The goings on at BSAC Branch 0588... http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com Diving, Training & Socialising (not necessarily in that order) Wed, 30 May 2007 13:04:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 en Aberdaron 2007 (or The Trouble with Tractors II) http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2007/05/30/aberdaron-2007-or-the-trouble-with-tractors-ii/ http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2007/05/30/aberdaron-2007-or-the-trouble-with-tractors-ii/#comments Wed, 30 May 2007 13:04:23 +0000 chestersubaquaclub http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2007/05/30/aberdaron-2007-or-the-trouble-with-tractors-ii/ Well, despite the weather we managed a few cracking dives in Aberdaron over the bank holiday weekend. We got there on the Saturday morning after an early start to get the boats out at 07:45. We were originally going to dive a wreck off the North of the peninsula but the wind was blowing too much and we headed into Aberdaron to set up camp and discuss the options.

We decided to dive on Bardsey Island to get the weekend started, on the wreck of the Iiesha. With kit loaded into the boat, we hooked up to Chris’s tractor and we were on our way to the beach to launch. Unfortunately for us, over the winter the council had removed most of the sand from around the slip. So as the wheels of the heavy delta left the concrete and met the soft sand, the whole lot sank down and grounded the trailer on the slip! Going nowhere the only option was to go back to the campsite and collect the jack to lift the trailer up and put some wood underneath to enable us to slide it off. Heading back to camp on the tractor, we were just about to start moaning and complaining about the problem – when in the bay we saw about a dozen dolphins performing acrobatics! They must’ve been chasing a shoal of fish near the surface as the seagulls were circling and diving too. They were somersaulting, jumping and tail slapping & waving for ages (the dolphins, not the seagulls!). Its amazing how dolphins have the power to make you forget about all of your problems and make you smile like a 10 year old. The jack collected we were heading back to the slip when the tractor’s steering went a bit awry, leaving Chris & I carrying jack & wood the half a mile down the road on foot! (We could’ve done with the dolphins again at this point!).

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]]> http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2007/05/30/aberdaron-2007-or-the-trouble-with-tractors-ii/feed/ 2007 IS HERE!!! http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2007/01/02/2007-is-here/ http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2007/01/02/2007-is-here/#comments Tue, 02 Jan 2007 23:41:38 +0000 chestersubaquaclub http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2007/01/02/2007-is-here/ Welcome all to the Chester Sub-Aqua Club news page! The website has had a little bit of an update so please have a look around. We’ve included the promo video we recently created for the AGM on the site as a streaming media file. OK so the quality is greatly reduced but you should get a good idea of what we’re all about at CSAC.

We’re sure 2007 is going to be a busy year - some of the things you may want to catch up on:

  • Nitrox Club - get your o2 & nitrox at cost.
  • Compressor - club now has two clean air compressors giving air at 230 & 300bar.
  • 2007 Projects - check out the button on the website for details on diving the Anglesey Wrecks this year!
  • Training Programmes - speak to Jean Davies regarding this years Ocean Diver, Sports Diver & Advanced Diver training.
  • Club Trips - Tenerife, Cocos, Plymouth, Anglesey, Dorset - Check the dive planner regularly and keep up-to-date with the latest plans!

See you all at the club on Wednesday evening!

J.

]]> http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2007/01/02/2007-is-here/feed/ Oban 2006 - I Am Spartacus http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/09/04/oban-2006-i-am-spartacus/ http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/09/04/oban-2006-i-am-spartacus/#comments Mon, 04 Sep 2006 11:59:12 +0000 chestersubaquaclub http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/09/04/oban-2006-i-am-spartacus/ [Pictures by Martin Kay]


A lady once said “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get…”

Whats the connection between that and Oban 2006? Well, apart from the trip being organised by our very own Forrest, exactly that - when it comes to the diving, you just don’t know what you’re going to get… 

Most arrived at Oban late on Thursday night, what with some not setting off till after work, and others delayed waiting for comrades to arrive following a closure on the M6. Latest were Andy & Nigel getting in after midnight. Still a few beers in the Oban Inn, somewhat a tradition, and everyone was setup for a good nights sleep. Friday morning saw us heading off to Puffin Diver centre for the pickup by MV Diving Belle. The boat was loaded up nice and slick with only some minor moaning about the weight of the twinsets, and before long we were on our way to the Breda for Dive #1.
  

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]]> http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/09/04/oban-2006-i-am-spartacus/feed/ Not The Lady Windsor - The Return http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/08/09/not-the-lady-windsor-the-return/ http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/08/09/not-the-lady-windsor-the-return/#comments Wed, 09 Aug 2006 22:10:09 +0000 chestersubaquaclub http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/08/09/not-the-lady-windsor-the-return/ We managed to get two extra people out to play on the Sunday so first job was to pull the additional boat from the club house. It was then off to Anglesey in convoy, collecting fuel and provision on the way.

As is often the case at the small bays with slips in Anglesey, we arrived amid utter chaos. A sailing race was going on and the place was absolutely chocca block with people, cars, and trailers. Some very inventive car parking was going on with cars double and triple parking.

Bow & Boiler

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]]> http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/08/09/not-the-lady-windsor-the-return/feed/ CSAC Versus The North Wales Weather! http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/08/09/csac-versus-the-north-wales-weather/ http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/08/09/csac-versus-the-north-wales-weather/#comments Wed, 09 Aug 2006 22:05:09 +0000 chestersubaquaclub http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/08/09/csac-versus-the-north-wales-weather/ How come the weather forecast always goes on a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns before your big weekends diving!?

It was all a bit doom and gloom on the Wednesday prior, forecast had changed two or three times already, and we weren’t sure whether it would be Saturday or Sunday we’d be able to get out. It finally got a bit more consistent and we knew we’d definitely be out Saturday at the very least.
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]]> http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/08/09/csac-versus-the-north-wales-weather/feed/ Club takes delivery of new 5.4m XS RIB http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/08/02/club-takes-delivery-of-new-54m-xs-rib/ http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/08/02/club-takes-delivery-of-new-54m-xs-rib/#comments Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:34:02 +0000 chestersubaquaclub http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/08/02/club-takes-delivery-of-new-54m-xs-rib/ The club has taken delivery of a brand new 5.4m XS RIB to replace the ageing Osprey Sparrowhawk which has no moved on. A number of members took the RIB for its first sea trials and first impressions are excellent. We now need to fit the RIB with a full electronics package and auxilliary engine.

 Preparing the RIB

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]]> http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/08/02/club-takes-delivery-of-new-54m-xs-rib/feed/ The Trouble with Tractors… http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/08/01/the-trouble-with-tractors/ http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/08/01/the-trouble-with-tractors/#comments Tue, 01 Aug 2006 21:31:19 +0000 chestersubaquaclub http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/08/01/the-trouble-with-tractors/ End of May saw CSAC head over to Aberdaton for a weeks long diving organised by Chris Holden. When the conditions are right Aberdaron has some of the most underated and outstanding diving in the UK. Bullhusse, Octopus, BIG Lobsters & Crayfish are some of the highlights…

Me and Dave P

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]]> http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/08/01/the-trouble-with-tractors/feed/ Tremendous Thailand http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/05/02/tremendous-thailand/ http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/05/02/tremendous-thailand/#comments Tue, 02 May 2006 19:47:05 +0000 chestersubaquaclub http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/05/02/tremendous-thailand/
Similan Islands 

With only the light from the glowing moon and twinkling stars to guide us, we made our way down the floating pontoon with our luggage. In the distance we could hear the sound of an approaching boat – I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It was a minor miracle I was even here.
 
“I strongly advise you not to take the flight!” said the pharmacist as he handed me the number to the out-of-hours emergency doctor. Only three days earlier, the night before our flight to Thailand, I’d been hit with a mysterious stomach bug that left me almost incapable of doing anything. I’ll spare you the details, but it wasn’t pleasant. I hadn’t been able to pack properly or sort my dive gear out for the trip. In desperation I’d simply thrown all my gear in the case and travelled to the airport with the others. On the off chance I felt better, I’d travel with them. If I didn’t improve, my trip was going to be over before it had begun.

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]]> http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/05/02/tremendous-thailand/feed/ Holyhead Wreck Lectures (and the bloke from Eastenders!) http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/03/26/holyhead-wreck-lectures-and-the-bloke-from-eastenders/ http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/03/26/holyhead-wreck-lectures-and-the-bloke-from-eastenders/#comments Sun, 26 Mar 2006 19:26:11 +0000 chestersubaquaclub http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/03/26/holyhead-wreck-lectures-and-the-bloke-from-eastenders/ This weekend saw a group of CSAC members make the trip to the ‘Boston Centre Stage’ venue for the annual Holyhead Wreck Lectures. This years speakers included our very own Chris Holden, who was giving a talk on the Leinster Wreck Project.

There were also a few celebrity faces amongst the crowd, including the bloke from Eastenders who used to be in The Bill!

It's that bloke from Eastenders!

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]]> http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/03/26/holyhead-wreck-lectures-and-the-bloke-from-eastenders/feed/ The brave? Or the Foolhardy!? http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/03/07/the-brave-or-the-foolhardy/ http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/03/07/the-brave-or-the-foolhardy/#comments Tue, 07 Mar 2006 18:51:41 +0000 chestersubaquaclub http://chestersubaquaclub.thedeepstop.com/2006/03/07/the-brave-or-the-foolhardy/  

It was -1 and icy as we set off down the A55 towards North Wales. We’d received a few emails from Branch members the previous day saying they didn’t fancy the conditions. So it was just myself and PWJ going to try equipment, and Nigel and Ryan going to complete some sports diver training.

We arrived at Vivian Dive Centre to find the car park blanketed in snow! Fortunately the clear skys meant the sun shone through, and it was surprisingly mild! Quickly into our drysuits, we proceeded to have a snowball fight in the middle of the car park - I always thought you had to be in touch with your inner child to be a diver!

 

Vivian Diving Centre

Vivian Dive Centre

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