Aussie on board.

[Great*Barrier*Reef]

Hi, I'm G*B*R from Far Northern Australia.
Yes, I live right on the Great Barrier Reef and I'm a free diver and I'm allergic to cold water!
Please don't hold it against me.

Obviously I found out about this site because of the recent unfortunate controversy but wanted to hold off introducing myself until passions had cooled a little.
Good to see the community pulling together to come up with solutions.

I guess what I'm hoping to bring to the table is a fresh set of eyes and ideas in regards to setting up of workable shared protection zones that respect the rights of all stake holders.

I think that this incident can be used to enormous potential to educate, promote and benefit the entire area and not just the dive community.

I look forward to being part of this community.

Cheers,
~GBR.

[LCF]

Welcome! I hope you share some of the wonders in the water where you live. My first big diving trip was to Australia (in fact, going to Australia was the reason I learned to dive) although we didn't make it to the GBR. We dove Byron Bay, and toured in the Sydney area and in the Hunter Valley. I would love to go back to Australia -- it's the only place my husband and I have ever visited where we looked at one another at the end of the trip and said, "We could live here." And the biggest reason was the wonderful people we met.

[Great*Barrier*Reef]

Thank you for such a warm welcome, LCF!

The reefs here will blow your mind with their staggering biodiversity and beauty.

[spatman]

Welcome to nwdc, gbr!

[Great*Barrier*Reef]

Thanks for the welcome, Spatman.

Happy to be here. <---I love this little guy!!

[Mortuus]

Welcome to the board! Its nice to see that the whole GPO controversy has brought some non-PNW divers to join our ranks. I think it will be good to hear from a few outside perspectives every once in a while

[eliseaboo]

Prepare to have several hundred house guests...

The GBR is also the reason I got certified, and that was supposed to be the end of it...I'd be a lot richer if I had just followed that plan...

[Tom Nic]

Welcome to NWDC!

We are really a laid back community - except when we're not.

So far so good on the GPO controversy. One of the best things to come out of this is our enlarging community!

[Norris]

Wow!! Welcome and glad to have ya!

[ORDiver]

Welcome. Until now I think Pensacoladiver was the furthest away member of the forum. You've definitely got him beat! If for some reason your ever in the area chime in. You'll have a lot of guides.

[Great*Barrier*Reef]

Thanks everyone for such a warm welcome.

Thank you for the offer of a guide.

While I like the GPOs very much I have to say that the Wolf Eels have really captured my interest.
They look like real characters.

[BASSMAN]

Welcome GBR!
What a cool screen name!
Diving in Alstraila is on my Bucket List!
You should come visit us some time, here in Washington.
We do actually have a few free diver's here too!
If You ever make it here, I'll personally take you to some of our local dive sites.
Even if it's not on a Thursday!
There are many dive sites on our dual coastline and you can actually hunt at some, without being crucified by this board.
Glad you found us, enjoy the pictures and dive reports!
And put us on your "Bucket list"
Now go "Put another shrimp on the barbie?"

Keith.