Recreational SCUBA and equity

The SDFV was formed back in the 1960's to promote safety, protest competition spearfishing and promote education of scuba.

It's had a long and fruitful presence in the arena of marine parks, fisheries (abalone, cray or sourthern rock lobster), access, safe diving.

It's organised a variety of events, including the Sunken Assets series of seminars.

The SDFV codes of practice govern diving in shipping channels in Port Phillip Bay, and also while the channel deepening project is on.

A recent arena that will need to be watched is the ex-hmas canberra - a ship to be scuttled as a tourist destination.
The SDFV is involved - having provided seed money to the VARS organisation, as well as having member club members on the committees.

The biggest issue to come about with the ex-hmas canberra will be the question of equity of access. The company line (that VARS committee has agreed to and proposed from the start) is that there will be equitable access for all.

Now the definition of equitable access and access methods will be interesting - I read it as: No limitations on what a recreational group want to do - so they can use all bouys if they are provided, have same mechanism to access permit system if it exists for bookings. That there is a realistic way for small groups (say 3 guys in a private boat) to suddenly decide conditions are perfect to get thru the heads and go dive it.
So it needs to be flexible access and acknowledge that there are few if any physical limitations on accessing a scuttled wreck in the water.