Following the AGM on the 7th November 2007. Congratulations to the new officers for 2007-2008.

Medical form for new entrants to the club and all club members who have a medidal due click here

also I have put up a proposed lecture schedule for 2009 click here report any errors you notice and I'll update (bd 22/11/2008)

This years survey is marine based and has been set up to record data on the current population status of Purple Sea Urchin (Paracentrotus lividus), a species under threat from over fishing, that is found mainly in the lower rocky shores of County Clare. See attachments for further information. (2mb download)

I am currently distributing the survey leaflets, and an advertising poster to various tourist information points, diving schools/clubs, outdoor shops, general information points throughout County Clare, either through the post or personally.

I would greatly appreciate if you could forward on this e-mail to anyone that you think would be interested.

Also, please do not hesitate to contact myself or my colleague Brigid Barry, Clare Biodiversity Officer for any further information.

Kind Regards

Catriona Lynch
Database Manager
Clare Records Centre
Clare County Council
New Road
Ennis
County Clare
Tel: 065 6846499

Message from RDO...

Hello DO'S,
I was asked if the clubs in the region would be interested in partaking in a Marine Species survey for 2008, more information will follow, it could be a good way of making dives more interesting for all of us.
Martin

see here www.clarebiodiversity.ie

Interested in Buying or Selling gear? A new resource for Irish divers is now online - divegear.ie ! It's completely FREE to use (including posting ads!). The number of ads on the site is now growing.

We have had a good months Diving, May overall was a fantastic month with in the mail easterly winds, this is good for west coast diving, as a result of easterly wind the atlantic coast experiences calm seas which leads to excellent underwater visibility.

Club members dived in Cahersiveen, Kilkee, Brandon Head, Valentia and Ballyvaughan.

SAR Team note these documents. (BD 31 May 2008)

SAR Policy Endorsement here noting the revised list of members. This should be reviewed at 6 Monthly intervals.

Also a new SAR dive Log here (uploaded 18th July 2008 BD)

Inbhear Sceine Kerry S.A.C have been hosting this event now for 4 years. It has been a great success in recent years. The purpose of the event is to promote our sport of Diving, have a weekend of great diving and have a social occasion for all the clubs and divers in the area .

Diving was concentrated around Valentia Island, Puffin Island and some club boats managed to get out to the Skelligs. There were Basking sharks filter feeding in the area as well and fins were spotted with great regularity. Thanks to Michael and Richard for towing the boat. Also to everyone else who came down.

Thanks to all the Inbhear Sceine Kerry S.A.C team for their excellent organisation.

(BD 20/05/08)

FAO: LDSAC SAR Unit members, Date: 06:03 16/05/2008
Subject: Irish Underwater Search & Recovery Insurance

As our (Irish Underwater Search & Recovery Insurance) insurance policy is now active please see attached documents in relation to our cover:

• PA Schedule of Covers download here
• Emergency Assistance Helpline details download here
• Policy Document download here
  

As advised the Premium for the year is €6,000 + 2% levy. This covers up to 220 divers, this leaves us scope to add another 29 divers to the policy without altering the premium so if after 6 Months there are additional names to be added, the list can be extended to 220 with no additional charge applying.

The list of members should be reviewed on a 6 monthly basis through the regional coordinator.

Please review the documentation and let Nigel Kelleher [nkelleher@trisec.ie] know if you have any queries.

Notice re. Aqua Lung and Apeks regulator servicing.

It has come to our attention that there is servicing of Aqua Lung and Apeks regulators by persons who are not currently authorised to do so. There are liability and insurance issues here.

As the authorised distributor for these makes of regulators, and in accordance with the standards, terms and conditions laid down by the manufacturer, only approved dealers/technicians who have obtained a certificate from a formal Apeks or Aqua Lung training course, and are in current status, are recognised as centres for servicing these brands. This ensures that standards are maintained from a Health and Safety perspective.

Possession of an Apeks or Aqua Lung service certificate does not imply an individual is currently authorised to service. A certificate is normally issued to an individual through a dealership, for that dealership.

Standards, upgrades, and safety notices are only sent out to those on current lists. It would be negligent on our part not to bring this situation to the attention of divers here. An informed decision can then be made by a person as to who they should send their regulator to for servicing.

The following are the current authorised and approved dealers/companies for servicing Apeks and Aqua Lung Regulators in the Republic of Ireland:

• Achill Diving Services. Apeks, Aqua Lung
• Adventure Diving, Bettystown. Aqua Lung, Apeks pending
• Aquaventures, Baltimore. Apeks, Aqua Lung
• Ardmore Diving, Waterford. Apeks
• Atlantic Dive School, Inverin, Galway. Apeks
• Beara Diving, Castletownbere. Apeks
• Burren Adventures, Ballyvaughan. Apeks
• First4Scuba, Arklow. Apeks
• Flagship Scubadiving, Dublin Apeks, Aqua Lung.
• Innisfree Charters, Burtonport. Apeks
• Midland Diving, Mullingar, Apeks
• Mevagh Diving, Donegal. Apeks, Aqua Lung
• Oceandivers, Dun Laoghaire. Aqua Lung
• Ocean Life, Kilkee. Approved dealer, Apeks service course pending.
• Southern Dive Centre, Cork. Apeks
• Techmara, Inagh, Co. Clare. Apeks

We had a fantastic couple of days in Kilkee over the May Bank Holiday, we were blessed with incredible visibility and bright sunshine. I even managed to get a few photos. see images page . Thanks to all who helped out. Particular thanks to our Equipment officer for getting the boat into such good shape. Spot the place (left).

Be aware the 23rd April 2008 was the last night in the pool. Pool training has now ceased. For further training info. watch this site or Call Brian.

Thanks to all who helped out with the pool work, lectures and over the training period I think it was quite successful - its a team effort.

This years crop of new trainees on the pier in Kilkee (Sunday the 13th April. Just prior to going on their first dive. Thanks to everybody for their help on the day.

Back Row: John Hoare,Brian Hoare, Edgars Kalnins, Paul Fox, Fiona Ryan, Clodagh Cavanagh, Sinead Maloney, Mary and Michael.

Front: Owen Cavanagh, Brian, Michael and Denis

Prof. Gerry Bury (CFT Medical Officer) has just informed of the recent decision by the HSE.

1. The HSE confirmed on 20 th March that the Navy will now make the chamber at Haulbowline available at the Coastguard's request, in emergencies.  This may help to re-emphasise the message about contacting the Coastguard in an emergency and leaving the issue of which service/chamber to them. - Kathy Brickell NDO

“Galway University Hospitals have received approval from the Health service Executive for the provision of a new Hyperbaric Chamber, the construction of which is due to commence in January 2008 with expected completion date of September 2008 and commissioning of the Chamber thereafter

The current service which has been provided on a voluntary basis by Consultant Anaesthetic Staff with the support of Galway Sub Aqua Club is being suspended until the new Unit is fully built and commissioned. Hospital Management would also like to thank all personnel particularly the Anaesthetic Consultants and volunteers from the Galway sub Aqua Club for their tremendous support and commitment to providing this service over the past thirty two years. ”

Many thanks, Louise Gilligan, Irish Underwater Council