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 can also be downloaded at www.bsac.org/etalk/jan05talk.pdf.

If you would like to make a donation towards the Tsunami Earthquake Appeal, please visit the DEC Tsunami Earthquake Appeal website at http://www.dec.org.uk/ where you can make a donation online. Alternatively, you can make a donation by telephone on 0870 6060900.

A date for all your diaries, March 5/6 2005. The London International Dive Show, sponsored by the British Sub Aqua Club and run by Dive Show Ltd will take place in Excel, London.

The show promises to offer all divers something of interest; holiday companies, diving manufacturers, seminars, try-dive pools and the BSAC's very own Rebreather Pool where all divers can have a go with the most up to date rebreather equipment.

At LIDS 2005, the BSAC will launch BSAC World. You can see everything you want about the BSAC and have the total BSAC Experience! Our usual BSAC stand will be at the show, with our helpful staff to offer diving advice and deal with any branch matters from BSAC branches. We will also be actively encouraging fully trained divers to join the BSAC and go diving with our friendly, social branches and experience branch diving. You will find the Rebreather Pool alongside the usual BSAC stand. Once you have experienced a Rebreather dive you can talk to one of our technical Rebreather advisors who will be on the BSAC Stand and learn how to progress Rebreather diving with the BSAC.

We will also have Kingston and Elmbridge Branch on show, an active BSAC branch who will discuss with existing BSAC members and also non-members, how a BSAC branch works.

On top of this, if your branch is struggling with marketing then come to the BSAC's Branch Doctor stand.

On this stand we will have BSAC's PR company, Image Wizard, talking about "How to Market your Branch" and showing real life stories from Southampton Branch and Sine-Qua-Non branches who have worked with the BSAC over the last few months aiming to build up their membership via marketing ideas and support from BSAC HQ and Image Wizard.

This project has been great fun and Steve Malkin from Image Wizard will be updating our branches and members in a seminar, "Marketing Your Branch". You will also be able to pick up the latest Branch Marketing Pack which has now been distributed to over 800 BSAC Branches.

Worried about insurance? DiveMaster, the BSAC's insurance company will be in BSAC World with us. You can ask them questions and discuss insurance, travel, equipment etc. Take the opportunity of signing up with Beneficial Bank, BSAC's affinity card! You can apply for the card at the show.

The BSAC Preferred Travel Partners will also be available for booking holidays. Do take the time to look at the special offers our PTPs will be offering all BSAC members. It is worth it!.

There's no better place to get the 2005 diving season off to a flying start than at the London International Dive Show.

This year the BSAC and the show organisers are offering 20 branches and clubs an opportunity to run competitions to win free tickets to the show. If you have a club newsletter or ezine, and are prepared to run a competition and information in this about LIDS 2005, you will be given two pairs of free tickets to the event to offer to your club/branch members.

All you need to do is send a copy of your latest newsletter to Liz Scriven, either by post or email, and the first 20 branches to do this will be offered participation in the free ticket competition.

Liz's email is liz.scrivenpr@ntlworld.com and her address is LSPR Ltd, 35 Heathside, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9TD. If you want to discuss the competition or any other show ideas with Liz you can call her on 020 8398 3327.

Special Offer from Touchdown Holidays (BSAC Preferred Travel Partner (PTP)

Don't miss out on the fabulous offers from Touchdown Holidays, one of the BSAC's new PTPs. The holidays are in Malaysia and a substantial 10% discount is offered on liveaboard prices to BSAC Members. For more information about this offer please go to http://www.touchdowncollection.com/bsac.

Remember, if you wish to be kept up to date with any information, special offers and discounts from BSAC PTPs please go to the BSAC Traveller Subscription page at http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk/traveller/subscribe.htm to subscribe and all future information will be delivered straight to your inbox.

Held at the Institute of Education on 4th December, the 2004 Diving Officers' Conference was attended by 500 delegates and guests from around the globe.

The event was Phil Harrison's last as Chairman and Clare Peddie's first as National Diving Officer. For the first time, the DOC featured a specific area for Regional Coaches giving delegates the chance to meet the coach for their region.

The Programme to remember!

There was something for everyone on the programme; Fixing PFO's - Dr Peter Wilmshurst, How to take photos - Linda Dunk, Golden Oldies, The BSAC Film archives exposed - Tony Marshall, New thoughts on Decompression - Jean-Pierre Imbert.

Visit the BSAC website for full details of the day's proceedings at www.bsac.org/techserv/ndc/doc2004/doc2004rep.htm

As you are no doubt aware, the BSAC Branch Marketing Pack was launched in August 2004 and over 800 branches have now received a copy. The feedback we have received about the pack so far has been encouraging, with stories of how it has made an immediate impact on the marketing of branches around the country.

Send your details to maryt@bsac.com or odetteb@bsac.com and you could be seeing your branch in print when the next update is made at the end of January 2005.

The Branch Marketing pack is available, free of charge from http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/services/branchmktgpk.htm

Would you like the chance to share your diving experiences with a Dive journalist and see your story in print? Get in touch and it could be you! Email Mary Tetley at maryt@bsac.com send in details of your name, membership number and branch along with details of the types of dives your branch likes to do and we'll do the rest. We look forward to hearing from you!.

Sports Divers applying for CMAS cards are automatically awarded 1-star diver. However, they can be awarded CMAS 2-star diver, if they can provide evidence of completing 10 or more logged dives since qualifying as Sports Diver. A photocopy of a member's dive log, suitably endorsed, is sufficient. Application forms are available from BSAC HQ and the cost is £17.

Branch members under training can always do part of their training at BSAC recognised Schools. As well as providing complete courses (Ocean Diver to Dive Leader), Schools will always tailor training to suit a Branch member.

Branches and Schools complement each other in this way.

For a complete listings of recognised BSAC Schools and Resorts, both in the UK and overseas, please visit: http://www.bsac.com/schools/scooloca.htm

Thank you to all of those who took part in the BSAC Shop Christmas prize draw, the lucky winners are as follows:-

• 1st Prize goes to Mr H A Malek A733851 who wins £50.00 in BSAC Gift Vouchers
• 2nd prize goes to Mr I Charnock A192369 who wins £25.00 in BSAC Gift Vouchers
• 3rd prize goes to Mr E Brewer A246221 who wins a £15.00 in BSAC Gift Vouchers

Congratulations to all three winners.

The following fantastic new clothing is now in stock: Unisex baseball T-shirts Beige/Khaki and White/Navy available in sizes: Small 34/36, Medium 36/38, Large 40/42 and Extra Large 44/46. Ladies Baseball T-shirt White/Pink available in sizes: S/M 10/12 and M/L 12/14.

We now have loose-leaf BSAC logsheets available for £4.00 per pack, 50 dives per pack which fit conveniently into any filofax-type binder. Go to http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/shop/records.htm

Just a reminder that we have an ideas box in the shop. Are there are any products you would like the BSAC Shop to stock? Please email us your suggestions at shop@bsac.com or call us on 0151 350 6222/6224/6225.

Question - How do I go about booking onto a Skill Development Course that is advertised in the Programme of Events Booklet?

Answer - You will book a place on the course through the Skill Development Course Organiser for that region. Details are advertised on pages 32/33 of the Programme of Events Booklet.

Also, in the last BSAC Talk issue there were a number of changes to the contact details in the booklet. These have been advertised again in this issue.

Question - What is abated membership?

Answer - This membership is available where two full diving members reside at the same address and only one magazine is required, there is a reduction in the subscription due for the second member, e.g. Husband and wife etc.

Question - Has BSAC produced overlay pages for the new diver-training syllabus that can be stuck into the old blue qualification book QRB?

Answer - No, if you have completed any old pre October 2002 BSAC diver training syllabus and wish to gain the next available diver grade on the new diver training syllabus, you will need to purchase the relevant training pack. Included in the new QRB with this pack will be a plastic pocket in which to keep your old blue qualification book.

A list of all available training packs can be found at http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/shop/newdtp.htm or contact BSAC HQ for a hard copy, please note that training packs can only be ordered by branch officers.

Since the Programme of Events booklet 2005 was printed there have been a couple of changes, new details listed below: -

Regional Coaches

South Scotland Regional Coach
Sandra Castro, 16C Melbourne Road, East Lothian, EH39 4JX
Tel - 01620 890346
Email - scotland.south.coach@bsac.com

North Scotland Regional Coach
Dave Sydenham, 44 Braehead Crescent, Stonehaven, AB39 2PS
Tel - 07711 378769
Email - scotland.north.coach@bsac.com

South East Regional Coach
Dave Tressider, 4 Avenue Road, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 3QF
Tel - 07841 431689
Email - southeast.coach@bsac.com

Skill Development Course Organisers (SDCO)

South Scotland SDCO
Chris Holland, 7 Bellvue Gardens, Edinburgh, EH7 4JX
Tel - 0131 4782150
Email - ss.sdco@bsac.com

South West SDCO
John Adams, 5 Saltbox Close, Mylor Bridge, Cornwall, TR11 5NN
Tel - 01326 372378
Email - sw.sdco@bsac.com

London SDCO
Michelle Haywood, 13 Malden Avenue, Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 0DJ
Tel - 0208 8640460
Email - l.sdco@bsac.com

UK Schools

East Anglia School of Diving
Tel - 0870 2647699
Email - easod@ntlworld.com

Instructor Courses/Exams

Advanced Instructor Exam (AIE)
9/10 April Northern Ireland
This has been withdrawn.

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