The University of London Sub-Aqua Club (ULSAC)

Annual Report 2005/2006

The University of London Sub-Aqua Club (ULSAC)

ULSAC (BSAC 0069) is one of the oldest and longest running clubs of the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) and of the University of London Union (ULU). The BSAC is a charitable organization, which educates and train divers to a high level of competency in the challenging conditions of UK open-water diving. Safety is paramount and in recent years the diver syllabus has increased in its breadth, involvement and individual’s commitment to the sport.

With over 100 members every year, and just over half of those students all keen to learn to scuba-dive at minimal cost on a student budget, the club manages to sustain these high requirements by being progressive and professional in all its activities. The club strives to train new members as well as retaining a strong existing diver training base and attracting new instructors and trainers to volunteer their time and efforts to ULSAC for free.

Often described as a massive training machine by past members, ULSAC is primarily a student club. With many students at university for only three years, and often only staying in London for a few years post university, this presents a challenge in order to generate and retain sufficient numbers of dive leaders (and instructors) to allow our model to continue.

Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4

NoviceSport DiverDive LeaderAOWIOWI

Able to help with novice open water training.

A keen Diver's development at ULSAC

With the bulk of pool training occurring from October to March (due to the academic calendar), even with relatively few instructors we can mange to produce many novices ready for open water training at Easter time. Most students attain the internationally recognized BSAC Sports Diver Qualification by the end of one year with ULSAC. Sports Divers enjoy the benefits of diving with a high level of competency and safety in the open water enabling them to dive in the UK and abroad with confidence.

Many students stay on in the club and progress on to become a Dive Leader, which enables them to take new student members into the open-water. Usually people who attain this level of diving go on to become instructors and perpetuate the strong ULSAC training model.

One of the major strengths of ULSAC is that it consists of such a range of divers and people and this fact leads to a final product, which is both successful and highly enjoyable to be part of.

Annual report

ULSAC committee 2005/2006

The Annual General Meeting produced a new committee of 28 people to take over from the success of the previous year’s committee.

Chair Jeremy Davey (PhD student)

Vice-Chair Anjali Shah (PhD Student)

TreasurerVictoria Lees (PhD student)

Honorary Senior Treasurer David Wright (PhD student)

Secretary Helen Collie (undergraduate student)

Diving Officer Bonnie Webster (ex-student)

Training Officer Michelle Kim (ex-student)

Advanced Training OfficerAndrew May (ex-student)

Assistant TOsSarah Cant (ex-student)

Anjali Shah (PhD student)

Lorna Ballington (ex-student)

Silene Wavre (PhD student)

Jo Graham (ex-student)

Membership SecretarySarah Jervis (undergraduate student)

Assistant Membership SecretaryHolly Mitchell (ex-student)

Boat Officer Alyn Morgan (non-student)

Assistant Boat OfficersMarcus Allen (ex-student)

Equipment OfficerMartin Greaves (ex-student)

Assistant Equipment OfficerRichard Rowley (undergraduate student)

Social Secretaries Mairead Conneely(undergraduate student)

Sarah Wittington (ex-student)

Webmasters Dominic Waithe (ex-student)

Farez Rahman (PhD student)

FundraisingSophia Jones (undergraduate student)

Steve Rome (ex-student)

Newsletter EditorCatherine Satnley (PhD student)

Members without portfolio Mark Bell (ex-student)

Jimmy Cooke (ex-student)

* Those in italics either resigned / left the committee / were derecognized

Diving

As one of the largest student diving clubs in the UK it is not surprising that a lot of our trips are organized to do some fun diving as well as train many new comers to the sport, as well as advancing other divers. During this year, the club has managed to produce a large number of newly qualified Sports Divers as well as helping the advanced instruction of several Dive Leaders and even a new Advanced Diver. Not only has the club managed to sustain our usual high standards at training new student members up to sports diver in a year but the progression on the dive leader after this stage is proving to be very popular and retention of diver trainees is high. All these divers are important in sustaining a highly skilled diver base and providing support and experience to the new intake of diver trainees and the club overall. This is all thanks to our Training Officer, Michlle Kim our Advanced Training Officer, Andrew May our Diving Officer, Bonnie Webster and all of our dedicated Nationally Qualified Instructors. Thanks goes to all who have made the training and advanced training such a success this year.

Following the extremely successful Annual Easter Training trip to Porthkerris many keen newly qualified divers attended over ten weekend trips organized by the club’s dive leader trainees around the UK. Many of these newly qualified divers are now qualified as Sports Divers, with a large number of these moving on to training as Dive Leaders over the winter of 2005/2006. Trips to many destinations along the south coast of Britain, every other weekend through the summer produced some excellent (and safe) diving, to go with the extensive training programme. The Summer Diving season culminated with the ULSAC Summer Expedition to the Sound of Mull and Firth of Clyde.

As well as pool training for the novice trainees, ULSAC has also run a number of open water dive weekends for the training of Dive Leaders. The club has also run club organised BSAC Skill Development Courses, including the Oxygen Administration, Dive Planning and Marshalling and Practical Rescue Management courses (all part of the Dive Leader syllabus but open to other diving grades).

2005/2006 has been a very successful year for instruction for ULSAC, as we seen the qualification of five new Nationally Qualified Instructors, an exceptionally impressive number for any diving club in Britain.

The first step in instruction has also been encouraged in ULSAC this year, with many newly qualified sports divers attending the BSAC Instructor Foundation Course (IFC) weekend with all of these divers starting to assist the instruction of this year’s intake of dive trainees, in the pool.

Overall 2005/2006 has been a highly productive diving year and thanks go to everyone who has made it such a success – the instructors and all the keen new trainees.

Safety (and Equipment)

This year the servicing of all the clubs equipment was recognized as a large safety factor to the club and ULU. In addition to the existing annual servicing for the clubs breathing

regulators and buoyancy jackets, stipulated by the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) to whom ULSAC are affiliated, a large proportion of the club's breathing air cylinders were also due for their periodic inspection. This is a statutory obligation, without which the cylinders cannot be used.

Other additional safety aspects this year included the introduction of tighter regulations for Boat Safety Equipment following the BSAC Diving Officers Conference and the relevant equipment and training is in progress to tighten up these areas. Details of the addition features to the boats and their implemented safety can be found in a boat section below.

Training, Advanced Training (and Membership)

We have around 25 instructors in the club and this year, at the ULU Freshers Fayre, we managed to lure in over 40 new trainees, with a couple more people joining as the year has progressed.

In October, new novice Ocean Diver lectures and pool training and Dive Leader training commenced. Teaching has been running successfully leading up to the Easter Training trip where students, who have passed their diver theory exams and pool training, can take the plunge in UK waters to train to become a full BSAC Ocean Diver, progressing on to become a Sports Diver too if the weather and time permits! All of the newly qualified Dive Leaders from this year are also coming to the Easter Training trip to help with the training, as well as a number of the Sports Divers from last year. Overall there are nearly 50 divers heading down to Weymouth for the Easter Training trip, which promises to produce lots of new divers, whilst being great fun!

Finances

Following the interesting year for finances last year, 2005/2006 has been a relatively stable and economically sound one for ULSAC. A number of new safety measures have been brought in for the boats, which have obviously had to be paid for. Also the usual servicing of kit has been a serious drain on club funds, however our equipment officers have been extremely good this year and managed to save a huge amount of money by carrying out BCD servicing themselves. Please see the official budget for the breakdown of projected spending in the next year.

Boats and their safety

This year all of the boats’ engines, both trailers and the RIBs have been serviced and any necessary repairs from last season have been made. We also have ‘upright removable radar reflectors’ that will be used on the RIBs every time they are used now. These will be removable so the boats can be towed and the covers can be donned. Rascal also has a new battery to ensure that we have better power for the radio this season, as we had a few issues last year. For towing we have two new trailer boards to ensure we are safe out of the water, as well as our efforts in the water.

As Tango has been repaired and we have a new engine for her we will have a full complement of boats for this season. That means four in total with two twin-engine RIBs, Rascal and Scoundrel, and two inflatables, AKA squidgies Tango and Hippo, with tiller controlled single 40hp engines.

The on-board radios for the RIBs have both been serviced by ICOM and we have a new colour GPS unit to replace the original that lasted 3 days, so thanks to Garmin for sorting that out so quickly. Fingers crossed that this one lasts a little longer. Diving safety standards have been maintained at a high level and the club continues to produce divers of high competency and expertise. Safety of any BSAC diving club is paramount. From running the club to planning a dive, safety is always in our planning and preparation before we execute any action. Excellent Skill Development courses such as the O2 Administration course and compulsory rescue training are specific examples of the extension of these aspects within the club to perpetuate a safe, enjoyable diving, and club experience for ULSAC members.

Socials

As last year the ULSAC Annual Dinner was held at the Tavistock Hotel and was strongly supported to make it a fantastic event. A raffle was held, raising a good amount of money for the club. The club held it’s Christmas Party at the King and Queen in Fitzrovia, with the theme of ‘Pirates and Cowgirls’. Everyone had a fantastic evening and it produced many interesting photos as well as memories! An expedition Paint Balling also produced many found memories, as well as a few bruises.

The club also attended lectures by famous divers such as Monty Halls and Loyd Grossman, run by the London Diving Chamber and a lecture by world renowned dive photographer, Jack Jackson. A trip to see the underwater 3D movie at the iMax cinema was also organized along with many social gatherings, including a pre-Easter party in conjunction with a few birthdays for club members.

Webmasters and Communication

ULSAC maintains communication to it’s members via the Yahoo groups, which have been set up for it. Ulsac.announce, Ulsac.committee and Ulsac.chat are all essential e-mail media for communicating with the club at large – in different capacities – outside of club lesson, pool session and meeting times.

The website ( has undergone a make-over this year and has become an elegant, user-friendly site providing vast amounts of information about training, dive sites, social events to both members of the club and others.

ULSAC AGM

This is to be held on Monday May 8th. A new committee will be elected and the previous year and all aspects of the club reviewed.

Other ULSAC Achievements

Here is a list of some of the other stuff we have got up to this year!

ULSAC Collaboration Work:

• Increased links and promotion of ULU via Porthkerris local community and diving community by continued annual training at Easter Training
• Beaver sponsorship
• Energybase with Try Dives and Staff Training Sessions offered on a voluntary basis

• Increased links with local community and extended links with BSAC diving community through Best Buddy Project
• Promotion of ULU through Convocation Award
• Medicals through Dr Webster who kindly donated all proceeds to ULSAC
• ULU support and help throughout year

ULSAC Awards

• ULU Society Shields (awarded for outstanding achievement or contribution within ULU Societies): Mairead Conneely and David Wright
• ULU Mentor of the Year: Martin Greaves
• ULU Founders Shield- awarded to the society or student who has done a huge amount for the students involved and also for ULU
• Long standing ULSAC member and ULU Honorary Life Member, Marcus Allen, was elected as Chairman of the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC)- the governing body of British diving, having over 45,000 members worldwide.
• Runners-up in the BSAC Heinke Trophy, receiving a ‘highly commended’ status for their entry. This nationally recognised award is presented to the BSAC Branch judged to have done the most to further the interests of its members and of the BSAC over the past year.
• BSAC Expedition Trophy in recognition of their successful expedition to the South of France; the first time it has been awarded to a club and not an individual. In receiving this award ULSAC was recognised for promoting the true spirit of adventurous diving and discovering new and interesting diving locations.

Thanks

ULSAC would like to thank: ULSAC's instructors and trainers, the BSAC, and finally ULU (Laura Bigg-Wither, Angela Jelfs, Catherine Wildey, Ruth Morrison, Jane Doogan, Monica Zazzera, Alex Stacey and Neil Walker) for helping 2005/6 be such a successful year for ULSAC.

Thanks of course to the dedicated committee of ULSAC and all of its members, without whose passion for diving (and socializing!!) none of the club’s achievements would have been possible.

For further information on ULSAC please refer to our website

Jeremy Davey (Chairman) and the ULSAC committee

(24th March 2006)