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.

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During November, the British Sub Aqua Club launched the new www.bsac.org website.

This new website is designed to improve navigation and allow BSAC Members to browse efficiently and locate areas of interest with greater ease.

Keeping the navigation to a simple expanding menu on the left hand side makes browsing this new site a lot easier. As you delve deeper through the menus, you will notice a breadcrumb trail at the top of the page keeping track of your route and allowing you to step back to a chosen point in the route.

Another navigation benefit is the related internal and external links on the right hand side. These related links will let you conveniently navigate to other pages with information relevant to the page you are viewing.

As well as having a new look and feel, this website is supported by a content management system (CMS) that allows HQ staff and specific BSAC volunteer representatives to edit pages simply and efficiently. The CMS also improves navigation and page linking via its sophisticated technology.

During the transitional period between moving from the old static www.bsac.org site to the new version there will be some legacy pages and broken links. If you do come across any broken links, please send an email to web@bsac.com stating the page URL where the broken links are situated and we will do our best to fix them.

The British Sub Aqua Club, the governing body for the sport, is reviewing future strategy, with the aims of developing the sport, increasing participation and specifically growing the membership. We need views from our members to help us make the right decisions for BSAC. We would appreciate it if you could please take a few moments of your time to complete the survey (this should take no longer than 5 minutes) and help us develop BSAC.  Please complete the online questionnaire using the button below, by 11th December for your chance to win a Prosport diving drysuit and Typhoon Elevator BCD!! Thank you for your time and good luck in the draw! Kind regards  Marcus Allen Chairman, BSAC

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Your details will not be passed on to any third parties for commercial use and your answers will be treated as strictly confidential. The prize draw will be made on 15th December and the winner notified subsequently.

The Honorary Secretary of the BSAC invites nominations for vacancies occurring on the BSAC Council from the 2007 AGM.

National Diving Officer

Candidates must hold the qualification of BSAC National Instructor.

Honorary Secretary

Candidates should, preferably, have a good working knowledge of the BSAC and it's Council.

Council Members

There will be vacancies for up to 4 Council members.

Nomination Forms can be obtained from BSAC Headquarters and should be completed and returned so as to be received by the Honorary Secretary by 31st January 2007.

The Honorary Secretary of the BSAC invites Motions/Resolutions for declaration at the 2007 BSAC AGM.

Motions from Branch Committees must be accompanied by extracts from the minutes of the Branch General Meeting at which it was resolved to be put forward.

Motions submitted by a voting member must be seconded by at least four voting members.

Any motions should reach the Honorary Secretary by 31st January 2007.

Project Neptune took some further steps towards completing the Events module during November. A final test data cut is in the process of being converted for us for testing in the run up to Christmas. We hope to be in a position to go live with events in January.

Another development with Project Neptune is Online Services. We are in the early stages of the web module which when available, will allow members and branches to update their details directly into HQ.

This is scheduled to begin very early in the New Year with consultations and discussions taking place at the end of November.

Keep watching this space for more updates.

Chris Horan
Project Neptune Project Manager

If you've been lucky enough to see a marine turtle while diving, you'll already know what beautiful and fascinating animals they are. What you might not know is that marine turtles have been around for over 110 million years, witnessing the rise and fall of the dinosaurs. Tragically though, over the last century six of the seven marine turtle species have become critically endangered due to man's activities. Sadly, the marine turtle provides a compelling case study of today's threats to our seas, shores and wildlife. They are illegally hunted for their eggs, meat and shells. Nesting beaches are threatened by uncontrolled development, marine litter and pollution claim the lives of many turtles, and thousands drown needlessly every year after getting entangled in fishing gear.

The good news is that by Adopting-a-Turtle you can make a real difference. Since the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) launched the Adopt-a-Turtle scheme in 2001, they have been able to make a tremendous contribution to marine turtle research and conservation around the world, including projects in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Caribbean, Congo-Brazzaville, Costa Rica, Grenada, India, Nicaragua, Mozambique, the Solomon Islands, Syria, Sri Lanka and the UK. MCS is passionately committed to building a more harmonious relationship between human and marine life - creating a clean, safe and thriving environment for all.

Adopt-a-Turtle this Christmas and give a wonderful, unique gift, which makes an essential contribution to ensuring the survival of these remarkable creatures. As well as a gorgeous, cuddly turtle toy and a personalised certificate, your pack will contain fascinating information about your chosen turtle species and updates on how your support is making a meaningful difference to their future. Visit www.mcsuk.org or call MCS on 01989 566017 to adopt-a-turtle today.

Last posting dates for UK Christmas orders:

1st class - 19th December
2nd class - 16th December
Special Delivery - 21st December

Great Christmas Gift ideas!

www.bsac.org/page/665/christmas-gift-ideas.htm

'The Club' at £15.95

This superb book is the first of its kind - charting the development and history of the BSAC. Written by Reg Vallintine, a past Director of the BSAC, the book draws on his archives of information, anecdotes and photographs which form the basis of the book along with contributions from many names associated with the BSAC.

The book tells the story of how it all began and takes the reader through the development of the Club and the changes in diving. Read about the pioneers of our time, some even losing their lives as they tested the boundaries of the sport we love. See how the equipment has changed through the years and marvel at how people managed to dive in spite of the hardships.

BSAC branches are reserving their corresponding unique branch/book number. Instructors are also reserving their corresponding Instructor /book number and First Class Divers reserving their corresponding First Class Diver/book number. Some people are just ordering a copy dedicated to a particular member of their branch. With each of the above scenarios a special dedication sticker (displayed opposite) will be included with the book quoting either Branch Name & Number, Instructor Name & Number, First Class Diver Name & Number or Name only.

Price : £15.95 (inc P&P)

DVD's and CD ROM'S

Including interactive Marine Life guides and tidal prediction software


Dive Guides

We have collected together a selection of the best guides on dive travel from specialist publishers. These are paperback editions offered at a special BSAC Travel Club price.


Christmas Wishes from BSAC

Receive 10% off your orders during December.
Available on all BSAC products *Exclusions apply.

DSAC in Hemel Hempstead

A five-strong team took part in the Sport Relief Mule event on Saturday 15 July 2006 and amazingly they all made it round the course! knocking over a few kids and prams that were in the way! And that was without the fins!

In the true spirit of participation, our Dive Officer, Steve Owens, watched from the sidelines and took photos. Sarah Jones came in first (she spotted the Mr Softy ice cream van), closely followed by Claire Locker, Barry Perton, Cris LP and Pip.

Well done to all for raising a total of £963.00 for charity.

Email: helena_roche2005@yahoo.co.uk

Due to increasing costs incurred at venues and administration it has been necessary to increase the cost of ITS events for all courses and examinations running after the 1st January 2007. The table below summarises the prices for next year.

SOCIAL EVENT RISK ASSESSMENT
The process of Risk Assessment is relatively well understood by divers today. In living our normal daily lives we are also constantly undertaking assessments of risk and making consequent judgments and decisions to mitigate such risks (such as look right, left and right again when crossing the road). When organizing social events for groups of people it is natural to make similar judgments for others. However, where the more unusual events take people outside of their usual experience it is important to undertake a more formal process. This formal process involves a simple first step of notifying the Safety & Development manager at BSAC HQ of the event. Depending on the nature of the event a formal Risk Assessment may need to be prepared to ensure all appropriate risks are considered and to allow for additional suggestions to be made. A formal approval for the event and supporting letter and copy of the current Insurance cover will be provided for the branch to show to any property owner.

Some examples of the type of event frequently considered include:

TRY DIVES
The inherent risks of a Try Dive are well known to diving instructors and supporting advice for pool safety officers exists in a BSAC Guidance Note. However, where different circumstances arise, such as the Try Dives run in 2005 & 2006 as part of 'Hemi Help' days for hemiplegics children and their friends and carers then both Surrey Aquanauts and Bath branches have submitted Risk Assessments covering the specifics of those events.

POOL MARATHONS
Diving is not a competitive sport but marathons of one form or another have a particular appeal for social and charity events. In considering either record attempts or just multi game 'fun' events it is important that the risks associated with the unusual circumstances are carefully considered and mitigated against. For example recent consideration and approval has been given for a "24 hour Gameathon" for Portsmouth University branch.

RAFT RACES/RIVER EVENTS
Christmas, or more specifically Boxing and New Year's Days, seem to encourage groups of people, including diving clubs, to engage in strange outdoor activities including raft races and jumping from bridges. Personally I can think of less stressful things to do on those days but although a number of clubs have been running such events safely and successfully for many years, in more recent times they have been formally notifying HQ and submitting Risk Assessments which have enhanced the safety of these events.

In addition to covering the safety aspects of an event assistance can be given with publicity for the event either before, to increase participation, or afterwards to recognize achievements and promote subsequent events.

Think SAFE - Dive SAFE
Jim Watson
BSAC Safety and Development manager
For more information please visit http://www.bsac.org/page/142/safety-talk.htm

London Festival of Diving Sun 3 Dec BSAC's London Region are organising a fabulous day of talks, workshops and shopping opportunities for all divers in the London and surrounding area. The event is held in the London Welsh Centre in Gray's Inn Rd - click here for a map - and includes Tim Ecott (author of Neutral Buoyancy), Martyn Farr (Darkness Beckons), Teresa Telus (Britannic - pictured), world record diver Mark Ellyatt and top cave bloke Rick Stanton. There are a host of great workshops from underwater photography and video, to decompression and rescuing marine life with British Divers Marine life Rescue SHOP! Pick up a bargain! Bring and buy second hand dive kit, plus stands with marine-themed jewellery, Fourth Element divewear, stainless steel goodies from Kent Tooling and more. Check out the list of companies supporting the event here

WIN an Otter drysuit Visit the London Divers' website here for the FREE prize draw. Yin your choice of drysuit, in the colours of your choosing, made to your measurements! If you go for the top of the range, that's £850 worth. Make a weekend of it! Join the big social bash on Saturday 2 December at the Novotel hotel, 100 Euston Rd. 3 course meal, DJ and entertainments for £27 per head. See London Divers' website for details or just join us in the bar! London's Wacky Swimming Olympics The annual Wacky Swimming Olympics, being held this year on the evening of Tuesday 16 Jan at Ironmonger Row Baths EC1. Check out the photos from the 2006 event on Holborn Diver's website here Events include: underwater egg and spoon, underwater surfing, silly synchronised swimming and three legged swim! Interested in taking part? Then email us here for more information - your club could be lifting the trophy for 2007!

Courses and contacts Interested in developing your diving skills? Our 2007 course programme is coming here soon! Need to get in touch with the London Regional Team? Details here This newsletter is produced by London Region BSAC. London Coach: Roy Sherwin

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