Dive Pacific Iss 171 Oct- Nov 2019

BACK IN THE DAY
DIVE Magazine Vol 7. No 1 Price 25 cents
Sportways bouyancy compensator
Sportways ad published in
Wade Doak’s DIVE magazine
These Buoyancy Compensators were
referred to by divers as toilet seats!
Note: 1) The clear tube running from
the diver’s regulator. This fed the
diver’s exhaust air into the black tube
that has the fine netting on the end.
The air created a mini airlift for
removing fine bottom particles,
exposing a seam of coins. This creative
airlift was a Kelly Tarlton invention.
Quite amazing!
2) The DCP decompression meter
on the diver’s right hand. This was
one of the first times these new
decompression meters were used on
extended decompression dives in NZ.
The silver coins pictured above were
uncovered at the wreck site of the
Elingamite at the Three Kings Islands
1965.
Expedition members were: Wade
Doak. Kelly Tarlton, John Pettit, John
Gallagher, Peter Clemens, Geoff Pearch
and Jaan Voot. Kelly Tarlton most
likely took the picture.
Sightings of pest fish Gambusia wanted in Nelson Tasman
SOUNDINGS
LOCAL NEWS
Gambusia prey on native insects
and fish including whitebait, one of
the world’s most invasive species.
A small, robust fish, it breeds and
spreads very rapidly in spring and
summer with populations able to
expand to 17 times their original
number within five months. It is
illegal to possess, release, buy, sell
or breed them.
“Gambusia threaten native whitebait
species and mudfish by
nipping their fins and eating eggs
and juveniles,” said DOC ranger
Renan Falleiros. “They also reduce
native insect populations.”
Commonly known as mosquito
fish, Gambusia were introduced to
the North Island in the 1930s in the
belief they would control mosquito
larvae. Recent studies have shown
that they are not effective and
can even increase them by eating
mosquitoes’ native predators.
Gambusia were first discovered
in a Tasman pond in 2000. DOC’s
Pest Fish Programme eradicated
Gambusia from over 23 sites but
they are still found at many sites
around Waimea Inlet, Moutere
Inlet, Motueka and Riwaka.
DOC is asking anyone who sees
fish they believe to be Gambusia
to take photos and email details
to rfalleiros@doc.govt.nz. Include
your name, contact number and
details of where and when they
saw the fish.
Male Gambusia grow to 3.5 cm and
females to 6 cm. The fish prefer
slow moving water in creeks,
wetlands, ponds, and estuaries
where there is a mix of salt and
fresh water.
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