Welcome to the Historical Diving Society – South East Asia, Pacific. Our aim is to promote and preserve the rich diving heritage of our region. We have active members throughout Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia and around the world. 

 
Our interests are: 
· Early scuba diving
· Helmet (hard hat) diving
· Wartime frogmen
· Collecting diving equipment, books and memorabilia
· Early rebreathers
· Unusual diving gear
· Meeting others with an interest in diving history.

The Society also organises and encourages regional meetings. Regional groups are currently active in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia while meetings are organised between members in other areas. Information about these regional gatherings is made available to all members by post or email, on a regular basis. We work closely with Historical Diving Societies in the United Kingdom, Europe and USA. We encourage people with an interest in historical diving to join us. 

HISTORICAL DIVING SOCIETY
SOUTH EAST ASIA - PACIFIC
P.O.Box 347, Dingley Village, Victoria, 3172, Australia.

Email all correspondence:    hdsseap@hotmail.com.au

HDS SEAP COMMITTEE 2012/13: 
President: Christopher Deane chrisd@project.com.au
Secretary: Allan Kessler 
Treasurer: DesWilliams
Magazine Editor: Jeff Maynard maynard@vicnet.net.au
Records Officer: Tony Gregory 
Committee Members: 
Stanley Haviland, Stephen Taylor, Peter McMahon

ENTER FOR A PRIVATE GLIMPSE OF OUR ex-SECRETARY AT HOME

Don't you just love it!!! This superb photograph was taken during the three day diving session held by society members at the Melbourne Aquarium. It shows Frank Zeigler in standard dress communicating with grandson Tate, being held by Kathy Zeigler. 
 
 

With all the misery in the world, the misunderstanding, intollerance, fanaticism, greed and abuse, it is wonderfull to appreciate that this is not the way of the universe, and not the way God, 
your God,meant it to be.
The smile of a child tells us that.


 
 
Our magazine Classic Diver is published four times a year. We also organise and encourage educational displays, research, historical walks, film nights, bibliophile meetings and the preservation of historical diving equipment and ephemera.

 


Reading CLASSIC DIVER - anywhere, anytime!!
(l to r) Tony Gregory, Jeff Maynard, Des Williams.

 

HDS SEAP BULLETIN - APRIL 2013

Secretary Allan  has filed the following:

HDS SEAP had a busy time in March especially in NSW.

1.      The Autumn edition of Classic Diver was mailed out in early March and you should have received it by now.  The next edition will be out in June.

2.      OZTeK 2013 was a very successful event for us.  We attracted 17 new members over the weekend and a few more have joined since.  A big welcome to all new members.  We had many visitors to the stand and had a great response.  Many people made comments along the lines of it being the best stand at the show.  This is very satisfying for the members who generously donate their time and loan their collections and equipment.  Thanks to these members from NSW and the ACT.  President Chris Deane and Treasurer Des Williams also attended and helped to man our stand.  We will have a report in the next edition of Classic Diver.

3.      On Saturday 16th March a Special General Meeting was held to ratify a fee increase for the 2013 – 2014 financial year.  The motions were passed unanimously and the fees will be $AUD50 for Australian and New Zealand members and $AUD60 for other overseas members.  I have had a few enquiries from new members.  At OZTeK we ran a special joining offer that new memberships would extend till June 2014 (approximately 15 months for the 12 month subscription).  So new members do not need to pay any additional fee.  Your next membership fee will be due for the 2014 – 2015 year and you will pay whatever the current fee is then.  If there is any confusion please do not hesitate to contact membership Secretary Des Williams or myself.

4.      On Monday the 18th March, following OZTeK, NSW members also went to Chowder Bay for some standard dress diving in a RAN diver training school re-enactment.  If you read my article in the last Classic Diver you will know why that was important to me personally.  If not, read it now J.  Again there will be a full report in the next Classic Diver.

5.      Coming events:

a.      18th February – 1st May to mark the 100th Anniversary of HMAS Melbourne’s first visit to Melbourne.  The Royal Historical Society will have a display including photographs and personal items of the ships diver.  A Siebe Gorman 12 bolt helmet, similar to that worn by the ships diver, will be on display.  Des Williams attended the opening night on 28th March which is the actual day the HMAS Melbourne arrived.  He has reported it was a very interesting night.  The exhibition is open for the rest of the month so there is still time to get there.

b.      18th April – 18th May the 2013 Western Australian Heritage Festival: Peter McMahon is organising the HDS SEAP presence there on the 5th & 12th May from 10 am to 3 pm.  The theme of the HDS SEAP presence will be the Broome pearling industry and will include hard hat diving displays.  For more details contact Peter McMahon at redwinepeter@yahoo.com.

c.       8th – 10th June Standard Dress course and diving.  Run by Professional Diving Services, Portland, Victoria.  Full details are given inside the cover of the Autumn Classic Diver.  You can contact Steve Taylor at deputy821@bigpond.com or Leslie at Professional Diving Services on +61 3 5523 6392 or lesliezelenc@profdivers.com.au.

d.      5th – 6th October 2013 HDS SEAP 2013 AGM: to be held in Sydney in conjunction with the RAN International Fleet Review.  This is to mark 100 years since the then, newly formed RAN fleet, all arrived in Sydney Harbour.  The RAN has invited other countries to send a warship or tall ship and will be organising a week of activities.  It is our plan to hold our AGM and participate in some of the activities.


 


 

Membership in the Society is AUD$50 for Australian & New Zealand Membership and AUD$60 for memberships from all other countries, per year. Members receive four issues of the Society’s magazine ‘Classic Diver’ as well as the invitation to participate in events and network with others interested in historic diving, both in our region and internationally. 

You can join the Society for an annual subscription of AUD$50 for Australian & New Zealand Membership and AUD$60 for memberships from all other countries, by making contact with HDS SEAP Membership Secretary, Des Williams, via email hdsseap@hotmail.com.au  or mail to c/o P. O Box 347 Dingley Village, Victoria, 3172, AUSTRALIA using the membership application form which can be downloaded via the following link
……….Download MEMBERSHIP FORM pdf.

 

........................................................

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING - Historical Diving Society South East Asia Pacific
Held on 16th March, 2013 at Technology Park, Locomotive Street, Eveleigh.

Opened at 6:00pm by President Christopher Deane (chairman)
Present:  Des Williams, Cathy Deane, Chris Sammut, Stanley Havilland, Andy Andrew, Peter Katz, Mel Brown, Dave Thomas, Tony Dromgool, Allan Kessler, Chris Deane, Brian Tasker, Peter McMahon, Nathan Farrugia, Barry Andrewartha, Frank Zeigler, John Stevens, Richard Wirski, David Bird.
Apologies: Michael Frew, Malcolm Hill, Mark Dyson, Jim Johnson, Greg Baxendale, Marc Cohen.

Motion 1:
That the membership fee for the 2013 – 2014 year for Australian and New Zealand members be increased to $AUD50.
Proposed by:  Allan Kessler.  Seconded by: Des Williams.
Motion carried unanimously.

Motion 2:
That the membership fee for the 2013 – 2014 year for other overseas members be increased to $AUD60.
Proposed by:  Allan Kessler.  Seconded by: Des Williams.
Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman thanked everyone for attending.

Meeting closed at 6:05pm.

HARD HAT' VIDEO AVAILABLE ON LINE.
Max Gleeson, author of several excellent books on NSW shipwrecks, and the Yongala, and cinematographer, has kindly made available online a video of the Helmet Diving Course in Portland last June. 
See   http://vimeo.com/34983859

DIVER ADVERTS.
As mentioned in previous issues of our magazine, we are running free classified ads for members in "Classic Diver" magazine. If you would like to advertise your interests, equipment you are looking for, books you have for sale or exchange, gear you have for sale - anything related to diving history please email a short description directly to our Editor, Jeff Maynard at maynard@vicnet.net.au   ASAP! Make sure you include your name and email (along with address or phone number if you want). 

.......................................................

A selection of reading in the history of diving in our region.
 

FEATURES - INTERNAL LINKS:
A Key to the Kingdom - Keith Gordon
One Hundred Fathoms Down - George Wookey with David Strike
My Siebe Gorman by John Osmond.
A NZ Diving Legend by Keith Gordon.
Helmet Diving at Thursday Island by Peter Illidge.
The Lawson Lung by Mel Brown.
DOWNLOAD PDFs:

Diving the Dawson Flomatic, by Clarrie Lawler
A History of Diving in Russia, by Jeff Maynard
Robison Bros & Co. Pty. Ltd. Melbourne, by Des Williams

.............................................
new web

A new page where we can keep track of frauds and fakes, bargains and anything to do with the pleasure of collecting and restoring historic diving equipment.

And for dive book collectors, check out Classic Dive Books

PLEASE NOTE:
NEW WEB PAGE FOR BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS AUTHORED OR PUBLISHED BY HDSEAP MEMBERS.
Link here.
Link to page. ..........................................................................................................................................

The HDS SEAP enjoys a close relationship with various Historical Diving Societies and like-minded organisations around the world. 
This list is printed for the benefit of members who may want to share information, network or learn more. 

INTERNAL LINKS

ARTICLES
FOR COLLECTORS - FAKES
PAST EVENTS
PORTLAND 2010
 

HISTORICAL DIVING SOCIETIES
CANADA
HDS Canada
241A East 1st Street Rear
North Vancouver, BC V7L 1B4
Canada

MEXICO
HDS Mexico
Bosques de Ciruelos
#190 û 601B
Bosques de las Lomas, CP 11700
Mexico DF

UNITED KINGDOM
The Historical Diving Society
Little Gatton Lodge, 25 Gatton Road, Reigate
Surrey RH2 0HB,  United Kingdom
Tel: 0173 249961
Fax: 020 7373 7340
Email: enquiries@thehds.com
Website: http://www.thehds.com

UNITED STATES
Historical Diving Society U.S.A.
PO Box 2873, Santa Maria, CA 93457,USA
Tel: 805 934 1660
Fax: 805 938 0550
Email:hds@hds.org
Website: http://www.hds.org

DENMARK
Dykkehistorisk Forening
HDS Denmark, Kirseboervey 5
8471 Sabro, Denmark

GERMANY
Historical Diving Society Germany 
Ringstrasse 43
D-64756 Mossautal - Hiltersklingen
Germany
Telefon: 06062 - 913 691
Email: info@historical-diving.de
Website: www.historical-diving.de

ITALY
The Historical Diving Society Italia 
Viale 4 Novembre 86/a, 
48023 Marina di Ravenna (RA) - Italia
tel: +39 335 5432810á fax +39 0544 531013
Email: hdsitalia@racine.ra.it
Website: www.hdsitalia.com

NORWAY
Norsk Dykkehistorisk
HDS Norway, C/- NUIAS,
Gravdalsveien 245
Ph23 Ytre Laksevaag
NO 5848, Bergen, Norway

POLAND
HDS POLAND
00-075 Warszawa, Senatorska 11 p.25, 
Poland
Phone/fax: + 48 22 826 35 74
Mobile phone: + 48á606 313 583á
Email: wachowski@kdp.pttk.pl
Website: http://www.hds-poland.org

SWEDEN
Svensk Dykkehistorisk Forening
HDS Sweden
C/- Lars Gustafsson, Ejdervagen 31
141 72 Segeltorp , Sweden

FRANCE
Subaquatique en France
HDS France
39 rue gaston Briand
16130 Segonzac, France

RUSSIA
HDS Russia
Alexander Sledkov
190068, Box 601, St.Petersburg, 
Russia
Website: www.hdsr.ru

ASSOCIATED HISTORICAL SOCIETIES

Broome Historical Society Museum 
www.broomemuseum.org.au
 


 
INTERESTING NON - COMMERCIAL LINKS
AUSTRALIA

CLASSIC DIVE BOOKS
A fascinating website listing many historic 'underwater' books. (Created and maintained in Australia).

HERITAGE VICTORIA
Home of Victoria's support for our maritime heritage and maritime archaeology.
 

INTERESTING NON - COMMERCIAL LINKS
WORLD

DIVING HERITAGE

BRASS HAT DIVER SITE

US NAVY SHOTS

LEON LYONS HELMETS OF THE DEEP
 

INTERESTING COMMERCIAL LINKS

DESCO helmets

MORSE DIVING Inc.
 

SUPPORTERS
Proud supporters of the Historical Diving Society South East Asia - Pacific. 
 
DIVE LOG NEW ZEALAND
Website: www.divenewzealand.com
...... SPORTDIVER MAGAZINE, DIVE LOG (Australia)
http://www.motpub.com.au
http://www.divetheblue.com,au
OCEANS ENTERPRISES
for new and second-hand 'underwater' books.
email: peter@oceans.com.au
Website: oceans.com.au
SOUTH PACIFIC UNDERWATER MEDICINE SOCIETY
Website: www.spums.org.au

 
 
 
Disclaimer

The HDS SEAP is a membership-based, not for profit, Incorporated organisation, formed in 1997. Administration of the Society is carried out by a small Committee elected by the members on an annual basis. There are no paid positions at any level within the Society. Due to the tyranny of distance over the huge area in which the HDS SEAP operates, Committee meetings are held by email. Committee Minutes and financials are reported in our magazine. The HDS SEAP is not involved in any in-water activities. Diving is potentially hazardous and may cause serious injury or death. The Board of the HDS SEAP suggests that to dive without proper training or procedures, using equipment that you have not been trained or have experience with, or equipment that has not been well maintained, all increase this risk. The HDS SEAP is not a substitute for any of the above in any way. Commonsense and diving within your own experience and ability, is each members choice. 
Content is maintained by the committee. Last updated 28 March 2013