News
And the BSAC Diving Conference 2013 award winners are…
More than 400 delegates enjoying a packed programme of news, diver training and skill development course updates and open forums at BSAC’s Diving Conference which was held this year at DIVE 2013. The speakers at the conference – renowned Diving physician Prof Simon Mitchell and polar cameraman and diver Doug Allan – also went down a storm.
BSAC have revealed their Diving Conference award winners. There will be a full report and pictures from the BSAC Diving Conference 2013 in the December issue of SCUBA magazine (out from the 12th November) but in the meantime here are the winners:
BSAC AWARDS 2013
COLLINS & CHAMBERS OWI AWARD – for the most meritorious candidate on the Open Water Instructor Course
Winner: Damian Gascoyne
ANALOX AI AWARD – for the most meritorious candidate on the Advanced Instructor exam
Winner: Jason Hall
FIRST CLASS DIVER – Awarded to the successful 2013 candidates
Martin Smith, Maria Harwood, Gordon Lambert and Hubert Desgranges
AP VALVES AWARD – awarded for the most admirable performance in the First Class Diver exam
Winner: Maria Harwood
NATIONAL INSTRUCTOR – Awarded to the successful 2013 candidates
Louise Whitehouse and Michelle Kim
WEEZLE AWARD – awarded to the person who performs meritoriously in the National Instructor exam
Winner: Michelle Kim
WILKINSON SWORD – awarded for the most admirable performance in a BSAC nationally assessed examination
Winner: Louise Whitehouse
BSAC SAFETY AWARD – presented in recognition of endeavouring to save a life without involving diving techniques
Winners:
Fort William: D Sydenham, S Duncan, C Harvey, R Higgins, G Melville, P Johnson, R Douglas, K Douglas, S Gosden, R Hollstein
Wraysbury: Joanne White, Yvonne Tatchley, Mark Bruce, Paula Hutton, Mark Edwards, Paul Compton
ALAN BROADHURST AWARD – awarded for the use of good diving lifesaving techniques
Winners:
David Williams, Marian Boyde, Peter Craig, Chris Tridgell, Jackie Bush, Clive Bush; Anthony Smith; Neil Hope
BSAC EXPEDITIONS TROPHY – presented to the organiser of the most significant British diving expedition of the year
Winner: Tyneside Branch 114 (for their Skerryvore expedition to Tiree)
PETER SMALL TROPHY – for the branch who has undertaken the most worthwhile underwater project of the year
Winner: Southsea SAC (for their project ‘Kedge Hook’ – HM Landing Craft Tank 427)
COLIN McLEOD AWARD – to the person/s who in the opinion of the BSA Jubilee Trust has contributed to international cooperation and harmony in diving and associated activities.
Winner: Dr John Bevan (a founding member of the Historical Diving Society)
SCUBAPRO COUSTEAU AWARD – for the BSAC member who goes that extra mile in the promotion of the Club’s aims and objectives
Winner: Mark Wilson
THANK YOU AWARDS –
Retired from Regional Coaching positions during 2013 – Dr Pat Farrell, Mark Callaghan and Len Young
For long-standing support as BSAC liaison officer to the UKSDMC – Dr Pat Farrell
HEINKE TROPHY – for the branch judged to have done the most in furthering the interests of BSAC and its members
Winners: Oxford BSAC
Commended: Abu Dhabi SAC
SUUNTO BRANCH VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR 2013 – nominated by their fellow branch members
New Volunteer of the Year – Angela Clewes (Chorley SAC)
Young Volunteer of the Year – Lucy Fanet (Budehaven SAC)
Event Organiser of the Year – Sandra Burgen (Bradford SAC)
Long-serving Volunteer of the Year – Paul Nusinov (Swansea Yacht & SAC)
Instructor of the Year – Nigel Hilburd (Rhondda SAC)
Branch Volunteer of the Year (general) – Dave Hoskins (Swindon SAC)
JONATHAN CRUSHER OF THE YEAR – presented to the most outstanding Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Nigel Hilburd
you can check out BSAC’s Facebook page for more photos and news from the BSAC Diving Conference 2013.
Gear News
Scubapro Free Octopus Promotion 2024
Free Octopus with every purchase of a SCUBAPRO regulator system
Just in time for the spring season, divers can save money with the FREE OCTOPUS SPRING PROMOTION! Until July 31st SCUBAPRO offers an Octopus for free
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Available at participating SCUBAPRO dealers. Promotion may not be available in all regions. Find an authorized SCUBAPRO Dealer at scubapro.com.
More information available on www.scubapro.com.
Blogs
Northern Red Sea Reefs and Wrecks Trip Report, Part 3: The Mighty Thistlegorm
Jake Davies boards Ghazala Explorer for an unforgettable Red Sea diving experience…
Overnight, the wind picked up, making the planned morning dive a bit bumpy on the Zodiacs to the drop point on Thomas Reef. There, we would dive along the reef before descending through the canyon and then passing under the arch before ascending the wall with a gentle drift. The site provided great encounters with more pelagic species, including shoals of large barracuda, tuna, and bigeye trevally.
Once back on the boat, it was time to get everything tied down again as we would head back south. This time, with the wind behind us, heading to Ras Mohammed to dive Jackfish Alley for another great gentle drift wall dive before then heading up the coast towards the Gulf of Suez to moor up at the wreck of the Thistlegorm. This being the highlight wreck dive of the trip and for many onboard, including myself, it was the first time diving this iconic wreck. I had heard so much about the wreck from friends, and globally, this is a must on any diver’s list. Fortunately for us, there was only one other boat at the site, which was a rarity. A great briefing was delivered by Ahmed, who provided a detailed background about the wreck’s history along with all the required safety information as the currents and visibility at the site can be variable.
Kitting up, there was a lot of excitement on deck before entering the water and heading down the shoreline. Descending to the wreck, there was a light northerly current which reduced the visibility, making it feel more like the conditions that can be found off the Welsh coast. At 10m from the bottom, the outline of the wreck appeared as we reached the area of the wreck which had been bombed, as our mooring line was attached to part of the propeller shaft. Arriving on deck, instantly everywhere you looked there were many of the supplies which the ship was carrying, including Bren Carrier tanks and projectiles that instantly stood out.
We headed around the exterior, taking a look at the large propeller and guns mounted on deck before entering the wreck on the port side to take a look in the holds. It was incredible to see all the trucks, Norton 16H, and BSA motorcycles still perfectly stacked within, providing a real snapshot in time.
Overall, we had four dives on the Thistlegorm, where for all of the dives we were the only group in the water, and at times, there were just three of us on the whole wreck, which made it even more special, especially knowing that most days the wreck has hundreds of divers. Along with the history of the wreck, there was plenty of marine life on the wreck and around, from big green turtles to batfish, along with shoals of mackerel being hunted by trevally. Some unforgettable dives.
The final leg of the trip saw us cross back over the Suez Canal to the Gobal Islands where we planned to stay the night and do three dives at the Dolphin House for the potential of sharing the dive with dolphins. The site, which included a channel that was teeming with reef fish, especially large numbers of goatfish that swam in large shoals along the edge of the reef. These were nice relaxing dives to end the week. Unfortunately, the dolphins didn’t show up, which was okay as like all marine life they are difficult to predict and you can’t guarantee what’s going to be seen. With the last dive complete, we headed back to port for the final night where it was time to clean all the kit and pack before the departure flight the next day.
The whole week from start to finish on Ghazala Explorer was amazing; the boat had all the facilities you need for a comfortable week aboard. The crew were always there to help throughout the day and the chefs providing top quality food which was required after every dive. The itinerary providing some of the best diving with a nice mixture of wreck and reef dives. I would recommend the trip to anyone, whether it’s your first Red Sea liveaboard in the Red Sea or you’re revisiting. Hopefully, it’s not too long before I head back to explore more of the Red Sea onboard Ghazala Explorer.
To find out more about the Northern Red Sea reef and wrecks itineraries aboard Ghazala Explorer, or to book, contact Scuba Travel now:
Email: dive@scubatravel.com
Tel: +44 (0)1483 411590
Photos: Jake Davies / Avalon.Red
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