ST GEORGE DRAGONS SPEARFISHING CLUB
Based in southern Sydney and the Sutherland Shire, the St George Spearfishing and Freediving Club, known to generations of divers as the Dragons, is one of the oldest spearfishing clubs in Australia. The club was formed in 1956 and has been a fixture of the sport in New South Wales ever since.
The Dragons hold a notable place in Australian spearfishing history. The club’s pioneers included Ron and Valerie Taylor, Ben Cropp, Wally Gibbons and John Sumner, figures who shaped the sport in the water and, in several cases, went on to influence underwater filmmaking and ocean conservation. Ron Taylor won the World Spearfishing title in 1965, adding to Australian titles across the mid 1960s, while Ben Cropp had taken the Australian title in 1961. The competitive tradition carried through to Mark Colys, who won the Australian title in 1994, and the club has long supplied representatives to Australian spearfishing teams.
For all that heritage, the focus of the club today is on the safe development of new divers. The Dragons run social competitions and club dives suited to beginners and newer members, and have looked to add snorkelling days and fish identification days to bring people into the sport. The emphasis throughout is on safe, selective and sustainable diving, consistent with the values of the USFA.
The club stays active across the major events on the calendar. St George competes in the monthly Alliman Shield and is involved in the championship season, including the Sydney Cup and the Canada Cup, with members both competing and helping to organise the events. Club away trips run to both the north and south coast of New South Wales, conditions permitting.
https://stgeorgespearfishing.com/
STGD MEETINGS
[qode_advanced_image_gallery type=”grid” enable_image_shadow=”yes” image_behavior=”grayscale” number_of_columns=”three” space_between_items=”no” image_size=”full”]