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.

Project Neptune will be live at the London International Dive Show. Come along to our stand (904) and see Project Neptune in action.

BSAC staff at LIDS will be updating live information as well as processing new members.

We are encouraging members to come along and check that we have all your details stored correctly on our systems, so if you are at the show, come to the BSAC Stand and see what it's all about.

Anybody who has their details checked at LIDS will be entered into our prize draw to win either a dry suit, BCD or heated vest, from Typhoon International (below).

British Sub Aqua Club takes great pride in announcing that, as a result of a three-day audit, the organisation now has European Underwater Federation accreditation for the Ocean Diver and Dive leader qualifications as well as the Open Water Instructor qualification. The audit was conducted by the European Underwater Federation and involved the inspection of Headquarters' processes, BSAC branch training and BSAC Instructor Training Scheme events.

The inspectors observed branch lectures and pool training activities at Merseyside Branch 5 and an Instructor Foundation Course in Liverpool. The auditors then braved icy waters to watch an Open Water Instructor Course and Branch-run Ocean Diver and Dive Leader open water training at Eccleston Delph Dive Centre. The Lead Auditor said that 'the audit was very well prepared, extensive in its coverage and provided ample opportunities to see the implementation of the training of divers and instructors'. He added that 'this is the first audit where there have been no items of concern'.

Alistair Reynolds, BSAC Technical Manager (right), said 'The planning was done very quickly and I am pleased that the programme ran so well with such a wonderful outcome. Our thanks must go to the many members involved in making it such a success'.

The members and groups involved were:

• Geoff Carr for writing the self-declaration forms
• Steve Palmer, Chairman, and members of Merseyside Branch No 0005
• Peter Hall, ITS staff and candidates on the Liverpool IFC
• Dennis Wigg, staff and candidates on the OWIC
• Andy Bennett, DO, and members of Mid-Lancashire SAC Branch No 2405
• Andrew Gay, DO, and members of Mansfield Branch No 735
• HQ Staff and members of the Diver resources Team

BSAC Ocean Diver is now validated to the EN 14153-2 - 'Autonomous Diver standard, the BSAC Dive Leader to EN 14153-3 - 'Dive Leader' and the BSAC Open Water Instructor to EN 14413-2 - 'Instructor Level 2'.

The benefits to our members will be that the above diver and instructor qualifications will be recognised in all EU countries and when the EN becomes an ISO, in a few months time, that the qualifications will be recognised world-wide.

Susannah Calderan has been appointed to the post of Environment Officer on the BSACs National Diving Committee (NDC). Susannah will work within the Diving Group to develop the NDC policy, to monitor and respond to legislative issues and to advise the NDC on environmental issues. Susannah is a marine mammal scientist who currently works for the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust based at Tobermory, Isle of Mull. She spends her time running the cetacean research programme aboard a survey vessel. She is a member of Clidive BSAC in London where she is still a committee member. Susannah regularly authors articles and reports on her research and has an active interest in environmental issues.

With many of us starting to plan our 2007 holidays, did you know that you can save £££ on your summer break with BSAC Travel Club?

Our range of travel partners are currently offering fantastic discounts to all BSAC members, including upto 10% off holidays with Regal Dive.

For more information about our Travel Partners and their great offers - and a wealth of insider travel knowledge on diving around the globe - visit http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk.

Level I -Medical Examiner of Divers £750
March 19-23
September 24-28

Refresher for Level I £300
Feb 22-23
Oct 25-26

Level IIa -Diving Medicine Physician £750
(management of diving accidents and illness)
Nov 19-23

Primary Hyperbaric Course £750
May 14-18

For further info or to register please contact:
Diving Diseases Research Centre, Research Way, Tamar Science Park, Plymouth, PL6 8BU.
tel - 01752 209999
email - info@ddrc.org

Dive England's Greatest Wrecks

Dive England's Greatest Wrecks is a perfect companion for any diver interested in exploring England's most exciting shipwrecks, preserved as time capsules of an era of sea power and majesty that has now passed into the history books. Among the ten featured here are the Salsette off Weymouth, arguably England's most famous shipwreck; the SS Kyarra off Dorset; the British submarine M2 and the pre-dreadnought battleship HMS Hood, both lying off Portland; the American Liberty ship James Egan Layne off Plymouth; and the fabulous P & O liner Moldavia.

Dive Scotland's Greatest Wrecks

Accomplished diver Rod Macdonald has carefully selected 10 of Scotland's most famous shipwrecks in this practical and authoritative guide. The story of the sinking of each vessel is dramatically recounted and accompanied by a detailed description of the wreck today. Each wreck is brought vividly to life by specially commissioned illustrations and the dives are depicted with charts and underwater photographs.

Accomplished diver Rod Macdonald has carefully selected 10 of Scotland's most famous shipwrecks in this practical and authoritative guide. The story of the sinking of each vessel is dramatically recounted and accompanied by a detailed description of the wreck today. Each wreck is brought vividly to life by specially commissioned illustrations and the dives are depicted with charts and underwater photographs.

Order NOW from the BSAC Shop by calling us on 0151 350 6222 and we'll be happy to help you.

For more information on these dive guids and other, please visit http://www.bsac.org/page/672/dive-guides.htm.

Aquasure Adhesive
Aquasure urethane repair adhesive & sealant, repairs Wet Suits, Dry Suits and All Watersports produtcs. 28.4 gramme (1 oz).

The industry standard for maximum strength repairs to wetsuits, dry suits and all watersports products'

Members Price £6.00 (inc P&P)
Retail Price £8.00 (inc P&P)



Hungry Shark Pool Game
A great new game by Speedo with six rubber blocks in two colours and two Hungry Sharks. You throw the blocks into the bottom of the pool and the swimmers dive down with their hungry shark and collect the balls into the mouth of the shark. The rubber mouth of the shark naturally opens to 'eat' each block when pressed onto the block. The winner has all of their coloured balls in the shark first. Ideal stage 3 learning to swim game for developing swim techniques. To be used under parental supervision.

Members Price £9.00 (inc P&P)
Retail Price £11.00 (inc P&P)



Speedo Shellseekers Water Confidence Game
The Shellseekers are deigned to encourage confidence under water. Ideal stage 3 learning to swim game for developing swim techniques. There are 4 complete shells comprising of two halves with a printed graphic inside. Suggested game. The shell halves are dropped into the pool and allowed to sink after which the swimmers dive down and match the halves under water to make one complete shell and then return to the surface. The game ends when all the shells are complete. Only to be used in water in which the child is within its depth and under supervision. Not suitable for children under 3 years due to small parts. Item is supplied with a handy carry bag

Members Price £14.00 (inc P&P)
Retail Price £16.00 (inc P&P)



Seal Search & Rescue Water Confidence Game
Zoggs Seal Search is designed to encourage confidence in and under the water. Each Zoggs Seal Search pack contains 4 seals, 3 of the seals have the image of a fish on their belly and the 4th seal has the image of Zoggy the seal. Suggested Game. Find Zoggy the seal - The 4 seals are dropped into the pool and allowed to sink after which the swimmers dive down and retrieve the seals and return to the surface. The swimmer who returns with the seal with Zoggy the seal on the belly wins. Suitable for age 5 years + . Item is supplied with a handy carry bag.

Members Price £11.00 (inc P&P)
Retail Price £13.00 (inc P&P)

Order NOW from the BSAC Shop by calling us on 0151 350 6222 and we'll be happy to help you.

For more information on these products, please visit http://www.bsac.org/page/517/accessories.htm.

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.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
No it is not a printing error there are intentionally two Summary paragraphs above both saying essentially the same thing.
The consistent message in the Summaries above seem to say that by following 'Safe Diving' practices, following your training and not extending beyond your experience should ensure you enjoy safe diving for you and your buddy.
So why the two quotes?
Well both are taken from the Annual Diving Incident Reports. The difference is that the first one comes from the 1972 Report and the second is from the 2006 Report.
Does this mean that we have wasted our time for the last 35 or so years?
Not at all, diving has moved on substantially during that time with newer, sometimes more complex, but increasingly reliable equipment and techniques and more and more people are enjoying the sport. Improvements in training and ongoing safety guidance also help to keep serious incidents to a minimum. The one thing it is difficult to guard against is human nature and so it is important to keep reiterating these messages.

Training
All divers follow some form of formal training programme to achieve various standards of qualification. It is essential for safe diving that divers continue to dive within their respective qualifications unless they have received additional training. BSAC have a comprehensive and cohesive Diver Training Programme developed for the prevailing UK conditions and including training for decompression stop diving procedures and the management of diving. The key is for all divers to understand the limits of their qualifications (such as 20m maximum depth for Ocean Diver) and seek further training before exceeding those limits.

Experience
Diving requires a mixture of training in skills and the progressive build up of experience based on that solid foundation of skills. Where skills are learnt and practiced in substantially different conditions it is not always a simple matter of transferring them to the new environment. For example, where a diver with many years diving experience moves to new areas such as using a Rebreather it is important that the new skills are practiced in shallow water and that depth experience is once again built up slowly and progressively.

Safe Diving
No matter how much we all think we know what is involved in safe diving practices it would do us all good to remind ourselves from time to time. The lessons learned from Incident Reports and the development of diving in general means that the Safety advice offered changes with time and the BSAC Publication 'Safe Diving' http://www.bsac.org/page/141/safe-diving.htm was substantially revised and updated at the end of 2006 and includes Technical safe diving guidance.

Keep up to date and remember Practice - Practice - Practice

Think SAFE - Dive SAFE

Jim Watson
BSAC Safety & Development Manager
For more detail and information please visit http://www.bsac.org/page/45/diving-safety.htm

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