Christmas 2000

Editorial, by Allan Bretherton

Welcome to the Christmas edition of your ever-popular Worcester Divers Newsletter. The end of one diving season and the start of the next. What do we have to look forward to during 2001?

We have a new committee that is enthused to make 2001 a diving and social season to remember. Charles Erb is putting together a fantastic diving programme that will cater for both new and experienced divers (see attached dive programme) but there are still some free weekends should anyone want to volunteer to run additional trips.
Don’t forget, there are still a few places left on the Murree trip booked for the Easter weekend. Experienced divers only though.
Simon Yates has taken over as training officer and is developing an interesting and informative training programme for the year ahead (see training news) No doubt Ashley will be keeping us all entertained with his plethora of social activities as well.

On the National front, watch out for the articles on wreck diving. We are in serious danger of losing the right to dive wrecks in British waters if we are not careful.

Allan Bretherton

The new Committee for 2001 is presented below. Lets wish the new committee every success for 2001 and let’s not forget to thank the outgoing committee for all the work they did during 2000. Remember, they are all volunteers and do this work purely for the love of the sport and the branch.

Chairman	David Petersen
Vice Chairman	John Cuthbertson
Diving Officer	Charles Erb
Secretary	Dunstan Power
Social Secretary	Ashley Quinn
Equipment Officer	Phil Walsh
Treasurer	Amanda Fitzgerald
Training Officer	Simon Yates
General member	Niki Erb
General member	Tracy Blanchard
General member	Carol Copson

Non voting members of the Committee

President	Dick Spilsbury
Pool Equipment	Jim Beech
Newsletter	Allan Bretherton
Pool Marshall	Patricia Slater
Asst. Equip. Officer	Brian Harris
Asst. Equip. Officer	Steve Fulcher

With the Christmas party already past and the holidays looming, many of us are turning our minds to the new season of 2001. As you can see from the programme (which is also on the club web site), there are a quite a few trips already planned.

Hard boats
There are a number of hard boat trips next year, for all levels of diver. In a change to previous practice, the club is now financially supporting hard boat diving. A problem experienced by organisers of hard boat trips is the need to book them so far in advance. On the other hand, new members often find that they cannot get onto trips because they are already full far in advance. In order to ease this problem, the club will buy up to two places on a hard boat trip, as long as the trip meets certain criteria.
This initiative is intended to help all new members, not just trainees, but any newcomers to the club. This means that the trip must be suitable for new members, and must be approved by me.
These places will then be sold to suitable members closer to the time of the trip. If no new member can be found to fill the places, then the places will be made available to anyone. The club is thus liable for up to the full cost of the two places, if the places are not sold.
For example, I have planned a hard boat trip to the Farne Islands next Whitsun. The trip is open to qualified Club Divers and above, and is now full. There are a number of members who are now in training, but who are not yet far enough through their training to commit to such a trip, but by Spring may well be. The two "club places" on the trip will therefore be made available to such members.

Let's go diving!
There are currently 8 club hard boat trips planned for the next season, ranging from week-long liveaboards in the Red Sea and Scapa Flow, to weekend trips. What I'd like to see are more soft boat trips planned as well. I know that many soft boat trips are last-minute affairs, but with more members willing and able to tow the boat, I'd like to see more planned ones.
Almost anyone can organise a dive trip!
If you are not qualified to act as a dive marshal, you can ask someone else to do that part for you. I have written some notes about how to do organise trips which are posted on the club web site. You'll find hints and suggestions there, and I'd be grateful for feedback from more experienced members too (there's an easy to use form on the web page).
The popular weekends are going fast, so if you're thinking of running a dive trip in the coming season, let me know as soon as you can to make sure you get the dates you want.

Boat Appreciation
On the subject of the soft boat, if you're planning to dive from or tow the boat, then please come along "the tunnel" to find out how we can keep our most valuable asset in top condition. Phil Walsh, our equipment officer is kept very busy maintaining our boat and we do get damage done through members not being aware of the correct procedures.
Yet again the boat engine needs another expensive repair with a suspected water pump failure. We still seem to be suffering from corrosion due to inadequate rinsing of the engine after a trip.
Another example is the GPS unit. This is a fantastic aid to finding dive sites (and cost over £200), yet is very easily damaged if it's not mounted properly. In the light of this I would hope to see everyone intending to tow the boat in the coming season, to make sure that we’re all aware of the correct procedures and avoid future damage. I’m looking forward to seeing experienced and inexperienced alike at the tunnel on Wed 24th January.

Safe Diving
Charles Erb
Diving Officer

The skills and enthusiasm available in the diving club always impress me. At the first committee meeting of the club year, we discussed improving the communication with members near and far.
No sooner said than done, we have a new web site and the e-mail addresses of most members - special thanks to John Cuthbertson (and further thanks to Iain Cuthbertson for doing the programming of the core site). How can we inform everyone of the diving available? Charles Erb creates a wonderful web site with a programme of events. Can we have some more hard boat diving? Charles implements it. What about keeping a couple of places available nearer the time for new members? Done. Training programme? Simon Yates does it. New constitution? John Cuthbertson researches it, types it and submits suggestions. Student membership? Done.
This year's committee has the enthusiasm, experience knowledge and skills. Take a look at the web site. If you have any suggestions of other improvements, just ask and see if the committee can implement it.
Merry Christmas and a Happy 2001. Make your New Year resolution a regular Thursday night swim.

David Petersen

Club Diver
Our next ‘Come and Try It’ session will be held on Jan 11th 2001. If you know anyone who wishes to have a go please contact Niki Erb as soon as possible to ensure that a place is reserved. For those wishing to sign up for the Club Diver Training Course, encourage deposits to be paid to Dick Spilsbury to book a place on the course starting Thursday 18th Jan 2001.
During early 2001 we will be canvassing interest in running a Club Diver course over a weekend. This provides an alternative to trainees who may have difficulty in committing to Thursday nights. Although intensive and hard work, in my experience it has proved to be highly successful in recruiting new members to the club as well as a lot of fun for all concerned.
An open water diving weekend for aspiring Club Divers has been booked for 10th & 11th March 2001 at Brixham. Contact Jim Beech.

Sports Diver
A Sport Diver Lecture Program will be starting on Wednesday 31st Jan 2001. This will be open to all those who have recently completed Club Diver Theory. Open water exercises are planned for 7th & 8th April 2001. Contact Simon Yates.

Skill Development Courses
First Aid for Divers: Learn how to cope with injuries that you are likely come across in the diving environment. Starts Wednesday 7th March 2001. Contact Niki Erb for details.
Lifesaving Course: Pool based course with some theory. Practise lifesaving techniques, brush up on your theory and get fit at the same time! Starts Thursday 29th march 2001. Contact Simon Yates for further details.

Instructor Development
An Instructor Workshop is being arranged for Sunday 14th January 2001. This will consist of both classroom and in-water sessions, and is aimed at all those interested in instructing during 2001. The objective of the session is to harmonise our training across all instructors and treat it as an opportunity to share tools and techniques.
If you are already an instructor (new or old!) or you wish to be involved in training please come along…I’m sure it will be a lot of fun.

There are plenty of opportunities to help with either the pool training or lecture program, please contact me. Don’t forget…..the full training details and dates are on the Club Website.

Congratulations to Patricia Salter and Dave Salt for passing their Club Instructor exam earlier this year.

Simon Yates.
Training Officer

GMDSS - Editorial Comment
Remember the last issue when I reported on GMDSS, the replacement for the VHF licence? Well, I’ve now done the new course with Joe Diver in Evesham. Good course, lots to learn and very good instruction. Bit pricey at £65 plus £19 for the exam but very enjoyable with PC simulators – go on, give it a try.

Diglis Din Deafens Divers (aka - Our Christmas dinner & disco)
Ok so what do you expect when there is a disco? Even in the bar I couldn’t escape the roar of 6 million watts of power pumping from the speakers. David, our intrepid Chairman, didn’t seem to mind though. Indeed, it seemed to transform him from his normally placid self. Coming straight after a veritable banquet, it’s amazing he managed to keep his food down. There are hidden depths to this man. (What have you done to him Mandy?)
Good food, good booze, good company and good entertainment – what more could a diver want for (well no-one took up the suggestion of a dip in the Severn)
Well done Ashley for all your efforts. Another excellent ‘bit of a do’.
John Cuthbertson

War Graves and Divers

The following affects ALL wreck divers in the UK. On the 1st of November, the Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence, gave a statement, extracts of which follow.
"…I state unequivocally that the Government share the widely held view that war graves should remain undisturbed and protected so far as that is practical and that diving on any other wreck should be unobtrusive. …
The sport of recreational diving has recently enjoyed a significant growth in popularity. Technological advances in the equipment and navigational aids used by modern sports divers allow them to dive on sites to a greater depth and with greater precision than before. I have little doubt that the vast majority of sports divers are decent law-abiding people, who would wish to associate themselves with the … protection of wrecks.
I pay tribute to the diving associations and the responsible and positive action that they are taking to educate their members about wreck protection. The three major associations have this year developed and launched a code of practice for their sports diver membership, which gives clear guidance about the need to respect and not to intrude on wreck sites. We welcome and encourage that initiative. I wish the code of practice every success, because, in the short term at least, a regime of informed self-regulation deserves to succeed. My officials and those in other Departments have supported that enterprise and will continue to do so. …
Moral authority rests with the rights of survivors rather than divers' recreational pursuits. It is for that reason that I have asked my Department to consider further the specific implications that designation of sites…will have for the diving community from both a legal and economic perspective.
… all wrecks of Her Majesty's ships, be they war graves or not, remain the property of the Crown. If we are able to gather evidence that individuals have been involved in pillaging of such vessels, it will be presented to the police for them to consider what action may be taken. I recognise that there is a need to take a tougher stance with the rogue element of the diving community. I ask all responsible elements of the diving community to pull together to stamp out the rogue elements.
…I repeat the hope that I expressed earlier that the diving associations' efforts at self-regulation and, in particular, the recent code of practice, will bring about the improved behaviour that we all desire. If self-regulation proves inadequate, I remain ready to take further action to ensure that proper respect is paid to those sites in perpetuity. …My Department supports the aspirations of survivors' associations…. In my opinion, time is up for rogue divers."
The situation for our sport is extremely serious. The position of the government is clear and steps are being taken to ensure successful prosecutions - and convicted offenders will get a criminal record.
These rogue divers could stop you diving on your favourite wreck by their immoral activities. The BSAC, SAA and PADI have been working hard to prevent war graves and other wrecks being made off limits to responsible divers, but such rogue divers could start designation of wrecks under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. When this has happened, many thousands more will follow. It is up to you to curb the disreputable activities of these few divers. Follow the Respect our Wrecks Code of Practice for wreck diving and the joint code in the new 'Wreck Diving - Don't Get Scuttled' leaflet.

In view of the festive season, fish tail has been suspended for this issue – but we’re still watching!

We need some really good stories during 2001. Perhaps the Christmas dive 28th December ’00 at Brixham may generate something. Any stories can be passed to me at the Saracens Head or by email, preferably in ‘Word’ format.
allanbretherton@netscapeonline.co.uk
That’s all for this issue folks
Keep bubbling
Allan J Bretherton
Editor

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