Cyclones and diving don't mix, a safety thing I think. After rescheduling the trip due to some cyclone along the Qld coast we were finally ready to dive "The Byron Trawler".
The trawler was owned by Hal Hankin but the name of the trawler is out of memory. It was 52m long and sunk in 1979 into 50 odd meters of water. Most of the wreck is covered with sand at the moment but what is uncovered has attracted allot of fish life. As we arrived on the wreck thousands of smaller fish were swarming the wreck with several smaller Wobbegong's trying to stay hidden and asleep.

 Rod and Jack of Sundive Byron Bay were the instigators of this trip, simply by suggesting that "if we wanted we could try a wreck site just out from Julians" I didn't need convincing to organise a trip to check it out. Most of the group decided to stay at the Main Beach Backpackers for the Friday night due to such an early start on the Saturday morning. (daylight saving differences can be a pain) With final preparations and planning on the Friday night, Saturday morning left us with loading the boat and going diving. We had eleven divers and one crew and the boat was as full as it gets. We also had an anchor boat to be able to hook the wreck and act as deco station while the RIB would be free to roam. We had one rebreather diver, 3 large single tank divers and seven twin tank divers all with one or two stages.

After loading the boat we performed the ritual of launching from the beach and scaring surfers from our path. The weather was fine with only a low surface chop to slow our progress. The trip took about 35mins and not long after the anchor boat arrived. Rod and dive buddy from the anchor boat did the first dive to check for current, viz and to set the anchor.

While Rod was surveying the scene we started to gear up in pairs getting assistance from those waiting. With a slight surface current and no current from 10m on, viz at about 40 to 50m we were dropped just in front of the anchor rope to make our descents. With no current it was easy to simply drop down the anchor line to the wreck which could be seen from about 30m. The wreck isn't big and being covered with sand there wasn't allot to investigate but once you settle in, your eyes started to take in the details and what is what in the wreckage.  

Bottom time always goes fast when you have good viz, so we were soon on our way back up the line ready to pay the price for time at depth. With hardly any current it was easy hold deco on or off the line, which was good considering how many people seemed to end the dive at the same time.

Upon surfacing we discovered that the chase boat had to chase one of our group as he did a drift deco after loosing the anchor line.While we waited for him, bobbing on the surface, we chatted and gossiped about the dive and what the next one would be. There were Dolphins in close proximity while on the surface but I don't think anyone actually saw them on deco.

With our rogue diver collected we clambered aboard and steamed for port. The trip back was quick and we were back at Sundive soon enough. After unloading, washing and stowing the gear we all had lunch at the local cafe and nattered about what we saw and did and got to know each other some more. Tentative plans were made for future trips, including exploration and training dives. All up it was a great trip with some superb conditions.

I wish to thank Sundive and their staff for their most professional service. Special thanks must go to Rod and Jack for the invitation considering we are a bunch of demanding Techies. The boats and all plans went like clock work and even the contingencies went smoothly. I am sure there will be plenty more trips out from Byron with Sundive, it was just so simple.

My personal thanks go to the group for your company and easy going nature, I look forward to many more trips together.

Divers: Gavin, Simon, Peter, Dave, Jeremy, Jon, Mark & Chris.
Crew divers: Jack, Peter, Chris, Rod & Glen.
Captains:Jeff & Ronnie.