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.

We know that the club has been a around much longer than any of us were member (at least since 1970) 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. We'd also love past members to help fill in our list of past committee members.

Important events we do not have dates for:

Unidive originated when a group of staff and students got together to form the Uni Scuba around 1970 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.
See below some of the historical moments in UniDive since 1991 till now.

2022

December 19, MEAM project finished final report with project findings and recomendations, see UniDive MEAM

December 17, Boathandling workshop organised by Chris and Trevor, with four eager participants.

January, 4 trips cancelled due to weather, just a bad year.

2021

November, Boathandling workshop with total of 18 participants of which 10 went out for a day on the water.

July, Since July the UniDive team has surveyed 10 sites for Mooloolaba Ecological Assessment and Mapping project (MEAM). Check the website

July, Diver of the Year event, with Delphine Gonchond and Damien Shier winning the famous trophy

June 17th: Annual general meeting held - a new Committee is elected: Cedric van den Berg, Henri Decoeur, Jörn Guy Süss, Lachlan Pollard, Melanie Oey, Nicholas Hammerman, Elizabeth Buccheri, Julian McGagh, Trevor Barrenger, Mark Stenhouse, and Devin Rowell. We are back on track after the disruption caused by COVID!

May: many trips have been cancelled this year due to bad weather. Unidivers and participants in the MEAM project meet in the Guyatt Park for a social gathering instead.

April 22nd: The Rules are amended at a special general meeting to re-synchronise the electoral calendar.

March: Practical training and Reef Check certification for MEAM project volunteers.

January: Academic training begins for MEAM project volunteers. Fundraising at Bunnings.

2020

24th October - postponed AGM, held 6 months late due to COVID shutdown. Underwater Rugby players choose to start their own club under AUFQ and members vote that Unidive won't continue to support competitive uwr, but will support social games to act as a feeder of new players into the dedicated club.

September - Mooloolaba Ecological Assessment & Mapping (MEAM) project planning begins.

June - club covid-safe plan approved by UQ Sport and we're back in action... sort of! What a weird year this has been! But it turns out, online meetings are the way of the future and make committee meetings much better! And seminars are much easier to attend when you go do so from the comfort of your own couch!

March - COVID-19 Pandemic interupts club activities for 3 months from mid-March to mid-June.

February - club boat gets new tubes! And a rebuilt trailer! We're all good to go for another 10 years of boating!

2019

25th May Gauls win UW national championship in Brisbane

24th May Annual General Meeting the new commite for 2019 include: Donna Easton,Trevor Barrenger, Mark Stenhouse, Sean Fitzgerald, Ray Leong, Delphine Gonchond, Rochelle Chrzanowski, Eloise Touchot, Julian McGagh, Trevor Barrenger, Peter Arlow, Sara Waak

2018

24th October, 24 hr Underwater for the Love of The Reef, organised by UniDive with 48 members being underwater water as buddy team tag teaming.

27th July UniDive FREA team win Healthy land and Water award https://www.uq.edu.au/news/node/122160

23th May UniDive GAULS Uw Rugby team second in national competition in Adelaide

May Annual General Meeting the new commite for 2018 include: Donna Easton,Jens Kunze, John Baisden, Sonja Meier, Ben Wang, Trevor Barrenger, Jan Mölter, Mark Stenhouse, Mel Oey, Ray Leong, James McPherson

Donna Easton is awarded Life Membership for here great contribution to the club in the last 5-6 years.

July, UnDive members board MV Kalinda on a trip to the GBR.

7th June, UniDive FREA team present results to  Adreno dive centre

23th February. UniDive FREA team present results to Underwater Research Group Queensland.

5th February. UniDive FREA team present results to BSAC

2017

14th Dec, UniDive Christmas Party and Launch of book, video and report of FREA project.

13th Dec. UniDive FREA team present results to Queensland National Parks.

12th Dec. UniDive FREA report finished and distributed, and book with only photos by UniDive members taken at Flinders printed "Flinders, Flora and Fauna for Flinders Reef Dive Site".

26th Nov. UniDive Gauls organise, Queens Cup UW Rugby was an outstanding success. 40 players, 6 teams.

4-5th Nov. UniDive Gauls Second Female UW Rugby camp.

7th Oct. UniDive FREA did last dive for FREA project

24th Sep. UniDive Gauls UW Rugby win NoDex

1/2 Sept. FREA team has camping weekend at Moreton and collect data at nine sites.

26/27t June Catlin Seaview Team swims with 3D cameras Flinders Reef for UniDive FREA project.

20th April, UniDive AGM, new management committee is chosen by the members, and past committee members are thanked for their contribution. President Donna Easton, Vice-President Jens Kunze, Treasurer Sonja Meier, Maintenance Officer Mark Stenhouse, Secretary Sharon Sebastian, Loans Officer Jan Mölter, Membership Officer Patrick Wilhelm, Boating Officer Trevor Barrenger, Dive Officer James McPherson, Social Officer Alexandra Law, and Training Officer Melanie Oey

24/25th March, UniDive FREA conducts 5 surveys at Flinders reef, is gets a underwater visit of Minister of Environment and GBR MS Steven Miles.

24th March, Minister Environment and the GBR, MS Steven Miles is rewarded Honorary Member of UniDive.

12th March, UniDive FREA conducts first surveys at Flinders reef

4-5th March, UniDive Gauls win second and third place in Pan Pacific Games

4-5th February, Second FREA training weekend, FREA training has trained a total of 20 new Reef CHeck surveyors.

2016

11-12th November, FREA first training weekend

27th September, FREA lecture Inverts and Impacts by Dr. Megan Saunders

17th September, UniDive GAULs won the national competition.

5th September, Flinders Reef Ecological Assessment project started with its first lecture.

27th August, Diver of the Year 2016 event at UQ pool. Congratulations to winners Andrew OHagan (Experienced diver) and Nina Pheasant (Unexperienced diver)

27/28th May second Pan Pacific UW Rugby game organised by UniDive Gauls in Brisbane

May AGM, new committee chosen, and Hannah Baerenger wins AQUF sports woman of the year award for the first goal by Australian  team at the UW Rugby.

2015

20 December UniDIve PLEA team submits scientific paper about PLEA project for review with PNAS

23 Nov UniDive PLEA team showed minister of Environment and the GBR Steven Miles the beauty of the Point Lookout dive sites. UniDive received $5000,- funding to contribute towards the Flinders Reef surveys.

1 Oct UniDive Committee approves free biweekly pool training 8-10 pm on Thursday night, to be used for workshops, fitness, socialising and UW rugby training.

23 Oct 50th UniDive Party, Old and new members joint UniDive celebration party for being about 50 years old.

9/20th September UniDive surveys the Point Lookout Reef for the Annual Reef Check winter survey.

20-31 July, Ricardo, Hannah, Tenielle, Julie, Benthel, Mark,and Douglas represented UniDive in the Australian UW Rugby Team at the 10th CMAS Underwater Rugby World Championship - Santiago De Cali, Colombia.
27th July, UniDive PLEA project presented at Australian Coral Reef Symposium.
21th June, Mark Stenhouse and Erland win UniDive Diver of the Year award for 2014.

19th June, UniDive Point Lookout EcologicaL Assessment WON Healthy Waterways Stewardships Award and Peoples Choice Award.

12th June, Several UniDive Members are interviewed for ABC 730 Report in regards to the Underwater Rugby World Compitition taking place in July.
5th June, UniDive got brand new wetsuits, BCD and regulators.
6th June, Cleaner Oceans Australia and Reef Check organise cleaning day at Amity.
18th May, 8 members went with Lee and Chris out for a day of rescue practice from the boat, so they are better prepared to be boathandler.
11th May, UniDive PLEA project got nominated for finalist in for the Community Service Healthy Waterways Award.
18th April, Undive member Ricardo Iriarte becomes the first Underwater Rugby Commissioner for the Australian Underwater Federation Queensland, paving the way to expand the sport across the state by providing a mechanism for new clubs to start and competitions to be organised.
4th & 5th April, Unidive hosts the Pan Pac Underwater Rugby Competition.

9th February, Totally Wild shows segment on UW Rugby with several of the UniDive members interviewed.

2014

12th December, UniDive PLEA publishes final report, and informs community on its findings.
29th November, UniDive Annual Party at the Toowong Bolls club, celebrating the success of 2014

22th November, UniDive launches first book "Straddie, Flora and Fauna of North Stradbroke Island Dive Sites Australia" at Moreton Bay Research Station Open Day. Great job all who volunteered on the PLEA project.
27th October, Totally Wild with Ranger Mike, recording the UniDive Gauls UnderWater Rugby team at work at in Sleeman pool, interviewing Hannah, Ricardo and Djoy.
30th October, Last dive of the UniDive PLEA project, permanent markers are retrieved, time for writing up.
21-22th October, Spring UniDive PLEA survey weekend
26th September, Totally Wild with Ranger Stacy, recording the UniDive PLEA team at work at Shag Rock, Mark, Ryan, Douglas, Diana, Jenni, Josh, Dunia, and Ken did a great job acting.
12-13 September, 30 UniDive Gauls went to Sydney to play the UW rugby competition. Gauls East got 4 out of 9 teams, and Gauls West got 6th. Great event and very social.
August - September six weeks weekly pool trial 8-9;30 pm, various training activity, games, fitness and SCUBA.
7th August, Pub meeting organised by social officer with 40-50 attendants
19-20th July, Winter UniDive PLEA survey weekend
22th June, UniDive Gauls win Melbourne Underwater Rugby Tournament.
On 15th June, Unidiver Jonathan Chong competes in the 2nd Australian National Pool Freediving Championships and comes in 2nd place, a shy 7 points behind Kiwi freediver Lewis Jones. 3 other Unidivers take part in the recreational grade: Wybrand Du Toit, Markus Jerger and Fabien Plisson. Wybrand takes first place in the recreational grade with an amazing swim of 105m on a single breath while Markus takes 2nd place.
On 15 June Lock Pollard and Ben Brown win UniDive Diver of the Year award for 2014.
11th June Herbert Nitsch "Deepest Men on Earth" presents specially for UniDive.
24th May, Second UniDive Underwater Training camp organised by Lock, Wayne and Ricardo. First competition between East and West Gauls team.
10th May, for the first time in our club history, Unidive members have received a UQ Sport Club & Award. Congratulations to Chris Roelfsema for receiving the Club Service Award and Jonathan Chong for winning the Club All-Rounder of the Year Award.
3-4th May, Autumn UniDive PLEA survey weekend
10th April, for the first time, Unidive members were finalists in the following UQ Sport Club & Sports Awards categories: Jenny Matheson (Club Volunteer of the Year), Chris Roelfsema (Club Service Award) and Jonathan Chong (Club All-Rounder of the Year and Sportsman of the Year).
3th April, Annual General Meeting, new committee chose, old one thanked for their work.
24th March, Jonathan Chong comes in 3rd in the New Zealand Depth Nationals for Freediving and sets 3 new depth national records.
28th March, 26 members participated in the last training weekend of the PLEA project, focus is on data collection.
15th March, first UniDive Underwater Training camp organised by Lock, Wayne and Ricardo.
3th March, Clean-up dive at Amity, organised by Blair Jedras.
22th February 26 members participate in the first survey weekend of Point Look out dive sites, and first data sets are being analysed.
17th February Regular Monday night UnderWater Rugby training for members has started in Sleeman pool.
11th February 28 members participate in the marine survey training weekend for the PLEA project at Point Lookout.
12th January, Regular Wednesday night academic sessions in marine survey training starts as part of the PLEA project
3th January, 15 members have the first pool training, a first time ever with brand new hockey sticks.

2013

29 January Flood alert again, a small group of UniDive members evacuated the boat "Down Under" and placed dive gear on higher grounds, Luckily the river did not rise high and everything could be placed back.
UniDive participates in Clean Up Dive
At the AGM 18th April, Jeremy Ford and Bruce McClean are awarded Life Member for their contribution to the club.
18th May: Jonathan Chong and Michelle Ooi participated in the first Australian Freediving National Championships, and won several prizes including the overall top female and podium finishes for several events.
Blair Jedras was finalist in peoples choice for Healthy WaterWays award, for his work with Cleaner Oceans, for also known as starting with clean up Amity.
May, Down Under got a major change by taking out the back tank rack, and moving tanks to the front, creating more space in back for emergencies.
On 16 June Donna and Ben Brown win UniDive Diver of the Year award for 2013. It was another great social event.
1 August great Pizza and Movie night organised by social team
28th July refresher course and first rebreather intro in the UQ pool.
Several members are training for the Underwater Rugby Competition in September.
7-8 September Sydney ODEX World Underwater Games. After a fierce battle UniDive members take third place on the first Australian/New Zealand Under Water Rugby tournament. Six teams competed: New South Wales A and B, Canberra, Tasmania, New Zealand and Queensland (UniDive). The UniDIve Brisbane Gauls Team is born, based on the Asterix and Obelix group team.

4th October: UniDive got awareded a $9500,- Redland City Council Community grant for repeating an ecological assessment of the Point Lookout Dive sites, following same protocol conducted in 2001 by UniDive with the help of Coastcare grant
12th October: Jonathan Chong competes in the Curtis Coast Freedive Challenge and comes in 1st place, winning the (Freediving) State of Origin title and Wayne Judge Shield.
17th October: Kick-off Meeting for the UniDive PLEA(Point Lookout Ecological Assessment) Marine Conservation project.
December: UniDive received grant funding from Cebelco ($7700,-) and In-kind support with Transit systems (Stradbroke ferries).
December: Blair Jedras organised another clean up dive at Amity

2012

A year after the Brisbane flood the UQ Aquatic Centre reopened again on 5th February and UniDive pool training is starting again.
UniDive participates in Clean Up Dive
February First Technical level decompression dive trip goes ahead on the St Paul wreck with Trimix as main breathing gas
March Social Underwater Hockey starts on Thursday night
29 March AGM, new management committee chosen
Easter Weekend boat night diving was re-introduced with a trip on the HMS Brisbane.
Easter Weekend members using rebreathers dived on the HMAS Brisbane.
7 May, 8 UniDive members assisted in helping to bring spear fisher man back to life at China Wall, North Moreton. After two hours of CPR by the UniDive crew, paramedics took over with no luck.
19 May, 16 UniDive Members having a working bee in the new gear shed, building shelves, racks and benches.
19-20 May 8+ UniDivers attend Intro to Maritime Archaeology Course
29 May, 20+ UniDive members competed for the diver of the year 2012. The winners were McCain McMurray (category non-experienced), and Mike Pheasant (category experienced).
During Christmas in July on 27 June UniDive got back in the renewed Gear Shed as the old one was destroyed during the floods.
Nov 20 UniDivers go on Great Barrier Reef Live a-board trip
Dec UniDive got a brand new compressor and can fill their own tanks if needed

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.
Decompression dive on St. Pauls organised by Trent Lee
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.
September 17, Wreck Diving on new found wreck at North Moreton

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 Stradbroke Island with visit of two Rastafarians 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.

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 Simmons.

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.

2007

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

2006

Website gets revamp with help of Mike Pheasant.

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 Captain Zizu and his son Steve Zizu.

Robin Aurisch receives Life Membership.

2004

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

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”
Decompression dive on St.Pauls
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

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.

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”

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.

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.

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.

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.

1996

1995

UniDive have trip to Masthead Island

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"

1991

Certificate of Incorporation which is dated 12th April 1991

1968-1980

Soon to come more info... Let us know if you have something to add! We'd love to add some photos to this page!