Arson attack hits Stockton Divers
STOCKTON DIVERS HAS LAUNCHED A GO FUND ME campaign to help replace club equipment , including its new compressor , lost in a recent arson attack .
The Teesside-based club was devastated when the deliberately set fire tore through Thornaby FC , where the club not only stores its equipment but holds its social nights and lectures . The fire resulted in the loss of the football club ’ s stand and café , as well as a container where Stockton Divers kept its compressor .
The compressor – a recently installed Bauer Verticus 5 – along with an air bank and nitrox blending equipment , was totally destroyed in the blaze , which is currently being investigated by Cleveland Police .
Members of Stockton Divers had spent several years raising funds for the compressor , and it had just been installed the weekend before the fire .
Club Chair Paul Crinnion said it was going to cost in the region of £ 30,000 to replace all the equipment lost in the blaze .
“ Each of our members has financially contributed to the club by organising and attending many events over the last few years , which has been a mammoth task . We will not be beaten by this setback .”
To help with the fundraising efforts , the 60-strong club has now launched a fundraising appeal , which Paul hopes will boost their efforts to buy a muchneeded new compressor as soon as possible .
“ The mountain we need to climb in terms of funding is daunting , but we are a resilient bunch , and every member I have spoken with is determined to replace the compressor ,” Paul added . “ And any help other clubs or individuals can provide would be very welcome .”
To help Stockton Divers in their bid to replace their lost compressor , go to www . gofundme . com / f / stockton-divers-thornabyarson-attack
Stockton Divers ’ fire devastated compressor
BSAC boost in Borneo
BSAC ’ S ONLY CLUB ON THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN ISLAND OF BORNEO HAS boosted its number of trained members thanks to support from the UK team .
Based in the tiny Sultanate of Brunei on Borneo Island , Panaga Divers Sub Aqua Club reached out to BSAC HQ last year for help in training .
With around 25 BSAC qualified divers plus another 55 club members who dive with the club , Panaga Divers was struggling to get enough members diver cox ’ n trained locally so that they could make full use of the club ’ s two hardboats . However , a conversation between their Diving Officer , Mike Tonge and the BSAC team soon put the wheel in motion for a solution .
In May this year , National Instructor Andy Jarvis flew out to Borneo to deliver two weeks of instructor and skill development training . The result for the club was impressive , with three new boat handlers , four diver cox ’ n , four new Open Water Instructors and one assistant instructor as well as newly qualified boat handling instructors , diver cox ’ n assessors and a mixed gas blending instructor now on board . In addition , four members have started their journey to Advanced Diver and two instructors from a local dive centre have been crossed over to BSAC .
Mike said the support the club received from BSAC had made a huge impact . “ Nothing was too much trouble in terms of organising and once we had Andy on the ground in Brunei we definitely got our money ’ s worth out of the two weeks !”
Mike says the training support has made a significant difference to the club . “ Since the courses were run we ’ ve restarted exploratory diving in the area and already found four new shipwrecks . This wouldn ’ t have been possible without the re-invigoration of the club membership through the training trip from BSAC .
“ If you ’ re struggling to progress through training then reach out to BSAC HQ . For us , this has made a significant difference to the club and helped to not only bring in new members but re-energise the members we have .”
For more information on how BSAC can help with your club ’ s training contact the Diver Resources Team on drt @ bsac . com
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