Originally intended as ‘stiffeners’ for the flimsy paper packets that, during the late 19th century, ready-made cigarettes were then sold in, ‘cigarette cards’ became one of the first collectibles available to the masses. At first nothing more than plain pieces… Read More ›
commercial diving
Practical search techniques
The seabed search to locate a specific object is one of the most challenging tasks in diving – and certainly one of the most common in that it has equal application to military, commercial and recreational divers alike. It may… Read More ›
“SUBSUNK”: The ‘AFFRAY’ tragedy
The following article – by George Wookey and David Strike – was first published in Professional Diver Journal in 1997. ______________________ On the 16th April, 1951, a British submarine – HMS/M Affray, one of several of her class built during… Read More ›
“No” fear!
I’ve always held the word ‘No’ in high regard. Apart from its structural simplicity it’s always stood by me like a good friend when I’ve considered myself at risk in the face of questions like, “Was it you who put… Read More ›
Bruce Thompson – Diving adventurer
A person who has had a profound influence on the development of occupational diving standards in Australia, Bruce Thompson’s entire life has been dedicated to diving and diving safety. The following article is based on an interview that first appeared… Read More ›
The men from Snowy River
Australia’s most ambitious civil engineering project teetered on the brink of disaster when, in 1961, sluice gates governing the flow of water from Lake Eucumbene – a key element in the Snowy Mountains hydro-electric scheme to divert the course of… Read More ›