Woop. Pictures below. Story to follow.

Unlike most diving trips, this year’s annual visit to Stoney Cove was a refreshing change since the departure time wasn’t before sunrise. Meeting at the locker on a Friday evening after a full day of work for some and lectures for others did bring its own set of challenges, but after negotiating the M25 and a less-than-restful night’s sleep, two action packed days of diving began in ernest.

With glorious sunshine the entire time we were there, surface intervals were spent sunbathing, something which will hopefully be repeated during the club trip to Menorca in just under a month.

It was perhaps predictable that Saturday night would be spent in the pub and the four birthdays being celebrated over the course of the trip (Isk, Phil, Becki and Matt) provided a suitable excuse, both for going to the pub, and for the very large and extremely rich chocolate cake that appeared after most people had already eaten three courses including desert.

Losing an hour’s sleep made Sunday morning’s wake up call that little bit more challenging, but it was more than worth it for the fun day’s diving that followed.

Whilst the weekend provided a chance for the more experienced members of the club to have fun and dust off their fins in preparation for Menorca, the principle reason for going was to complete training, an aim successfully fulfilled since we returned with 3 new Ocean Divers, a new Sports Diver and even a new Dive Leader – congratulations to them all. Grateful thanks as ever to AJ for organising the trip, Drew, AJ, Sparky and Adam for instructing, and to Drew, AJ, Pete and Dan for driving.

Mark Baruch

USSAC

March 2012

This Thursday night’s pool session was a bit of a special one, as USSAC took a group of Guildford Scouts on a try dive.

We had 18 bright faced new divers, generally a lot smaller than the students we’re used to!

While most of our kit was a little big for them, all of the Scouts were really keen and enjoyed their time in the water.

Pictures of some of the try-divees below.

Today saw the club’s first dive of 2012, which I believe was taken by Andy Pigott, Adam Sparkes and myself, unless you count a quick dip for a weight check…

This was our new trainee’s first experience of open water and of the delight that is Wraysbury. With 1 SD and 3 oD trainees, the two instructors had their work cut out…

However, they managed to get through everything planned, and the non trainees managed to scout both of Wraysbury’s indigenous lifeforms, although didn’t managed to take a picture of the Wraysbury Pike.

All in all a good day, with very few mishaps. Oh alright, lots of mishaps like; forgotten hoses, falling without protection into the very, very cold water and accidentally-on-purpose trying a weight jettison right at the end of the last dive of the day.

Still, we didn’t need the services of the club’s newest first aider:

Open Water Training will take place on the following dates in 2012:

· Sat 7th January – Wraysbury
· Sat 28th January – Vobster
· Sun 5th February – Wraysbury
· Sat 18th February – Vobster
· Sun 4th March – Vobster
· 24th and 25th March Weekend Stoney trip (leave evening of 23rd) – good chance to get wet before Menorca

E-mail Assistant Training Officer for more details.

All of the dates for USSAC Ocean Diver training are now in the calendar you can see to the right.

If you want to finish your OD this year, you will need to attend most of these dates.

Non-ocean diver trainees and other members are welcome to join us, but ODs will get priority in instructors.

E-mail the training officer or the assistant training officer for more details.

Thanks to every that came along to the try dives over the last two weeks. It’s great to see so many of you enjoying yourselves and getting enthusiastic about diving!

The next step for anyone that wants to go further is to come along to the welcome meeting next week.

This will be held at 6:15pm in Lecture Theatre J (in the lecture theatre block).

There will be some short talks all about the club and the diving we do and a chance to ask any questions you might have. More importantly, the committee will be on hand to help you fill in your BSAC paperwork! You can join the club there and then if you would like (so bring your chequebook/cash) but it is possible to join later.

This also applies to any crossovers that would like to come and sign up. The talks might still be informative for you as they are geared around the diving the club does and UK diving in particular.

After the meeting we will head down to the pool as usual to start lessons (for those of you that sign up!)

We hope to see you there!

Adam

Diving Officer

BSAC were kind enough to inform us that USSAC trained the 3rd highest number of Ocean Divers and the 2nd highest number of Advanced Divers of all the University Clubs last year.

 

Fresher’s Fayre - 

Come and see us at the Fresher’s Fayre on Friday September 30th on the PATS field to talk to people from the club, get more information, or sign up for try dives.

Active Fresher’s Fayre - 

We will also have a stall in the Active Fresher’s Fayre being held in the Surrey Sports Park on Saturday October 1st, if you can’t make the Fresher’s Fayre.

Try Dives - 

We will be running two sets of try dives at the Spectrum in Guildford. These are open to anyone, but if would be helpful if you let us know that you intend to come.

You can either sign up at the Fresher’s Fayre, or e-mail the training officer.

6th October – Meet at Senate house at 7:15 or the Spectrum at 8:00

13th October – Meet at Senate house at 7:15 or the Spectrum at 8:00

Make sure you bring -

• An old t-shirt you don’t mind getting wet
• Some old socks
• A swimming costume, trunks or shorts
• A towel

 

Lovely little piece about Ray, a lifelong diver.

Congratulations to our new committee for next year, freshly elected this evening.

Chair: Becki Gill

Secretary: James Robinson

Treasurer: Dan Waller

Kit Officer: Phil Rose

Training Officer: Sarah Guard

Diving Officer: Adam Stevens

Boat Officer: Drew Bellamy

Social Secretary: Graeme Read

 

The USSAC AGM is coming up and it’s important we have as many members as possible attend.

At the AGM we vote in the new committee and discuss any important matters as regard to running the club.

If you would like to run for a committee position, check the committee page to see what’s involved and possibly get in touch with the current incumbent.

The Meeting will be held in the Committee Room of the Student’s Union in Union House (behind Rubix) at 7.00pm on Thursday 12th of May.

See you there!

Adam

Kit Officer