Welcome to the March 2003 Newsletter

Published 23rd March 2003 ...................................................Editor: Mike H Scott PADI MSDT 600664

22nd March 2003 - AGM

The AGM was attended by 20 members. The events of the past 12 months were reviewed, and the old committee "retired". The new committee was then elected. Various topics were discussed and policies outlined...

The NEW COMMITTEE is now in place and is hard at work already...

Who are they? See the link at the bottom of the page...

Put NAMES to the characters above... send to Mike Scott... best entry gets Bottle of Wine!

The Club is now well established, and we must carry on recruiting, expanding and seeking new adventures...

We continue to be the most active SCUBA Club in the area....

Membership Renewal Applications are due now. Have You missed the discount opportunity?!?!

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DIVING - by Hard Boat in 2003

We have booked a Weekend of Hardboat diving - 27th/28th September. This will be a Special Weekend - two days on the hardboat for just £50.00. Single days £30.00. Plan it Now. Book it Now.

We have also booked the Hard Boat for a single day on 31st August. (Bank holiday = 25th) The 31st will be combined with a Long Weekend of RIB diving - subsidised by the Club. Book your dives early! There will be other dates too - so keep checking your e-mails and the Diveplans Page.

Mid-week Hard Boat Night Dives will be available this year. Call Mark Horton.

DIVING - by RIB - Spring and Summer 2003

We are about to start diving again... just waiting for the weather to ease up a little down at the coast. Both ribs are ready to go... see the offer above regarding the mixed weekend of HB and RIB... You want to dive? Tell us about it!

There will be Novice Days and Advanced Days... let Mark Horton or Dave Hall know you want an easy day!

NOTE ALSO - Party of divers going to Stoney Cove Friday 28th March... Call Mark Horton... Do it today! Stoney Cove is an excellent "refresher" location prior to the main diving season.. practice makes perfect.. practice makes safer...

Archaeological Diving Training and the Project Summer 2003

We will be setting up a training evening in the Pool(!) soon... We will measure, draw, Photograph, and Video the "site" we will install in the deep end. We will provide all the equipment. Come and learn about "Diving witha Purpose".

Interested? Call Mark Hampshire soon.

SOCIAL

Skittles night at the White Hart held on Thursday 13th March was a great success with some 20 Club members and their guests attending and having a great time! Dave Hall's Team beat Mike Scott's Team 62:56. There will be more Social Events in the coming months, especially out-doors, as the weather improves.. A BBQ and other attractions will be arranged.

Dave Hall is on: 01793 - 861399..............Mark Horton is on: 01793 - 731843

TRAVEL SECTION

by Mike Scott

Are you planning a trip? Do you want more Club Members to join you? Tell us! We will e-mail the details and advertise the trip in the Newsletter...

The earlier you give us the details the greater the number of divers you are likely to attract...

Please remember that we will need photos and a write-up when you get back!

Dahab: using recently discovered artwork....

A party of divers is due to set off on 27th day of	>>	having prepared, and studied,
and with all their gear,	>>	they will be met by the Divemaster,
who will lead them,	>>	ensure they are catered for,
and have a good time, including night dives,	>>	as required .	And you thought diving was a modern thing....

Red Sea Live-Aboard

"The Oyster" trip departs 5th September, going to The Brothers and possibly Elphinstone and Daedalus reef (to be confirmed). (Better than Mackerel Fishing 'round the Bay!) 7 confirmed places, room for more.. About £1000 inclusive and if you want to join call Steve Cain and be prepared to give him £150 deposit. Time to get in on this is limited so:

Interested in either of the above? Call Steve Cain on 01249-445069 SOON!

CHEPSTOW(the new Quarry...) has been visited and explored. Vobster was the subject of an earlier trip.

A party of experienced divers travelled to the new dive centre to undertake safety and other evaluations. The organisation is acceptable. Logging in and out was required, to comply with the HSE's regulations. The layout is something of a surprise. The car park is well above the water level and an internal vehicular service carries you to the water's edge, with your dive gear in a trailer behind.. Control of your equipment is essential.

The water was moderately clear and of course cold. At present there is little to see as no wrecks have been placed. We also noted an absence of fish-life, though we were assured that there were fish in the deeper part of the "lake". There is a 5 to 6 metre section using wire pallets as a base. The bottom is genertally silted and easy to stir up. Care is required. In time this will settle better, to the deepest areas, but this may take a couple of years. (Vobster is the same.)

Like Vobster, the idea and the geographic location are fine, but both need work by way of introducing interesting items and life below the surface. (This may prove difficult at Vobstare due to Ph values) Both are currently suitable for advanced divers looking to check/evaluate new equipment or practice deep work. We feel they are not yet ready for the Novice diver. We plan to continue taking Open Water students to Stoney Cove, who remain top of the list due to the facilities already installed. The new building at S-C will add to this...

Vobster and Chepstow are suitable for start of season refresher/gear checks following a pool refresher, if the Coast is not available due to the weather, or you do not wish to travel to Leicester, IF you are an EXPERIENCED diver.

We will report further on both sites... We hope they will develop... We will go again later in 2003

Video and Photo Specialties will soon be available at White Horse Divers... Contact Mike Scott

RIBs STATUS (or is it statii ?)

BOTH RIBs are ready to roll so feel free to contact the operators. Go to the Diveplan Page.... from the link below...

REQUIRED ADMINISTRATION ACTION:

If you have not already completed your liability release for 2003, download this form, complete it, hand in to a Committee Member BEFORE you make your first Club Day dive!.

2003 Release

FOR SALE
See the For Sale page for some very good gear going at knock-down prices ====>

Anyone with connections to Youth Organisations - Try-dives are great fun... White Horse Divers offers discounted prices to organisations introduced by Seahorse Club members. Anyone who then takes the OWD course thern joins the Club... gives the Member future discount on membership... think about it...

On a More Serious Note...

The Undersea Journal - 1st Quarter 2003 has an article on diving when you suffer from asthma. All active Instructors and Divemasters receive this quarterly magazine from PADI's headquarters in the USA. If you have any concerns in this area please ask to see a copy of the article. It does not say you CANNOT dive, but it does outline the increased risks with certain types of asthma, and the use of Ventolin inhalers.

Slowly Ascend From Every Dive