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/services/talk/index.html.

If you need to change your email address or wish to unsubscribe from receiving emails from the BSAC, please choose the 'Edit my Profile' button below or go to the foot of this email and choose the "To unsubscribe/change profile: click here" option.

The next step in implementing Project Neptune is the installation and setting up of the online services that will be available to Members and Branch Officers in the near future.

At the moment, we have had an internal skeleton version of the online services installed at HQ. This will now allow us to build up our services using a specifically designed toolbox that will let us manage how we want the online service to look and feel.

All of the benefits such as changing your address details or email address 'real time' will be available online later on this year. Branch Officers will be able to add and update Members' details as well as details about their Branch and the change will be visible on our website immediately and then synchronised with our back office system overnight.

This step has given us the ability to realise massive benefits to both the BSAC and its Members respectively. We are really looking forward to launching this phase later on this year.

Keep watching this space for more updates.

Chris Horan
Project Neptune Project Manager

Diving Officers' Conference 2006

The BSAC is proud to announce the sponsor for DOC 2006 as Dive Master Insurance.

Since its formation in 1987 Dive Master Insurance has supported Diver Safety and this year has shifted its support to a higher level by being the sole sponsor of DOC.

DOC will take place on Saturday 2nd December 2006 at the Institute of Education in London. Watch this space for news of exciting speakers at this year's event.

The story so far…

During June another Press Trip supported the campaign and visited Lundy with BSAC Council Member, Andy Moll. Coverage will appear in Dive Magazine courtesy of trip attendee Simon Rogerson and also in the Bristol Evening News following Neil Hope's experiences with BSAC. For an update on the latest regional coverage, visit our dedicated Go! Dive news page: http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/comeanddive/godivepress1.htm

Tell your friends!

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!

Should you have any queries at this stage, please contact Odette Baker at odetteb@bsac.com or on 0151 350 6221. For general information on the campaign please visit: http://www.bsac.com/comediving/godive1.html

New BSAC Campaign

Try! Dive is the BSAC's new annual campaign developed from the successful Learn to Dive campaigns. Taking place from 25th September to 1st October, Try! Dive is aimed at raising awareness of the BSAC to non-divers.

We will encourage non-divers and divers across the UK to visit their local BSAC branch, either for a try-dive or to find out about crossing over into the BSAC. Our membership statistics show that this campaign really does work in bringing new members into the Club.

Our aim is to offer a truly nation-wide network of Branches so that participants need only travel as far as their local pool. The more branches that participate the better the campaign will work.

Register your Branch today and enjoy the benefits, whether you are looking for new members, to raise your local profile, for fundraising or to promote your own activities.

Register Now!

We hope that you will join us to make Try! Dive accessible to try-divers across the UK and encourage them into the BSAC.

To register early for the campaign, please visit: http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/services/trydive2006.htm

We look forward to working with you on the campaign.

A relieved resident stands outside her new home in the Sri Lankan town of Venamulla, where the calamitous Tsunami of Boxing Day, 2004, destroyed many houses. This is one of 17 homes so far built at a cost of £3000 each, with more to be completed.

As recorded on a plaque by the front door, the building was put up using a donation of just under £3000 given jointly to the organising charity by DIVER and the British Sub-Aqua Club.

Fifty pence was donated from the proceeds of every advance ticket for the London International Dive Show in 2005.

The rebuilding project website can be found here: http://www.medicalaid2srilanka.org.uk.

Response of the British Sub Aqua Club to the Marine Bill consultation document of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - June 2006.

The British Sub Aqua Club is the governing body for recreational scuba diving and snorkelling in the United Kingdom. The other recreational diving organisations will be making their own response to the document. Our response should be considered in the context of an activity in which most members dive in the shallow coastal zone, no deeper than 50 metres, with a small but significant minority diving in deeper water to around 130 metres.

The British Sub Aqua Club welcomes the opportunity to respond to this document. Our desire as an organisation is to see that the current state of our seas, and in particular its biodiversity and cultural heritage, is preserved for future generations. The setting up of marine protected areas is essential to achieve this. Voluntary codes have historically been of limited value and fragile marine eco systems are currently unprotected. We would wish to raise awareness of the ways in which the recreational diver contributes to and benefits from the marine environment. We would also like to reinforce the concept of multiple use of a ‘public space’. We also note that increasing commercial use of the public space may make it more likely that the voice of the recreational diver may not be heard. We are part of a strong and growing tourism and culture industry.

As recreational divers we are very aware of the need to be involved in nature conservation, and often see for ourselves on the seabed the unrealised impact of other activities that those who can only go on the water cannot see. Any marine bill would need to ensure continued access for recreational divers as they can play an important role in information gathering activities.

We have only responded to those questions that we consider to have a possible impact on the activities of recreational divers.

Planning

It is appropriate for the UK Government to consider creating a new system of marine spatial planning, in which the needs of all users are recognised. It is essential that recreational users are not lost in the planning, as large commercial ventures may hide the impact on the smaller organisations and activities.

It would be beneficial for the Government to consider statutory provision of implementing marine spatial planning, provided that all sectors are involved in the development process.

Marine spatial planning should be a focus for information collation and planning. Such information collection and planning should have an inclusive element taking into account the smaller interest groups as stated earlier in your document.

We would wish to support Marine Spatial Planning with a clear acceptance of the importance of the views of the recreational diving industry, and statutory rights of representation at the planning stage.

An eco system based approach to marine spatial planning is essential to ensure sustainable use of marine resources. We welcome the key principles, especially transparency and accountability.

We would not welcome any increase in any regulatory burden on diving activities (there are currently very few.)

The marine intertidal zone should on principle be included in the geographical application of marine spatial planning. Recreational divers are users of this zone, and have great interest in the environment and the cultural material found here. Recreational divers with a particular interest in archaeology and foreshore archaeology are aware of the need to conserve this source of information about our maritime cultural heritage. The intertidal zone is an extremely interesting area for the study of marine biology.

The recreational users of the sea may be involved in disparate activities, but together make up a substantial body of people with a significant financial input into local communities. As a group they should not be overlooked.

The policy framework should be developed further with specific consultation with recreational users, who might be asked to form a sub group. There is likely to be the need for such a forum. We might suggest for example the diving organisations, the recreational fishing group, boat charter skippers, the RYA, avocational archaeological groups and others could form such a sub group.

The creation of a Marine Management Organisation (MMO) would be the best way forward. This should ensure co-ordination between government departments and should take account of all stakeholders interests not just those of the commercial sector.

The system of marine spatial planning must be flexible, sustainable and afford protection of fragile eco systems, both explored and unexplored.

We would wish to endorse the idea of a requirement to look at marine spatial planning at a sub-regional or local level. The coastal zone is of particular interest to recreational divers, and planning in this area may well have a significant impact on the use of the resource. Local knowledge of the area may be pertinent to a properly developed plan and recreational divers will be a very useful source of information to these sub regional and local plans.

We would like to suggest that wrecks are not merely heritage resources, but are habitats for a substantial range of marine creatures and that the biodiversity of wrecks should also include sessile material and marine animals that are not fish or mammals.

The dumping of dredged material can have a detrimental effect on marine life, visibility in the water, and potentially, diver safety. It would be useful to consider the impact of dredging and deposition of that material when developing marine spatial plans.

Recreational divers could have a substantial part to play in recording coastal zone information. Some of our members are concerned that disclosure can mean loss of access. This concern would need to be addressed to get the wholehearted cooperation of the recreational divers. Divers may well have a role to play in filling in some of the gaps in the data identified by any marine spatial planning in local areas.

Sensitivity maps would be useful in that they could show areas at risk from specific activities. We would ask that sensitivity maps should be assessed for sensitivity to specific activities, e.g. fishing damage. Diving should not be excluded as it can be done in a non-invasive manner.

SEAs would seem to be essential if a fully integrated planning system is to be developed.

It is essential for a local planning consultation exercise to be established. The initial consultees should be the lead bodies or governing bodies for the smaller recreational groups, the governing body could then liaise with their local groups as required.

The governing bodies of the recreational activities could be well placed to promulgate the planning activity. With many small interest groups it can be more difficult for nationally orientated planning authorities to ensure transparency, especially if there is a conflict with ‘commercial in confidence’ issues. The best safeguard is to involve the governing body in the consultation and planning process.

A scrutiny process would be very useful. For planning activities in the coastal zone and offshore waters up to 100m deep it would be beneficial to include representation from the diving organisations.

The implementation, monitoring and review of plans should involve the consultees.

Licensing

The licensing in this section is that which applies to large commercial ventures. The recreational diving community would need to be reassured that any new licensing requirements would not affect their access to the underwater environment without very good reason and in full consultation with the recreational diving groups.

Section j refers to the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and the Protection of Military remains Act 1986. There are licensing regimes attached to these Acts of Parliament. We would wish to reinforce the principle that recreational divers have an important part to play in the curation of such sites, and licensing to exclude diver access should only be undertaken in rare circumstances. Normally diver activity should be encouraged to allow monitoring of a site and the reporting of any gratuitous damage.

Improving marine nature conservation

Our main area of interest here is the coastal zone as this is the area most often visited by recreational divers. We support the commitment to ensure marine eco systems are healthy, functioning, and resilient and support biodiversity throughout the marine environment. We would wish to support the principles behind the Marine Protected Area Mechanism. We would like to see more protection of vulnerable underwater habitats by the designation of nationally important sites and the setting up of highly protected marine reserves where no damaging activity whatsoever is allowed, particularly damaging extractive industries (e.g. dredging and scallop dredging). We would also support species protection measures to protect rare and vulnerable species from harmful activities.

A new mechanism for the designation of protected areas should be introduced into the Marine Bill. It may well be beneficial for the new mechanism to complement existing legislation.

However we would like to reiterate the importance of allowing non-invasive access to such sites for recreational divers, exclusion being the very rare exception (and with consultation).

In principle we would wish to support protection measures being used to protect interests other than those for which a site is primarily designated.

It is important that boundaries can be revisited, the current climate change, and the concept of non-intended consequences should encourage such revisiting. Recreational divers in the coastal zone could be a useful resource in the monitoring and reporting of such changes.

We would support the need to have different levels of objectives. A tiered approach to designation of marine nature conservation sites would be appropriate, providing adequate consultation for designation is undertaken from all stakeholders. A flexible site mechanism would have our support.

Site protection is key particularly for highly protected marine reserves, and direct site protection mechanisms would be appropriate in these areas.

It would be advantageous to introduce a requirement for a site survey and assessment, and for a specific activity assessment to complement this. Again in the coastal zone we would ask for recreational diver involvement and transparency of criteria.

We are concerned about the statement that divers cause disturbance to marine wildlife. We strongly disagree with this statement and promote environmentally aware diving. Such statements should be validated by properly authenticated, quantified research findings and should not be accepted without a proper evidence base. We would be very concerned that byelaws may be imposed as a result of descriptive, unsubstantiated statements. We are also concerned that in a consultation document such as this a very rare mention of ‘diver’ appears in a negative context.

The concept of controls concerning indiscriminate use would need to be very clear and the possible consequences of the power of anecdotal evidence unsupported by scientifically rigorous evidence. We would not support any further controls on recreational diving without exceptional reason and consultation. Divers have a important role to play in data gathering and education of the wider public, in relation to the underwater marine environment.

The Government needs to ensure that when an enforcement regime is necessary it should be properly funded in such a way as prevent the law being brought into disrepute through flagrant breaches which cannot subsequently be followed up.

Marine Management Organisation

We support the establishment of a marine management organisation responsible for marine spatial planning and an integrated licensing regime.

We agree that the role of English Heritage in Marine historic advice should not change.

There are many examples of conflicts between different marine activities that can be observed by divers in the underwater environment, e.g. the damage caused by accidental impact of trawling on ship wrecks, the impact of scallop dredging and marine litter on the seabed.

Our main concern is that recreational divers may suffer from an undeserved reputation for damaging the habitats and wrecks that they visit. Recreational divers are generally a force for good, and should be seen as such. We have the ability to see underwater in some areas and circumstances what is really happening in a way not possible for those who cannot be there. We should be welcomed as people who want to maintain the environment that gives up so much pleasure and excitement. Vilification as an easy option should be actively discouraged. The Marine Bill should safeguard our presence in the sea.

The input of volunteer recreational divers in information gathering in the marine environment is freely available, when managed and collated properly.

The establishment of highly protected marine reserves is like to have a significant positive impact on diving tourism.

The current interest in artificial reef sites, and the sinking of the Scylla in Whitesand Bay near Plymouth would indicate that there is an economic opportunity in recreational diving and its associated industries that has a positive impact on local economies. Extensive marine biodiversity attracts divers, and money follows the divers. The establishment of highly protected marine reserves is like to have a significant positive impact on diving tourism.

There could be significant benefits to business and others in improving the state of marine biodiversity in marine protected areas, the establishment of highly protected marine reserves is like to have a significant positive impact on diving tourism.

There could be significant costs to local economies if diving was excluded from marine reserves.

Voluntary marine protected areas that are currently in existence are ignored by some marine industries.

Divers are a responsible group. We would expect to see divers conforming to all reasonable requirements of the voluntary measures. They already do in the voluntary marine reserves that exist at present. They would however need to be reassured that such measures were in the best interests of the habitat, and that exclusion if used at all would be thoroughly examined, fully consulted about, and used very rarely. If they were used to monitor and record what is happening in the areas then full cooperation would be the norm.

BSAC branches become the first to 'twin'

Mauritius Underwater Group BSAC 322 and Holborn BSAC 130 have officially twinned in a gesture of international friendship between divers.

The central London based club met with MUG's President Cassamjee Buchoo at the beginning of the year to discuss how best to collaborate, and hit on the idea of being twinned.

Cassamjee Buchoo explained the advantages of the new initiative "as a BSAC branch based in Mauritius, we value our links with British diving. This new initiative should help strengthen those links through friendship, and exploring our common diving interests."

"MUG has a number of ex-pat divers who may return to the UK and want to dive, and they are always welcome at Holborn. Our branch is planning a trip to Mauritius to dive with MUG and we're hoping to hold a joint underwater photography workshop," added Mike Maloney, President of Holborn branch.

Two identical brass plaques celebrating the twinning have been created and will be displayed at the MUG clubhouse and at the Oasis pool in WC2, where Holborn meet.

Both branches came into being in 1964 and have a strong history of exploration and achievement.

What does twinning mean?

Twinning is a formal statement of friendship and mutual interest.

In practical terms it means that members of the two dive clubs are welcome to dive with, and be treated as members of each other's branch.

For further information contact:

MUG President, Cassamjee Buchoo, cassamjee@intnet.mu.

Chair of BSAC Holborn 130, Louise Trewavas, louise@divegossip.com 020 7527 5826 (daytime).

Diver training, technical courses, seamanship skills and instructor training . . .

. . . you can do it all at a BSAC recognised Centre

BSAC Branch and Direct Members can receive any BSAC training at a recognised Training Centre. Centres can provide the identical training that Members can get in a Branch - and more!

Diver training for all grades, skill development courses, technical diving courses, rebreather courses, gas blending and seamanship courses can all be available at recognised Centres.

Members may choose to do complete diver grades as intensive courses at a Centre to advance their training more quickly, or get top-up training of part of a grade. Branch Members should always advise their Diving Officers that they are seeking to further their training at a Centre - this will help the Branch avoid duplication of skills lessons planned in their training schedule, easing the pressure on instructors.

There are over 170 BSAC Centres, both in the UK and across the world - and growing rapidly. For a complete list, go to: www.bsactravelclub.co.uk and follow the link to Schools.

Centres are classified in different categories, denoting training that they can provide:


Diver Training and Premier Centres can provide training to Dive Leader and up to Advanced Diver grades and a number of skill development courses.


Centres of Excellence can provide all diver training and also stage Instructor Training Courses and Assessments.


Technical Centres can run a variety of different courses - Extended Range, Rebreather, SCR and CCR . . . and coming soon, Mixed Gas.


Seamanship Centres run BSAC Boat Handling courses and Diver Cox'n Assessments.

International certificates now available through the BSAC

The BSAC is proud to announce that as from 1st July this year, the organisation can issue the International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft (ICOPC), sometimes referred to as an International Certificate of Competence (ICC), on behalf of the Combined Diving Associations (CDA).

This certificate will be essential evidence of boat-handling competence for any person wishing to operate a pleasure craft abroad. The BSAC certificate covers power vessels not exceeding 10 metres in length for coastal waters only and is valid for five years.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) gave the BSAC 'issuing authority' in October 2005 but delays occurred in sourcing a company that could incorporate suitable anti-counterfeit measures into the final certificate design.

Current members of any of the CDA's member organisations can apply to the BSAC for their ICC. Non-members may also apply providing they are able to provide suitable evidence of having achieved a CDA Diver Coxswain Award.

The CDA member organisations are currently the British Sub Aqua Club, the Sub Aqua Association (SAA), the Scottish Sub Aqua Club (ScotSAC) and the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)

All CDA organisations agreed to a common Boat Handling Course content and Diver Coxswain Assessment standard, which has met the approval of the MCA.

Persons applying for the ICC must be able to satisfy the conditions of eligibility, which are:

• Be a British citizen and bona fide British Resident over the age of 16 years
• Provide evidence of a BSAC, or CDA approved, Diver Coxswain Award
• Be mentally & physically fit to operate a pleasure craft

How to Apply

To apply for an ICC, please contact the Diver Resources Team at BSAC HQ for an application form or download an application form from the website at http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/techserv/index.html 'International Certificates of Competence' section.

The cost of the certificates will be:

Members of a CDA organisation £15
Non-members with a CDA Diver Cox'n Award £35

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'.

Book of the Month - Great British Marine Animals (2nd Edition) - Paul Naylor

From the majestic basking shark, the second largest fish in the world, to the tiny but dazzlingly colourful jewel anemone, a spectacular array of animals live in British coastal waters. Just as impressive as their wide-ranging sizes, forms and colours, are the amazing ways they get food, defend themselves and produce their young.

Great British Marine Animals will open your eyes to the beautiful and extraordinary creatures that inhabit the sea around us. Photographs are used both to aid identification of the common animals and to show how they go about their lives. The book is written for anyone who loves the sea or is fascinated by wildlife, including snorkellers and divers.

What reviewers said about Great British Marine Animals:

"...Naylor's photographs disclose a world that is intensely colourful not only in the visual sense, but also because of the behaviour of its varied inhabitants." The Independent

"...photos...are all excellent ...essential reading for anyone who wants a bit more than a name for a sea creature." BBC Wildlife Magazine

"...highly recommended to all with an interest in our native marine life." British Wildlife

"A magical book crammed with colourful photograhy of marine life round the UK shore." The Teacher

"If I were to recommend a single species guide to UK divers, this would be the one." DIVE magazine

The second edition of the book has been expanded to include details of 30 additional species, and 90 of the 420 photographs are new. By popular demand, the front cover has been changed to incorporate the charismatic Tompot Blenny.

To order your copy of this beautiful book, call the BSAC Shop on 0151 350 6222, any of our team will be happy to help you. Alternatively, order online at http://www.bsac.com/legacyorg/shop/bookshop.html.

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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.

Solo Diving
The subject of solo diving is one that is frequently raised within the BSAC and in answer to a specific request at the Diving Officers Conference 2004, the NDO, Clare Peddie, initiated a review of BSAC's guidance on the subject of solo diving. The full report from the NDC working group will shortly be published in the NDC E-Bulletin. However, the key finding of this report is:

• BSAC currently takes the view that based on evidence from available statistics and risk assessment, the increased risk attendant to allowing planned solo diving is unacceptable

Personal self sufficiency
One of the key findings from the NDC consideration of the topic of solo diving is that there are significant lessons that can be learned from the need to develop, train for and regularly practice with appropriate equipment set ups and the skills to use them. Such strategies will help ease the stress of situations for both an individual who encounters a problem and their buddy who may have less involvement in resolving the problem.

Buddy separation
There are defined procedures for what to do following accidental or unplanned buddy separation underwater. There appears however, through reported incidents and even a public advocacy of the procedure for buddy pairs to either deliberately separate under water or if doing so inadvertently make a conscious decision to carry on with the dive and not attempt to rejoin with the buddy until the end of the dive. In recent years there have been significant numbers of serious and frequently fatal incidents where this has occurred and a telling comment from the 2005 Diving Incident Report by Brian Cumming says "…every year we report a number of incidents where an attentive buddy has clearly saved another's life by taking the appropriate remedial actions."

Buddy diving is an established and proven system in sport diving. It allows not only for safer diving through the mutual support that a competent buddy can provide but also allows the buddy pair to recount and share their experiences.

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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