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We are already in to quarter two of the year and it is almost four months since we launched Project Neptune, we are starting to appreciate the improvements to the data already.

Some of the objectives of Project Neptune were the realisation of benefits (ROBs).

We have started the process into realising a major ROB in our Direct Debit scheme that will be launched in August this year for October renewals, we believe this will relieve some of the burden on our Membership Secretaries.

Another ROB is the management of data. Never before has the BSAC been able to competently store so much data and have centralised access to it via Project Neptune.

As the project rolls out, BSAC Staff will have the ability to check when a member is due for renewal, when an order was sent from the shop and what courses they are booked on without having to transfer the member between different HQ departments.

The BSAC Go Dive campaign is now being handled by Project Neptune, so there is the opportunity to develop a good method of recruiting already qualified divers, via Project Neptune and welcoming them into the BSAC.

We have achieved significant progress in a short space of time and there is still so much to look forward to. Project Neptune is already showing signs of moving the BSAC forward and establishing that we are the best diving club in the world.

Chris Horan
Project Neptune Project Manager

GO! Dive with BSAC.

In July this year, for the first time, the BSAC will be holding a brand new campaign to attract trained divers to join their nearest Branch. The BSAC is calling all divers to give it a go the BSAC way by inviting already qualified divers to go diving with their nearest BSAC Branch. It doesn't matter who they have trained with or where they trained, divers who are itching to get back in the water are invited to Go! Dive with BSAC.


The story so far

We are delighted that almost 100 Branches have already registered for the campaign. During May a Press Trip visited the Mount Batten centre in Plymouth with BSAC Council Member Andy Moll and BSAC has already received press coverage in Dive Magazine, Diver Magazine and also Geographic Magazine along with regional press. With more coverage planned, the campaign is gaining momentum daily.

How can your Branch be involved?

To be part of the campaign, we are asking Branches to hold an open evening during July on their regular Branch night. This is your chance to show off what your Branch gets up to - where do you dive? How often do you go diving? What is the social side of the Branch like?


Please help us to grow your membership - invite your friends who used to dive but have had a break - a neighbour who has always "fancied having a go", a colleague who "just loves the idea but isn't sure where to start" - we all know someone who would like to try diving or for whatever reason has given the sport up. This is your chance to entice them back to the sport, our sport and our Club - go on, show them what you've got and recommend a friend to join the best diving Club in the world - we're waiting to welcome them!

Whatever you'd like to tell potential members - this is the night to do it!

Register your Branch

It's easy to be a part of it, simply register online at http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/services/godive2.htm

Nearer the time, we will send you a Branch pack and also participant packs to give to interested divers on the night, these will be full of posters and press release ideas to help promote your open evening.

Tell your friends!

We all have friends who have taken a try dive at some point and for whatever reason have not continued with the sport - this is your chance to join your Branch! Recommend a friend to the BSAC and grow your Branch membership!

Should you have any queries at this stage, please contact Odette Baker at odetteb@bsac.com or on 0151 350 6221.

I look forward to registering your Branch as part of the Go! Dive Campaign.

A new Section to the BSAC members Website has recently gone live dealing with all aspects of 'Diving Safety' at http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/safety.

The new section links together existing advice and resources on diving safety and will continue to build considerably on them. By gathering the information together this will make important Safety advice and guidance more accessible and help improve diving safety. The new section also provides the opportunity to extend the information and advice contained in the 'Safety Talk' articles that have been included in BSAC Talk since March this year. The Safety Talk information can be found at http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/safety/safety.htm.

Keep watching the Safety Pages for regular updates.

Are your Branch details up to date?

In order for us to continue to improve communication between BSAC HQ and BSAC Members we would like all Members to check that we have the correct information for them. We have found in the past when trying to contact members that the following information is not always up to date:

• Email address
• Telephone numbers
• Mobile numbers
• Address

Could you please let the Membership Department know of any changes to the details above by emailing the changes to the following address: membership@bsac.com

The UK has over 18,470 km (11,477 miles) of beautiful coastline - and the Marine Conservation Society wants to cover it all with the help of BSAC divers. By Easter 2007 they hope to have raised £50,000 towards their vital work, by swimming, running, walking, or covering the entire distance any other way! Whether you want to take a sponsored swim, walk your favourite stretch of coastline, or add up miles on the treadmill, MCS would love to hear about it. They just need to know the distance you cover to start chipping away at their grand total. With your help, they can do it! Email: fundraising@mcsuk.org Web: www.mcsuk.org Phone: 01989 566017

Receiving 'Special Offers' emails from the BSAC Shop

If you would like to hear more about special offers and promotions from the BSAC Shop, please click here to access your profile and choose 'Yes' from the dropdown list next to 'Receive offers from the BSAC Shop'.

The Art of Diving

"Come, dive into Nick Hanna and Alexander Mustard's bright blue world. This is the best book about diving since Jacques Cousteau's The Silent World. Here turtles bow, flounders court, sharks skulk and, best of all, divers leap, soar and even meditate. Alex has a unique eye. This is dynamic underwater imagery at its best." David Doubilet.

"This book beautifully reveals the deepest secrets of our love affair with the liquid world." Tim Ecott.

Nick Hanna's engaging text brilliantly brought to life Alexander Mustard's amazing collection of award winning images..

The lure of the underwater world, meetings with remarkable creatures, the art of fish watching, free diving, the fate of the oceans and more.

Remarkable photographs convey the experience of diving as never before and allow the reader to share in the authors' fascinating journey into the magical ocean world.

Every facet of the experience of being underwater is explored in this remarkable book which captures the soul of scuba diving.

For the armchair reader as well as the enthusiast - a compelling inner voyage of self- discovery.

Order your copy NOW for £20.00 from the BSAC Shop, call us on 0151 350 6222 and we'll be happy to help you. Alternatively, order online at http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/shop/bookshop.html.

Evolution Dry Bag 20L
Heavy duty rip-stop dry bag with detachable shoulder straps.
Available in Black only.
Price : £19.95.

Stealth Belt
A must for all travellers. Not only will this discrete & tough money belt keep your valuables safe & out of sight, it will also keep them dry under your wetsuit.
Price : £14.00.

Multi Equipment Hanger
Extremely robust and versatile equipment hanger, suitable for storing your suit & B.C.D., regulator, octopus, hoses and other equipment.
Price : £9.00.


Order NOW from the BSAC Shop by calling us on 0151 350 6222 and we'll be happy to help you. Alternatively, you can order these products plus many more online at http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/shop/accs.htm.

Calling all BSAC Instructors.....

The BSAC Shop are having a special offer for BSAC Instructors with 20% off selected products. For more details, please go to http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/shop/insoffer.htm.

Those looking for the best value diving holidays around would be well advised to have a close look at the special scheme run by the BSAC Travel Club. The scheme, which consists of a series of "Preferred Travel Partners" [PTPs], offers BSAC members substantial discounts off brochure prices from a number of leading holiday companies. Members also benefit from special packages and bespoke trips at reduced rates, as well as the standard discount prices they can enjoy.

Hundreds satisfied

The PTP scheme has been running successfully for a year and a half now and has seen hundreds of satisfied divers sharing tens of thousands of pounds in discount. The scheme has just gone through its first major review. There will now be four PTPs in the up-dated scheme - Dive Worldwide, Regaldive and Touchdown, all existing members, along with newcomer Tony Backhurst Scuba.

Dive Worldwide offers holidays to destinations across the world, often in locations off the beaten track and has proved a favourite with divers with a more adventurous spirit. In contrast, Regaldive, very much a mainstream operator, is ever popular with clubs. Divers can also book holidays to exotic Borneo, where some of the best dive sites in the world are to be found, through market leaders Touchdown, who are also delighted to discuss flight or accommodation only arrangements.

Multi-award winning appointment

"We are really thrilled to have appointed Tony Backhurst Scuba as our new PTP from 1 April," enthused David Dixon, who heads up BSAC's Travel Club. "Tony Backhurst is a multi-award winning operator who has a great reputation among our members. He joins our existing team of top operators who are already acclaimed as leaders in their field."

Negotiations mean in future that Peter Hughes Diving will sell their luxury liveaboard holidays through existing PTPs Dive Worldwide and Regaldive.

Following closure of their specialist diving departments to concentrate on other expanding markets, Hayes & Jarvis and Harlequin have stepped down as PTPs. However, existing bookings not yet taken will still of course be honoured and attract their original discount.

"Overall we think our scheme represents a great benefit for our members," declared David. "We come across those who join BSAC just to get the discount, especially as it can be worth more than the membership subscription itself - that's a real bargain".

For more information about the fantastic savings on holidays booked through the PTP scheme please visit www.bsactravelclub.co.uk.

And get a £5 voucher or gift FREE!

Responding to demand by members, the BSAC have now developed a process that will enable Branch members to pay their BSAC annual subscription by Direct Debit.

Project Neptune, the new membership relationship management system has this facility.

Paying by Direct Debit has many advantages for both members and Branches:

• Easier for members
• Less work for Branch Secretaries – easing admin burden
• Guaranteed uninterrupted membership

How do I arrange to pay my BSAC subscription by Direct Debit?

Your Branch Secretary will have all the details by August 2006. There is a simple form for you to complete and your Branch sends this to BSAC Headquarters and we do the rest!

The BSAC Membership Department will set-up the DD instruction and send it to your bank.

We will also send the Branch secretary details of which members have elected to pay by this method and their renewal dates etc, together with their membership cards.

Do I have to pay by Direct Debit?

No - the system is completely voluntary and you can continue paying conventionally if you wish.

We think that the vast majority will sign up to this concept – it’s so much easier for all.

     

All members electing to pay BSAC subscriptions via Direct Debit gets a £5 voucher to spend in the BSAC Shop.

Alternatively, members can ask for the ‘Waterbook’ instead. A6 size, 50 leaves.

When will paying by Direct Debit be available?

For renewals due from October 1st 2006. These will be issued to Branches in August 2006.

DIRECT DEBIT Information Hotline: 0151 350 6257 or email: sandrac@bsac.com.

Branch Secretaries/Treasurers

Have you received the Direct Debit details? If not, or want to know more, contact the Membership Department on:0151 350 6257 email: sandrac@bsac.com.

The Annual General Meeting of the British Sub Aqua Club was hosted by Heinke Trophy Winners - Leicester Underwater Exploration Club at nearby Centrica Building, Spinneyside, Grove Park, Leicester LE19 1SZ on Saturday 20th May 2006.

The morning featured the AGM business followed by a fabulous lunch.

The theme for the afternoon was 'What happens when you get DCI' and featured presentations by:

• Margaret Baldwin, Stoney Cove
• County Air Ambulance
• Hull decompression facility

All the presentations were fascinating and brought about an interesting question and answer session.

To round off the day's activities a Casino Night was held at the Walkers Stadium and saw LUEC and visitors dancing the night away.

BSAC HQ would like to offer special thanks to Simon Brookes, the Chairman of LUEC along with Julie and Darren Woodward the Secretary of LUEC and Tara Lydon who all worked tremendously hard to make the day and evening such a success.

General Principles

As an organisation using the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure service to help assess the suitability of members for positions of trust in teaching diving and snorkelling to young people under 18 years of age, the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) complies fully with the CRB Code of Practice regarding the correct handling, use, storage, retention and disposal of Disclosures and Disclosure information. It also complies fully with its obligations under Data Protection law and other relevant legislation pertaining to the safe handling, use, storage, retention and disposal of Disclosure information and has a written policy on these matters, which is available to those who wish to see it on request.

The BSAC fully complies with its obligations under Data Protection law (that the information is accurate, regularly updated, relevant and secure) and other relevant legislation pertaining to the safe handling, use, storage, retention and disposal of Child Protection related information.

For more information about CRB checks, please contact Mary Tetley at maryt@bsac.com and she will be happy to help you.

"The BSAC offers a total of 5 expedition grants of £1,000 each which are available each year to groups of BSAC divers to promote adventurous diving. The expedition should have a purpose such as research (e.g. finding new sites) or improvement of the expertise of a group of divers. All divers must be BSAC members and all diving should follow BSAC safe diving practices.

The following expeditions have successfully applied to the BSAC Expeditionary Grant Scheme for financial assistance towards their expeditions this year:

Reef surveys in Cardigan Bay: Throughout 2006
Wynne Evans is leading members of Cantre'r Gwaelod Divers, University of Wales Swansea SAC, University of Wales Aberystwyth SAC and Cardigan SAC to monitor the outer patches reefs and Sarn Cynfelin in Cardigan Bay.

REDS South Scotland: 6-7 May
Not for the faint hearted! After a successful expedition in 2005 the REDS South Scotland team is again setting out to explore offshore pinnacles and undertake some exhilarating drift dives in the Sound of Luing. Max has kindly agreed to share one of the BEGS grants with the IOM expedition. Contact: Max Ruffert, Email: bsac_diver@gmx_net

Leicester Underwater Exploration Club, Skye Expedition: 22-29 July
Anthony Farrant is leading the club on an expedition to the NW of Skye, exploring rarely dived sites in the Minch as well as some firm favorites on the way home.

Wreck exploration in Cardigan Bay: Throughout 2006
Alan Thomas is leading members of Cardigan SAC and other BSAC clubs on an expedition to dive and survey the Sutton and some former military missile targets, HMS Whirlwind and HMS Lewiston.

Isle of Mann Trimix Expedition: 24-28th July 2006
Steve Cowley is leading an expedition to dive a number of wrecks off the Isle of Mann. He has kindly agreed to share one of the BEGS grants with the South Scotland REDS Expedition.

RED Channel Islands: Dates: 6/7th May, 20/21st May plus weekends in July
Howard Barnes is leading members of Guernsey, Jersey and Aldernay branches of the BSAC in a hunt for some virgin wrecks off Guernsey.

For further information on expeditions see http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/techserv/exped/index.htm.

Pre Dive Checks
The importance of pre-dive checks is one that is stressed throughout diver training. There is sometimes a tendency for such practice to fall into misuse as greater experience is gained often due to a feeling of familiarity with equipment and diving buddies. Whilst the Diving Incident Report does not specifically highlight weaknesses in this area diver training emphasises the important role such checks play in the prevention of incidents. A recent Research Report published by the HSE 'Formal risk identification in professional SCUBA' considers the use of Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) to consider the risks associated with diving. This report having considered a particular fault tree analysis identified that poor pre-dive checks can have significant implications for faults occurring during a dive.

Personal preparation
Begins with ensuring you have all the necessary equipment before leaving home or loading the boat. Examples of such checklists can be found on the BSAC Website but should be developed to match your own equipment and diving needs.

Following a formal Buddy check and making use of a consistent sequence such as BAR (Buoyancy, Air, Releases) or ABC (Air, Buoyancy, Clips) will help ensure that all important items are checked and all members of the dive party are familiar with the equipment being used.

Technical diving
Including the use of Rebreathers and mixed gases still requires the same level of preparation and checking. Indeed depending on the circumstances and specific equipment this type of diving will require greater attention to detail. The BSAC Rebreather Courses stress the value of pre-prepared Checklists for the preparation of the equipment and the conduct pre dive checks. For mixed gas diving it is important to emphasise the MOD for different gases carried and in both instances the options for safe Alternative Gas Supplies for the buddy are important to identify.

Other factors

Regular practice and attention to pre-dive checks should minimise many risks before even entering the water. Such checks should not be rushed divers should not be pressured either by the marshal or the need to hit slack water.

The debilitating effects of Sea sickness should also be considered and suitable steps taken to minimise its impact.

Think SAFE - Dive SAFE
Jim Watson
BSAC Safety and Development Manager

For more detail and information please visit http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/safety.

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