Sam summed it up with “It was a fantastic weekend. Definitely one of, if not the best club JB trip I’ve been on…we went somewhere other than Bowen Island/The Nursery and diving the Merimbula. First ‘new metal’ for a very long time and welcome change from the Adelaide!”
While SSAC has been coming to Jervis Bay for many years, this was the first time we got to stay at Gary’s new beach house in Currarong. As usual, people arrived on Friday evening between 4pm and midnight depending on when they could clock off.
On Saturday it was the 30 min drive to Huskisson and Dive Jervis Bay which has moved to the industrial estate on the edge of town. After a bit of hanging around the shop opened, and after some more hanging around they had managed to find a dive marshal for us and we could go down to the wharf. We finally were underway only 40 min so after the planned 8:30 departure.
Despite yesterday’s strong Southerly, there was a lazy 2m swell and we were able to get up to Drum & Drumsticks, seeing a glimpse of a whale on the way. Alas, the seals hadn’t received the memo and were elsewhere, but a fun dive was had at Echo Point with a big swim through complete with grey nurse sharks. After a surface interval, and a close up inspection of a waterfall, the second dive was at Point Perpendicular with a live drop-off and pick-up. Post-dive people either stuck to the traditional bakery or went to one of the two breweries: Jervis Bay Brewing (for traditional craft beer and great food) or Flamin Galah Brewing Co. (which caters ‘for the younger crowd’ aka Mark and Duncan). Saturday night was the Currarong Bowling Club schnitzels or the kingfish special.
After a rejig of the sleeping arrangements, everyone got a good night’s sleep. On Sunday morning, fueled by bacon & eggs, it was off to the wrecks of the SS Merimbula, a 10 min walk from Abrahams Boson Reserve. Steve, Sam and Ben took the plunge, while everyone else excelled as sherpa and shore-cover.
