Fish ‘n’ Ships
continued to grow and another company was created – Aqua Camps!
The schools' programme was based on snorkelling and SCUBA diving in
Port Phillip and Westernport Bays, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.
A lodge and pool complex was built in Blairgowrie which housed up to
36 students for 1 - 5 day programmes, over the next sixteen years.
Eventually, the activities and group sizes outgrew the Blairgowrie
Lodge and a 17-acre property at Merricks was purchased.
‘Merricks
Camp and Conference Centre’ accommodated 150 people simultaneously,
and over the next ten years a huge three pool complex was constructed
specifically for snorkel and SCUBA training to introduce students
to water and sea safety skills.
It
has always been our priority to develop programmes that are unique
while maintaining the highest of safety standards. Activity programmes
were tailor made according to group size, age, budget, and skills.
These included snorkelling, SCUBA, water safety, kayaking and
canoeing, tree climbing and traverse wall, mountain bike skills
course, bushwalking, rowing, sailing, surfing, and environmental
and marine studies. (click on Retrospective
Gallery below)
Thousands
of school students have participated in programmes each summer
over the 22+ years of operation. A dozen of these schools have
returned each year for more than 15 years.
In
the middle of the summer season, up to 15 qualified and multi-skilled
instructors led students and teachers through the nominated activities.
By the time the business sold, the Aqua Camps team was a solid group
of people with over 120 years combined experience!
And
now, history has come full circle. Merricks Camp/Aqua Camps has been
sold, and “Fish ‘n’ Ships” has a new lease
on life.
Dave
is on the ‘Ships’ side of things and our commercial vessels TORCA and RORQUAL.
Each have been purpose built as high quality charter vessels from
which commercial, research, recreational and educational programmes
are run.
Jan
is looking after the ‘Fish’ end of the business - the
marine education component.
A
variety of marine/education programmes for students and adults are
being offered. Presently we are involved in a Yr 9 biology/science
program comparing marine life in rock pools to that under the piers;
Yr 8 and 11 geography/economics/history tour in the Port of Melbourne
twice a year; and week long camps covering a range of subject areas
for yrs 5, 6, 7 and 8 on the Westernport Bay side.
Adult Snorkel
Instructor’s courses for the general public, teachers
and tertiary students are an important section of the yearly calendar,
providing professional training for those interested in pursuing
additional qualifications in the outdoor field.
We,
and all our staff, are committed to passing on our skills and knowledge
of the marine environment so that all participants acquire a greater
appreciation of the world around us, and that their personal life
skills are expanded by the time they complete each specialised programme.
See
our new...
