Dear all

Having gone through the stores a lot of old, but still useable, dive gear has been identified (such as BCDs, ABLJs, emergency cylinders, etc) as no longer needed by the Club but sellable and therefore worthy of making a bit of cash for Club funds.  However what’s needed is someone with a bit of ‘business acumen’ (i.e. you have a bit of experience selling on eBay / similar) to make this happen!

If you’re willing to take this task on please let either Steve Cox or myself know; all help much appreciated.

Regards

Guy Balmer

20180710-PDCSAC Constitution V4

Dear all

The moment you’ve all been waiting for…the latest version of the Constitution!

This has gone through a fairly major re-hash with a lot of input from a number of Club members and you’ll be pleased to hear is now quite a bit shorter than previous iterations so worth a read; it is after all your Club.  That said there are some subtle changes to it, not least that the Diving Safety Management System (DSMS) now exists as a separate document but should be read in conjunction with the Constitution; Steve Cox, The Diving Officer, has already published the latest version of the DSMS on the Diving Safety portal of the website.  Also all Committee Members, Officers, Dive Managers and Instructors are to sign to say they have read and understood the Constitution (and by default also the DSMS which is an Enclosure to it); I will hold a hard copy version of the Constitution for signing.

Regards

Guy Balmer (Chairman)

Dear all

On 26 Feb Cal, Eddie and I will be running a buoyancy workshop in the Dockyard swimming pool for all Club members to practice / hone their skills ready for the forthcoming diving season.  As with last year there will be a series of ‘mini exercises’ to complete underwater to test / re-learn (!) your buoyancy skills, manoeuvrability under water and kit configuration; for those who have yet to get into the pool this year it will also be an opportunity to  ensure your kit is all working as it should and to revise other skills like mask clearing, etc.

Timings

From 1700 – Boathouse open to sort kit

1800 – briefing for all

1830 – move to pool

1900 – set up exercises

1915 – first run throughs

By 2100 – clear of pool

OC – return kit to Boathouse and depart

Regards

Guy

Dear all

There has been some interest already in my earlier post about the Club getting involved in the above expedition next year.  If you are interested, even if tentatively at this stage, please let me know by 10 Sep 18  so we have an idea of the overall level of interest.

Regards

Guy Balmer

Dear all

A bit of prior warning that the AGM will be taking place on Tue 6 Nov 18 at the Boathouse; provisional timings are 1800 meet up for a 1830 start but this will be confirmed nearer the time.

This year the Club Constitution will be going through a bit of a refresh with an updated version being posted on the website for comment in Oct.  If you have any comments on this, or indeed any items for the Agenda, please let me or Sandra Somers (Secretary) know by Mon 22 Oct so that all the necessary paperwork can be completed for the AGM.

As always the Committee will be voted in again for the next year.  Obviously the Club needs enthusiastic volunteers who are willing to undertake the wider management roles that allow it to function and in turn allow the diving to happen.  If you would like to put yourself forward to be on the Committee please let me know.

Regards

Guy Balmer

Next year will be the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the allied invasion of German occupied Normandy in France.  To commemorate this BSAC are ‘facilitating’ an expedition to dive some of the wrecks from the invasion, i.e. while they will oversee the exped, it is up to individual clubs to actually put the exped together.

More details can be found at the web address below

https://www.bsac.com/advice-and-support/expedition-diving/get-involved-in-a-bsac-expedition/get-involved-in-normandy-75-expedition/normandy-75-expedition-all-you-need-to-know/

but the key points are:

1.  Exped dates between 26 July and 3 August 2019 (with clubs going for as long or as short a period as they want).
2. Suitable for Sports Diver or above due to the depths that most wrecks are at.
3. Outline options are;
   1. Club takes own boat across (self sail or ferry)
   2. Club books a French hardboat
   3. Individuals book spaces on French hardboats
   4. Club/Individuals dive with a French charter

I am keen that as a Club we build upon the Red Sea expedition earlier in the Summer and do more expeditions in the future; this would therefore be an excellent opportunity to have a challenging Club expedition next year however it needs a core of members with the correct qualifications who are ultimately willing to undertake this and organise / run it.  Therefore if you are interested in being involved please e-mail me back on bameroo@hotmail.com by 10 Sep 18 so I can get a sense of the interest levels and then submit an expression of interest with BSAC as necesaary.

Guy Balmer

20180813-EGM Minutes

Dear all

Apologies for these having taken so long to be completed (must learn to type faster) but please find enclosed the Minutes for the EGM that was held back in June where we discussed the future of the Club generally and specifically took the decision to procure a new / newer engine for the RIBs.

Regards

Guy