AIM: To acquire regional seismic information about deep basinal structuring and pre-Mesozoic sedimentary history beneath the central portions of the SA gulf waters and their linking shelfal strait, in order to help promote the region's untested hydrocarbon entrapment and seabed minerals potential to current and prospective explorers. METHODS: Survey dates: 22-28/3/94. Energy source: Airgun array. CDP coverage: 4000%. Recording mode: 240 channel digital - Digicon streamer system DSS 240 recorder. SP interval: 37.5 metres; group interval: 12.5 metres. RESULTS: 1202 line km of continuous marine seismic reflection coverage down to 10 seconds travel time were shot and recorded by Party 521 of Digital Exploration Ltd aboard the MV Ross Seal, in transit from Portland, Vic. to Fremantle, WA via Backstairs Passage and the SA gulf waters. For ease of seismic database manipulation and map display the continuous profile record was broken into a total of 71 line segments. Preliminary processing of all data was performed by Digicon in Brisbane, Qld to produce a final stack version down to 10 seconds with a horizontal scale of 28 traces per cm. Additional processing and re-display of client-selected and purchased subsets of the seismic data was variously performed by Hosking Geophysical Corp. of Texas, USA (for Canyon), Associated Geophysical Services of Michigan, USA (for Nerdlich), and Allender, Birt and Harris (for MESA / Carnegie).