Information regarding new hyperbaric chamber in Rugby

We would like to inform you of the opening of a new Hyperbaric unit in Rugby St Cross Hospital. The hospital offers all the normal range of services to divers: treatment of DCI, Dry dives and medicals (including HSE and fitness to dive.)

Information can be found on our web site.

Please feel free to contact us if you would like more information or come and see us.

Regards Ian Sibley-Calder

Dr Ian Sibley-Calder

Midlands Diving Chamber

Hospital of St. Cross

Barby Road

Rugby

CV22 5PX

Ext: 23442

01788 579 555   -  07770 632893

www.midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk

www.drsibley-caldermedicals.co.uk

Weather forecast good, 8 keen divers wanting to get wet on the traditional February weekend to Plymouth.
We were all set a keen but were left without the club boat due to faulty tires on the trailer. The tires had only few miles on them but on inspection were completely unsafe to use. These faults are currently being investigated by the suppliers and no doubt we'll have more news on this soon!

As part of the weekend was to be to introduce Lucy to her first open water dives after finishing pool training and not wanting to disappoint her Sue and I decided to take her shore diving. Fortunately the weather looked fine for this on the South coast and rather then spending loads of money going to Stoney with the masses decided to head off to Devon.

It was a good choice, we set off 07:00am Sat morning and was in Brixham before lunch. We managed two dives on Saturday from Breakwater Beach where Lucy completed a number of training drills and assessments with flying colours, she certainly made a good impression for saying it was her first dives in the sea with full kit including drysuit.

After a curry and a night in a B & B next morning we headed for a site that Sue and I had never dived before - Babbacombe Beach. After filling our cylinders we headed down to the rather limited parking by the the shingle beach.
We managed two more dives here, this is a site worth remembering as its completely sheltered from all but NE winds and it really is an interesteing site for shore diving.

We then headed back up the M5 homewards with no traffic jams at all!!!

So all in all a good weekend, it was warm and sunny, the sea temp was around 8c and calm and Lucy had good introduction to UK diving. With going Sat morning the overall cost per dive was probably no more then doing 2 dives in freezing Stoney and the experiance for our student was far better.

I am proposing an Easter dive trip to Oban for a long weekend Friday - Monday.
I've contacted the caravan park who still have limited vans left for the bank holiday weekend but we need to move fairly quickly and book it as he wouldn't reserve them for us.
This trip would be suitable for all levels (including any trainees) and the more the merrier.
Please let me know if you are interested as soon as possible.

One week after announcing this all places (12) were filled with one standby.

This is a weeks liveaboard sailing from Plymouth on Loyal Watcher to the Scillies between 2nd and 9th of May
See www.loyalwatcher.co.uk for more info.

This is now booked and deposit paid.
If anyone else wants adding to standby list please let me know.
Any other details just ask

Will try to keep blog site updated with whats going on with regards to Dive Planning

The 2008 diving season started with a trip to Plymouth  on the weekend of February 16th. It has become a bit of a tradition to get the first dive trip as near to Valentine's day as possible. 9 Divers committed to the trip hoping for a pleasant weekend based on the forecasted weather. Due to the  predicted temperatures no body was brave enough to camp, so we all stayed in the Elizabethan and Barbican Reach Guest Houses.

The new radar reflectors were fitted to the boats, they were huge, and this gave rise to Stuart the equipments officer getting numerous sarcastic comments.

Although a plan had been made for the diving, it was felt due to the current good conditions we should make the most of them and visit Hands Deep, the trip out was quite surprising, it was surprisingly warm. However on reaching the site of the pinnacles, it was clear that the wind had increased and the conditions would not allow a safe dive. We therefore headed towards shore to find a more sheltered spot. The journey back was totally different to the one out. It was decided that Whitsand Bay would be our destination. The trip back was so rough it captured 2 divers with sea sickness.

The Scylla was dived first, most decided to wander around the sea bed and various fish, lobsters etc were seen. Martin Sharman found a memorial plaque embedded in the seabed, after observing it, it reminded us of the potential dangers, we decided it would be better to place it in a prominent position on the deck near the helicopter hanger rather than disappearing into the sandy bottom, maybe it would make other divers think.

With 2 of the divers unwell, others that had got wet on the first dive, the Eagle headed back to the QAB while the Osprey and 4 divers dived on the James Eagan Layne. The visibility was good and various fish were seen. A glint in the torchlight led to a piece of lettering stuck out of the wreck. The trip back to the QAB was uneventful.

Sunday morning was colder as frost was apparent on the vehicles outside the guest house. The walk over to the marina also showed that the wind was stronger, a review took place, and it was decided that based on the conditions we would not launch and dive. The owner of Sound Diving confirmed we had made a good choice based on his experiences of the previous years. Although we didn’t dive on both days, overall it was a good weekend and start to the diving year.

Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th February are planned as the first Club Dive of the year, currently the suggested Location is Plymouth as we know the site and can dive at virtually any conditions somewhere! I would be greatful if those of you interested in going could let me know by adding comments to this article. I will issue a Dive Card nearer the date. cheers steve

This year Easter is early and falls on Friday 21st March. Originally I had planned for us to visit Falmouth once again, due to the excellent accomadation next to the dive shop and the access to Diving. However the Bunk House is now closed and Twinbrook park has been converted into a residential homes park. The cheapest B&B I can currently find is £27/night but they do not have enough places for all. Therefore I am trying to look into other destinations and am looking for help if anyone has the time/knowledge to suggest a location with suitable accomadation. I am currently Investigating Portland/Weymouth in Dorset- accomadation is scarce. Teigmouth in Devon, no look so far, and continuing search at Falmouth. If anyone does have 5 mins to spare then please assist in anyway you can. cheers steve

For those of you lucky enough to be going to dive the Saratoga, here a link to a previous trip.

http://www.inner-space.co.uk/photos/album.asp?album=3&index=0&rows=9999