Club News

Suzanne Tunn who has contributed to the club enormously, by arranging all the open water training for the last couple of years, has decided the time has come to pass on these duties on, from February Amanda Radley has taken on these duties. We would like to thank Suzanne for all her hard work and getting so many people through.

March Big Tuesday – Dave Hodgson and Steve Plotkin will be running a update/refresher session on resuscitation and Oxygen Administration techniques/guidelines. This will be a hands on session with O2 kits and resuscitation dolls. Please Note:  If you hold the BSAC Oxygen Administration certificate which is valid for 3 yrs, this session can be used as the required refresher course. Location and Time : The British Legion, Cock Lane - 9.00pm Sharp.

High Wycombe Sub Aqua club have a pair of VIP tickets for the London International Dive show to be won!! To be in with a chance of winning this great prize, all you need to do is buy a raffle ticket. Raffle tickets will be on sale at Little Tuesday at the Squirrel Pub on 20th Feb. The cost is £1 per ticket, six tickets for £5. The draw will be held BIG Tuesday 06th March 2007 at the British Legion, Cock lane. If you would like to enter but are unable to get to the compressor room or The Squirrel on Tuesday you can buy tickets (Money must be received before the draw takes place) by e-mailing Ian: iantcd@aol.com.

If any club member are interested in having a go at waterskiing please e-mail info@hwsac.co.uk

Forthcoming Meetings / Diary Events

20 February 2007  – Little Tuesday / Committee Meeting, The Squirrel, Booker

21 February 2007  – New Ocean Diver Course Begins 

04 March 2007      –  Open Water Training, Wraysbury

06 March 2007      – Big Tuesday, British Legion 21.00

 20 March 2007      – Little Tuesday / Committee Meeting, The Squirrel, Booker

 24 March 2007        - Practical Rescue Management, Wraysbury

 (The Clubs Full Dive/Event Program is available on the club website)

Messages from the committee
Simon Fennell - Pre Season Activities

As the new dive season rapidly approaches, we should use the upcoming weeks to ensure that everyone is well prepared to enjoy the coming season.   On this basis, I’ve put together a few points on a couple of key areas for you all to consider before the water warms up a little.

Skills Review

Most of us have been inactive for a couple of months, and so skills become rusty or are forgotten. Make the most of the Thursday evening sessions in the pool to brush up on your basic skills. Areas to review include buoyancy control, mask clearing and basic rescue skills (AS Ascents, CBL, and Rescue Breathing). An article on some of the drills you can practice is available on the club website -www.wycombesubaqua.com. If you wish to review skills in a more structured manner, please speak to either Len Sumner or Simon Cook about arranging for an instructor to join you. 

Dive Fitness

As always, a level of fitness should be aimed for to make your diving both safer and more enjoyable. Without paying a monthly gym membership there are a number of exercises you can look to do to help improve your dive fitness. These include regular swimming at the pool, general cardiac exercise and very basic weightlifting. Again, an article has been posted onto the club website with more detail on the various activities and exercises you can undertake.

Equipment Care

Finally, get all your kit out of the garage/ shed/ cupboards and give it a thorough check. Look for perishing or wear and tear on suit seals and gas hoses. Be sure to check your regulator and octopus are working and do not require any adjustment, and check the condition of your BC to ensure the inflation bags and controls are all working properly. Finally, don’t forget to check the service dates on your cylinders; stricter enforcement of rules during 2006 now means that if you miss the 2½ yearly visual inspections for your cylinders you will be required to have a full hydro test instead. If any of your kit requires servicing, it is advisable to get it sent in sooner rather than later to avoid the undoubted rush that will happen after the March Dive Show.

Keep your eyes open for information about the warm up/ shake down day being organised for Vobster Quay at the start of April – this is an ideal time to get back into the open water prior to doing some proper sea diving. I wish you all the best for a safe and enjoyable season diving around the UK and further a field.

Simon Fennell (Diving Officer)

Joke

One day, a diver was enjoying the aquatic world 6 Metres below sea level. He noticed a guy at the same depth he was, with no scuba gear on whatsoever.

The diver went below another 3 Metres, but the guy joined him a minute later. The diver went below 5 more Metres, a minute later, the same guy joined him.

This confused the diver, so he took out a waterproof chalkboard, and wrote, "How the hell are you able to stay under this deep without equipment?"

The guy took the board and chalk, erased what the diver had written, and wrote, "I'm drowning, you moron!"