Rottnest Island is the longest continuous RLS time series, and the 14th year saw 14 people head over to the island to continue this tradition, with 5 new divers completing their training.
Rottnest Island is the longest continuous RLS time series, and the 14th year saw 14 people head over to the island to continue this tradition, with 5 new divers completing their training.
It was another one of those ‘you should have been here last week’ scenarios (weather-wise), but the team dished up what can only be described as a logistical and teamwork masterclass. The target was to resurvey 16 sites first surveyed as part of the original RLS ‘Lap of Australia’ in 2010, in a very challenging and unique area to survey.
After our first attempt of the annual 2021 Fleurieu training weekend in February was cancelled due to hairy weather, everyone was waiting with baited breath for the rescheduled trip on the 20th March. Thankfully the weather gods were kind to us and we were blessed with four days of calm, sunny weather to complete another successful South Australian RLS training and survey weekend. A total of 12 divers completed 32 surveys at 8 sites within the Encounter Marine Park at Rapid Head, Carrickalinga, Second Valley and Kangaroo Island.
Back in April, I was lucky enough to attend my first Reef Life Survey trip on the East Coast of Australia in Jervis Bay, New South Wales. Still being a trainee RLS diver and having completed all my training thus far in South Australian waters, this was a scary prospect for me. More fish to count, new species to learn - the pressure was on! .... New RLS trainee diver, Flora Jennifer, talks about her Jervis Bay survey weekend with the RLS crew.
In April 2021, a crew of five Western Australian RLS divers chartered a 30 year old cray boat, packed their swags and dehydrated meals, and set sail for the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, 60km offshore of Geralton, for 5 days of RLS surveys and countless parrotfish encounters.
