Newsletter
Issue 14 – 04th May 2008
Club News
Well the season is started even if the weather has only just started to get into gear!! So far the club has had two successful trips to Croatia and to the Manacles. This weekend there is a gang of us in Plymouth and on the fifteenth Clive is leading a group in the Galapagos which should be absolutely fabulous!!
Pete Mowatt
Pete stood down as Boat Officer at the Annual General Meeting in April. Pete was Boat Officer for many years, some of which where it was not so easy being the Boat Officer. With Pete’s drive and devotion we have got to the situation where we have a fully operational RIB, a good relationship with the boatyard and the boat garage!! Thank You Pete for all your hard work over the years!!!!
Kit and Weight checks
It’s that time of year again where we fish out our kit from the loft or the back of the garage in preparation for the season ahead. If you haven’t already please remember to get down the pool and reacquaint yourself with your kit and check it all works, take a quick refresher by reading the BSAC safe diving tips booklet. It’s also best to do a couple of weight checks on your first dive, and remember once a suit is fully dried out it can be quite a bit more buoyant!! Simon our Diving Officer is always around should you need any advice or start of season tips!!
Big Tuesday
Big Tuesday is on 06th May!! This month we have PC Nick Peck, from the Police Divers coming along to talk with us. It looks to be a very popular and entertaining evening so be sure to get there nice and early to get a good seat! Usual place – The Royal British Legion, Cock Lane 20:30.
Cylinder’s
Due to the rising cost of maintaining aluminium cylinders we have been disposing of them as the test's run out. Therefore the club is currently asking members if they have any 10 litre Cylinders (in test or not) that are not being used that they want to get rid of (for a very reasonable price). The club could do with some more for training in the pool. If you do have any cylinders available please contact Ian Darkens in the compressor room (he is there every Thursday!!)
Congratulations
Congratulations to the following students have all just passed their Ocean Diver theory exam:
James Gregory, Matt Sheraton, William Village, Simon Taylor, Claire Stancombe, Stuart Murray, Clare Murray, Libby Waterfall, Gareth Edwards and Stephen Agar.
Forthcoming Meetings / Diary Events
03-05th May 2008 Plymouth Dive Trip - Alan Davies
06th May 2008 Big Tuesday, The British Legion, Cock Lane - Visit from Police Divers - Deborah Davies
10th May 2008 Open Water Training, Portland Bill - Jane Mowatt
14th May 2008 Open Water Training, Wraysbury - Jane Mowatt
15-25th May 2008 Galapagos Dive Trip - Clive Bennett
20th May 2008 - Little Tuesday, The Squirrel, Booker
(The Clubs Full Dive/Event Program is available on the club website)
Dive Review-by Len Sumner
Wraysbury 27th April - 1st Open Water Dives for the new students
Time has arrived for the new students of both the current & previous Ocean Diver course to venture out into Open Water
Bright and early (but not too early) students and instructors met at the Wraysbury Dive Centre (with its new toilets) and where introduced to their instructors for the dive briefs. Lots of questions and a few concerned looks, but it all went very well with most students getting through 2 OD lessons plus an experience dive
Apart from the rain, the day was a great success with Jane and Rita supplying shore cover (thanks to both) and the instructors and students having a good time in what for Wraysbury was very good visibility.
At the end, most of us stayed on for a debrief and a beer and the associated 'load of b****cks' post dive discussions.
Above and beyond the call of duty, Ian came down to help out and take the club kit back.
Thanks to everybody for making it a fun day, one of many I am sure this year and the shore based photos have been loaded onto the website
If you want to get involved and help out at these training days, please contact me or a member of the training team.
Messages from the committee
Simon Fennell (Diving Officer) –
Now the diving season is up and running, if there are any dives you would like to do that have not yet been organised then please get in touch. We will look to help arrange additional trips if there is demand. Also, we are looking for coxes to be available on weekends to run the RIB for local diving around Weymouth and Portland (ideally <20m depth). If you are qualified, please could you consider coxing a day and letting me know if/ when you are available. This will allow us to offer regular diving to the new members completing their Ocean Diver grades this summer.
Len Sumner (Training Officer)
Changes to the training team structure
The training team held at meeting at the pool last Thursday to discuss some small changes in the team which now looks something like this
Len Sumner - Training officer
Jane Mowatt - Theory co-ordinator
Simon Cook - Pool co-ordinator
Steve Wilkins - Try dive co-ordinator
Jane Mowatt - Open Water co-ordinator for new Students
Amanda Radley - SDC and advanced training co-ordinator
The changes were made to try an provide some continuity from the Theory and Pool training into Open Water and also to help progress advanced training within the club.
If anybody wants to help out with any of the training, please contact me or any of the co-ordinators above.
This issues feature: NO not spot the difference!!!
KNOT TYING!! – very useful!!! Two Half Hitches Useful for: Securely fastening a line to rail or other fixed object.
Figure 1
Tie a half hitch with the working end of the line
Figure 2
Tie an second identical hitch and then draw together to complete the knot.
Notice from Author
I hope you have found this newsletter informative. Please send me you dive reviews / photos / stories / comments / requests for the newsletter to me at: info@wycombesubaqua.com