The main diving season is now fully underway and what an excellent start it has been. A few enthusiastic and dedicated trip organisers have given us some excellent diving. I have been lucky enough to go on the trip to the Red Sea organised by Carol Copson. This gave us an excellent liveaboard (with ensuite facilities!) [What about a bidet? - Ed] and the highlight of swimming and diving with dolphins - wonderful.
More recently, I went on a hardboat trip to the Farne Islands organised by Charles Erb. We had sunny weather, light winds, a calm sea, good accommodation, an excellent skipper and 8 good dives in 3 days. So a big thank you to Carol, Charles and the other trip organisers. Your time, effort, enthusiasm and perseverance are much appreciated. The club is very lucky to have such people.

David Petersen

It's June already, the diving season is into full swing and yet this is the first newsletter this year. YOUR CLUB NEEDS YOUR STORIES IF THE NEWSLETTER IS TO SURVIVE! So come on, get pen to paper; lets hear something, even if it embellishes the truth! After all, what else can you do with a good rumour except spread it?
We've already had some fantastic dives this year but more of that later on.

On the national scene, BSAC has been extremely active. The new diver training programme will kick-off early next year, this is evolution rather than revolution and will put the majority of training, particularly advanced diver training, back in the hands of the branches. It will also be a much more worthwhile qualification. The new instructor-training scheme will also kick in at the same time with the first nationally recognised qualification being open water instructor. Don't worry, those of you with club instructor qualification will not lose your recognition. And finally, in line with the UK Sports Diving Medical Committee and in line with members wishes, BSAC will be moving to self-certification diving medically. This is not to say that you will never need another medical. A 'yes' answer to any of the questions on the form will result in a medical. The self-certification form is also a legal document; any false declaration will nullify your insurance.
And finally, the wreck consultation document has been submitted to parliament and the BSAC is still fighting hard on your behalf to ensure the future of wreck diving. More details are available on the BSAC web site.

Allan Bretherton

Plymouth - by Maggie Clark

A weekend originally programmed for Sports Diver training was attended by two Club-aspiring-Sports Divers and half a dozen experienced chaps. I had 16 dives in my logbook, mostly in Stoney Cove, and this Plymouth trip was only my second in UK waters. I was still working on my buoyancy after three warm up trips this year with various permutations of undersuits and weight belts. I now recommend 'Weasle' undersuit and shot bags in detachable pockets of BCD and intended trying a further permutation of buoyancy control.

• Lesson no.1: don't try kitting up with shot already loaded in BCD. I'm currently doing a first aid course, but we haven't covered hernias yet.
  
• Lesson no.2: don't snag SMBs with your kit on ascent - Ed thoughtfully gave us a demonstration to hammer home the message.
• Lesson no.3: don't accept presents of dogfish from your buddy (Simon-with-hair), they can bite. It was my piercing squeal that saw 'Jaws' off when I released him - yes you can squeal underwater!
• Lesson no.4: Foraging. This lesson, and #5, were learnt on Sunday, diving 'The Elk' and Mewstone ledges. Simon (without- hair) demonstrated foraging and self-sufficiency skills. His edible crabs were examples of 'a tasty supper' and 'illegal'. We returned 'illegal' to grow a bit more. A very useful lesson - If my hand span matches the crab's shell width, he's legal!
• Lesson no.5: Divers' Ascot. Simon-without-hair demonstrated the sartorial elegance required by Worcester Divers - his woolly sock hat provided entertainment and dexterity skills that I can only equate to knot tying. If his granny will knit me one too, I'll have a go.

Red Sea Revellers - by Carol Copson

As usual, this was a stunning dive trip that was very eventful with plenty of beautiful scenic dives with drop off walls. As reported from earlier trips run, the Elphinstone was superb; we dived it three times. One beautiful memory that will remain in everyone's mind will be the swim with the dolphins at 5.50 a.m. Jim Beech has some lovely photos of the dolphins. Was this a late night or early morning? - Ed

The week was hot and sunny, but, true to form, it is windier in the south. This made some of the crossings rather choppy and uncomfortable for some people. Sadly, some of the group were rather ill with a mysterious virus and high temperature and therefore could not dive for a couple of days. It's called a hangover! - Ed
The boat was first class with en-suite in all cabins. Since last year however some further refurbishments have taken place and now there is a full sun canopy on the sun deck, a further sun deck at front of boat, and a toilet and shower on the kitting up deck. All this with the caring staff who looked after us all just as well as last year.

We had two dive guides, Adrian and his girlfriend Carolyn (who I'm sure was a mermaid). Adrian and Carolyn did their utmost to please at all times, taking time out to sit and speak to all divers and discuss dive plans. The standing joke of the week 'Did you see that white tip shark?'
The group as a whole were a happy and helpful bunch with Ashley supplying us with our daily dose of comedy. (Good old Ash) Make sure you have him on your trips - he is an asset. I enjoyed the southern trip very much but next year will be looking to dive a new area.

Happy diving everyone - Carol Copson

The Murree trip - by Allan Bretherton

Club Diver lectures recently started at Kings School on Wednesday evenings and the life saver course has just completed. Congratulations to all that got through the gruelling assessment. John Cuthbertson and myself took no pleasure in this what so ever - honest!
But what comes next? We are very fortunate in Worcester to have the capabilities within the branch to teach every diver grade and practically every SDC (skills development course) so just tell Simon Yates what you want and it can be arranged (at a very reasonable price of course)

The diving season is now well underway, and let's hope that the weather is kinder to us this year than it was last season! So far there have been 14 trips this season, organised by 8 different members (thanks to Carol Copson who has already run 4 and to Dave Salt and John Graty at 2 each). We have logged 438 dives at 7 different locations (predictably lots of trips to Stoney Cove) by 52 different members- that's a staggering 289 hours underwater.

The boat, ably maintained by Steve Fulcher is running beautifully and has seen a fair bit of service so far this season. However, there are very few bookings in June, July and August, the peak of the diving season! Now's the time to book those neap tide weekends. Remember, almost any member can organise a dive trip, as long as you have the right mix of divers. Look at the club web site for more information, or have a chat with me.

And finally, as I don't have anything else, a 'photo of yours truly being presented with a new 'dive knife' by visitors from BSAC Japan.
Doesn't it make you sick!
[Ah Soh !! - Web Production Team (JK)]

That's all for this issue folks!
Keep bubbling - Allan J Bretherton - Editor