What ’ s BSAC all about ?
40 Thames Boat Run
Published by : IN2 PUBLISHING Ltd , Unit 2A Oaklands Court , Tiverton Business Park , Tiverton Way , Tiverton , EX16 6TG
Email : info @ in2publishing . co . uk
Editor : Simon Rogerson Sub Editor : Kristina Pedder Design : Paul Hanson Equipment Testing : Neil Hope
Publishing Director : Charlie Wise Email : charlie @ in2publising . co . uk Tel : 01398 310 250 Mob : 07787 565 771
Commercial Manager : Rob Dubery Email : rob @ in2publishing . co . uk Tel : 01398 310 250
Advertising Manager : Michelle Simpson Email : michelle @ in2publishing . co . uk Tel : + 44 ( 0 ) 7434 779164
Print Consultant : Jamie Ringrose Consultant : Jon Fellows
© 2023 British Sub-Aqua Club
All rights reserved . No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without written permission of the copyright owners . Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication , the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions . In the interest of independence and impartiality , many features in SCUBA have been written on behalf of the publisher by third party experts . It should be noted that any opinions and recommendations expressed therein are the views of the writers themselves and not necessarily those of BSAC . BSAC and publishers ensure that the paper used for printing this publication has been sourced from sustainably managed forests .
If you love diving and want to benefit from great training and an international community of scuba divers and snorkellers , you should get to know BSAC .
What ’ s BSAC all about ?
BSAC stands for British Sub-Aqua Club , and we are the UK National Governing Body of scuba diving and snorkelling . We have clubs , centres , and members worldwide who are all as passionate as we are about the underwater world .
We are Britain ’ s biggest dive club , with hundreds of local clubs run by committed divers and snorkellers on a non-profit basis . With us , you can learn to dive from the age of 10 and snorkel from the age of six .
If you ’ re already a diver , that ’ s great ! All divers are welcome at BSAC . You could further your training or just join us on some great diving . Or both !
As well as developing safety and training standards and supporting our community , we are also focused on the environment and underwater heritage to help protect the waters we love to dive and the earth we live in .
Have a look at this magazine to get a real feel for what we ’ re about — we think you ’ ll love what you read . To get involved , head to bsac . com , email us at hello @ bsac . com or call 0151 350 6201 . We ’ d love to hear from you !
JOIN BSAC TODAY : bsac . com / joinus FIND YOUR LOCAL BSAC CLUB : bsac . com / findaclub or call + 44 ( 0 ) 151 350 6201
CONTENTS
8 SCUBA HUB
All the latest BSAC and diving news
18 Critter Confidential
Enter the sandy world of the dragonet
21 Kirsty Andrews
Real small world – life on the teeny side
22 Yo-Han Cha
Looking back on a divepacked 2023
24 Becky Hitchin
Identity crisis : problems for biologists
26 SCUBA Chat
Your letters , tributes and announcements
28 Club Focus
Kristina Pedder meets the University of Bristol Underwater Club
34 Party at Capernwray
BSAC clans meet for a 70th anniversary shindig up north
39 Neil Abbott
Interview with a veteran overseas member
40 Thames Boat Run
A closing celebration for BSAC ’ s 70th year , as club RIBs take to the City of London
44 BSAC Courses
Plan your learning curve for 2024
46 Protect Our Seas
Seasonal gifting by Kerry MacKay • Mapping the marine life of Northern Ireland • Latest in shark conservation
51 Travel Special
Neil Hope travels to Somabay in Egypt , in search of resort-based luxury
60 Kitted-up : Christmas pressies
Christmas presents for the diver in your life ... or you ! Go on , you know you want to . Really , treat yourself . What ’ s the worst that can happen ?
64 Snorkelling
Andy Torbet visits a seal sanctuary in Cornwall . We manage not to repeat the ‘ seal of approval ’ line
66 Crossword
Another brain-teaser from the desk of Charles Wheeldon
5