Welcome my new NUDIES, and welcome back to my old NUDIES! Here is the official heads up about or first big trip of the year, the traditional Seal Rocks Camping/Diving Trip!

This trip will start on Saturday 10th of March, arriving at the gear store no later than 7:45am to pack the gear and organise cars, and we should be back at the store at or before 5pm on Sunday 11th. This trip will involve two dives over two days at Seal Rocks, a shore dive to an island off a beautiful beach, an hour and a half drive up the coast. 

This dive is quietly famous for it’s turtles, rays, dolphins and Grey Nurse, Port Jackson and Wobbegong sharks, so you’re bound to see something good on one or both of your dives! The dives will be led by our very own NUDES divers, who have dived the site more times than we can count, so any level of experience is welcome – we’ll look after you even if it’s your first dive out of training.

In between dives, we’ll be camping at Treachery Camp site, and once cu...

2018 Gear Hire Deposit

Alright my NUDIES, we have a slight change in plans.

Instead of the upcoming Seal Rocks trip following the standard overnight procedure, we've elected to go for a double day dive on Thursday 23/11. 

We'll still see all the cool things Seal Rocks is known for: the turtles; the sharks; the beautiful beaches; but without the hassle and fees (and missed work) associated with camping overnight.

We'll leave the Gear Store bright and early at 7am, and get out first dive in around 10am. We'll then chill out at the beach, explore the lighthouse and basically have a mini holiday until our second dive later in the afternoon, after which we'll head home. Ticket includes 2x air refills and fuel, but not food. There is a post office/corner store that sells some hot food, and a small cafe in the treachury campsite that we can visit for food, or BYO. Dinner at Bulla pub on the way home is definitely an option.

All in all, a dense little holiday.

Grab your tickets asap, and as always,...

NUDES IS TURNING 50!!!

Help us celebrate at the Queens Wharf Hotel for drinks, food and good times!

The night will kick off with the 2017 NUDES AGM where a new committee will be sworn in. Following these formalities, the party will roll on.

Our club was formed in 1967 as the 'University Swimming Club'. It was clear early on however that the founding members had a passion for the underwater world and a few months after formation they purchased their very first scuba sets. Back then cylinders were $80 and regulators were $10. Three years later the club officially changed their name to the 'Newcastle University Diving & Exploration Society', or NUDES for short.

Over the last 50 years NUDES has provided the foundations for countless people to find the sport of scuba diving, many of which have gone on to maintain it as a life-long passion. Lets continue this tradition! Here's to another 50 years!

Please join us! RSVP for catering. :D

Members past and present a...

Grey Nurse Sharks gliding through majestic schools of silver bullseye. Welcome to your next dive destination: Broughton Island. Situated off the North East coast of Port Stephens, Broughton Island is home to a plethora of sea creatures. However, chief amongst them is the Grey Nurse Shark.

The event will begin at 7 am at Feet First Dive Nelson Bay on Tues 19th of September (first Tuesday of the holidays). We will prepare our gear at the FFD store, take it to the marina by bus, before heading out for a double boat dive off the coast of the beautiful Broughton Island. Following the dive we will head back to the NUDES gear store that afternoon to sort out our gear and talk about the experience. The event will finish at 5 pm.

Who can come: NUDES scuba members who are certified divers. 

How many spots: There are 7 spots on board the boat, so buy your tickets as soon as possible. 

How much: The event will cost $145 dollars including guided double boat dive, soup served on board...

Alright Nudies and NUSECers, lets get in the water.To the NUSEC fam (and the nudists), the beach cleanup will start at 9am, gloves and bags provided. After the cleanup, we will all get in the water. Whether to dive or to snorkel is up to whether or not you're certified. It's shallow so everyone should be able to see everything regardless of whether you're breathing surface air or compressed. This dive is at Catherine Hill Bay, just south of Swansea, under and around a decommissioned pier. Max depth is around 7m, so it can be a long dive if you want it to be. It's shore access, with lots of cool stuff that's either fallen off or sunk at some point in the past to look at. Extra points to anyone who can find the old boiler. It resembles a very large rock, and is out there...somewhere. Good luck. You'll need it.  Beach is pretty nice as well if the weather agrees with us.We'll aim to be in the water around 10-10:30am, with about an hour for dive time. It's quite shallow, averaging about...

Celebrate the end of the semester with a trip to the famous Fish Rock! Fish rock is the only true ocean cave dive in Australia!

It's residents include grey nurse sharks, turtles, huge rock lobsters, bull and eagle rays, giant groper and cod, massive lobsters, Lion fish, cuttles and clown fish! They occasionally see bull and tiger sharks and also get visited annually by hammerheads, whales and other pelagics!

This is a great dive for new and experienced divers alike! EVERYONE will dive Nitrox, as per the dive shop rules. This is a deep dive (down to 30m), but we will be lead by instructors so open water is the minimum qualification.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are a new or inexperienced diver, I suggest doing a few night dives to get used to being in dark water, as it can be intimidating.

There are some great food options around within a short driving distance, as well as the Gaol Ruins (which do cost to access) and the lighthouse walk!

There is also a DVD player and pool tabl...

THIS EVENT IS THE WEEKEND DATES FOR SOUTH WEST ROCKS

Celebrate the end of the semester with a trip to the famous Fish Rock! Fish rock is the only true ocean cave dive in Australia!

It's residents include grey nurse sharks, turtles, huge rock lobsters, bull and eagle rays, giant groper and cod, massive lobsters, Lion fish, cuttles and clown fish! They occasionally see bull and tiger sharks and also get visited annually by hammerheads, whales and other pelagics!

This is a great dive for new and experienced divers alike! EVERYONE will dive Nitrox, as per the dive shop rules. This is a deep dive (down to 30m), but we will be lead by instructors so open water is the minimum qualification.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are a new or ineperienced diver, I suggest doing a few night dives to get used to being in dark water, as it can be intimidating.

There are some great food options around within a short driving distance, as well as the Gaol Ruins (which do cost to access) and the light...

NUDES will be heading to the Great Barrier Reef in the Semester 1 break and visiting some of Australia's best dive sites, including the SS Yongala!

The cost of the trip will be around $1200 and will include:

- 3 day/2 night liveaboard ($580) - Deep Sea Divers Den has kindly offered us a 20% discount on the liveaboard if we bring a group of 8 people. If we do not get a group of 8 people, the cost of the liveaboard will revert to normal pricing (Approx $720)

- Double boat dive at the SS Yongala ($220)

- Accomodation (Approx $200)

- Fuel (Approx $200)

Note: Food is not included

The current plan for the trip is:

Friday 14 April - Depart Newcastle (Approx 11 hours drive)

Saturday - Travel (Approx 11 hours drive)

Sunday - Dive SS Yongala

Monday - Travel/Sightsee

Tuesday - Cairns Liveaboard

Wednesday - Cairns Liveaboard

Thursday - Cairns Liveaboard

Friday - Travel/Sightsee (Approx 8 hours drive)

Saturday - Travel (Approx 8 hours drive)

Sunday 23 April- Arrive...

Grey Nurse Sharks, Green Sea Turtles, Rays and Wobbegongs - Seal Rocks is one of NUDES’ most spectacular trips!

The weekend will include three shore dives at Statis Rock at Seal Rocks, 2 x dinner, 2 x breakfast, 2 x air fills, a campfire, marshmallows, camp site hire and transport.

Day 1 - We will set off from NUDES gear store at 5:30pm on Friday afternoon. On Saturday morning, the first group of 10 divers will dive at Statis Rock and in the afternoon the second group will head out. There's some great areas for snorkelling and cliff jumping, and a beautiful lighthouse walk. After the dives, we will head back to camp for a BBQ, campfire, marshmallows and good times.

Day 2 - The first group will dive in the morning and the second group in the afternoon. We'll then head back to the gear store to wash and put away gear.

What to bring:

• Tent

• Sleeping bag

• Pillow

• Torch

• Towel

• Change of clothes

• Hat

• Sunscreen

• 2 x Lunch

• Drink- alcoho...

That's right! Your favourite Newcastle Uni clubs and societies have joined forces to bring you an unprecedented Welcome Party. The Snow Sports Club, Goonion, Exchange Student Society, Diving and Exploration Club, and Fraternity are chipping in to ease the pain of the Week 2 existential crisis you will no doubt be facing.

If you can make it out of your studies, then get to Derkenne Courtyard for a couple of preparatory beverages beforehand. Then at 8:30pm, slink onto the bus we have organised for you, or if you miss that then grab the train from Warabrook station to Hamilton where the night will officially begin at Sydney Junction Hotel.

DJs from 9pm at SJ's. Cheap drinks. Kicking on until 3am. Free entry for everyone as always at SJs! Bring yo kids, bring yo wife (probably don't actually bring yo kids). See you there!

The Combined Hunter Underwater Group has invited NUDES to take part in their Annual Clean Up Australia Day dive at Swansea Channel. We will be meeting at Swansea around 230pm for the onshore cleanup and getting in the water around 4pm.

You will be able to collect gear the morning of the event due to the Charity Drift Dive taking place the day before this event.

Please bring drinking water, collection container, gloves and a cutting device. Please wear enclosed footwear for 'land' component and please bring your Certification card for registration.

Transport to this event will be by carpool so please post in the event if you are keen to attend. Hope to see you there!

Following on from the success of the last 4 years the 5th charity drift dive will take place on the 4th March 2017 once again with all funds raised going to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit John Hunter Children’s Hospital New South Wales.

Registration will be through Everyday hero

http://www.hnekidshealthgiving.com.au/event/CharityDriftDive2017

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE 12.00 ON 23rd February 2017 and limited to the first 200 divers to register

The event is open to any certified diver with Open Water or higher certification and who has completed at least one drift dive and must of dived with in 6 months of the event. Divers will be in groups of 9 plus a diver leader or higher certified diver with current insurance.

If you want to dive in a group ensure you enter the team name at the time of registering to ensure you are placed in that group.

All divers who do not enter a team name at time of registration will be placed in a group by the event organiser. These groups ...

N.U.D.E.S will be holding our first social night of the year at the Godfrey Tanney Bar on Thursday 2nd March. There will be trivia, info for those wanting to join NUDES, updates on our 2017 trip calendar, as well as some amazing prizes to be won in a charity raffle, raising funds for the Charity Drift Dive supporting the NICU at the John Hunter Hospital.

There will be free food and plenty of it! It'll also be the last chance to take advantage of our $50 O Week SCUBA membership price!

This night is open to all, so bring your friends! If you've thought about diving but haven't made the leap, or know someone who's interested, this is the event to attend.

The fun kicks off at 6pm. We'll start by talking about SCUBA diving, the club and what we do, as well as our plans for 2017. Trivia will start at 1830 so put your thinking caps on your heads and get your game faces on!!

See you there!

1. Eating is a necessity to live, so why not do it with friends?

2. Thai food is delicious.

3. Out of the water activities allow us to use our words instead of our underwater hands to speak. It'll be a nice change.

4. (The most important reason) Tunn is leaving Australia on the 15th December, so let us farewell this fantastic human and give him such a great time that he may want to come back :)

So come for food, hangs, stop in for a quick visit if you can't attend the whole night. Would love to see you there :) 

Please RSVP by this Friday 9th December 2016.