Skills refresher and another busy pool night the Diver Training Programme. A popular Skill Development Course( SDC) is the Oxygen Administration course. We hope to encourage more members to participate in SDCs in the future as they are not only enjoyable, but it is a fantastic opportunity to enhance diving skills and knowledge. We try to arrange groups so that members can support each other during training.
The SDC that the instructor team particularly likes to encourage is the Buoyancy and Trim Workshop. It significantly enhances your diving experience by improving comfort, reducing air consumption and improving safety; teaching you to be relaxed and neutral underwater. Also, in the past year, we have been extremely pleased to see how many members have taken the Instructor Foundation Course.
Do you have a regular pool session?
Yes, we train weekly on Thursdays at the Alsager Leisure Centre. We turn up at 7.30pm for an 8pm start and an hour in the pool. We do training, refreshing skills, try dives, side-mount taster sessions. We simulate night dives in the winter months by turning the lights out and using torches; a particular hit with the members. This year, we are planning a simulated restricted surface dive. The pool will be threequarters covered. Divers work in pairs and go under the cover attached to a rope as if under ice. We intend to run a full-face mask and rebreather taster session.
Where do you go for theory sessions?
Dry practical sessions take place at the leisure centre. We are also fortunate to have access to a room at the Alsager Cricket Club, which we use for theory sessions that use PowerPoint presentations. We also host our annual general meetings and dive planning discussions there.
And social events?
Following pool sessions, we socialise at a local pub. Sadly, that’ s not for the younger ones. The wider social aspect of our club, though, is truly wonderful. There is always something happening. We attend the theatre two or three times a year, with one of these outings typically around Christmas time. We’ ve also visited the Black Country Museum and the famous Mad O’ Rourke’ s Pie Factory. The Saw Doctors band is simply brilliant. We arrange a Christmas meal for our members. Five of our members attended the BSAC Diving Conference,
which was fantastic and well organised. We also participated in the BSAC Northwest Dive Fest; even Storm Amy didn’ t dampen our spirits. A massive commendation to our Regional Coach Stephen Dorricott for organising it and for raising £ 3,000 for the Northwest Air Ambulance.
What are you looking forward to?
We are hoping to welcome Barbara back when the Gasperados locate the elusive and still to be discovered wreck USS Tampa, the largest naval combatant loss of life for the United States during the First World War. We also have on our agenda arranging a speaker for a talk on seagrass conservation.
Do you encounter any problems delivering training?
We liaise with our Regional Coach when we encounter any training issues. The team at BSAC headquarters is always available for advice and they have provided us with support on many occasions. Our primary contact, Jenny Mooney, offers immeasurable help and patience. We challenge her sometimes, but she seems to be able to deal with whatever we ask of her.
Gino Pulizzi( left) with Ben Hancock
Trainee Ilsa Hattersley with Instructor Paul Read
27