Dear IF&SN,
A Trip of a Lifetime
We are planning a trip on a 40' sailing catamaran along the Great Barrier to PNG, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and back to Brisbane. The catamaran has accommodation for 7 people although we are looking to carry 4 to 5 people. It is a near new sailing cat with the latest navigation and safety features on board including an air conditioner. It will have two engines and a runabout. The purpose of the trip is to spearfish big fish and to make a documentary of the trip. We will have underwater equipment such as compressor and scuba gear and underwater cameras. We hope also to have a robotic control camera that can operate to a depth of 80ft. The idea is to trade on the Islands and to live out of the sea as much as possible. My friend and I are two ex South Africans now living in Queensland and are veterans of the sea. We fished Africa intensively and shot and landed many fish over 100lbs. We grew up on little boats 12-14ft with flush decks (if you know what that is - no place for water on the deck if a wave breaks on it). Later we landed up on bigger boats. We have 60 years experience between us. We are looking for people to enjoy the trip or part of the trip with us. We plan to leave around July / August 2009 however dates are to be decided on at a later stage. We will announce which reefs we will be diving and when. We plan to dive PNG to the North extensively. If you plan to only dive a few reefs of the Great Barrier you are also welcome. We can plan the trip accordingly. Fish we will be targeting include Marlin, Sailfish, Dog-tooth Tuna and Mackerel.
If you are interested please send details and your experience to: d_averay@yahoo.com.au
Regards,
Danny Oosthuizen
Hi Danny, great to receive your email. Your trip sounds like a great adventure . . . a dream come true! Will it be a ‘cost share’ trip, or will it be a charter fee? I’m sure you will be inundated with enquiries on this trip of a lifetime!

Barry,
Just wondering where if possible I could get my hands on the book ‘Spearfishing in Victoria’ written by yourself back in the day. I’ve tried a few places on the web that specialise in old school diving books – but alas I’ve had bugger all luck. I’m Victorian born & bred, Southern Freedivers club member and passionate about spearfishing. Any info or leads as to where I might get my hands on a copy would be appreciated.
Cheers Jordan Hill
Hi Jordan, many thanks for your email re. ‘The vintage book’, “Spearfishing in Victoria”. We only have one copy in our record file and it has been out of print for many, many years. If you like we could photocopy you a copy of the book . . . let us know if this is of any help? Note with Victorian kingfish in our latest issue and southern bluefin tuna in this issue, the chapters on Wilson’s Prom and Portland need an update!!

Hi Barry,
I did not hear from you and was concerned that you did not get my address. Please let me know if you can provide extra copies or not. Thanks again and let me know what I owe. Thanks Jim and Paul McCollern.
Hi Jim and Paula, we did airmail you an additional five copies of the issue of IF&SN with your article in it! They were sent via airmail post.

Hi Barry,
I am writing to you on behalf of the Central Coast Sealions. The Central Coast Sealions Freediving Club Inc is a nonprofit club made up of spearfishing enthusiasts and other interested parties on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. The Sealions club has over fifty years of tradition and experience and work to enhance and improve the sport by promoting it to the general public, informing them of the safe, selective and sustainable nature of spearfishing while protecting our marine environment and educating and assisting new and inexperienced divers. The Sealions club provides a team spirit environment built in which all members benefit and new members can gain the knowledge and skills passed on from our of experienced members and club activities. The Sealions have been given the opportunity to host the NSW State Spearfishing Titles this year. We previously hosted this event in 2006 with great success when more than 40 divers signed on. With our close proximity to Newcastle and Sydney we have an amazing pool of divers to draw from and with the help of our sponsors we hope to make this years event bigger than ever. The Sealions are looking for support in the way of sponsorship for this competition, anything might be able to offer would be appeciated. Sorry about the late notice.
Cheers, Kearin Timp
Vice-President Central Coast Sealions
kjtimp@aapt.net.au
Hi Kearin, we are happy to support your event, prizes have been sent.

Dear Warren,
Congratulations on your win in the Show and Tell pages, it was a great kingie!! Your choice, a 110cm, 120cm, 130cm or a 140cm Orca Thula Railgun?? Let me know what length gun you want and I’ll get it off to you!! Warmest regards, Barry Andrewartha
Hi Barry,
I need a new comp gun so a 120cm one would be excellent.
thanks, Warren Carter
Hi Warren, 120cm Orca Thula gun it is, it will leave tomorrow via Startrek Express Road Freight, you should get it by Monday!
Regards Barry Andrewartha

Hi IF&SN,
To add a bit of spice to that story, we’ve dived a few times there recently with good success but also been hammered by the bull sharks. I caught a break when a 3m female grabbed me by the foot and by pure luck she had me in the edge of her mouth so I only got a few scratches on my foot pocket. Stupidly I never played the lotto that day (perhaps a good thing as I probably used up my luck anyway). Will send more photos of the fish we’ve been getting. I will also send a report of our National trials held recently. 15 of our top ranked divers were invited (only 8 tood part) to attend trials to be selected for our National side to represent SA at World’s in Venezuela later this year. I am the current National Records Custodian and as spearfishing in SA has undergone major restructuring, it is exciting to be involved in the changes. We currently face a huge battle in the Cape region where the government in it’s infinite wisdom have decided to ban all forms of diving on vast stretches of coastline thinking that it is a valid way of combating abalone poaching. This is a real threat to not only spearfishing but recreational SCUBA diving. I’m sure in Aussie there is some conflict too with ‘bubble blowers’ but here now seeing we face a common threat, we are ‘banding’ together.
Kind regards, Corry Versluis
Corry, thanks so much for your email. Your fantastic story on Protea Banks appeared on pages 50 & 51 in our last issue No. 53. Your contributors payment has been sent to your PO Box in Margate in South Africa. Many thanks for your ongoing support.