Final frontiers
BSAC HAS RECENTLY SUPPORTED THE UK Space Academy , through Marlin Dive Centre , providing a Try Dive event as part of a UKSA Space to Learn funded project . The event was run in Cambridge in July and was attended by 22 students between 14-16 years old , overseen by five staff members .
The aim of the session was to give a weightless experience to provide an insight into performing tasks in space . In conjunction with Regional Project Officer Liberty Woodward , a pool session was developed that introduced the students to scuba kit before buoyancy and playing with underwater toys . Julian Gill briefed the group on BSAC , basic kit and simple
do ’ s and don ’ ts before we split into three groups . Then it was hands-on with the BCD controls , and a dry run on the main project of building an underwater structure in pairs , then as part of the group .
To provide more of a ‘ space feel ’, lines were laid along the bottom , secured with glass suckers requiring the students to move around by pulling themselves along rather than finning . Plumbing pipes were used to build a 10-piece cube , which could be combined with the other cubes to make a larger structure . The dive team ran three 45-minute sessions , with nine students per session . This was an innovative , customer-led experience and my thanks goes to the 11 BSAC instructors who came together to make it a memorable and valuable experience for the National Space Academy .
Liberty Woodward , Regional Project Officer , said : “ BSAC delivered a fantastic experience , making it relevant to astronaut training while teaching the basics of SCUBA . The students had a chance to try the kit and figure out how to be buoyant , before building structures underwater and working as a team to set up a ‘ satellite ’. Thank you very much to team BSAC !” MARK PAISEY , National Coaching Advisor to have a pricked outer cover to allow leaking air to escape . I prefer , especially for filling mixed gasses , to use a double braided Kevlar charge hose ; these are rated for working up to 700 bar so easily meet the 1.5 times working pressure required by the pressure systems regulations .
I think that we all become a bit complacent with our diving cylinders , the stored energy is considerable and we nonchalantly carry them about in our cars and put them on our backs .
Cylinders are safe due to the inspection regime that ensures that unfit cylinders are removed from service . Cylinders in oxygen service are safe provided that they are inspected and cleaned regularly . Remember the most dangerous time for cylinders or charging apparatus is on filling , so think about the person charging your cylinders . MIKE COLLINS , IDEST inspector for the south
St Kilda ’ s signature dive
FOLLOWING ON FROM KIRSTY ANDREWS ’ TERRIFIC REPORT ON ST KILDA , I WAS part of a team of that made a two-week epic trip to St Kilda in the summer of 2022 . It made a two-part story in the April and May 2023 issues of SCUBA . I was also able to visit St Kilda twice in late April and May this year , on the liveaboard Clasina , of course . There is one site that is rarely mentioned and that is Whale Rock . If the conditions are right , the site can be visited in transit between Harris and St Kilda . This site consists of two submerged pinnacles ; it ’ s very rarely dived , and there are some challenging sea conditions to be managed . We encountered visibility of 30 metres , with a stunning array of life . I have attached an image to give you an idea of the lovely conditions . IAN HICKS , Mid Beds Dive Club
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