Let me introduce myself, I am Diving Officer for this year. Our club constitution states that ‘the Diving Officer derives his authority in training and diving matters from the National D.O.’. ‘He (get them) shall have responsibility for training and diving activities of the branch and the safe conduct thereof …may delegate training duties to a Training Officer who shall be responsible to him for the performance thereof’. So that puts John in his place. For me as a diver, the story begins in Bahrain. With three small kids in tow we chucked in the British winter and recession and took our chances in the Middle East.

When we were offered free membership of the local sports club as a consolation prize for living away from the company ‘oil town’-in the desert with the rest of the ex-pats; we were thrilled! Even more so when we discovered an active BSAC club, the Dilmun Divers: emblem – a camel wearing flippers, mask and cylinder. Soon we were training under the starlight in a purpose built pool to the harmony of countless geckos and largely unidentifiable bugs. This was t-shirt diving at it’s most primitive; well it was 1982, things have moved on a bit. We dived from various rubber boat-type things with engines, local dhows and the Deckchair Special to sites like the half tanker and the fish farm, but more about those some other time.

Returning to Britain in 1984 we sold our house in Southampton and moved back to Dorset. I returned to working as an occupational therapist and we sought out a local club.

At that time NDSAC consisted of a handful of people in search of somewhere to meet and train. We hit on the Sunridge Hotel in Shaftsbury, which boasted a tiny pool.

None of us ‘old timers’ can work out who has been involved longest – it is buried in the mists of time. Some say Graham Brown because he looks like he’s been around that long; Robin, Giles, John and I arrived during those early years.

This was the time of hauling the boat over beaches; Chesil, Abbotsbury, Ringstead and Kimmeridge, followed by the engine. Were we stronger then or was there just no other option? It may have something to do with wet suits, 10 litre cylinders, 12ltr if you were lucky. Short dives were the norm due to hypothermia as well as air.

At some point Claysmore Leisure Centre opened and we were on the doorstep. That is when we trained rough, tough divers like Gordon Grant.

By 1989 we had moved with John’s company to Berlin in time to be instrumental in getting that ugly wall removed – well it was an eyesore! We kept our links with the club, which included a sort of club diving holiday in the South of France, and the memorable club ‘visit to Robin’s family’s place in Ireland with diving’ in which Robin first showed his interest in large tents, Sue Grant and I got very ill on the Green Goose and everyone drank a lot of Guinness.

John and I also did some experimental diving with German clubs which involved wallowing in the lake at the end of our road and wallowing in an even colder one, in the snow in East Germany; a historic first for the cray-fish of Pomerania.

On our return we found a new group of toughie divers including John Maynard and Matt Litten. These were the ‘rib diving years’, with the use of Gordon’s rib, Delta Lady and later also Ed Friel’s boat. Delta Lady eventually became, and still is, the club rib.

Others followed, training with us or joining from other areas and adding to the mix and experience within the club. Richard Walters ‘won’ the lottery for us and bought the training kit, Lee Osborne appeared and brought with him offers to use his consortium’s hard boat, Fearless and Giles got it into his head that as an Advanced Diver he was qualified to organise expeditions, so he did, lots of them.

Meanwhile with various permutations of the committee running the club many of us have done the rounds. A few weeks ago Robin asked if there was any post that I haven’t held – Treasurer; because I can’t count and Boat Officer because, although they will sometimes let me muscle in and drive, the ‘boy’s’ like to keep their hands on their ‘toy’s’- I could learn you know!!!

By the way ‘The Diving Officer’s decision in respect of her responsibilities shall be final in the Branch …’ so there!

Gwyn(eth) James.

I had never seriously thought of doing a diving course until I got to Australia. Maybe it was the lure of the warm, calm sea, barrier reef and low training costs. Shortly after arriving in Cairns I booked onto a 4 day PADI Open Water course, with 2 days pool and class training before heading for the reef. It was amazing to be able to follow a turtle, or hitch a ride with the resident giant wrasse ‘Wally’. I reluctantly left Cairns, hoping to dive elsewhere in Aus but had no luck in Darwin (tides), or Adelaide (man-eating shark plastered all over the papers). At Exmouth I went out on the Ningaloo Reef to snorkel with Whale Sharks, the gentle giants of the shark world. On the inner reef we had a short dive and saw a small Manta Ray.

I got back home to Dorset and tried to get back down to earth. A few months later my American friend, who I had dived with in Exmouth, came to stay. She told me of all her later adventures in Aus, doing her Advanced PADI, and that she planned to continue diving in America. Mum reminded me that she had dived with North Dorset Sub Aqua some years ago and suggested I ring Graham to find out more. A while after attending the fascinating AGM and having a ‘try dive’ in the pool; Dave, Sharon, Gwyn and I went to Horsea for a training dive, with hopes of finding the sunken helicopter. The cold of the water hit me as I jumped in wearing my Mum’s perishing wetsuit. As we descended I spotted an eel disappearing into the gloom and jelly fish surrounded us. It was easy to avoid other divers as you could see little clusters of marker buoys on the surface. We didn’t find the helicopter, though we did see a landrover, and, a loo?! A diver’s paradise? Oh well, so far, so good!

Angela Bird

When ?	Where ?	Why ?	Why Not!

Mid May TBC	Littlehampton	W/End diving ‘the big wrecks’ off Sussex PLEASE LET ME KNOW APPROX No.s	£70-90 TBC
May –June	Porthkerris	Camping at the Ostrich farm. Dive the Manacles / Mohecian etc AS ARRANGED BY J MAYNARD	TBC
7-8 June	Plymouth	Dive the wrecks, then get wrecked in Plymouth! 2 nights B&B in a pub (with guest beers) +4 boat dives from the old black tub that 'does the biz' PLACES STILL AVAILABLE	£100.33
5-6 July	Lundy Island	Camping on deserted island, with only seagulls, mates & grumpy landlord for company. PS the diving is also rather good! 1 night camping + 4boat dives PLACES STILL AVAILIABLE	£54.67
August 30-31	Salcombe	A whole W/E of DIY boat & trailer repairs! (Rain optional). 4 RIB dives on the Maine, Persier etc.	£25-30 Approx
19 – 26 Sept	Red Sea	Because you can’t be a real; diver until you have been there & got the T-shirt! Cruising all the major wrecks (Thistlegorm, Carnatic, Ghiannis D, Rosile Moller) in an air conditioned liveaboard. 3 PLACES STILL AVAILABLE	£595
Oct TBA	Local	Last bash on a hard boat PLACES STILL AVAILABLE	TBA

Well what the hell made me start? it was like this, on holiday with a friend in Majorca looking into the crystal clear waters of the sea we both thought ‘lets get masks, get in there and look at the underwater scene’ , so we did; and that was it, we were hooked. We wanted to get home and learn to dive with the big boyse found out that there was a club based at Clayesmore school on Thursdays so thought we would give it a go.

First things first we were always told, it was try dive time which was arranged for the next week at 8.30 - job done !!

Next week took ages to come, then it was the big night and by the end of the night I was hooked - but how do I tell the wife? - a question I asked people down the pub (sorry meeting place ) with little help apart from wishes good luck. I must have begged well because I was back the following week to join.

Training started a few weeks later and after about 10 lectures and pool lessons it was time to hit the open sea…., well Lulworth Cove anyway.

Giles and his big shoulders was lumbered with the job of taking me in for the first time; and what a first dive it was. I got kitted up with borrowed gear from the club and other kind people and then in and down we went, well NOT QUITE……. I had this little problem with my weight belt - like not enough of it and how it kept ending up round my ankles. After 10 minutes or so and all the weight we could find, I was finally down - but not for long as, I immediately started to come up again, then the strangest thing happened, I felt a size 10 (or thereabouts) fin in the small of my back; my face was in the sand and I remember thinking “what the **** is that and what the **** am I doing this for?”

Fifteen minutes later we were on the surface, swimming back to shore and then off to what has to be done after a dive - down the pub for a pint or two and I knew what I was doing it for….

On a more personal note I think I speak for all the trainees this year, in thanking all the club instructors John, Gywn , Giles, Dave and Graham for doing a great job on the training front and Big John and John Boy for help in choosing the right kit.

HARD LUCK, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU’RE STUCK WITH ME NOW !!!
Dave Andrews

We have an amazing amount of talent within the club. There are loads of budding Jamies and Delias itching to get their special recipes into print. When you consider how much yummy grub we come into contact with as divers, and the abilities of individuals to catch the little critters, it must be a good idea to share our secrets so that everyone can enjoy the fruits of our plunder. Next time you buddy up with Gwyn watch and learn how to kebab a flatfish, or try to work out how Michelle Walter can charm scallops out of the sand. Not to mention Graham Brown's strange attraction for George.

To start the ball rolling here is my recipe for BEACH BAKED SEA SLUG.

There is a special reason for using sea slugs....they're not very good at getting away. First collect a couple of juicy sea slugs and get them onto the beach. They require no preparation. No messy gutting or shell splitting. Fill a bucket with damp sand, and mould the sand around the individual sea slugs. Obtain a pair of flat wooden boards, and place the sand brick between them. Carefully bind the boards containing the sand brick with wet kelp to create a parcel, and place the whole lot amongst the red hot embers of a beach barbecue fire.

Open a can of Bass Bitter and lay back to enjoy the sun for precisely 20 minutes, or 2 cans. Carefully cut away the by now crisp kelp, and remove the boards and place to one side. The sand brick will now be solid so be careful when you crack it open as the sand will be red hot. The sea slug will have cooked to the consistency of snot, and will drip through your fingers, hurl this into the sea, pick up the now cooled boards, spread with Mayonnaise and tuck in. Delicious!!

Next issue......Conger Baguette, by the yard.

Dave G

Although we haven't taken on a group of trainee's this year, there are many of us that need to complete various courses. Therefore I am proposing to go through the whole training syllabus from Novice to the new Dive Leader, starting in January and both theoretical and practical. This has an additional goal in that I need to prepare a lot of things to go forward for my own open water instructor (now four separate exams!) and I need some guinea pigs (or pigs of some sort as I have fairly base tastes).

I have started to make contact with BSAC to provide area level support of qualified National instructors so that assessment of individuals and occasionally assessments of their instructors will be made by suitably qualified people.

If anyone wants to join me on my quest as a pig or to gain their own OWI (for privet) I am now working on a schedule. Best to reach me on jjames@insightful.com

John J

We need to ensure that those who have trained with us during the past few years have completed the steps towards whichever qualification level they are engaged in and are able to be included in whichever type of diving they want.

We are looking for ways to speed up the assessment programme, which has ground to a bit of a halt, while the new open-water instructor qualification has cramped our style for a while.

John, as Training Officer is coming with me to the Diving Officer’s Conference in London next weekend, where we hope to find some ways to get some practical help from BSAC and to network with other clubs. I’ve already managed to find someone in Cambridge, not very practical.

We have a number of people looking for crossover qualification with us, they are very welcome and we will review taking on a minimal number of new trainees at John’s discretion later in the year.

As people complete sport diver we will be looking at skills development courses, which will lead into Dive Leader and onward.

Giles is organising a great programme of expeditions for next year and the dive marshal list will be emailed and posted on the web page, as well as being available from myself as needed. In the meantime we will be using the existing list and hope to get some in, weather permitting.

The boat is available but in winter quarters and needs to be picked up from Giles’ and towed!

Our first definite plan is the annual New Year Dive under Swanage Peer. Contact me on 01258 473034: gmjames @btinternet.com. for information nearer the time.

So in the words of Buzz Lightyear it’s ‘ to infinity and beyond’, but not while I am diving with you!!

Gwyn James-Diving Officer

I know that Christmas is coming up, because it's the time of year that I devote a lot of time into blagging goodies out of our diving contacts. As most of you know we have managed to get from loads of different companies to contribute in the past and have managed to make a useful contribution to the

RNLI and club funds as a result. The auction of this years booty will take place at the Christmas Dinner.

Now for the whinge. As I write (25th Nov) the dinner is only three weeks away, and I have only 26 members committed. We have some 40 members, and with partners, wives, husbands, mistresses and pets there is a potential of 80 plus to attend. Browner has put himself out to make the Springhead Trust available for us, and all in all it should be a good evening, but we do need you to support the effort put in to organising the event on your behalf.

The good news is that the new committee is working well together, and the newer club members are making their presence felt, sometimes putting the old hands to shame. Any and all clubs can only exist and go forth if it supported solidly by all members. Remember next time you are asked to part

with your time, money and expertise that it is for the good of the club and all of its members. A good club becomes more than the sum of its members, by virtue of individual input.

See you all at the dinner, and at the New Year's Day immersion at Swanage.

David Gilby

A sweet little old granny answers a knock at the door. There stands a well dressed young man carrying a vacuum cleaner. "Good morning madam" gushes said salesman, "may I take 2 minutes of your time to demonstrate the fantastic benefits of this state of the art cleaner?"

"Fuck off" says the granny. "I aint got no money" Dribbles the sweet but not very articulate old gran, through her dentures, slamming the door . Quick as a flash the salesman puts his foot in the door, and pushes it wide open. "Now madam, don't be too hasty, it won't hurt you to see my demonstration" and with that he empties a sack of fresh steaming horse shit over the carpet. "If this super powerful cleaner doesn't remove every trace of this horse shit, I will personally eat what's left."
Hang on while I get you the salt and pepper" cackles the old crone, "they cut off my fucking electricity this morning".

This courtesy of Sharon K.

The novices are gobsmacked.

‘Idiot.’ says the SSAC diver. ‘He’s forgotten his wallet.’ He too, hops over the side of the boat, and jogs across the waves to the cliff, whereupon he sprints to the top, and chases after the PADI diver.

The novices are by this point thoroughly in awe.

The BSAC diver, being the only experienced person still in the boat, proceeds to espy a ‘training opportunity’. These are to Advanced Instructors what converts are to door-to-door preachers; and he covers O2 administration, boat handing, and a full round of man overboard drills by the time the other instructors return to the bottom of the cliff with crisps and pop.

This doesn’t impress the novices half as much as the water walking, but they listen and learn as all good little sea-persons do.

They struggle across the waves, but appear to be having some difficulty, so the BSAC instructor turns to the novices and says, ‘Remember what I taught you, look after the boat.’ He then hops over the side, strides across the rising waves and helps his compatriots back to the boat. They distribute the crisps to the speechless novices (cotton wool correctly placed, you see) and proceed to their afternoon dives.

Later in the pub, they are discussing the day’s activities, and the PADI instructor murmurs sotto voce to his esteemed colleagues, ‘What about that eh? Good thing we knew about those submerged rocks instructor.!’

‘What rocks?’ says the BSAC instructor

Report from the Diving Officer Conference 2002.

I thought that the information from BSAC, would clarify our position towards taking on people with health problems as divers and help us in acquiring skills in training and buddying, which would benefit the entire club.

Diabetes types:

There are two main types of diabetes.

Type 1 – Lack of insulin production in the pancreas, which begins in early life, often following a viral infection. Those with type 1 diabetes would tend to need to inject insulin.

Type 2 – Resistance to uptake of insulin from the circulation, most often-late onset diabetes in elderly or obese people. Has an effect on the metabolism of suffers and is often accompanied by other disabilities; sight, circulation problems etc.

Problems for divers:

A diver with diabetes mellitus may have a hypoglycaemic attack while in the water, which may be fatal to himself or to his diving partner. The hypoglycaemic attack may be brought on by poor control of the condition or

by an increase in physiological stress due to exercise, cold, etc.

BSAC’s position:

The BSAC Medical Committee has decided that diabetics may be allowed to dive provided that they are able to pass the standard BSAC medical examination and in addition, satisfy the following criteria:

· The diabetic has not experienced any hypoglycaemic attack within the last year.

· The diabetic has not been hospitalised for any reason connected with diabetes in the last year.

· Well-controlled diabetes- the diver’s condition needs to be stable enough for him/her to be able to calculate insulin levels to the degree of exercise either by sugar intake through diet or by injection.

· The physician in charge of the diabetic at the diabetic clinic must consider the level of control to be satisfactory and state that he/she

· considers the potential diabetic diver to be mentally and physically fit to undertake the sport of diving.

· Older than 16yrs – In adolescence, because of changing hormone levels, blood sugar levels can be very irregular.

· No added health complications associated with the diabetes.

· The potential diabetic diver should obtain forms A and B from BSAC HQ, together with a leaflet, which should be given to the BSAC Branch Diving Officer on successful completion of the medical.

· An annual medical from a medical referee.

BSAC support:

Medical advice.

A medical referee list is available on the BSAC web site.

Diabetic pack is available from BSAC.

Suggest articles available on the subject.

BSAC requires that the club ensures that:

The medical takes place before training begins.
Trainees must be entered into a diabetic diver programme.
Attention is given to the specific needs of the person throughout training.
A knowledgeable and sympathetic instructor.
That the needs of the trainee become an integrated part of the training.
Ask the person or any other diabetics in the branch to give a lecture the club.

The needs of the trainee integrated in the training.

Buddy check includes a diabetic kit check – e.g. insulin, sugar etc.
That the person take a blood sugar level before and after training/diving to give a reference point of the effects on that individual.
If appropriate the trainer/buddy is taught how to administer glucose paste underwater!

Deeper diving, Nitrox diving and diabetes:

Deeper diving is always an increased risk, leaving fewer margins for error. However there is no ban on deeper diving or use of Nitrox and little is known of the effects on diabetes but it is suggested that information could be gained by measuring blood sugar levels before and after dives.

Trainees should progress gradually, gaining experience and monitoring the effects.

Interestingly many countries enforce an outright ban on diving with diabetes.

I hope that this will be the first of a number of health issues that we could look at in the newsletter. It could help us to be better prepared when faced with health dilemmas when taking on members.

Gwyn James.
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

My First Dive As A BSAC Diver