Name: Sally Gregory aka Super Sal

Age: 59

Where were you born?: Born and baptised in the bay at Frankston, Victoria, Australia.

Profession: Ph.D. student researching women in diving at Southern Cross University. Burned out Dive instructor (FAUI Open Water Instructor and PADI MSDT) - taught diving here on the GC from 1978 to 1988 and ran the Gold Coast Underwater Club, 20 years sales and marketing with MARES. Been diving regularly here on the GC since 1976 and has led over 30 overseas dive adventures – head banana at MAD (Mature Aged Divers) fun and safe dive trips for grown-ups.

Children / Fur Babies: Married to Kevin a firefighter who’s good with his hose.  One child – a 3-year-oldStaffy called Smiley.

Passions or Hobbies outside of diving: I coordinate the Crazy Ladies Ukulele group which tickles my funny bone, I play flute and piccolo in the Hinterland Community Band which allows me to toot in public and I am National Vice President of the Australian Bravery Association “supporting those who risk their life to save another” – subsequent to receiving bravery award for assisting in a shark attack at Byron Bay, 1993. I proved that sharks cannot swim in shit. Favourite sport: Nude volleyball

When did you start diving?: Don’t know how many dives I’ve done as I stopped logging at 2k in 1990, but I’m aiming to beat my Mums’ record of oldestdiver at 89.

Favourite Dive Site and why?: I don’t know yet, still diving and exploring our fabulous world ocean

Most Memorable Dive and why?: Diving with dolphins at Palau or diving the Mikhael Lermontov Wreck with no vis and no guide, or getting a bad Sudafed nark in the caves of Mt Gambier, or ice diving in Snake Pit  lake at Cape Cod USA or that fateful day in June 1993 at Byron Bay or finding a new stash of crockery on the Toa Maru after an earthquake, or exploring the sea snake cave at Niue or being lost in a cloud of barracuda at Sipadan, or seeing the flashlight fish in the torch free night dive on the Coolidge or diving down the twin tunnels at Tulagi, or floating in a cloud of jellies on deco at the Nippo Maru in Truk or meeting the sharks of Beqa lagoon, or swimming under a squadron of eagle rays at Nine Mile reef, diving in a 38o thermal lake at Coron,  – I’d better stop now – so many dives, so many thrills and so many memorable dive buddies too.

Dream Dive Site on your wish list: The cenotes of Mexico – cave diving in gin clear water – thrilling.

Why do you Clean Up Dive?: Clean up diving gives porpoise (purpose) to my pleasure diving and the opportunity to give back to mother nature who so generously allows me to explore her underbits. On every dive, I strive to leave the dive site in better shape than I found it. Many years ago, I went to a John Denver concert at Twin Towns. He told the audience that if everyone picked up one piece of rubbish every day, the world would be a healthier and cleaner place. I took his advice – it still floats my boat. I’m surprised by how many divers think they’re good divers, yet they swim straight past rubbish and discarded fishing line, ignoring it completely, or throw their tank valve tape or empty water bottles on the ground instead of in the bin.

If there was one thing you could say about clean up diving what would it be?: Diving in the 70’s and 80s’ the only rubbish we saw on the bottom was cans, bottles, fishing line and odd old pair of undies. Now it’s plastic bottles, plastic lures, and plastic bags everywhere – so sad. Every bit of plastic ever made, still exists, which is why it’s so important for each of us to try to cut back on purchases of single-use plastics such as straws, bottles, food containers and cling wrap. The problem is big. Jeff Bridges (son of my original divepin-up boy Lloyd Bridges (of Sea Hunt fame) puts it best in this clip: https://www.google.com.au/search?q=jeff+bridges+plastics&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b&gfe_rd=cr&ei=qjvzWIH3AoLr8wfpnqn4CQ

Thoughts on Environmental Divers: No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. It’s so encouraging to see the new generation of divers caring so much about our precious ocean.  I’d love to see every dive course include a segment on the importance of protecting (and not just using and exploiting) our precious ocean. There is much joy in adding an element of volunteering to your life. A life that does not include some activity to contribute to a better world, is a life half lived. I can’t express how impressed I am by Super Kelz and her team of passionate and dedicated marine protectors. Actions speak louder than words, and instead of just mouthing off about how dirty and lazy some people are, they are showing the world how a trashed waterway can be fixed.  The ocean needs more stars who will start community clean-ups and show the world why trashing our environment is only a good idea, if you’re a real tosser.