Hackney sub aqua club newsletter 7/2/12
Lecture 13/2/12
This week's lecture is OT3 The Body and The Effects of Diving, I will be giving the lecture. As (I think) only one person needs this lecture please let me know if you will not make it (or if you're missing just this one and will make it). If you want training in the pool this week please email Sylvie before Thursday. We are a little short of instructors right now so it may be "first come first served".
Help with kit urgently required
After keeping the kit supplied with air and repaired gear for many months, Claus is having to step down from his role as equipment officer due to work. If you can help out at all then please get in touch. Ideally someone with a car but anyone who is prepared to take a role in liaising and getting equipment serviced would be most welcomed. If you're interested but not sure then please ask around in the pub about what the role requires.
Treasure from the deep
Wrecks were in the news this week -- with this story about a very expensive shipwreck indeed. Still, I'm sure there's more treasure to be found in the Kyarra in Swanage if we just look hard enough.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/world-us-canada-16847737
RNLI donation
The club donated £100 from our raffle money to the Royal National Lifeboat Institute -- a charity that we, as divers, genuinely rely on. I think you would all agree it could not be a more worthwhile cause.
Mini Book Review
Fatally Flawed -- the Quest to be the Deepest by Verna Van Schaik
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fatally-Flawed-Quest-be-Deepest/dp/0620404728/re...
This is another dive book which is not for the faint-hearted as it does contain some unpleasant dive accidents. However, it's also very hard to put down because the events taking place are simply so fascinating. Verna Van Schaik is a South African diver and she currently holds several diving records including deepest female diver and deepest female cave diver (221 metres). In this book she talks about the technical dive training needed for attempting extremely deep dives but also about her struggles to get the training and experience she wanted in the male-dominated South African deep diving community.
Only 10 divers have been 250 metres or deeper using self contained diving equipment (more people have walked on the moon) and 3 of them died in diving accidents. The training, organisation and willingness to put yourself and others at risk make this an extreme and dangerous sport. In 2005, the Guinness book stopped taking records on such attempts as so high a proportion of people were killed or seriously injured doing so. This book describes in detail her dive management of one such fatal dive (which was, in itself, an attempt to retrieve the body of another deep diver).
While she is very obviously not a professional writer, the facts of the case and her own experiences are sufficiently fascinating to draw you in to this book if you have any interest at all in the technical side of the sport. However, it's certainly not for the novice and throws you straight in to technical detail assuming from the start that you will understand the ideas of and necessity for trimix, mixed gas decompression and so on. It's not a book for everyone but I found myself unable to put it down and reading late into the night to finish it.
If you want a more reader friendly book about deep diving then: "Raising the Dead: A True Story of Death and Survival" by Philip Finch covers some of the same material. This is by a journalist, not a diver and doesn't have the same inside knowledge and insight into the minds of the deep divers. However, it is a more gentle and readable account, focusing on Dave Shaw's fatal attempt to recover the body of another diver from 272 metres.
Hackney Sub Aqua Newsletter 1/2/12
Lecture 6/1/12
This Monday's lecture is ST2 Diver Rescue and will be given by Michele (and resus Annie) at 8:30 in the meeting room. Sylvie is not here on Monday so please email me if you need pool training on Monday -- send emails by Thursday evening at the latest please.
2012 Dive Schedule
We've not got a full dive schedule yet but some dives are online.
http://www.hackneydiving.org/dives
To book on a dive you need to give a cheque deposit to the owner of the dive or, where this is HSAC (a normal club dive), to the expeditions officer (currently Anne). It is also useful to let the dive organiser know you intend to go.
Octopush
Another excellent game of Octopush, albeit with lower attendance this week. Klaus' team managed a convincing victory against Garry's with Klaus clearly outscoring all the other players. Next Octopush (and likely final Octopush of the season) is currently scheduled for 5th March (but could be rescheduled by popular demand).
Congratulations
Well done to Ben who passed his Ocean Diver exam last Monday. Nice one Ben.
Hackney Sub Aqua Club Newsletter 24/1/12
Lecture 30/1/12
This week's lecture will be OT2 Equipment and signals (Michele). I *think* the only one person needs this lecture so it is especially important to let Michele know if you cannot attend.
Octopush
Back by popular request, it's time for another Octopush session. Let's hope we can have another game as good as the previous one. It has been pointed out that using weight belts during Octopush is not allowed. (And neither is holding people or pulling fins... that has to be pointed out time and again to some people)
Annual General Meeting
I know you're all fired up for it... the HSAC annual general meeting. This is where the new year's committee is elected and where we discuss the previous year and the year of diving ahead. It's the 16th April in the Meeting Room from 7:30. There is also usually snacks, beer and wine available.
Committee Roles
The AGM is coming up and some roles on the committee are likely to be available. Here's a description of the roles on the committee -- if you're interested in one why not chat to someone on the committee, perhaps whoever is currently doing the role, to find out more.
1. The Chair
Shall take the chair at all meetings of the Branch and of the Committee at which s/he is present, and her/his decision on matters of procedure shall be final.
Requires: organised; comfortable chairing meetings & dealing with documents; good judgement & common sense; ideally not new to BSAC or diving.
2. The Diving Officer
Responsible for the training and diving activities of the Branch and for the safe conduct thereof; shall ensure that these activities are carried out in accordance with BSAC rules. The Diving Officer's decision in respect of diving and training matters shall be final in the Branch. Appoints (in conjunction with Expeditions Officer) Dive Manager for each trip.
Requires: plenty of diving experience; safety-conscious; ideally qualified to at least Dive Leader level and either qualified instructor or working towards it. Good judgement and common sense; regular attendance at club and on club trips; awareness of BSAC rules & training requirements.
3. The Secretary
Shall maintain Branch records and take minutes of meetings of the Committee, General Meetings of the Branch, and other branch meetings. Primarily responsible for the Branch's communications with third parties.
Requires: organised; good written communication; comfortable taking minutes & dealing with legal documents.
4. The Treasurer
Responsible for dealing with all monies received or paid on behalf of the Branch and running branch bank accounts; keeps accounting records of all financial transactions conducted in the Branch's name; prepares a statement of income and expenditure and a balance sheet each year.
Requires: organised; experience of keeping accounting records & preparing balance sheets; comfortable dealing with money, numbers, spreadsheets & bank accounts.
5. The Expeditions Officer
Responsible for booking the year’s diving schedule: booking boats, providing site information & marketing trips to members, recording who is on each trip, deposits paid etc; hand over details to Dive Manager for each trip. Liasion with boat skippers in advance of each trip.
Requires: organised; enthusiastic; regular attendance at club (and ideally on some club trips); knowledge of dive sites/enthusiasm for investigating possible new sites; comfortable dealing with boat skippers.
6. The Training Officer
Responsible for arranging and implementing all aspects of the Branch’s training activities - including theory, pool training and open water (in conjunction with the Diving Officer).
Requires: organised; enthusiastic; regular attendance at club; able to respond to emails regularly; ideally qualified instructor, or working towards it; awareness of BSAC training & safety requirements.
7. The Membership Officer
Responsible for all aspects of administering Branch membership (in conjunction with the Treasurer).
Requires: organised; friendly and approachable; regular attendance at club; able to respond to emails regularly; comfortable dealing with cheques and spreadsheets.
8. The Equipment Officer
Responsible for managing & maintaining Branch diving kit, including keeping a record of all items of equipment and ensuring all equipment is kept in serviceable order.
Requires: organised; regular attendance at club; ideally has own car.
9. The Social Secretary
Responsible for organising social events, other than dive trips and training, for club members.
Requires: enthusiastic, social!
10. The Marketing Officer
Responsible for promoting the club and attracting new members.
Requires: enthusiastic.
11. Voting member
Responsible for assisting other branch officers wherever s/he can and general input to committee meetings - this role is particularly suitable for new members to the club or trainees.
Requires: enthusiastic.
Hackney Sub Aqua Club Newsletter 17/1/12
Lectures for 23/1/12
This week's lecture is for Sports Divers, ST1, Sport Diving with Georgia at 8:30 in the meeting room. If you can't make it then please let Georgia know. You can always find an up-to-date lecture schedule here: http://www.hackneydiving.org/training
If you're not in the lecture and you want to book an instructor for the pool then contact training officer Sylvie -- she prefers phone/text as she can't always get to email quickly. Remember to book an instructor before Thursday so Sylvie has time to organise everything -- and please try to avoid being a last minute drop-out on Mondays (poor instructors haul all their gear to the pool and then have nobody teach).
Welcome new members
We have several new members this week so welcome to Joe, Lottie, Klaus and Bethan. I hope you all enjoy diving with us.
Diving on TV
In case you missed it, Georgia pointed out that the BBC showed a documentary on the effects on the body of diving -- To Boldly Go, Down, presented by Dr Kevin Fong. It should be on iplayer until this Sunday, having watched it, I can honestly say it's very worth watching, particularly if you're interested in the physiological effects of diving on the human body.
Mini book review
While we're waiting for the weather to warm up enough to dive, why not while away the time with some books about diving. One I've read recently is "Diver Down:Real-World SCUBA Accidents and How to Avoid Them". It's a gripping read certainly. Each chapter begins with a description of a diver in trouble based upon a real diving incident (some of them fatal). The chapter then discusses where and how things went wrong on the dive and how you could prevent or mitigate the problem. Each chapter then concludes by telling you what actually happened and whether the diver in question survived. By pulling you in with dramatic narrative at the start of a chapter you feel you have to read on to find out what happened. Unfortunately, all the measurements are in imperial units so I had to put my thinking cap on to convert feet into metres and PSI into bar to work out what was actually going on. Given the high casualty rate it's probably not for those of a nervous disposition (and it's best not to let your mum read it if she's the type that worries) but still worth a look.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Diver-Down-Real-World-SCUBA-Accidents/dp/0071445722
HSAC newsletter 10/1/12
Lecture 16/1/12
The first lecture of a new year kicks off with me giving OT1: Introduction to Branch. This lecture is for anyone doing ocean diver or crossing over from PADI and doing Sport Diver. It starts at 8:30 in the meeting room.
Skill Development Courses
Don't forget, you can do training outside the branch -- BSAC does lots of fine skill development courses. Why not ask around in the pub if you're interested in one it may be that someone has already been to that course.
http://www.bsac.com/page.asp?section=1671§ionTitle=SDC+Regional+Events
Octopush Antics
In a closely fought battle Lindy's team fought off Anne's team by a single goal leaving the final score at 7-6. Still, a good display from both sides, especially as Lindy's team was one person up. Good to see so many people turning out as well. Let's hope we get such good games later in the year.
Exam success
Well done to Cat who passed her ocean diver exam on Monday and now only has the tiniest bit of Open Water to do before qualifying.
Hackney Newsletter 5/1/12
Happy new year everyone... I hope you all had a good break. Welcome back to the first Hackney newsletter of 2012.
Lectures 9/1/12
No lectures this Monday but there will be exams. The exams start at 7:00 in the meeting room at the pool. So far I have down for exams: Vanessa (Dive leader), Catriona and Marina (Ocean Diver), Jenny (Sport Diver). Let me know by Saturday if I've forgotten anyone.
Octopush 9/1/12
Everyone loves Octopush. If you've never played before, its great fun, good exercise and somewhere between hockey and drowning. We play in the shallow end with pool fins (not ocean fins) and snorkels. Teams need to get the puck into the opposing goal using their "sticks" (no touching the puck with your hands). No grabbing fins or "ducking" people please -- that includes Brian (even when he does say "no rules for this one" before the goal).
Lecture schedule online
The new year's lectures are online here:
http://www.hackneydiving.org/training
I haven't scheduled all the ocean diver lectures as there are no new ocean divers at the moment. If you require a certain ocean diver lecture which is not scheduled then email me and I will add it to the schedule.
Newsletter 13/12/11
Christmas break
No lectures, pool sessions or anything like that until we return on 9th January when there will be exams and octopush. Have a great Christmas everyone.
The Honourable Michael Gee
The committee voted unanimously to make Mickey Gee an honourary lifetime member of HSAC. Mickey has been diving and instructing with HSAC for many years and a stalwart of the club. He's taught most of us at some point and dived with most of us too. Congratulations Mickey.
Christmas Party awards
So the Christmas party was a roaring success, everyone I spoke to seemed to be having an excellent time. The awards were given out for the best trip report and for the best photo.
The best trip report was by Cat and Missy: http://www.hackneydiving.org/node/232
Their trip report was so full of enthusiasm (it was an excellent first dive) that it proved popular with voters.
(Honourable mentions to Garry and Malcolm for their efforts.)
The best picture prize was shared between Anne and Claus, Claus for his excellent picture of a Tompot Blenny:
http://www.hackneydiving.org/gallery/displayimage.php?album=16&pid=199#t...
Anne for her picture of... well... this:
http://www.hackneydiving.org/gallery/displayimage.php?album=18&pid=232#t...
Raffle prizes
Another HSAC raffle took place at the dinner and many prizes, some desirable, some not-so-desirable were given out. Despite Brian's over-keenness (at one point almost raffling Liz's trainers) the prizes were distributed with, as usual, some luckier than others (Michele and Tom had notable hauls of goodies I saw). After deducting the prizes the club made £337.00.
HSAC Newsletter 6/12/11
Lectures and training
This week's lecture on 12th December is OT7 Enjoing your Diving (Anne) at 8:30 in the meeting room. Don't forget to let Anne know if you can't make it. For everyone else, if you want an instructor for the pool then let Sylvie know before Thursday so she can organise it. As always, volunteers to help clean the pool (to Sylvie) are most welcome.
Pool closures
Just a reminder that, unfortunately, with staff training at York Hall, Christmas and New Year we're going to miss three Mondays in a row. 19th December, 26th December and 2nd January are all POOL CLOSED days -- no lectures, exams or training of any type. Never mind, we're back on 9th January with an exam day and with octopush.
New pictures on the website
This year's photo competition has closed (winners to be announced at the Christmas dinner). Meanwhile though, Anne has put some of her favourite pics from our dives on the site. Plenty of seal action to be seen:
http://www.hackneydiving.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=23
Hackney Sub Aqua newsletter 30/11/11
Training schedule
No lecture this week but there are try dives. So far only two try divers confirmed so it may well be that there is room for people to train in the pool too. Please ask Sylvie before thursday if you want an instructor in the pool. We still need pool cleaning volunteers -- you get free air and anyone who is an Ocean diver can give it a go. It's good practice, you're helping the club and we pay your air money so get cleaning.
Exam Time
So far my list for people taking the exam on 9th January is Cat, Ben, Vanessa and Marina. Let me know if I've missed anyone out. The exam will start at 7:30. You can get some online practice here:
http://www.bsac.com/page.asp?section=1548§ionTitle=Interactive+Learning
Last chance to vote
Who wrote the best trip report and who took the best photo this year? The winner of each will get a free day of diving. You have until this Friday (2nd December) to vote and the winner will be announced at the Christmas party.
Vote by emailing Brian and letting him know which is your favourite photo and which is your favourite trip report. The results should be announced at the Christmas party.
You can vote for any 2011 trip report http://www.hackneydiving.org/trips
and any 2011 photo http://www.hackneydiving.org/gallery/index.php?cat=2
Newsletter 23/11/11
Lectures for 28/11/11
This week's lecture is for Ocean Divers -- OT6 What happens if? (Richard). Let me know if you cannot make it. If you need an instructor for the pool then please ask Sylvie by Thursday.
Christmas closure
Unfortunately there's rather a long pool closure over Christmas. The pool is shut on 19th December for staff training, 26th December (boxing day) and 2nd January. We won't be back in the pool between 12th December and the 9th January... almost a whole month.
Competition
Don't forget that we're running a competition to win a free day's diving for the best photo and the best trip report. There are some brilliant photos up there and some hilarious trip reports. Voting closes on 2nd December - vote by emailing Brian and letting him know which is your favourite photo and which is your favourite trip report.
There's some new entries to the photos:
Swange 2011 http://www.hackneydiving.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=18
Weymouth 2011 http://www.hackneydiving.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=22
Newhaven 2011 http://www.hackneydiving.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=19
Farnes 2011 http://www.hackneydiving.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=20
Pembrokeshire 2011 (Claus) http://www.hackneydiving.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=16
Pembrokeshire 2011 (Brian) http://www.hackneydiving.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=17
All the trip reports are here:
http://www.hackneydiving.org/trips
You can vote for any 2011 trip report.
Upcoming dates for your diary
5th December is a try dive day. Some instructors will be occupied with try divers. I hope we can accommodate all people who want to train but it may not be possible. 9th of January is Exam day -- a chance for everyone who loves exams. Please email me if you want to take an exam that day. Following the exams is a chance for Octopush -- Hackney's favourite sport. It's like rugby but with the chance of drowning in the pool (fortunately most of us are qualified at rescues). Come along and give it a try.
Developing your elite skills
Over the winter we will be running a few courses (for example O2 administration) and the dive leader lectures if there is enough demand. However, you need not confine your training to just what is happening in our branch. There are some courses run by BSAC centrally.
http://www.bsac.com/page.asp?section=3797§ionTitle=Events+in+Decembe...
http://www.bsac.com/page.asp?section=4004§ionTitle=All+of+2012
Why not sign up for these courses? If you ask around in the pub people can often give advice.
