The Nautical Archaeological Association of South Australia (NAASA) was an amateur maritime archaeology organisation which was founded in 1982 by individuals who resigned from the Society for Underwater Historical Research (SUHR) in April 1982 following a dispute.‘Letter to Society for Underwater Historical Research Committee’ in the SUHR Newsletter for April 1982, Cowan, David (editor); (2007), The Society for Underwater Historical Research – Publications 1974-2004.‘Minutes of the General Meeting held … on Tuesday 27 April 1982’ in SUHR Newsletter for May 1982, Cowan, David (editor); (2007), The Society for Underwater Historical Research – Publications 1974-2004. The association is believed to have ceased operation in the early 1990s.
Naming Controversy The newly formed Association had proposed to be known as the Maritime Archaeology Association of South Australia.<ref>‘Minutes of the General Meeting held … on Tuesday 25 May 1982’ in SUHR Newsletter for May 1982 in Cowan, David (editor); (2007), The Society for Underwater Historical Research – Publications 1974-2004.</</ref> However, the SUHR quickly altered its official name to The Society for Underwater Historical Research (Maritime Archaeology Association of South Australia) Incorporated to prevent this action. The reason given by the SUHR for its action was that it ‘has been known interstate as the Maritime Archaeology Association of South Australia for some years.'Opening page of the SUHR Newsletter for May 1982 in Cowan, David (editor); (2007), The Society for Underwater Historical Research – Publications 1974-2004.‘Minutes of the General Meeting held … on Tuesday 25 May 1982’ in SUHR Newsletter for May 1982 in Cowan, David (editor); (2007), The Society for Underwater Historical Research – Publications 1974-2004.
HMS Buffalo wreck site discovery In April 1986, NAASA participated in an expedition led by the South Australian Government's State Heritage Branch to search for and to survey the wreck of in Mercury Bay, Whitianga, New Zealand.'SA team seek Buffalo wreck', Advertiser, 9 April 1986, p.12.'Divers find parts of the Buffalo', Advertiser, 17 April 1986, p.10.Jeffery, W. (1989), Report on survey of HMS Buffalo wrecksite (1813-1840): Bulletin of the Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology.
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