Barry Sub Aqua Club

Falmouth 2010

2010-09-20T21:40:00.007+01:00

On the weekend of 18th and 19th September, Barry Sub Aqua Club made paid it's annual visit to Falmouth. We had a great time, ably assisted by members from 3M's SAC, Swansea. Four dives were carried out- to the wrecks of the Mohegan,Volnay, Hera and Epsilon. Some of us stayed drier than others in our dry suits!

2010-06-16T21:21:00.003+01:00

Some wonderful footage of guillemots diving around us at 12 metres depth around Skomer Island, west Wales, UK.

Captured by Bryan Thomas

Skomer - May 2010

2010-06-13T17:21:00.006+01:00

During the good weather in May, the club took a trip to Skomer. A great weekend was had by all, with some wonderful diving, and excellent surface time.

Norman dives at 90

2010-06-13T11:45:00.003+01:00

Our oldest member, Norman Lancefield recently marked his landmark 90th birthday – with a celebratory dive!

Norman – who is possibly BSAC’s oldest active diver – learnt to dive in 1978 and has been actively involved in scuba diving ever since. A much-loved member of Barry SAC, Norman has continually clocked up his dives and remains passionate about the sport. He dived Scapa Flow at the age of 80 and his most recent dive trip was last November to the Farnes.

To mark his 90th birthday, Norman completed two 8m shore dives off Babbacombe, clocking up 30 minutes underwater for each dive.

Russ Phillips, Barry SAC Training Officer and one of Norman’s regular dive buddies, paid tribute to his friend.

“We all had a great day celebrating Norman’s 90th and it was a pleasure to join him on one of his birthday dives. He is a real inspiration to our club and proof that you are never too old to get out there and get active!” (text borrowed from bsac.com)

London Dive Show 2010

2010-03-10T19:51:00.003Z

GET INTO GEAR FOR LIDS 2010

Whether a seasoned pro or a novice diver, the London International Dive Show on 27 and 28 March is the best place to get your 2010 season off to a cracking start!

There’ll be over 200 companies showing the latest diving gear and clothing, holiday destinations, training opportunities plus much more. And, with two free diving pools – one for first timers and another for testing the latest technical kit – a free programme of exhibitor and speaker presentations – underwater photographic galleries plus a digital photography clinic, there’ll be plenty to see and do.

LOOK WHO’S TALKING

Three new additions to the line-up of guest presenters are arctic explorer and Oceans presenter and author Paul Rose, Mike Rutzen, one of the world’s best-known shark divers, and a perennial show favourite Monty Halls, who will update us on his latest adventures including his recent 'Lions and Sharks' Tour in South Africa.

Dr Andrea 'Queen of Mantas' Marshall will be coming over from Mozambique to talk about her work, the subject of a much-discussed BBC Natural World documentary recently. Californian Andrea moved to Mozambique seven years ago, and was the first person in the world to gain a manta ray PhD. She is at the forefront of efforts to protect the rays through research into their biology and behaviour.

There are plenty of treats in store for wreck and tech divers at LIDS, too. Already confirmed as speakers are top technical divers Teresa Telus and Leigh Bishop, Mark Powell and Jack Ingle. Teresa' talk about the wrecks of Truk Lagoon was a hit at DIVE 2009, and this time she is joined by leading deep-wreck photographer Leigh Bishop.

Back to the animals, and award-winning director John Boyle will preview his latest underwater film, Freaks of the Sea, while shark expert Richard Peirce turns his attention to great whites and blues in the Mediterranean.

MORE TO SEE AND DO …

Visit the Try-Dive Pool, where freediver Marcus Greatwood and his NoTanx team will be conducting breath-hold demonstrations and challenges, with prizes for spectators who back the winners! Alternatively the Technical Pool allows more advanced divers to try out rebreathers, DPVs and other kit.

Divers keen to improve their own lens-work will be welcomed at Saeed Rashid and Paul Duxfield's Digital Clinic as well as the BSoUP stand for one-to-one advice.

For more information, an up-to-date programme of activities or to book advance tickets to the show visit www.diveshows.co.uk. Tickets cost £7.50 in advance (under 14s go free) or £10.50 on the door. Anyone buying six or more tickets together will benefit from a further reduction £1 reduction on the price of each adult ticket.

In the Echo

2010-02-24T20:57:00.003Z

On 11th Feb 2010, we were featured in the South Wales Echo, partly for Norman's great age, and partly because of our recent grant for the snorkel section.

Christmas Party 2009

2010-02-07T16:53:00.003Z

A great time was had by all!

Halloween party 2009

2009-11-03T10:34:00.008Z

On 31st October 2009, we held our fund-raising Halloween party, organised by Rose and hosted by Ceri. The outfits were truly horrible!

West Wales Pics........

2009-05-26T10:14:00.002+01:00

Here's a selection of photos from last weekend's trip to St Davids.

On Sat and Sun we launched out of Porthclais (best done at high tide...) and on the Monday we launched from Porthgain - altogether much easier!

Ceri did a fabulous job of organising the trip which was greatly enjoyed by all who were there.

Bryan Thomas

Babbacombe 2009

2009-04-06T14:28:00.009+01:00

We're back from our annual trip to Babbacombe in Devon. The weather was wonderful, flat calm and lots of sun! Here's a selection of photos, from Bryan Thomas:

Extreme Ironing World Record!

2009-01-12T20:22:00.003Z

Yorkshire Divers/RNLI sponsored attempt at a world record (achieved!) for ironing underwater. 128 scuba divers braved the freezing winter temperatures. The previous record was 72 but the British divers managed to get 86 ironing within a 10 minute period and this also included 6 freedivers. Water temperatures were in the region of 5 degrees Celsius and air temperatures as low as -2 degrees C. Divers covered the full range from technical diving with trimix to 55m to the shallow end at 6m. The event took place at the National Diving and Activity Centre (NDAC) near Chepstow, Gloucestershire and was organised by Gareth Lock, Morag Ward and John Turnock of the Yorkshire Divers internet forum (www.yorkshire-

Christmas Bash

2008-12-23T09:07:00.003Z

Great fun was had by all at our Christmas party held on 19th December at the Oriental Diner in Barry. The "Norman's Dog" trophy was won by Ceri, for services to the club, throughout the year. Sadly, Jamie Griff couldn't make it, but he sent along his sister, which more than made up for his absence. Here are some photos:

Cromhall Quarry

2008-10-06T15:20:00.003+01:00

On Saturday 4th October, Dave, Olly and Bryan mounted an expedition to find the hidden gem which is Cromhall Quarry. Well, hidden in that it's just off j14 of the M5.

It takes about an hour and a bit to get to at Dave-Speed-10, which is fine. When we arrived, it's much like Chepstow quarry must have been five years ago. We went through a bus yard, a truck yard, a bumpy track, then suddenly, the limpid lagoon appeared like a mirage through the mist. We checked in, signed our lives away, and trundled around to the far side of the quarry, where we were able to park right next to the beach. As we went around the quarry, the temperature seemed to drop, and it was agreed to be very cold. We soon donned our suits and leaped in, where the water was a balmy 15 degrees, with vis of about 6m. The two pairs (BT+OL)+(DT+OL) had a lovely time exploring. There is a bath, a boat and two shipping containers. The bottom murk is a cross between cozzie and chepstow - the silt kicks up if you try hard enough, but there's no danger of disappearing forever in the bottomless gloop.

Good fun was had by all. We surfaced to find Dave's van was doing a very tasty line in garlic bread, so we had some of that, then trundled back home in time for dark. Thanks to Bryan for being the photographer.

Here's a link (PDF file, 450kb) to a plan of the quarry in case anyone fancies going. In summary, 15-17m max depth. Deepest by the entrance, beach at the other end (0 to 17m)

Olly

Dave and Ceri go to the Blue Lagoon and Stackpole Quay

2008-09-30T10:51:00.002+01:00

Ceri on location at the Lagoon

it could be the Red Sea...

Dave's remarkable trolley - he'll sell you one if you ask nicely.

Ceri found a shark...

aha now will this work 6mts viz and just look at the sea

we're still here

2008-03-10T11:01:00.000Z

on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th March, several of us braved the swans and the cold of Cosmeston Lake to have a refreshing splash.

It was very cold!

Try Dive Success!

2007-09-27T19:52:00.000+01:00

On Tuesday 25th September, Barry Sub Aqua Club hosted a try dive evening which saw 13 divers having a go!

The best thing from my point of view was how the event united the club - everybody was involved - from stewarding the car park, to signing people in, presenting a mini classroom session, showing people where to get changed, poolside people fitting fins, instructors in the water, timekeepers, and de-briefers.

The club worked well together to get everybody signed in, briefed, and in the water - the most amazing part was that we were all finished and out of the building two minutes earlier than usual!

We spoke to the try-divers after their dives, and they all seemed to have had a great evening - I wonder if we'll get any new members as a result.

As a side-bonus, each try diver paid £10 as part of BSAC's try dive campaign - which we are allowed to keep for our club funds.

Many thanks to all who were invovled. Here's a selection of photos, courtesy of The Duke (Wayne).

Olly

Plymouth Trip - September 2007

2007-09-13T10:30:00.001+01:00

Ten members of the club have just returned from a wonderful weekend in Plymouth, organised by Hayley. We were diving from the 30 foot hard boat Excalibur from Plymouth. (we only dumped all our gear on the wrong pontoon once).

The weather was lovely, flat calm and sunny - on the Saturday we dived the Eddystone reef (15 metres vis, lots of urchins and jewel anemones), then back to the Scylla Reef, which is looking a bit more covered in life than when we first dived in in 2004.

On Sunday, we twice dived a little-known wreck called the James Egan Layne, which was enormous, with plenty of swim throughs, lots of fish, some crabs (eh Jim?) and plenty of bits to rummage around in. The photo shows the club members on look out duty between dives on the J-E-L (or Egon Ronny as Bryan calls it.)

In the evenings, the club led an expedition to a couple of pubs - one with rela live music, the other with decent food and beer.

Try Dive for just £10 with BSAC at Barry Sub Aqua Club

2007-09-02T10:49:00.000+01:00

Try Dive for just £10 with BSAC at Barry Sub Aqua Club on 25th September 2007.

Have you ever thought about learning to dive but were unsure of how or where to start? Now is your chance to take that first step by signing up for BSAC's Try Dive Week, 24th to 30th September 2007.

Sponsored by Dive Phillipines, Try Dive is the British Sub-Aqua Club's (BSAC) annual event welcoming non-divers to the club.

For just £10, non-divers can take part in an introductory try-dive and discover the benefits of diving with BSAC. For information and to register for this exciting event, simply call contact Linda on trydive@barrysubaqua.org

A BSAC try dive is the perfect introduction to scuba diving so if you have always wanted to learn, would like to test out the water before you go on holiday or are just curious, then the Try Dive at Barry Sub Aqua Club is for you.

Almost anyone from the age of 12 can learn to dive with BSAC. To help them get started, participants of Try Dive will be offered a lesson with a qualified BSAC instructor, which includes pool-side tuition on diving skills and equipment, followed by scuba diving in the pool.

Following on from a Try Dive experience, participants can take the BSAC Ocean Diver course which includes five open water dives, either at a BSAC Centre over two weekends, or at a BSAC Branch, who generally meet in the evenings and dive at weekends). The BSAC Ocean Diver qualificiation is the stepping stone to a life long diving adventure, with the waters of the UK - and around the world - jsut waiting to be explored.

For information and to register for a Try Dive with BSAC event in your local area, simply call Hayley from Barry Sub Aqua Club on trydive@barrysubaqua.org

People with medical conditions are advised to consult BSAC HQ on 0151 350 6200

Slasher woz 'ere

2007-05-29T15:35:00.001+01:00

The bank holiday weekend of 26th May saw leaden skies and torrential rain, as Dave Thomas organised a dive n'camp trip to west Wales.

Dave, Hugh, Ceri, Michelle, Clive, Linda, Jim, Gary, Jamie D and Olly braved the weather, some using only flimsy tents to survive in force 8 gales.

On Saturday, the crew had a lovely boat dive on the Dakotian, which was reported as being "ace" by Clive. While he was passing his tank on to the boat, Dave discovered why sharp pointy bits of kit should always be well tucked away. The hiss of escaping air from the slashed tubes of the RIB whizzed them all back to harbour, where Jim arranged a repair to Dave's gaping gash.

Sunday was spent in the pub as rain and winds lashed the area.

On Monday, the wind was still there, but the skies were blue, as the intrepid crew set of for the wreck of the Behar. Olly found a lovely anchor and chain, which is still there, because he didn't take a lifting bag...