Weekly Deco 58

Last week I promised a weekend at Swanage or Plymouth with Kev’s new boat. Some of us remember the last 2 trips with Kev and boats. We had to redefine the first one as a submarine as it took on water at an alarming rate and was not visible above the water line when fully loaded, and his new one comes with a health warning ‘People who are pregnant or people with back problems, motion sickness, or heart problems should not ride’ Although that is more to do with the skipper than the craft. Friday night came and Kev collected his boat from its berth near Coventry. On the road between Coventry and Nuneaton he had a small altercation with an alledged nomadic person which resulted in his vessel feeling rather deflated on the port side and it is now back in dry dock awaiting repair.
Nevertheless the weekend did continue successfully with a couple of trips out on a proper boat and a dive in Bovisand harbour.

Dive Leader Training
On Wednesday Steve and Garry were involved in the BSAC Dive Leader training programme again at Stoney Cove. Steve received a mention on the BSAC forum:

These events are brilliant for us as a club as our instructors are continually updating their skills and networking for us with other branches and National Instructors. They are also able to have input into the development of the training programme.

Wednesday Night Dive
It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed marshalling (or managing if you prefer) a night dive so much. For a couple of the participants this was their first time back in open water for a while, you’d never have guessed. Eoin was going for minimalist dive kit but was persuaded that an inflator hose might be useful, and after attaching reg to cylinder he realised his BCD had to be in there somewhere. His first attempt at attaching cylinder to bcd was not quite right (180° out) but after the second attempt he was good to go. By this time he needed to go to the little boys room but as he was wearing a wetsuit his buddy said no need. I’ve promised not to elaborate on the subsequent conversations and maybe you had to be there anyway to appreciate them. As the 6 divers entered the water it was like watching a P*DI group in more ways than one. Après-Dive we went for a beer and grub, seeing members of Rugby club and Heanor club which made it all very sociable.

Thursday club night 

I must start to get out more. I found club night even more enjoyable than Wednesday. To begin with we found squatters in the Crèche. A Zumba class was taking place, booked from 7.30 to 8.30. We soon put them straight. We had 4 try dives going on, 3 for new members Martyn, Richard and Chloë, a huge demand for kit and no equipment officer .

Kev brought in Zipstraps and little plastic letters for everyone to make i.d. straps for their cylinders. This is an excellent idea for when your cylinders are in for a fill along with dozens of other identical cylinders. The bits are in the equipment room for anyone who wasn’t there. It was good to see so many people in the room and also in the pool afterwards.  

Dave told us about the Tickled Pink Quiz taking place in Hinckley on Friday 30th September. Teams can be as many as 6 members, the cost is £5 per person and funds are going to Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Campaign. Names and cash to Dave please ASAP. 

 

50 metre dry dive 

The dry dive has been postponed until November as it’s more convenient for us. Martin will inform us when the new date has been booked.

 

 

 

Breaking News : Plymouth diving weekend 

We now have a number of places left on the Plymouth trip on Red Alert for 24th / 25th September. 9 of us have paid, 8 of us are going on the boat but only 6 diving. If we have a couple or more who would like to go on the boat but not dive from it we could do a reduced rate. Good experience for trainees to see what hard boat diving involves, and it will be sociable. There is also the possibility of shore diving. This will probably be the last time we’ll book a hard boat at this location. I’ll bring boat sweets (Sorry Jim all the fried eggs have gone).

 

Annual General Meeting 3rd November. 

The date for the AGM has been set for Thursday 3rd November. None of the current officers will be standing for re election so it’s time to decide who is willing and able to have a go. All 4 positions need filling. We do have interest in the positions of DO, Treasurer and Secretary but as yet not for Chairman. Officially the role of chair as defined in our Bye Laws is :- The Chairman shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Branch and shall take the chair at all meetings of the Branch and of the Committee at which he or she is present, and subject to the provisions of these Rules, his or her decision on matters of procedure shall be final.

In addition we need between 2 and 8 members who will assist in running the club, 6 is ideal, and again we have willing volunteers for some of those posts which is great. To my mind the more members we have with experience of the running of the club and the way BSAC works the better it will be for everyone, whether we’ve been diving for weeks or years makes no difference we all have something to offer.

 

 

CHAIR ROTA

In the chair this week :- Nik

22nd September	Garry
6th October	Wayne
13th October
20th October
27th October
29th September

Pool Training

Kev will be starting snorkel training with Richard and Chloe in the pool next Thursday if anyone would like to join them you’ll be more than welcome.