Newsletter 15 – July 2007

We managed 3 dives (2 qualifying) during the day completing the required skills as practised in the pool, mask removal, regulator retrieval, buoyancy control, alternative air source drill, controlled buoyant lift, fin pivots etc. Combined with shore entry / exit, diving in low viz, attempts at navigation, diver missing drill (don’t ask) and groping a mannequin’s boobs (it’s a speciality course!). We managed to get around 8m to 9m depth in some places. And the water was 17 degrees!

Viz on the 5/6 metre platforms was ok (2-3 metres), but venturing away meant heading into the gloom, zero viz and swimming around in circles. We saw a few boats, a bus and a few fish and lots of mud and silt.

Dan reckons he enjoyed it – the important thing to remember is that these were training dives and things do get better – Honest!

I’ve only been to Wraysbury once before so it was a new experience for me as well. It has a café, toilets and air filling on the lakeside. Cost £6 to get in opens 9am to 6pm – exit from last dive at 5pm. There were a few dive clubs there from Kent who reckoned it is better than Leybourne Lake. It was busy though, which no doubt accounted for the poor viz.

Saturday night meant an enjoyable meal and a few beers but early to bed for the 6am start next morning!

Day 2 Up at 6am and down to the boat for 7am ‘ropes off’. The first dive was on the Wreck of the Pomeranian – quite a bit of life including congers, crabs, lobsters, bib and blennies – usual UK life. The wreck is covered in dead man’s fingers and we had really good visibility. This was much better than the last, pitch black dive, I had on this wreck. All the dive leaders commented on what a stunning wreck it was and the need to dive it again. A shame it was a deep wreck (touching 34m / 35m) so a short dive time.

The second dive was on the Wreck of the Baygitano. And despite a few dive boats in the vicinity the visibility was really good. Probably the best I’ve seen on this wreck. There was tons of life on the wreck, with huge shoals of very large fish, including cod and bass. Quite a bit of structure to explore, especially the large boilers.

Again there was some great team work over the weekend, loading and unloading the boat especially up and down the steps, and assisting in kitting up / de-kitting (saves a lot of struggling) – well done all.

Big thanks to Dave Doggie for organising the dive weekend.

Lost equipment

The one that got away – Arthur had a huge crab in his goody bag only to lose bag and contents metres from the surface. (That old chestnut!)

Blondisms

There was the usual diver kitting up but not switching on their air.
And one of our ‘dive leaders’ still insists on putting on his weight belt last.

School Try Dive - Thanks to those who assisted with fetching and carrying the kit from and to the stores, for kitting up and ‘instructing’. The kids apparently had a great time – one even surfaced asking if he had passed?

Pool rota – Club members hopefully are aware of taking a turn on the pool rota (on the website) - collecting pool fees and also acting as dry / pool side supervision for people in the water. A new list has been sent round until the end of the year. PLEASE can you try to make your selected night as it makes it easier for everyone else and means people don’t miss out on having a swim because they are forced to do the pool rota. Thanks to all those who take a turn – too many to list. At the moment you should only have to do this 2/3 times a year. A text will be sent on the Thursday before your turn just to remind you.

Sunday nights – We socialise after the pool session around 9.15 onwards at the bowling club / snooker club – just behind the swimming pool. Everyone welcome and we don’t just talk about diving! This is a chance for some of the newer members to get to know us old timers. Lectures are generally held here before the pool session. You may need signing in by a member (Me, Dave Dog, John Rickenberg and Tim Ahern), although they know us well enough now to know who we are.

HSD July Sat night out – Despite short notice a group of us (8) did hit the bowling club on a Saturday night when they have live entertainment. Except in true ‘Entertainments Officer’ style, the act failed to turn up – they were stuck on the M25! A DJ was quickly rustled up and tunes from past decades were played (some from way back!). It was still an enjoyable FREE night out (apart from beer). These may become regular features throughout the year depends on the turnout and feedback.

Summer Bash Saturday 18 August BBQ / DJ / DISCO

The dive club is invited to Mark Smoothy's Summer Bash on his farm in the paddock. He holds this event for people who are involved with the farm along with family and friends etc. Food is provided but its cook your own on several oil drum BBQs. Family & Kids! allowed. You can even camp or caravan there if you wish to have a drink or several. Mark would need to know numbers early as possible (the week b4 latest really). Please contact Mark to confirm you are going. Time is 7.30 onwards. Cost is £7.50.

2007 Diving - Summer is here!! SAFE DIVING

August 19 Eastbourne (Sussex) DIVE NOW CANCELLED LACK OF INTEREST

September 7/8/9 Farne Islands (Newcastle) Farnes Diver DIVE FULL AT THE MOMENT

The club have only been here once in the last 4/5 years and if you want to experience seals, seals and more seals then this is the one for you. The seal pups will tug at your fins whilst you are swimming along and get really close to you. I spent about 10 minutes sitting on a rock on one dive playfully wrestling my fins from a seal’s fins. Yes they can be annoying but they are so cute.

September 30 Littlehampton (Michelle Mary) rearranged DIVE NOW OPEN – last one of the year

SCAPA FLOW - Scapa Flow trip in 2008 (August). This dive is now open and has a few spaces left.

Diving Medicals

All divers should have a medical certificate before participating in a club dive – this can be done with your doctor, a dive doctor or you can do a self cert medical (CAUTION)

The self cert form can be downloaded here - http://www.uksdmc.co.uk but if you answer yes to any questions you need to have a proper medical.

2007 Latest Qualifications – Congratulations!