We really hope that you enjoy this copy of BSAC Talk. If you have any comments regarding this issue, please let us know by email at maryt@bsac.com

A PDF copy of this issue of BSAC TALK can also be downloaded from the BSAC TALK index page on our website at www.bsac.org/page/93/bsac-talk.htm.

With Project Neptune in its first year, BSAC HQ have been implementing 'realisation of benefits' (ROBs) in order to improve our service to members.

Our first 'realisation of benefits' is titled 'ROB1' and involves BSAC HQ staff checking that we have members details correct and up to date. If you call BSAC HQ by telephone, you will be asked to confirm that we have your details stored correctly on our database.

We understand that this can be time consuming and we will offer to call members back at a more convenient time if it is difficult to do this whilst you are calling the BSAC for a specific purpose.

If you have any ideas or suggestions about this realisation of benefits or have any feedback from already experiencing it, please contact me at chrish@bsac.com.

Keep watching this space for more updates.

Chris Horan
Project Neptune Project Manager

BSAC is campaigning with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) for the creation of marine reserves in UK seas. The "Marine Reserves Now!" partnership will be launched at the London International Dive Show, over the weekend of the 10th and 11th March 2007. The campaign will continue until a network of vital marine reserves is established - where our precious marine heritage and wildlife will be safe from harm, and given room to recover from decades of exploitation.

BSAC Chairman Marcus Allen says, "Divers are uniquely placed to appreciate and benefit from the establishment of marine reserves. We see first hand how the environment is changing and how protection really can make a difference. I hope every diver, not just BSAC divers, will get behind this campaign."

"We have to use this opportunity to safeguard our sealife so much better, with a marine bill being drafted by Government, and public support for protection of the sea at an all time high," says Melissa Moore, Senior Policy Officer at the Marine Conservation Society.

MCS and BSAC believe that the Marine Bill must introduce a series of Highly Protected Marine Reserves, areas of the sea where no fishing or extractive industries are permitted. MCS and BSAC are campaigning to have a network of these vital marine reserves created - where our precious marine heritage and wildlife will be safe from harm, and given room to recover from decades of exploitation. The UK falls far behind international action on this issue with only one tiny area (at Lundy Island - 3.3km2) covering 0.02% of our inshore waters fully protected.

MCS and other environmental organisations have campaigned for a Marine Bill for over six years. A bill is presently being drafted by Government, but there are real concerns that environmental protection may not be significantly progressed by the Bill.

You can vote right now for marine reserves at www.marinereservesnow.org.uk

See more about MCS at www.mcsuk.org

Kate Humble supports the campaign - see http://www.mcsuk.org/mcsaction/marinereserves/marine+reserves+now

Last chance! After last years massive success, this years conference for ALL divers will be on Sunday 18th February at Surrey University, Guildford. Tickets are £5 for the whole day, available from www.bsac-se.org.uk

Speakers include:

Leigh Bishop and Teresa Telus - British Wreck Diving
Paul Naylor - Author of Great British Marine Animals
Innes McCartney - submarine explorer extraordinaire
Rod Macdonald - Wreck hunter and author of Dive Scapa Flow and Dive England's Greatest Ship Wrecks
Presenter from the Nautical Archeological Society
Phil Marsh - MET Police Diver
Mark Threadgold - Blind dive to 100m plus
Andy Jeffery - Submarine Escape Instructor
And much more besides

Bigger and better than last year; a bigger venue has been found; there will be more stands, a dive shop and even a bar on site. Over £1000 worth of Scubapro UWATEC equipment is the first prize in a free draw for all attendees.
The perfect day out for anyone interested in diving.
Quotes from last year's delegates:

"real value for money…..catered for all divers regardless of certification…...we will encourage our dive club members to come next year.." - Bob Hardwell (PADI diver)

"it was a fantastic experience with excellent speakers and brilliant organization, really enjoyed it!" - Pauline Brown (BSAC Diver)

Book on line at www.bsac-se.org.uk

Conference office - 07976 749607
Sponsored by: Tony Backhurst Scuba, DIVE Magazine and Scubapro UWATEC

Durham City is yet again to be host to the annual regional conference of the British Sub-Aqua Club. With over 250 divers from all agencies attending last year, March 4th looks to be an early season date not to be missed.

Keynote speaker for this 11th birthday party of Divewise is once again Jack Ingle. Having entertained delegates in the past with Kit Rigging for the North Sea and researching wrecks in the South China Sea, his topic for this year is a closely guarded secret. As another first for Divewise, Joerg Hess, world renowned cave diver, will be visiting the conference for a presentation on some of his decidedly different dive destinations.

Other presentations include, Peter Collings with some of the wrecks and 'treasure' he has discovered on his photographic safaris in the Red Sea, and a presentation from the RNLI looking at some video and photographic shots of rescues they have been involved with.

One of the highlights of Divewise has always been the incredible raffle, with prizes currently pledged including Drysuit from Otter Watersports, selection of kit from Typhoon, as well as clothing from SevenTenths, DNA and Fourth Element If you don't win a prize there will be trade stands that will happily help you to part with your pocket money!

Conference organiser David Taylor said "As a day of entertainment and education, this 11th birthday party has something for every type of diver, regardless of level of qualification or which agency they were trained with"

Tickets are now available from Susan Taylor on 01207-237022, or on-line at www.dive-wise.com . Each ticket goes into a draw for an Otter dry suit, and each delegate receives a conference bag with over £5 worth of dive magazines.

Do you have good quality video pictures from your dives around the UK? BSAC has teamed up with underwater journalist & filmmaker John McIntyre to produce a special DVD to showcase British diving as part of our Go Diving campaign.

John is especially keen to hear from divers who have video shot on three-chip digital cameras, Mini DV or DVCAM, which show either good dive sites at their best or good UK marine life, big or small. It may only be a ten second shot, or much more. Anyone whose footage is used on the DVD will get a full credit. If you feel you, or someone you know, may be able to help please contact John by email at john@johnmcintyre.tv

BSAC Bookshop has a new book 'Voices from the Sea' by Ruth Cocks priced £14.00. All the money from the sales of these books will distributed to the following three charities: The RNLI Selsey, The Coastguard Association and The Shipwrecked Mariners Society. Don't miss out!

This book is available from the BSAC website on the bookshop under the general section at www.bsac.org/page/514/bookshop.htm.

More great diving related books are available from our Bookshop. If you are visiting LIDS in March, please feel free to come and browse.

NEW - Instructor Resources CD-ROM 2007

Instructor Resources CD-ROM has been updated and revised.

The CD-ROM Includes:

Instructor Notes
These Instructor Notes cover Ocean Diver through to First Class Diver are prepared as A4 pages and saved as PDF (Adobe Portable Document Format) files. There are separate files for each group of lessons, for each diver grade.

Classroom Lesson Visual Aids
Contains visual aids for all the classroom lessons for each diver grade in Microsoft Powerpoint format. The directory structure is easy to navigate.

Theory Assessment Documentation
Contains Theory Assessments for Ocean Diver through to Advanced Diver saved as MS Word files. There are specific Instructor/invigilator papers that have the answers highlighted to facilitate easy marking.

Price: Members only £10.00 plus £1.00 p&p

Order online at www.bsac.org/page/518/training-materials.htm

New Accessories

Kompressor^TM Dry Bag 30L & 60L

A revolution in dry bag systems, the Kompressor^TM range is strong and super lightweight. Constructed of rip-stop nylon and double thermo-polyurethane the Kompressor^TM is strong enough to use as a dry bag but light enough to use as a Bergen liner. The seams are triple-sealed: stitched, welded and taped so kit is kept dryer than dry. Protects fabrics, leather and electrical equipment from damp, corrosion, rot and mould.

Features include the Kompressor^TM valve which releases excess air so no space is wasted and no extra volume is carried. The anti-bacterial PVC viewing window allows for easy pinpointing of gear in the 3D space-optimal design. Secure and fasten the bag easily with the discreet and no fuss silent roll-top closure, quick release clip and incorporated 'D rings'. Price : 30L £19.95. Price : 60L £22.95

DZ Flex Mean Beams

The DZ-FlexTM combines performance, function and practicality. This powerful pocket-sized torch has a fully flexible and 360 degrees rotational neck. Perfect for use in any weather conditions.

• 100,000 hours LED bulb life
• 360° flexible rotation
• Full 15 lumen output
• Dual function signal switch
• Visible up to 10km
• Hands-free clip
• Lanyard loop on base
• Water resistant
• Ultra lightweight

Pocket sized - when neck is fully extended 166mm x15mm Available in Silver and Black.

Price : £9.95.

Order online at www.bsac.org/page/517/accessories.htm

Recent excess baggage charges.

I thought it may be of interest to BSAC to note that recently I attended my son's wedding in Mauritius and took a flight from Manchester to Heathrow with BMI to connect with my long haul flight to Mauritius.

It was my intention to get in some scuba diving whilst on our 3 week holiday and with this in mind booked through my diving equipment with Air Mauritius, where there were no problem or excess baggage to pay and also with BMI, who had some confusion as to whether they could class scuba diving as a sport and therefore only pay £15.00 for the baggage, each way I hasten to add, or does it not warrant being called a sport and therefore classed as excess baggage, charged at £5.00 per kilo over the 20kgs allowance. Reservations relented and

classed it as a sport and my equipment was booked on the flight at an extra charge of £15.00 which I was to pay on arrival at the check in desk in Manchester, or so I thought. On my arrival I was informed that no booking had been made and that scuba diving does not qualify as a sport according to the BMI website, therefore I was charged the excess baggage of £100.00.

Incidentally, I have since complained about this and had my money refunded in full. However, this was only done because BMI reservations had accepted the diving baggage on their sport equipment deal and therefore BMI could not renege on their mistake. They have however written to say that in future no diving equipment would be classed in the sports equipment allowance and would be charged as excess baggage. Something I feel all BSAC members should be aware of if deciding to travel with BMI.

I have written to BMI and voiced my concerns with this and to say that as far as insurance companies and other airlines, scuba diving is classed as a sport and perhaps they should include it in their sports equipment list, otherwise they will have a lot of unhappy fliers who choose scuba diving as their sport. I have also informed them that I have let BSAC know of this discrepancy in their contract.

BSAC's Annual General Meeting will be held at the Mountbatten Centre, Plymouth at 10am on Saturday,19th May 2007. This year's event will be hosted by our Totnes Branch, who were the 2006 Heinke Trophy winners. For more information please call 0151 350 6221 for details.

BUOYANCY CONTROL
One of the attractions for many in diving is the enjoyment of the feeling of weightlessness. The ability to move almost effortlessly in three dimensions once correct buoyancy control has been achieved not only makes diving easy but also allows you to do other things, like take pictures or resolve minor problems, without excessive task loading. It is an essential part of all diver training and yet is so often poorly achieved.

Correct Weighting
A key aspect of buoyancy control is to conduct the dive properly weighted. This means being weighted such that at the end of the dive, with a minimum reserve in your cylinder (50 bar), you are able to correctly maintain a safety stop at 3m with minimal air in either suit or jacket. See previous article on weighting. http://www.bsac.org/page/156/shed-the-lead.htm

Proper Control
Correct buoyancy control is a continuous process and not something you do once and then forget about throughout the dive until the time comes to ascend. Do you find yourself dropping down the shotline and then landing in a cloud of silt whilst you think about adjusting to neutral? Try descending the shot at a steady rate whilst using the line as a visual reference only and arriving at the bottom already neutral and able to see clearly where to move off to next. Do you find that if you want to stop and look at something as soon as you stop finning you hit the bottom and rapidly lose sight of your buddy? If you are properly neutral then firstly you will require very little effort to propel you through the water so that when you stop finning you should slow to a halt but maintain your horizontal positioning.

The ascent phase of the dive is often the most critical. If you are diving neutral then a slight change to a vertical orientation should produce sufficient gas expansion to initiate the ascent. You then need to simply monitor and control your ascent rate. Once again try concentrating on using buoyancy alone rather than finning or pulling up a shot line, simply using the shot as a visual reference? Remember to ensure positive buoyancy once on the surface and in an emergency consider dropping the weight belt.

Practice
Buoyancy control is a fundamental skill of diving and like all skills requires constant practice. Unlike skills such as mask clearing and rescue skills, buoyancy control is one that should be in constant use and so should be second nature to all divers. However, for example, the problems experienced by divers conducting mid water DSMB deployment indicate that there is room for us all to improve. Practice - Practice - Practice

Think SAFE - Dive SAFE

Pete Church
NDC ITS Staff Development officer
For more detail and information please visit http://www.bsac.org/page/142/safety-talk.htm

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