Matt,Things have settled down a bit here at home,have taken my father -in - law home after convalesing at home for 5 weeks.
Could you let me know your phone number and address of your dive shop
so Desley and I can come up to meet you and give you this gear.
We'll be shifting residence on the 14 October to North Lakes,looking forward to that as I'll be closer to you to lend a hand in keeping the
"DREDDED NEDDY ON THE REDDY" in hand.
All the best mate ,Pete Cottam.

_________________
Pete Cottam [LUMPY]
Ex-CPORP
R 93487
JRTE 4th intake
Jan 1962-Jan 1982
Leeuwin Vendatta Watson Melbourne Waratah Brisbane Watson Stuart CDSC Canberra Vampire Penguin Melbourne Nirimba Hobart Perth NCDS Fyshwick Recruiting QLD_________________
may you have fair winds and following seas Shipmates

Saarikko you mongrel, you've definately got me salivating down here. I'm a bit concerned if Lumpy is going to be close at hand though.

Hopefully I should be up to see you in November. I will give you plenty of notice, so you can tell Lumpy that I will be there a week later.

_________________

John Kelly (WEBMASTER)
R42620
Ex-WOMTH
13th MOBI Intake
July'62 to July'83
Nirimba x3 - Rushcutter - Sydney x2 (Carrier) - Melbourne (Carrier) - Penguin - Kuttabul - Creswell x3 - Stalwart x2 - Brisbane.

Pete, Check you private messages, Cheers, Matt

_________________
Matt Saarikko
Dive Control Specialist
Ex ARMY 1970's
21 Years Federal Police

Matt,

Good writeup on your dives, and some great photos of the Fighting 41. Thanks.

_________________
Robin (Bob) King
R105234
Ex-WOETS4
25th MOBI Intake
July 68 - June 88
Nirimba, Waratah (Dam Neck), Brisbane, Waratah (Mare Is & LBNSY), Harman (CDSC), Waratah (Mare Is), Brisbane, Harman (Navy Office & CDSC), Waratah (Dam Neck & Mare Is), Harman (CDSC)

Wisdom comes with age, sometimes age comes alone.

Another day, another two visits to Proud Mary today, and did she turn it on!!!!!!! I have never seen so many fish in one place at one time. There were thousands of fish above, below, inside and outside the ship today. The interior was filled with a myriad of small fish in schools of hundreds, in every cabin and crevice. Even in the forward boiler room and turbine area they congregated. Outside the schools did their dance of evasion in unison dropping into the access holes as divers approached. Larger pelagics like Mackerel Tuna and Yellowfin tuna patrolled the exterior, occasionally darting through the baitfish school to get a mouthful. Some of the larger tuna were the size of the smallest divers in the group. Fantastic !!!
After the first dive we went back to base for morning tea and refills. On the way out the second time we saw several humpback whales on the horizon and took a detour for a bit of whale watching. The second dive mirrored the first but the visibility had improved a bit (12m) and we could hear the whale song all through the dive. After the dive we spotted more whales and stopped to watch two adults and a calf as they dodged and weaved around, showing their pectoral fins and tails every so often. A couple of dolphins were seen surfing the swells. Its tough here in paradise, how will I ever escape this torture?
(NED are you drooling yet?) Best wishes, Matt
P.S. The numbers 41 are almost covered now, particularly on the portside which faces north and gets more sunlight. Algae on the starboard side is about 1/2" thick and three times that thick on the port flanks.

_________________
Matt Saarikko
Dive Control Specialist
Ex ARMY 1970's
21 Years Federal Police

Matt,I can only sit and wonder of the maginificent vision you and your divers have each time you dive on the Majestic Lady.This has been the only time i've ever envied the diving fraternity.
With best regards,Pete Cottam.

_________________
Pete Cottam [LUMPY]
Ex-CPORP
R 93487
JRTE 4th intake
Jan 1962-Jan 1982
Leeuwin Vendatta Watson Melbourne Waratah Brisbane Watson Stuart CDSC Canberra Vampire Penguin Melbourne Nirimba Hobart Perth NCDS Fyshwick Recruiting QLD_________________
may you have fair winds and following seas Shipmates

Hello from rain drenched Mooloolaba, we have had rain and hail for 3 days. Clearing up for Wednesday Ned. Should get a dive in. Ring when you get up this way.

Pete, Hope to meet up with you soon, Matt

_________________
Matt Saarikko
Dive Control Specialist
Ex ARMY 1970's
21 Years Federal Police

Thanks Ned, enjoyed the dinner, the beer, the wine, the company, the dive. Ian and I are sending down a cap and tee shirt as a memento, he was going to give it to you today but as it was so hectic he forgot. I will leave it to you to describe the visit. I expect we'll have a few beers at St Georges Basin at Christmas. Cheers , Matt .
P.S. Ned paying homage to Proud Mary

_________________
Matt Saarikko
Dive Control Specialist
Ex ARMY 1970's
21 Years Federal Police

PHHHHAAAAAAARRRRRQUE....!!!

IT'S THE CREATURE FROM THE BLUE LAGOON...!!!

NO WAIT...!!! IT'S... YES, IT'S CHIPPY NED, TRYING TO REMEMBER WHO
WAS DETAILED OFF TO PAINT MOUNT 51 WITH ANTI-FOULING...!!!

_________________

Rick Pengilly
WEBMASTER
Ex-CPOMTH3
R42630
13th MOBI Intake
July'62 to July'74
HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Melbourne - HMAS Cerberus - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Lonsdale - HMAS Tarangau - HMAS Nirimba - HMAS Brisbane

Yoda in a wetsuit, checking out the first prototype of the light sabre?

_________________
Robin (Bob) King
R105234
Ex-WOETS4
25th MOBI Intake
July 68 - June 88
Nirimba, Waratah (Dam Neck), Brisbane, Waratah (Mare Is & LBNSY), Harman (CDSC), Waratah (Mare Is), Brisbane, Harman (Navy Office & CDSC), Waratah (Dam Neck & Mare Is), Harman (CDSC)

Wisdom comes with age, sometimes age comes alone.