Byron Bay Blog

Cool video clip (split screen) of Jonson St and other stuff around Byron Bay.

rick :: Feb.27.2007 :: Byron Bay, Byron Bay News, Video :: No Comments »

The 2007 Byron Underwater Festival will be held from Thursday the 10th to Sunday the 13th of May in Byron Bay, the most easterly point of the Australian mainland.

Julian Rocks is part of the new Cape Byron Marine Park and only a few minutes boat ride from Main Beach. Tropical and temperate currents meet here, resulting in an unique mixture and incredible abundance of marine life including 3 species of turtles various rays and friendly sharks and over 500 other species of fish. Macro life is also abundant with nudibranchs, crabs and snails, various coral and sponge species as well as sea stars, feather stars and urchins. In May water temperatures are still up (21 to 24šC) and it is a quieter time of the year in Byron Bay, a great time to visit!

Who can participate ?
The Byron Underwater Festival is aimed to engage everyone with an interest in the marine environment, whether they want to dive it, snorkel it, kayak it or just observe it from the safety of their armchairs.

What will be happening ?
Byron Underwater Photographic Shootout

- 4 days - 8 dives - as much digital media or rolls of film as you can expose
- Open to novices and professionals alike
- Dive with underwater pioneer Neville Coleman
- Thousands of dollars worth of prizes including Beuchat dive equipment and snorkel gear - dive trips and more

Snorkel tours

- Snorkel with turtles at Julian Rocks
- Discover the wreck of the Tassie II

Critter identity workshops - What did I see ?

- with Neville Coleman - each afternoon at PLANULA Divers Retreat

Marine wildlife presentations

- Introduction to Nudibranchs - Neville Coleman
- Underwater Naturalist - Neville Coleman
- Many other presentations to be announced

Documentary screening

Byron Underwater - where tropical and temperate waters merge

Other activities and events will include

Discover Scuba tours - always wanted to try it - now is the time
Kayaking with dolphins - Including information sessions on dolphin biology and more
Kids events including interpretative beach walk - families are welcome at UF07
Clean up dive - help to preserve our pristine underwater world
Night Dive at the wreck of the Tassie II - see what critters come out in the dark

Various Festival Packages available - divers and non-divers welcome
For more info on the Byron Underwater Festival, please keep visiting the festival website at www.underwaterfestival.com.au

Festival sponsors and supporters include:
Planula Divers Retreat, Byron Bay Dive Centre, Sundive Byron Bay, Coastcare and many others

Main dive equipment sponsor:
Beuchat - ZSports Pty Ltd

Media Sponsors include:
underwater.com.au, DiveLog, Sportdiving, X-Ray Magazine, byronbay.com and others

rick :: Feb.27.2007 :: Activity, Australia, Byron Bay News, Environment :: No Comments »

Saturday March 17 is the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq by America and its so-called Coalition of the Willing - a war that so far has killed many thousands of innocent civilians (the number hasn’t been disclosed), more than 3,300 service personnel, and cost more than $US 366 billion.

Byron Peace Convergence will be holding a peace gathering at the Peace Pole in Byron Bay at 2pm on March 17 to commemorate those who have died in this immoral war and to draw attention to war games planned for May/June this year that will be held in a pristine area of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park at Shoalwater Bay.

Thousands of US and Australian troops will take part in one of the biggest exercises ever held. It will be a frightening demonstration of America’s abuse of its military might and it will take place without regard for the impact of these war games on the Australian environment.


For Byron Bay’s March 17 gathering, the organisers are appealing to people to wear white and bring flowers as symbols of peace.

It will be an opportunity for the people of Byron Bay to say a resounding ‘No’ to the proposed war games.


Musicians are invited to attend, especially drummers and singers, who can help give voice to the Byron community’s concern about this escalation of the military threat at a time when the world should be uniting in peace to combat the greater threat of global warming.

You can read more about the war games at the Byron Environment Centre web site, www.byronenvironmentcentre.asn.au.

Adrian :: Feb.16.2007 :: Byron Bay News :: No Comments »

I’m from USA, and I’ve enjoyed watching the Super Bowl for the past few years at the popular Beach Hotel here in Byron Bay… In Australia the Super Bowl is on live on TV Monday morning.

With so many international visitors in town, there are always plenty of NFL shirts and American accents to be heard.

See you there next year.

rick :: Feb.06.2007 :: Byron Bay News, Culture, Entertainment :: No Comments »