Here the latest info on the Aussie titles...


All is going well for the organisation of the 55th National titles (filmfishing, finswimming, spearfishing)


Latest information see www.auf-spearfishing.com.au for information, rules, forms


FYI and please distribute to divers who may wish to make a last minute entry for the 28 Nov to 5th December competition


We have 5 gold sponsors (see attached t shirt design)- Omer, Pelag, Seafresh, Sunferries, Fantastic Fish Calendars
and many other silver and bronze sponsors (including Adrenalin, Picasso)


Andy Hallam will also be attending and making a film\DVD about the event (following up from his film about the 54th Nationals in SA)


I am also chasing up return of trophies so could state chairs please assist in co-ordinate returns of their divers individual trophies (I have so far organised for Ian Puckeridge to return open and Paul Rosso to return Most Meritorious). Trophies can preferably travel with state divers or be send directly to Townsville Skindiving Club


List of attendees so far- 34 paid deposits


We have several high level international visitors with at least two NZers (Herb and Dwayne) and 4 Tahitians (below) and a few others promised so we should have at least 40 divers (there is a maximum cutoff of 50 (2 boats) and a potential cutoff of 40.


Franck TSIOU FOUC( you see him in tubuai) - 7th at recent world championships
Steeve TETUANUI( you see him in eden)
Thierry TETUAEARO( from Tubuai)
Yannes DEBESE ( From Tubuai)

Unofficial results:

Adam Smith 1st; 2nd Dwayne Herbert(NZ); 3rd Ken Picard(QLD); 4th Arnold Piccoli(WA); 5th Gunther Pfrengle(NSW); 7th Aaron Crocombe (VIC), 16th Drew Fenney (VIC)

Open Pairs champions:.................drumroll.....................Aaron Crocombe and Drew Fenney!!!!!! These champion Viccos will be representing Australia in New Zealand next March.

Congratulations from the Southern Freedivers!!

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RIDE THE BULL!!!!!

That is farking grweat news! Did Drew blow a sandshoe during regular comp? How did P Diddy go?

Drew was 7th after day 2 but ended 16th due to “the lay of the reef”. Apparently there were pressure points along the reef and you needed to swim ahead of pack and take advantage of the good areas. Drew made a bad decision to go into the lagoon where there were no fish. Other competitors who went to the end of the reef “killed the pig”. The lagoon was silty - he took a gamble and it didn't pay off. Paul finished 30th. On the 1st day he only speared 3 fish due to the restricted species list and apparently there were many divers who had similar results. Many of the fish were unapproachable. There were plenty of coral trout around but that's only one specie. Rick ended up 20 something in the placings having had a good final day.

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RIDE THE BULL!!!!!