Welcome to the web site of the Underwater Research Group (URG) of New South Wales, Australia. The URG is a non-commercial SCUBA Diving Club comprising people from all walks of life who share an interest in and a commitment to the underwater world. Its aim is to further all aspects of underwater exploration, research, safety, photography and sport.
Our members are interested in a large range of underwater activities, including marine biology, exploration of wrecks, underwater photography and underwater conservation, but we all share one thing in common, a desire to get wet and have fun under the ocean!
The club operates on a voluntary basis, but is professionally run and organised. We own our own dive boat and tow vehicle. The club has been in existence, in it's present form, since 1955 and boasts quite a significant history, especially in the area of underwater research.
Diving with Grey Nurse Sharks Research
The URG's is a regular participant in Grey Nurse shark population surveys conducted by NSW Fisheries. The URG proactively supports the following new NSW Fisheries rules for diving with the Grey Nurse.
Diving rules in critical habitats
The new rules for divers and snorkelleres in each 200-metre grey nurse shark critical habitat areas are:
No scuba diving between sunset and sunriseNo blocking entrances to caves or gutters when the sharks are thereNo feeding or touching the sharksNo chasing or harassing the sharksNo electronic shark repelling devicesNo underwater scooters.Environmental & Conservation Objectives
As an environmentally aware group, the URG seeks to promote conservation through submissions to appropriate Government Organisations, regarding environmental issues, support for marine conservation issues and by promoting environmentally responsible diving practices amongst divers.
In 1997, we road-tested the Protected Species Survey for The NSW Department of Fisheries, which involved a trek up the north coast.
We participate with Clean-up Australia and have been regularly working with The Australian Marine Conservation Society, Sydney Aquatic Cleaners Klub (SACK) and NSW Waterways Authority, to clean up a number of Sydney Harbour beaches.
Since 1999 we have commenced working with NSW Fisheries on various research and monitoring programs.
Regular Club Meetings
The Club holds its general meetings (informal social gathering really!) at The Great Northern Hotel in Chatswood, on the third Wednesday of each month. Entry is from Mowbray Road/Pacific Highway. The event start at 7.30 pm. There is the usual business of reports from Club Officers / committee members, dive reports from members and a general friendly catchup with diving enthusiasts
The Annual General Meeting is held in September each year and takes place in the Australian Museum based in the City (College Street).
DAN SEAP Affiliation
The URG has recently developed an affiliation with Divers Alert Network (DAN). DAN SEAP (Divers Alert Network, South East Asia-Pacific) is a non-profit member-based association dedicated to the advancement of recreational diving safety. DAN offers dive insurance to its members.
If you are diving in remote locations (but also close to home), a DAN membership is a good idea. Some dive travel operators actually require DAN membership. The most important benefit of membership is their worldwide emergency evacuation service, but it is certainly not the only benefit. See http://www.danseap.org for more details.
The URG gets a bonus point for every DAN applicant that quotes our promoter number (P190), so please do so. We will spend these bonus points for dive safety equipment for the club.