News...
July / August
JULY - Another busy month for diving with four training days and quite a few assessments completed successfully. We should soon have some new qualified divers in the club. This month saw members and friends jet off to the Red Sea for our first Live-aboard trip and what a trip it was! We visited St Johns, Fury shoals, Elphinstone and the local reefs round Marsa Alam. The dive sites were pristine, the marine life prolific, we saw sharks, turtles, dolphins as well as all the usual Red Sea life. The service on the boat, Blue Pearl was excellent and our thanks go to the dive guides Pia, Ashraf and all the crew for a superb week. We now have a new motto for the club "SMB up - taxi home". We hope to have some photos on the website soon.
Then back to Capernwray, which in its own way was a good day. The trainees completed a number of assessments and the weather stayed dry.
Please note that the last pool session was held on 26th July and will resume on 6th September.
May / June
JUNE - Highlight of the month was definitely the trip to the Sound of Mull organised by Andrea. We managed to dive the Rondo, Hispania, Shuna and Thesis as well as diving for scallops in Ardtornish Bay. Some of the group also did some shore dives off the Hotel beach. We stayed at the Lochaline Dive Centre, the weather was great and the boat and accommodation were first class.
We were also busy on the training front with trips to Crummock - twice and Loch Fyne.
MAY - The Bank Holiday diving expedition organised by Catherine was very successful and enjoyed by all who made the trip to Loch Fyne. The weather was mixed but the diving was good with plenty of life (some photos are on the home page). The night dive was memorable for the fact that the four divers - 3 Master Divers and 1 Sports Diver - got completely lost and surfaced about 250 metres from the slip!! However, a rare Norwegian squat lobster was found by Peter; so not a complete waste of time then ?
On the 13th a few members visited the Diving Centre at Newcastle for a demo of the new Fuji camera but wallets stayed firmly in pockets.
Open water training continued on the 22nd with a trip to Crummock, the weather was glorious. We have also had two midweek trips to St Abbs for qualified divers.
This month we welcome our new members - Stewart, Sue, Colin, Thomas, Laura and Tony.
On Saturday, 29th we held a Seasearch Observer course courtesy of Calum Duncan of the Marine Conservation Society (Scotland). We were joined by members from Dumfries & Galloway and Wigton Solway clubs. On Sunday we had two dives at Roddy Reef, Loch Fyne to put our newly gained knowledge into practice. It was a very successful weekend. Many thanks to Calum for giving up his time to travel to Carlisle and Loch Fyne; also thanks to Bridget for doing all the organising. If you would like further information on the work of the MCS and Seasearch there is a link to their website on our LINKS page. We hope to join Wigton Solway later in the year to help with the MCS Beach clean project at Grune Point, Silloth. So watch the diary for further information.
March / April
MARCH - Well things have been a bit busier this month both socially and on the diving side. On the 9th we had a photography talk by Paul Duxfield from Cameras Underwater. It was very well attended and we were joined by members from West Lakes, Dumfries & Galloway and Reivers clubs. The talk was very interesting and informative, now all we have to do is go and take the pictures! Thanks to Paul, and to Bridget for doing all the organising; as a bonus we also raised over forty pounds for the RNLI. On Friday, 19th we were joined by Solway Divers for a Quiz night devised by Rob Burns from Solway. There were some fiendishly hard questions but Jim and Peter`s team from Carlisle were narrow winners. Again there was a good turn out so we look forward to the return fixture next year.
Training is going extremely well; Gareth and Andy completed their pool training and on the 20th they were joined by Mike and Johnny for their first open water dives at Capernwray. The weather wasn`t too kind but it was a successful day all round. Qualified divers also took the opportunity to check out gear before the season gets fully under way.
APRIL - A second trip to Capernwray on Good Friday for our open water trainees was again very successful with some assessments completed. Christina has now completed her pool training and she had her first OW dives at Crummock on the 24th. The weather was glorious, pity you couldnt say the same about the viz, but it didnt put her off! We finished off the day with a BBQ.
Unfortunately the Seasearch course on 10/11th was canceled but dives at Loch Fyne and Loch Long organised by Catherine proved to be an enjoyable alternative. Friday 30th will see us visiting Loch Fyne for the holiday weekend, a chance for some of the trainees to experience some sea dives.
January / February
JANUARY - Unfortunately the first pool session of 2010 was canceled due to snow & ice but we eventually restarted on 11th. Some hardy souls did venture to Capernwray on the 22nd for a couple of dives.
FEBRUARY - Congratulations to 5 members who completed the Nitrox course on the 5th. The AGM was very well attended, thanks to those members who contributed to the substantial buffet, it was much appreciated. There were a number of changes to the committee for 2010. Jim stood down after 10 years as Equipment Officer, his place will be taken by Gareth. Catherine will be our new Expedition Officer, Sam will take over from David as Health & Safety Officer and Christina will replace Gill as our Child Protection Officer. We wish all the incumbents well in their new roles and thank the departing Officers for their efforts over the years.
Trophy winners for 2009 were:
Trainee of the Year: David Maskell; Best Committee Member: Bridget Haughan; Best Non Committee Member: Sue McDougall; Best Trainer: Jim McDougall; Bloomer of the Year went jointly to Gary Williams & Ian Slater.
Saturday, 20th saw 8 divers take to the cold water(4 deg) of Crummock, although 1 exited very quickly (problem with a zip!!). The winners of the "collect most rubbish" competition were Jim & Sue. Thanks to David Maskell for organising.
November / December
Well here we are at the end of yet another good,and safe, year of diving. Sunday, 6th saw seven "Scuba Santas" take part in the annual Santa Dash around Carlisle city centre, to date we have raised over £350 towards the Eden valley Hospice and the CFM "Cash for Kids" appeals; so well done to Susan, Mark, Peter, Tom, Bridget, Sue & Gareth.
This month we have also had a night out to see "Mamma Mia" in Newcastle and our annual Christmas "do" at the Shepherds Inn and a very good time was had by all who attended. Thanks to Catherine and Gill respectively who did the organising.
Unfortunately the Boxing Day dive had to be canceled due to the weather but a few hardy souls did get to Capernwray for a dive over the holiday period.
November - CONGRATULATIONS to Ian and Gary who have qualified as Sports Divers this month, their final two sea dives were completed at St Abbs and the conditions were taxing to say the least!. Congratulations also go to Bridget who completed her Master Diver assessments this month; also to Johnny who has completed his pool training.
Saturday, 14th November saw nine members at the Scotsac Dive Conference at held in Eyemouth. We enjoyed some excellent talks and the day was further enhanced by RICHARD STOW deservedly winning a Suunto Dive Computer as one of the six Suunto Scotsac Diver Awards for his outstanding service to the club and 45 years of diving. Peter Bardsley also won 1st prize in the photo competition for his photograph of seals, he also won a raffle prize. So a good day all round. The day was not yet over as in the evening the girls resoundly thrashed the boys at the Laser Quest sessions organised by Peter.
On Wednesday, 18th Julie braved the waters (and rain) at Capernwray and had her first two Open Water dives (she said she enjoyed them)!
