed
  • Unidive purchase gear trailer with the help of Trent Simon and Robin Aurisch.
  • Unidive members jump in the pool on Thursday nights for a game of Underwater Hockey.
  • UniDive in UQ News article on the Coast care Project
  • UniDive Carley Bansemer, Ben Longstaff and Chris Roelfsema on Channel Seven with “Totally Wild”

2002

  • Unidive submits a report, written by Kathryn McMahon, Daniel Levy and many other, to Coastcare titled: A baseline assessment of the flora and fauna of North Stradbroke Island dive sites, Queensland.
  • Unidive members Carley Bansemer and Chris Roelfsema wrote a proposal, which was successfully granted funding from Threatened Species Network to map the habitats of the endangered Grey Nurse Shark in South East Queensland.
  • UniDive in UQ News article on the Grey Nurse Shark Habitat Mapping Project
  • Weekly Thursday night pool training is started.
  • 24 UniDivers go to Lady Musgrave, organised by Trent Simon and Laura Martin.
  • First Unidive boat handler workshop by Robin Aurisch and Chris Roelfsema.

2003

  • Unidive members get trained by University of Queensland marine biologists in survey techniques for monitoring marine habitats. During 2003 Unidive members conducted over 660 dives with local dive operators, in nine weekends, marine surveys at the Henderson, Cherubs, Gotham, China Wall, Flat Rock and Wolf Rock.
  • Unidive submits a report, written by Susannah Ford, Melissa Langridge and several other members, to Threatened Species Network titled: Surveying habitats critical to the survival of grey nurse sharks in south-east Queensland.
  • UniDive Carley Bansemer, Simon Pierce and Chris Roelfsema on Channel Seven with “Totally Wild”
  • Unidive buys BBQ and from then on every Thursday night you can eat sausages at the gear shed.
  • Christmas Party at Marks Place, Grey Nurse Project reports and video's given out

2004

  • Website gets revamp with help Andre Camilleri.
  • UniDive Christmas Party with visit from the gods of the sea.

2005

  • North West trip organised by Kathy Meyers.
  • Undive evaluation dive on the HMAS Brisbane a couple weeks after sinking.
  • Unidive Christmas Party with Life Aquatic Theme and performance of Capitan Zizu and his son Steve Zizu.
  • Robin Aurisch receives Life Membership.

2006

  • Website gets revamp with help of Mike Pheasant.

2007

  • Jorn Sues organised the first October fest with visit of two German frauleins.

2008

  • Maggie Watts organises overseas Unidive trip to New Zealand.
  • Chris Perry and Robin Aurisch commissioned replacement for Cool Change and submit the proposal at the executive committee.

2009

  • Unidive executive committee signs of on the purchase of a new Unidive boat.
  • Long time members, Diana Kleine, John Holmes, Maggie Watts and Douglas Stetner receive Life Membership.
  • Maggie Watts organises overseas Unidive trip to Tonga.
  • Nemo arrives in September 2009 to baptize the new UniDive Boat "Down Under".
  • Jorn Sues organised the second October fest at Straddie with visit of two Fijian who initiated several people in the Kava Ceremony.
  • Introduction of the Pizza night on last Thursday of the month.
  • Website get revamp with help of Cas Simon.

2010

  • Unidive Members open new dive year, with drinking champagne out of their dive mask.
  • Management committee introduces the Management Handbook, which should assist new committee members with a resource to conduct their duties.
  • Unidive had to cancel dive trips within 2 weeks of each other due to Tsunami and a Cyclone warning.
  • UniDive gear shed is emptied and cleaned as result of the cyclone canceling dive trips.
  • Unidive has its first "UniDive Diver of the Year" event in UQ Aquatic Centre, Mike Pheasent wins the experienced diver category and Melinda Magnin wins the unexperienced diver category.
  • Unidive gets new double axel trailer
  • Unidive has first Reef Check surveyor course
  • Thursday night pool training and free dive training
  • Annemiek de Werd organised the annual party at Stratbrooke Island with visit of two rastefarians from Jamaica
  • UniDive gets six new boathandlers Ben, Mark, Mark, Annemiek,Josh and Alex
  • Try dive pool event for family and friends of UniDive members was postponed due severe thunderstorms, however participants were welcomed by bbq fest.

2011

January Flood of Brisbane River

  • 12 January In the poring rain a small group of UniDive members evacuated the boat "Down Under" and dive gear and most valuable items to high ground (Jo and Mike Pheasant house) in St.Lucia as Brisbane River is rising.
  • 13 January Both sheds of boat and gear, are underwater through the Brisbane Floods. Highest water level came to just under the sign "Underwater Club" at boat shed, and for gear shed only the top shelves stayed dry. Several houses of UniDive members were flooded. UQ Aquatic Center was totally flooded and will possible out of operations for several month.
  • 18 January Big clean up of boat and gear shed by UniDive members. Assessment of damage and loss of gear left in gear shed, such as the the compressor. No electricity in both sheds, and gear shed cannot be used. "Down Under" and dive gear with trailers is moved in to boat shed.
  • 27 January Welcome bbq at boat shed which is temporary UniDive base until gear shed is fixed.
  • 5 February All gear and boat had to be moved again to Alex Lea her garage and Jo Edkins lawn as boat shed had to be cleaned. Weekly bbq now at the Alex her garage. EPIRB was missing and trip canceled, EPIRB was activated and found later in hands of a little 4 year old.
  • 24 March Down Under, Trailers and dive gear are back in the boat shed, gear shed is being fixed and UQ Aquatic center is being refurbished.
  • UniDive gets several new boathandlers Peter, Trent, Ryan, Bride, Sophie and Dee
  • Another Christmas party at Straddie organised by Jenny
  • UniDive members take Down Under for first time through the Gold Coast Seaway to dive at the by UniDive on explored sites.

2012

  • A year after the Brisbane flood the UQ Aquatic Centre reopened again on 5th February and UniDive pool training is starting again.