North Wales Sub-Aqua Club

Dive boat engine stolen!!!

2012-01-15T22:34:00.002Z

Unfortunately this week the outboard engine from our dive boat was stolen. If anyone has information that could lead to it's return we would greatly appreciate it!
It's Yamaha 60hp two-stroke with the serial number EOL405570.
Please help and spread the word, we're a non-profit club and replacing this engine is going to be very difficult for us, any information could be invaluable!!

Easy Fund Raising

2012-01-09T12:39:00.005Z

North Wales Sub-Aqua Club are now registered with EasyFundraising.org.uk This means you can now help raise much needed funds for the club whenever you shop online, it's simple!

All you have to do is visit http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/nwsac/, register a new account with a username and password, you can even use your facebook details instead. That's it!

To top it all off, every single time you use the http://nwsac.easysearch.org.uk/ search engine, we get a donation, you don't even need to buy anything!Then whenever you want to shop online instead of going to Google or straight to the online retailers website use http://nwsac.easysearch.org.uk/, search for the retailer you're after and carry on. For every penny you spend online the retailer will donate a portion to the club! It couldn't be easier!

Good luck and happy shopping.

If anyone needs any help using the system, get in touch with Dave.

Happy Christmas

2011-12-21T09:12:00.003Z

It's been a while since the website was updated but fear not, we're still here! As a club we'd like to wish a very Happy Christmas and New Year to all our members, friends and families!
There are a few "Freeze your nuts off" diving trips planned over the holidays, so if you fancy breaking the ice pop down to the club on Sunday evening, or contact Martin Adshead for more details. Dry suits that don't leak and cold weather regs are the order of the day!
So from all of us at North Wales Sub-Aqua Club, have a great time this Christmas, eat too much, drink too much and most of all, safe diving! Remember, don't drink and dive! But I reckon a nice sherry afterwards might be an idea to warm yourselves back up!
Happy Christmas, Nadolig Llawen!!!

Simply Scuba Mystery Shopper

2011-06-28T08:55:00.002+01:00

Recently, I acted as a mystery shopper for online SCUBA diving equipment retailer Simply Scuba. After browsing the companies website I decided on purchasing an Intova "Ultra wide angle" backup torch. Main reason being, it could also be used as a video light went not in use as a backup torch. The online purchasing process was very simple and I was offered a number of delivery options. I made the purchase and waited. Two days later the torch was delivered 1st class, via Royal Mail. After opening the Intova torch package it became apparent that the manufacturers didn't seem to think a manual of any description was necessary. To be fair fitting the included batteries wasn't difficult, simply removing the tail cap was all that was required. However there were no polarity markings, and seeing as this was a new torch I wanted to get it right. I visited Simply Scuba's website again and found an exceptionally handy video provided by them, explaining how to fit the batteries, including polarity and also how to use the various functions of the torch. Press the tail switch once for 100% beam, again for 30% beam and a handy little press and hold function to start the strobe.
All in all it was a very enjoyable transaction, the customer service has been excellent so far. I've not had to send the torch back for any reason, and hopefully won't have to, but should the need arise I hope to receive the same level of customer care.
Basically I couldn't fault them. Highly recommended.

Oban Trip - Spare Spaces

2011-06-21T09:24:00.003+01:00

Hey folks, due to a couple of late cancellations we now have a couple of spare spaces on the Oban liveaboard trip aboard the MV Gaelic Rose this coming weekend (25th, 26th of June).
We'll be doing two dives per day on some of the many wrecks in the Sound of Mull. Maximum depth will be around 30m.
Total cost would be £150 for accomodation on the boat for two nights, food and air fills.
If anyone is interested please contact Martin Adshead on 07768 883342.

Second Hand Kit Available

2011-05-24T09:38:00.003+01:00

We've been informed that the following equipment is up for sale:

Metalsub pony cylinder quick release clamp: £35
Aquatek X480 membrane drysuit, front loading zip, approx height 6', size 9 boots, dry gloves and two undersuits: £240
Faber, 3l pony cylinder with protective cover: £50
AP Valves Buddy Pioneer BCD: £130
Poseidon Jetstream regulator with octopus and double console, gauges: £250
Apeks TX40 regulator and single gauge console for pony, no LP port: £100, or £130 with the pony cylinder listed above.
Mini SBM reel: £20
Torch: £10

For more information call Keith on 07775 854335.

Email issues

2011-05-24T09:33:00.001+01:00

Just to let everyone know, the club's email system should now be functioning again.
Sorry for the inconvenience.

Email issues

2011-05-16T15:19:00.002+01:00

Sorry for the inconvenience but our email system is currently experiencing technical issues. Hopefully it will be sorted out very soon.

North Wales Pioneer article of NWSAC

2011-04-03T16:51:00.002+01:00

Scuba sessions allow newcomers a taste of the deep

Published date: 30 March 2011 |Published by: Rhian Waller

DARE you explore the deep blue with a unique fish-eye view?

Llandudno sub-aqua club, a non-profit organisation run by volunteers, is offering £10 taster sessions to anyone interested in SCUBA at Llandudno sailing club on Sunday evenings. There is really no other activity quite like SCUBA diving, as any thrill-seeker will know.
It doesn’t compare to rollercoasters, motorbiking, paragliding or surfing - because as fun and exhilarating as those things are, they don’t open up a new, alien environment.
SCUBA stands for “self contained underwater breathing apparatus”, which does what it says on the tin.
New divers start off in the warm, safe surroundings of the swimmimg pool, where they will learn to float effortlessly in a “suspended” state, breath using a regulator, learn buddy hand signals and make safety checks.
Once a diver is competent at a basic level, they can venture into the sea with a qualified instructor, and enjoy the underwater world.

Andy Richardson, chairman of the group, said: “I got into it through the Territorial Army, and I thought it was great. That’s the way most people get into it. They just have a go.
“We are a friendly, informal group and a lot of us are friends outside diving. We hold birthday parties in the club house, my daughter had her 18th there.”
Despite the club being run by volunteer enthusiasts, who dive “for the love of it”, there is no shortage of experienced members.
Andy said: “We are part of the SAA, and we have fully qualified instructors. We teach everything from rescue diving to boat handling. We’re trying to get more people involved, because if more come to the taster sessions, we may be able to extend them.”

SCUBA diving is not without its associated risks. While it is not athletically demanding, it is an extreme sport, and divers need to be quite intrepid and aware that they are taking part in an entirely unnatural activity.
But the rewards are worthwhile.
Once a diver is confident and qualified, SCUBA opens up a whole host of opportunities, including wreck diving, underwater photography, night diving, navigation, lake diving and underwater naturalism - which is a bit like bird spotting, only with fish.

Those interested in SCUBA can meet the Llandudno sub-aqua club at the Llandudno sailing club near Venue Cymru at 6.30 on Sunday for the next few weeks.
Annual membership for a qualified diver is £150 and includes membership of NWSAC, membership of the SAA (Sub-Aqua Association), joint membership of Llandudno Sailing Club and air fills from the club compressor.
For new members requiring all of the initial diver training the annual cost is £200.

Pool sessions and team organisation.

2011-03-07T13:08:00.004Z

Hey everyone, just to let you know we're starting our pool sessions next week. Llandudno swimming pool is booked from 7pm until 8pm*, so we need trainees and instructors to meet at the club for 6pm to organise equipment. The pool is available to current club members who wish to practice drills and do some training in a warm environment and this will also help to cover the pool costs. We expect the cost to be around £5 per person. We'll probably be running through some fitness tests, out of gas drills and other such exercises.

Also the club is now using a team organisation programme called Teamer. Basically certain individuals will be set up as organisers who can create dives and other evens using this piece of software, it will then send an email and SMS text message to all members of the club to ask if you'd like to participate in the event, including details of tides and times. Each member of the club can then simply reply to the text message with a "y" or "n". This allows dive organisers a nice easy way of inviting people on dives and also let's them know how many people are likely to be joining them. This will hopefully be more useful than the current email only system as a few people don't check their emails too regularly. We'll be creating a test event shortly and sending out a text message just so people can confirm that the system is working.

*Please note the pool is booked from 7pm until 8pm, not 8pm until 9pm as we previoulsy thought!

SAA - Sub Aqua Association website

2011-01-19T10:02:00.003Z

Hey all,

Just thought I'd let you know that the SAA have updated their website to include various new facilities and resources. You can now set up an account on their site using your SAA membership number, this then allows you access to certain training materials, paperwork and the use of the SAA national forum. It's not being used too much just yet as it's quite new and not many people know about it. So if you fancy knowing more about the SAA in general and being able to discuss you're favourite sport with like minded divers from other SAA clubs, sign up now!

http://www.saa.org.uk/

June 25th & 26th - Oban Liveaboard Trip

2011-01-17T12:11:00.006Z

Location - Oban.
Date - 25/06/11 - 26/06/11.
Type - Boat - Sea.
Divers - So far : Martin, Josh, Mo, Andrius, Dave, Zoe, Paul.

We are booking a weekend diving in Oban, Scotland aboard the liveaboard dive boat, MV Gaelic Rose on the 25^th & 26^th of June. It is a great deal and is all inclusive:

3 meals a day
Air fills
Diving some great sites and wrecks
2 dives a day (Sat & Sun)
Arrive after 5pm on Friday straight to boat
Back in Oban for 3pm to get back home on Sunday
£150
02 (nitrox) is available as an extra

We need a minimum of 8 people (we have 7 already) and there's a maximum limit of 12, so be quick, this is first come first served!!!

An example itinery is as follows:

WEEKEND DIVE

Board Friday evening in Oban at the North Pier. This gives you an opportunity to start your holiday, with plenty of places to eat and drink.

Saturday morning starts with a light breakfast and departure for your first dive, which could be the Thesis (30m max). This is followed by a cooked brunch. You then have at least 3 hours in which to enjoy the scenery and relax. Having had a lengthy rest and possibly visited one of the villages in the Sound of Mull the next dive could be either a reef or the Shuna (26m max).

Evening meal on board before hitting the night life in Mull's capital, Tobermory. Bright and early Sunday morning, the first dive could be a deep wall or the Aurania (22m max), then your afternoon dive could be the Hispania (30m max) or a visit up Loch Sunart to find a nice reef.

Sunday return to Oban for 3pm for the long journey home, or hang around for another evening at individual's expense.

If you're interested contact club Dive Officer Martin Adshead as soon as possible!

January 16th - Nantlle Quarry

2011-01-11T09:13:00.003Z

Hey all, although it's still quite cold we're organising a dive at Nantlle Quarry on Sunday 16th of January. Please ensure you have organised cylinder fills before arriving at the clubhouse, contact Cliff Brown or Gary Williams for more information regarding cylinder fills. Maximum depth approximately 25m for training purposes.
Disposable barbecues for bacon butties are more than welcome! (Just remember to take your rubbish home with you please folks).

Meeting at 8:00am at the clubhouse to organise equipment and transport.
Location - Nantlle.
Date - 16/01/11.
Type - Quarry.
Divers - Please post comments here to confirm dive or contact Martin Adshead on 07768 883342 for more information.

Happy New Year!!!

2011-01-04T09:25:00.003Z

We'd just like to wish everyone a happy new year! Hopefully this year we'll get the weather and get the chance to take the boat out a lot more and get some more sea dives in! Take care everyone!

Christmas Chilli and Quiz night reminder!

2010-11-22T14:13:00.008Z

Hey folks!
Don't forget the Christmas Chilli and Quiz night is nearly upon us. It starts at 7:30pm on the 18th of December at the club house. Tickets are priced at £5 for adults, £2.50 for under 18s and under 8s are free! There will be lots of music, food and drink, and maybe, even a little dancing...

NWSAC Christmas Quiz and Chilli Night

2010-11-16T09:44:00.002Z

Hey all,
It's nearly that time of year again, when a large fat man creeps around kids bedrooms in the middle of the night and no one complains. That's right Christmas! And as normal we're having a "do". This year it's a festive quiz and chilli night, to be held on the 18th of December. There's be the usual dancing and music, loads of hot n spicy food and copious amounts of alcohol drunk, so early morning dives on the 19th are out! The evening will be kicking off at 7:30 and ending at... We'll play that one by ear I think.
Tickets are priced at £5 for adults, £2.50 for under 18's and under 8's are free. Any donations of raffle / quiz prizes will be appreciated before hand, simply hand them to Dave or George at the club. Remember that these events are open to family and friends ofcourse so drag everyone you know along!
For tickets either email Dave or simply turn up at the club on a Sunday to grab a few.

Training Schedule for 2011

2010-11-16T09:24:00.003Z

We have now published a preliminary training schedule for 2011. Please could all instructors confirm via email to Martin Adshead when and where they will be able to help out as we need to confirm dates. Please help out if you're able as it's unfair to expect just a few people to under take all of our training requirements. Please let Martin know if you're available for the pool sessions, available to take lectures and most importantly to help out with open water dives.
Below is a draft of our upcoming schedule. Once we have confirmation of assistance we will update the club calendar to make it all official. Please note all dates are subject to change based on instructor availability.

09/01/11 - Boat handling course theory session.
16/01/11 - Boat handling course theory session.
23/01/11 - Boat handling course theory session.
30/01/11 - Boat handling course practical session.
06/02/11 - Dive Leader theory sessions 1 & 2.
13/02/11 - Boat handling course practical session, Dive Leader theory sessions 3 & 4.
20/03/11 - Pool Session, Elementary Diver theory session 1 & 2.
27/03/11 - Pool Session, Elementary Diver theory session 3 & 4.
03/04/11 - Pool Session, Elementary Diver theory session 5 & 6.
10/04/11 - Pool Session, Elementary Diver theory session 7 & 8.
17/04/11 - Pool Session, Elementary Diver theory session 9 & 10.
08/05/11 - Vivian Dive Centre, Elementary Diver revision session.
15/05/11 - Vivian Dive Centre, Elementary Diver examination.
22/05/11 - Nantlle Quarry, Open Water Diver theory session 1 & 2.
05/06/11 - Nantlle Quarry, Open Water Diver theory session 3 & 4.
12/06/11 - Open Water Dives / Nantlle Quarry, Open Water Diver theory session 5 & 6.
19/06/11 - Open Water Dives / Nantlle Quarry, Open Water Diver theory session 7 & 8.
26/06/11 - Open Water Dives / Nantlle Quarry, Open Water Diver theory session 9.
03/07/11 - Open Water Dives / Nantlle Quarry, Open Water Diver revision session.
10/07/11 - Open Water Dives / Nantlle Quarry, Open Water Diver examination.

Please note the cost of the Boat Handling Course has not yet been confirmed.

Cylinder Fills Now Available!

2010-11-08T12:45:00.004Z

We are pleased to announce we are now offering a cylinder filling service to non-members using our compressor. This is by appointment only so you must contact us prior to requiring a fill. Most fills will take place on a Sunday evening unless otherwise discussed. Please contact us using this link, or by phoning Cliff on 07511 751161.
Costs:
232 bar = £3
300 bar = £4

Club Holiday February 2011

2010-09-14T20:55:00.003+01:00

We're now planning next year's club holiday. This is a semi-annual event where we jet off to find the sun, the beer and the dives!
Next year we're planning to head to El Gouna on the Egyptian "Red Sea Riviera". For more information on El Gouna click here.
Below are the details so far, however bear in mind that holiday prices fluctuate daily, everything up to this point is subject to change, including dates and prices.

This is the latest quote received from Thomas Cook:

Total cost for the holiday £450, this includes 7 nights b&b at the Arena Inn, El Gouna. This price also includes 20kg of check in luggage (you'll need this), 5kg hand luggage (Regs and computers), In-flight meals (yummy) and hotel transfers.
Depart Manchester @ 09:00 Friday 25th of February 2011 - Arrive Hurghada @ 16:35
Depart Hurghada @ 17:50 Friday 4th of March 2011 - Arrive Manchester @ 22:15
Single supplement is £70.00.
This discounted price means unfortunately we won't have a rep or a welcome meeting, disaster eh?

Things to remember:
Firstly, this is not just a diving holiday, family members are more than welcome.
This cost does not include the diving, 5 days diving, 2 dives per day with Easy Divers is £146 per person, for this we get an extra 6th days diving for free!
Travel Insurance with Thomas Cook will come to £22 per person, or you can arrange specialist diving insurance if required (for equipment etc).
You will need to purchase a Visa upon entry to Egypt, this is £15 per person.
Please remember all these details are subject to change, the dates may change, the price may change, even the location may change (but this is unlikely) we won't know anymore until we have exact numbers and deposits off people.

If you're interested we will need a deposit of £150 by Sunday 26th of September so we can confirm availability and book flights and accommodation. For more information speak to Cliff Brown at the diving club on Sunday night.

August 21st - Barbecue and Beach Party!

2010-08-10T13:07:00.008+01:00

We've been a bit shy on social events this year so in order to celebrate the fact that we've actually seen the sun this summer, granted it wasn't for very long, we're having a barbecue on the 21st of August at the club! There will be plenty of food and drink, as always, and it's open to anyone, so invite your friends and families! As always there's a fancy dress theme and this time it's nice and vague, simply anything to do with the beach! So get thinking. Tickets are £5 each and everything will be kicking off from 19:30 onwards.
And ofcourse there'll be entertainment and music too.
Everyone know's beach parties are great fun, a beach party was even the inspiration behind one of the dodgiest movie posters of all time!

See:

"Surfin' all day... Swingin' all night" ....hmmmmm.

Shed Work Party!

2010-08-10T13:01:00.003+01:00

Just a quick post to say thanks to Cliff, Carl, Andy R, Mike, George, Andy O, Andrius, Dave and Gary M for all their hard work on Saturday painting the club shed. The new guttering is up and works a treat (second time round). The only thing we didn't manage to do was reinforce the door however that's been planned as a job for the future.
Here are some pictures :

August 1st - Wreck of the Lady Meath

2010-08-06T13:01:00.006+01:00

Location - SS Meath
Date - 01/08/10.
Type - Sea - RHIB.
Divers - Dave, Andrius, Paul, Martin, Gary M.

We launched using the Marina Slipway at Holyhead and made our way out of the harbour slowly. Aiming to find the wreck at low water slack we noted a few fishing boats not far from the bouys marking the Meath, but they were far enough away to not cause us any issues.
We descended to the bottom using the shotline on the marker pots to guide us. It got dark very quickly due to the very poor visibility, 2m at best, so nice bright lamps were essential simply to keep track of one another. The wreck itself is badly broken up but still stands proud of the sea bed by a few metres. Large lumps of the super structure and boilers are found along the whole length of the wreck which is now carpeted with soft sponges and anemones. There was a fair amount of fish life on the wreck including lots of small Pouting and Pollock, and also a large Conger that Andrius found (and soon backed away from). The water temperature was between 14*c and 16*c depending on depth.
The Meath is a nice big wreck and we're definitely going back, only this time we're hoping for better visibility.

Club Shed Work Party - Saturday 7th, August

2010-08-04T18:13:00.002+01:00

Just to let everyone know, that as part of our deal with the sailing club for more space in the club shed, we agreed to paint the shed and restore it cosmetically. As many of you will have noticed the shed itself isn't in particularly good order so we're not going to waste money trying to make it into something it's not. However, it won't take much to make it look a lot nicer and make it a lot more secure.
What we're looking for is volunteers to help out on Saturday from 10am. Jobs will include; wire brushing the old paint off, fixing the guttering, fitting and painting a new door, and painting three of the external walls.
If anyone can make it to the club to help out on Saturday it would be much appreciated.

Kit For Sale

2010-07-18T13:44:00.007+01:00

Hey all, we have some more shiny kit up for grabs. For more information contact Dave or Zoe on 01492 870783.
Here's the list.

A Polar Extreme undersuit. Never used, size large. Comes in it's own snug pack bag, like a sleeping bag £30, inc potage to UK. SOLD!
An EpicCam shallow water housing for video cameras. This one has been used twice in fresh water, it's immaculate. Comes with springy lanyard thing. Was used with a Panasonic GS75, fits most small DV cameras. £60, inc postage to UK.
Northern Diver weight harness. Used but in good nick. Includes the weight pockets and a shiny new SS buckle. £20, inc postage to UK. SOLD!
HUGE Spirotechnique, La Spirodag knife. Looks like it was designed for killing Crocodiles. 7 1/2" blade, includes sheath. £15, pretty sure it's illegal to post so pick up only. SOLD!
Waterproof 5mm 3 finger mitts. Warm as toast! Labels cut away due to itching, otherwise mint. £20, inc postage to UK. SOLD!
Northern Diver hood, 5mm, size large, face hole trimmed away, used condition. £7.50, inc postage to UK.
Beaver 5mm semi dry hood. Size large, never used. £10, inc postage to UK.
Beaver Reel, the large one, 80m of line I think. Used about a dozen times. Excellent condition apart from a crap Chinese stainless clip on line that will need replacing, havent removed it to prevent the lines spooling off. Also has bungee loop tied around for wrapping blob in. £20, inc postage to UK. SOLD!
McMahon Reel. Used but good nick, includes nice looking brass clip. Has "Ian" written on it, so perfect as a Christmas gift for the Ian in your life! £20, inc postage to UK. SOLD!

Pics:

Twitter

2010-07-02T10:50:00.004+01:00

We now have our very own Twitter feed. There's nothing on it at the moment as it's brand new but you can now follow the club at http://twitter.com/NWSAC . This can be used for keeping up to date with the club in less than 140 characters, which is much easier to view on most mobile browsers than the full website is.
The Twitter account is freely available for club members to use, just like our Flickr and Youtube accounts, simply email me for the account details.
Along with our Facebook page, run by Gary Mason and this official website, we're now quite up to date with most social networking systems and have a relatively susbstantial web presence. A detailed Google Analytics report is available to anyone who may be interested. It shows how many visits we get to this website, how many hits, which pages are the most popular etc... We can also see a similar report for the popularity of our videos. Just ask if you'd like more information.
Also you may notice that on the right hand side of this page I have added the facility to share the latest news from the website via your Facebook and Twitter accounts if you have them.
So go on folks, spread the word about our club on the internet super highway.

Equipment for Sale

2010-07-02T08:27:00.005+01:00

Hey everyone, our Dive Officer, Martin Adshead is currently selling off a few pieces of a equipment for a colleague, the items are listed below with some pictures. If anyone is interested please email Martin.

300 bar 12 litre cylinder, white, out of test - £50
232 bar 3 litre cylinder, yellow, out of test - £40
Weights, 1 large, 1 medium, 1 small - £20
Mares Power fins, white - £15
Poseidon Force Fins, XL - £60
ScubaPro twinning bands - £10
ScubaPro BCD XL - £50
3 pairs assorted boots - £10 each.
2 assorted hoods - £15 each
2 pairs assorted gloves - £15 each
Reel and SMB - £10
ScubaPro regulator including content gauge - £85
Assorted belts and cambands - £5 each
Wetsuit - £40
Various assorted spare bits in box - £25

Useful Maps

2010-07-01T10:03:00.006+01:00

We now have a number of useful maps available. As with all maps of this nature no guarantee can be given for their accuracy so please treat them accordingly. Also they are all W.I.P (Work in progress), should you find any inaccuracies or wish to have anything added to the maps please e-mail us with your comments.
Below you will find links that will take you to each map individually. Some of you may be interested in downloading the Google Earth plug-in to view some of the maps in pseudo 3D. The maps have been separated to avoid creating a single, cluttered map.

General dive site map.

Dive services map.

Map of Dorothea quarry.

Map of Vivian Dive Centre.

Pool Training Video

2010-06-25T12:10:00.003+01:00

Here is a short video clip from one of our last training sessions in Llandudno Swimming Pool. The video was shot by Karolina and shows various activities and training exercises taking place, from bouyancy control through fin pivoting to clearing a flooded mask. As you can see the ability to alter the depth in the pool is very handy allowing us both shallow and deeper sections in which to practice and train.
Hope you enjoy the video.

Hand feeding a Spider Crab

2010-06-18T23:38:00.007+01:00

Just a quicky folks, here's a video taken last week showing Zoe hand feeding a pretty large Spider Crab under Trefor Pier. Another dive found a dead Lesser Spotted Dog Fish under the pier which Zoe then handed to the crab who grabbed on with both claws and tucked in. Sorry about the slightly fuzzy picture but the video was shot using only the natural light available.

June 13th - Trefor Pier

2010-06-13T16:47:00.006+01:00

Location - Trefor Pier
Date - 13/06/10.
Type - Sea.
Divers - George, Zoe, Dave.

We turned up to find around half a dozen cars already parked up and quite a few people putting kit on already. The wind wasn't in a favourable direction but fortunately it was barely a breeze in the morning. Once we'd entered the water we swam around the break to the North East, following the contour of the wall round and then out under the pier itself. There seemed to be far fewer people in the water than we'd expected and we only saw 4 other divers the whole time. The water was quite warm at 15*c and the vis was a very respectable 10m at times. There was a slight current running from the East which began to pick up towards the end of the dive. We saw plenty of life including some enormous Spider Crabs, a Pipe Fish, a lot of Wrasse and a large Sea Scorpion. Zoe even managed to play Dr Doolittle by hand feeding a dead Dog Fish to one of the larger Crabs. Expect lots of videos shortly!!!
After 50 minutes at around 6m we decided to head back to shore. Again we followed the breakwater back in and surfaced to find the wind had picked up a little. We'd just managed to sort all of our kit out when the heavens opened on us.
All in all a very enjoyable dive with plenty of squidgey things to look at. Videos will be uploaded soon.

April 25th - Club Dive - Vivian Dive Centre

2010-04-29T13:42:00.002+01:00

Location - Vivian Dive Centre, Llanberis
Date - 25/04/09.
Type - Quarry.
Divers - Martin, Andrius, Carl, Zoe, Dawn, Lucy, Paul, John, Eamon, Dave, George on surface cover.

The dive centre itself was relatively quiet on Sunday, with the wind being almost non-existant many folk were probably out on boats, which is a stark comparison to the last time we dived Vivian when it was reminiscent of a jacuzzi. We, however, were here for a training dive, this was to be a few members first "open water" dive. So the plan was drills in the shallows for the trainees and instructors. Zoe and Dave however, decided to go for a bimble around the deeper end trying out a new Bonica HD video camera.
It seems a lot of folk in Vivian were undertaking some kind of training, which is really what the site excels at, we noticed a lot of buddy pairs carrying out practice drills and tasks.
The visibility wasn't great, around 4m tops in the deeper areas, and obviously a whole lot worse when the leaves started getting kicked up. Temperature wise our computers were registering 6*c which isn't exactly warm, but it's not Arctic either, but for some reason it felt VERY cold after around 20 minutes or so. We had a quick look at the little boat that's in the 15m range and I felt obliged to try getting in the wheel chair whilst carrying twin 12's. I didn't fit.
It was quite dark at the bottom due to the overcast weather which meant there wasn't much natural light, so we weren't holding out much hope for the video camera considering there was no artifical lighting attached but so far it seems to be producing quite promising results. Despite only costing a third of the price of a VeeCam! Granted it doesn't come in a posh waterproof case, but for another £50 it can. One drawback of HD cameras is the amount of time (and hard drive space) needed to edit. Hopefully we will have some test footage on here soon. Possibly even some blue water tests. Watch this space!!!

New Club Instructors!

2010-04-29T13:30:00.003+01:00

We'd all just like to say well done to Mike, Andy and Carl who completed their club instructor courses last weekend! It was a very indepth assessment of their diving skills and they're ability to teach others, but they all passed with flying colours. It's a huge boost to the club to have more instructors available to help out with our new trainees who are already well into their Open Water course. Congratulations lads!

But don't let it go to your heads, you can all still win "The Award".

Maritime Archaeology Presentation

2010-01-28T19:56:00.008Z

We are pleased to anounce that we will be hosting a talk by Mr Ian Cundy of the Malvern Archaeological Diving Unit on Saturday 20th of March.

Date - Saturday, 20th March.
Time - Doors open 7PM, Presentation begins 8PM.
Location - Llandudno Sailing Club*.
Entrance - Free.

The talk will provide an introduction to Maritime Archaeology in general and the Nautical Archaeology Society. Ian will also talk about the work he has been carrying out on the protected wreck "The Diamond" in Cardigan Bay. This event promises to been extremely to anyone with even the slightest interest in the waters around our country.Mr Cundy has been a diver for 17 years, the presentation will be by a diver, and aimed directly at divers. He lives in Malvern in Worcestershire, where he runs the Malvern Archaeological Diving Unit. MADU is a loose group of divers that have an interest in archaeology.

"We take on maritime archaeological projects ourselves, and turn out to assist anyone who needs help, advice or assistance in the field of maritime archaeology. Several members of MADU are also tutors for the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS), and in this guise we run one and two day courses on 'Foreshore and Underwater Archaeology' predominantly for divers."

Ian has been working on maritime archaeology sites, both in the UK and abroad for appriximately 12 years and in recent times has held various licences both from English Heritage and CADW for the Welsh Assembly, to work on protected sites off Lundy Island and in Cardigan Bay. He also holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and an MA in Maritime Archaeology.

Could all those interested in attending this event please contact either Dave or George so that we can gauge numbers.

*Scroll down for Club address.

Hogarthian Equipment Configuration

2010-01-15T10:20:00.013Z

As I'm sure some of you may be aware BSAC recently made a change to their policies specifying that their instructors are no longer allowed to teach students using, what is commonly referred to as, a Hogarthian equipment rig. Fortunately the SAA have made no such policy change and a divers equipment configuration is at the individuals discretion. In case some of you are not familiar with the Hogarthian equipment configuration I approached technical diving instructor and author Mark Powell who gave his permission for the following article, originally published in Sports Diver magazine in 2008, to be reproduced on our website. I hope you find it as interesting as I did. Original article images courtesy of Gareth Lock.

Hogarthian Equipment Configuration

If you are on a boat with a group of technical divers you are likely to notice a great deal of similarity in the way their equipment is set up. It doesn’t matter if the diver was trained by one of the major technical training agencies or any of the other smaller agencies there is likely to be a lot of similarity. In many cases their equipment might not just be similar but identical. The reason for this is many technical divers adopt an overall approach to their equipment philosophy. This can be summed up by the phrase KISS which in addition to its traditional meaning of Keep It Simple Stupid can also be interpreted as Keep It Simple and Streamlined. A more detailed approach to equipment configuration is known as the Hogarthian approach and increasingly UK divers are using this approach when setting up their equipment.

The Hogarthian equipment configuration developed out of the North Florida Caving community. The very formal sounding name of “Hogarthian” is in honour of Bill “Hogarth” Main who is credited with bringing together the major parts of the System. Main tried to develop a safer and more efficient system of diving than the confusion of styles that was present at the time. He adopted the technique of breathing from a long hose from cave diving legend Sheck Exley and from this basis Main began applying the "safer and more efficient" philosophy to every component of dive gear. He reduced the amount of gear taken underwater, he removed unnecessary D-rings and clips, and he rearranged his gear to promote efficiency and safety to the extreme. He examined every assumption and convention, and if they were found to be inadequate he changed them. He was one of the first to propose a standardised system where each diver wore the same configuration. This gives the advantage of greatly simplifying repair and allows for swapping of equipment. In addition if your buddy is sing the same equipment as you then you instantly know where everything is and how it works. However Main did not intend his system to be permanently fixed with no allowance for flexibility. Rather he developed his philosophy to be dynamic so that new developments could be incorporated into the system. He also recognised that there is no single configuration that will work in all situations and that the proper configuration for a warm water cave dive, for example, is different than that used for a cold water wreck dive in the English Channel.

The Hogarthian style was quickly adopted by most of the Florida cave diving community and now most cave divers in this area dive in this style. It also began to spread beyond this starting point. Many other cave divers around the world started to adopt the same system. Other areas of technical diving including wreck diving also started to adopt some are all of the Hogarthian system. Wreck penetration diving has many features in common with cave diving and wreck divers also started to adopt this style of diving. There were some exceptions. On the North East coast of the United States a different configuration style had been developed and there were a number of discussions of the merits of a “cave style” versus “NE wreck style”. However the advantages of the Hogarthian style gradually won round a large number of divers and it is now considered the norm in many US diving communities. The UK was also a different story. UK cave diving is very different from US cave diving and the equipment requirements are also very different. For this reason UK cave diving could never adopt the same style of diving which meant that there wasn’t the same foothold for Hogarthian diving to break into the country. As a result UK technical diving equipment initially developed along quite a different route. It wasn’t until communications within the technical diving community improved through dedicated newsletters and in particular the internet that awareness of the Hogarthian system began to be noticed. It was the introduction of the Do It Right (DIR) movement in the UK that brought the Hogarthian system more into the limelight. The DIR group are the most rigid followers of the Hogarthian system and this has led to the incorrect assumption in the UK that the Hogarthian style was introduced by the DIR group. In fact most of the leading Technical Instructors in the UK use the Hogarthian system irrespective of the agency they teach for.

The Hogarthian style is focused on simplicity and efficiency. It focuses on carrying sufficient safety equipment without carrying unnecessary clutter and as such is more a philosophy than a recipe book. However there are some key components that make up a Hogarthian configuration.

Rather than a traditional BCD the Hogarthian configuration uses a backplate, wing and harness. This type of setup has a number of advantages. A suitably sized, unbungeed wing provides buoyancy in the same location as the twinset and so is more effective at counteracting the weight of the twinset. Having the buoyancy behind the diver but next to the twinset helps to support the weight of the twinset and lifts the twinset off the divers back. All of this means that a wing is usually considered a more comfortable way to provide the buoyancy required for a twinset. A simple one-piece harness made from a continuous length of webbing is used. This reduces the clutter around the front of the diver when compared to a standard BCD and increases their streamlining in the water. The harness should be properly fitted and adjusted so that the diver can easily reach heir manifold in order to be able to carry out a shutdown if needed.

Single cylinders can be used for shallow recreational dives with a Hogarthian configuration. Single cylinder wings are available and the backplate and harness configuration will be unchanged. However for deeper dives and any decompression dives a manifolded twinset is preferred. Manifolded twinsets are preferred to independents due to the complexity of air sharing rules when using independents. The use of inverted cylinders is also discouraged due to the complexity of configuring the hose routings.

One of the most distinctive aspects of a Hogarthian configuration is the use of a long hose on the primary regulator. A typical recreational diver will have their main regulator and then an ‘octopus’ regulator which can be donated to their buddy in case of emergency. This octopus reg is often, but not always, on a slightly longer hose than the main regulator. The Hogarthian configuration uses a much longer hose, from 1.5m to 2m in length and it is placed on the primary regulator rather than the octopus. There are a number of reasons for this. In an out of air situation in a wreck, cave or even during an ascent on a decompression dive the use of a long hose enables you to be slightly further away from your buddy. If you try to ascend while breathing off your buddy’s short hose, you will need to be very close together. Sending up a delayed SMB, controlling the ascent and holding a safety stop are much more difficult when you are very close together and ‘in each others faces’. Combined with the stress of the initial OOA this can be enough to turn a difficult situation into a full blown incident. A long hose gives you the space to perform all of these tasks with enough room to remain comfortable and composed. Once you have passed over your regulator and deployed your long hose you can maintain your normal in-water position and the ascent is then no more difficult than if your buddy was breathing their own regulator.

The long hose could go on the octopus but the Hogarthian configuration puts the long hose on the primary regulator. This is because in the case of an out of air situation the diver would plan to donate the regulator in their mouth. This is not what the majority of divers were taught on their entry level course so why this method should be adopted? The first reason for donating the regulator in your mouth is that you know this regulator is working. The out of air diver will be under stress and putting a working regulator in their mouth is the quickest way to calm them down. Another reason is that many people believe that an out of air diver is more likely to take the regulator from your mouth rather than hunting around for an octopus.

The last reason is that technical divers frequently carry multiple cylinders. These cylinders carry gasses which are only breathable at certain points of the dive. If you breathe the gas at the wrong depth then Oxygen toxicity could be a very real risk. We know that the regulator in our mouth always contains breathable gas and so by donating this regulator we are ensuring that the out of air diver is getting a safe source of gas.

Of course if we donate our regulator then that leaves us with no regulator in or mouth. This is not a situation that we want to be in for very long. If we now need to start hunting around for our backup, ensuring that we don’t take a deco gas regulator by mistake, then we are just moving the problem along from the out of air diver to ourselves. For this reason a diver using the Hogarthian configuration does not store his backup in his pocket, dangling by his hip or clipped somewhere on his chest but instead he stores it on a bungee around his neck. This means that once they have donated their primary it is just a question of ducking the head and putting the bungeed backup into their mouth.

The excess length of the long hose is stored by “wrapping” it around the body. The hose passes down behind the wing on the right hand side, around the right hip, across the chest from right to left and behind the head. There is a common misconception that it goes around the neck. This is not true as it would be dangerous to have the hose fully around the neck. By having the hose on the back of the neck it id held in position but can be released by ducking the head and/or flicking the hose off the head. This method of storing the hose is known as a Hogarthian loop or it is often shortened to “Hog Loop”.

The use of a long hose is closely associated with technical diving and is often seen in conjunction with a twinset. However a long hose is not restricted to a twinset and it is possible to use this configuration even on a recreational single cylinder set up.

Other equipment and accessories should be firmly attached to the body or stored in pockets. This is to avoid any dangling equipment that could get snagged or damaged. Dangling consoles, regulators, DSMBs, reels or any other equipment are to be avoided. A single pressure gauge, as opposed to gauge consoles is used and this is attached to the left hand hip D-ring by a boltsnap.

Hogarthian divers use torches for signalling and so require a powerful primary torch. A canister torch is preferred as this allows a small light head to be carried easily. A Goodman handle is used so that the diver can hold the torch in his hand without loosing the ability to use that hand for other tasks. The canister torch is mounted on the waist strap on the right hand side of the body. Backup lights are also carried and should be streamlined by attaching to the shoulder D-rings with a boltsnap and are then held in position along the harness by surgical tubing or inner tube.

The idea behind the Hogarthian configuration is to try to be equipped to deal with realistic emergencies rather than prepare for every possible emergency. This is based on the view that most accidents don't happen as a result of equipment failure. Instead most accidents are due to the diver failing to adequately prepare. This can be as a result of not properly cleaning and servicing their equipment, or by overweighting themselves with too much equipment, or by configuring their equipment in a manner that is confusing, or by failing to practice basic skills. This means that the Hogarthian configuration is not just about the equipment configuration but the attitude that goes with it. Being properly trained for the type of diving you are carrying out, strong buddy or team diving skills, good buoyancy control, regular practice of basic skills and maintaining a good level of fitness are as much a part of the Hogarthian approach as simply adopting the equipment configuration.
__________________

Article written by:
Mark Powell
Dive-Tech: Technical Diver Training
http://www.dive-tech.co.uk
Deco For Divers by Mark Powell A divers guide to decompression theory and physiology

Images courtesy of:
www.techdivenz.com
www.sfdj.com
Gareth Lock
www.imagesoflife.co.uk

Happy New Year

2010-01-14T19:14:00.003Z

Happy new year everyone!
Firstly I'd just like to let you all know that the club's AGM is to be held on Sunday 14th of February at 8pm in the Sailing Club. Ofcourse all members are welcome and if anyone has any issues they would like raised could they please present them in writing to the club secretary, George Robinson atleast 28 days before the meeting.
Also we'd just like to thank Gary Williams, Carl Jones, Dave Robinson and Cliff Brown for braving the cold last Thursday night getting all of the cylinders ready to send to CTS for testing. A special thanks to Cliff who took a few hours off work to drive them all the way there. Also Carl, Andrius, Dave and Andy took advantage of the lack of cylinders in the shed and extended the back wall to allow for more storage space. We also have a posh new floor in there and an enormous shelf, perfect for stacking old junk on.
Please remember that if you're cylinders were included in the collection sent to CTS in Liverpool for testing you will need to write a check for the amount owed when the cylinders are returned. We will have an itemised invoice outlining exactly what is owed on each cylinder.

November 29th - Club Dive - Menai Strait

2009-11-20T08:52:00.002Z

Martin Adshead, club DO is organising a dive at Menai Bridge on Sunday 29th of November. Please ensure you have organised cylinder fills before arriving at the clubhouse, contact Cliff Brown or Gary Williams for more information regarding cylinder fills. All buddy pairs will need a compass for this dive. Maximum depth, approximately 15m.

Meeting at 9:00am at the clubhouse to organise equipment and transport.
Location - Menai Strait.
Date - 29/11/09.
Type - Shore.
Divers - Please post comments here to confirm dive or contact Martin Adshead on 07768 883342 for more information. It is essential Martin is informed as soon as possible if you wish to join this dive.

Halloween Party - 31st October

2009-10-19T19:55:00.004+01:00

Well All Hallows' Eve is almost here! The party starts at 8pm in Llandudno Sailing Club on Saturday 31st of October!
Fancy dress is optional but recommended, tickets are £5 and include entry into the spooktacular halloween themed quiz and loads of food including home made Ghoul-ash. See what I did there?! And ofcourse there'll be drinking and dancing until late! Everyone is welcome, so tell you're friends and family! For more information regarding tickets contact George.
And now ladies and gentlemen, for you're viewing pleasure NWSAC presents The Monster Mash....

The Cove

2009-10-13T09:24:00.004+01:00

This is probably something we should all see.

The Cove begins in Taiji, Japan, where former dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry has come to set things right after a long search for redemption. In the 1960s, it was O’Barry who captured and trained the 5 dolphins who played the title character in the international television sensation “Flipper.”

But his close relationship with those dolphins – the very dolphins who sparked a global fascination with trained sea mammals that continues to this day -- led O’Barry to a radical change of heart. One fateful day, a heartbroken Barry came to realize that these deeply sensitive, highly intelligent and self-aware creatures so beautifully adapted to life in the open ocean must never be subjected to human captivity again. This mission has brought him to Taiji, a town that appears to be devoted to the wonders and mysteries of the sleek, playful dolphins and whales that swim off their coast.

But in a remote, glistening cove, surrounded by barbed wire and “Keep Out” signs, lies a dark reality. It is here, under cover of night, that the fishermen of Taiji, driven by a multi-billion dollar dolphin entertainment industry and an underhanded market for mercury-tainted dolphin meat, engage in an unseen hunt. The nature of what they do is so chilling -- and the consequences are so dangerous to human health -- they will go to great lengths to halt anyone from seeing it.

Undeterred, O’Barry joins forces with filmmaker Louis Psihoyos and the Oceanic Preservation Society to get to the truth of what’s really going on in the cove and why it matters to everyone in the world. With the local Chief of Police hot on their trail and strong-arm fishermen keeping tabs on them, they will recruit an “Ocean's Eleven”-style team of underwater sound and camera experts, special effects artists, marine explorers, adrenaline junkies and world-class free divers who will carry out an undercover operation to photograph the off-limits cove, while playing a cloak-and-dagger game with those who would have them jailed. The result is a provocative mix of investigative journalism, eco-adventure and arresting imagery that adds up to an urgent plea for hope.

The Cove is directed by Louie Psihoyos and produced by Paula DuPre Pesman and Fisher Stevens. The film is written by Mark Monroe. The executive producer is Jim Clark and the co-producer is Olivia Ahnemann.

Training Programme

2009-09-28T10:08:00.004+01:00

Hey everyone, you may notice that our Club Calendar is now filling up nicely with dates for Training Dives and Lectures. If anyone has any major issues with not being able to attend for any length of time could they please contact either Andy Richardson or Martin Adshead. For the training dives could all instructors and divers qualified to assist please contact Dave Robinson so we can gauge the numbers available.
Also could members wishing to go to the Dive Show at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre please pay a £10 deposit to either Dave or Cliff.

September 5th - Quest Diving

2009-09-06T17:07:00.002+01:00

Location - Wreck of the Mermaid and Puffin Island, Anglesey
Date - 05/09/09.
Type - Boat.
Divers - Martin, Chris, Andy, Keith, Eamon, Dave.

We left Menai Bridge at 10:30 and were told the wreck would be decided upon once we were out of the Straits. The sea was absolutely bouncing but to be fair to Scot he kept going and dropped us in right on top of the "Boiler Wreck" about 3 miles North West of the Great Orme, which is thought to be the old steamer "Mermaid". We weren't hanging around at the surface either due to the swell, just in and down to get out of the boats way. The wreck is basically just the metal bits of the boat now so lots of piping, bits of engine and, as the name suggests a huge boiler. There were lots of Anemones, loads, and I do mean loads, of Pouting and Poor Cod, some really large too. And ofcourse the obligatory Conger stashed inside the boiler. We also spotted atleast a dozen large lobsters, but it seems everyone had forgotten their theiving bags so no lunch was retrieved. Vis was pretty good at anywhere between 3 and 7 metres down at the wreck itself.

For the second dive we headed into the shelter of Puffin Island. Myself and Eamon decided to head to the shallows at the tip of the island to see if there were any Seals about. We spent the whole dive in around 3 metres of water, this is what we saw:

August 29th - Club Dive - Menai Strait

2009-09-01T09:46:00.002+01:00

Location - Menai Bridge, Anglesey
Date - 29/08/09.
Type - Shore.
Divers - George, Andy, Carl, Zoe, Dave.

Another dive from the concrete platform just West of Menai Bridge. We headed over to Platters Reef and found it teaming with huge lobsters (some the size of Alsations) and lots of spawning edible crabs, also the rocks that make up the reef were absolutely carpeted in gorgeous sponges and anemones. We stumbled across some of the remains of the HMS Conway which consisted mostly of old brass pins sticking out of the sea bed.
We entered the water around 15 minutes later than we'd hoped to and found the tide really starting to run towards Bangor during the last 10 minutes of the dive. The visiblity in the deeper areas was a pretty impressive 5-7 metres while, predictably in the shallows it was much worse.

August 19th - Bull Bay

2009-08-22T09:54:00.002+01:00

Location - Bull Bay, Anglesey
Date - 19/08/09.
Type - Shore.
Divers - Dave, Zoe.

With a Southerly wind blowing the North Eastern corner of Anglesey was about the only sheltered spot available for a dive so we decided to try Bull Bay. We arrived to find the bay totally deserted, which wasn't that surprising considering it was a Wednesday morning. We kitted up and headed in along the left wall. Maximum depth was around 10m and the visibility was quite good along the edges of the bay. As we crossed the mouth of the bay the vis decreased quite significantly as did the quantity of marine life. There were plenty of small Corkwing Wrasse, a few Shrimp and lots of Plumose Anemones, along with the usual man made litter, especially around the rocky outcrops to the right of the slipway. Overall dive time was just under an hour and the water was a balmy 17*c, there's also plenty of space for kitting up and a very handy public toilet near by.

August 16th - Club Dive - Menai Strait

2009-08-16T15:21:00.003+01:00

Location - Menai Strait, Anglesey
Date - 16/08/09.
Type - Shore.
Divers - Martin, Carl, Dave.

With the tides looking good we got to the Menai Bridge dive site for around 9:30 and amazingly, managed to get parked. It didn't take long for a fair few vans to turn up though.
We decided to try the concrete steps down to the shore on the East side of the bridge and head straight out towards the HMS Conway. Maximum depth was around 15m and vis was a relatively decent 4m or more at times. There was a lot of life in the deeper sections with dogfish, shoals of launce and more crabs than you could shake a stick at. Overall it was a really enjoyable dive with warm water and pretty good visibility.

August 9th - Club Dive - Dorothea

2009-08-05T08:11:00.002+01:00

Meeting at 8:30am at the clubhouse to organise equipment and transport.
Location - Nantlle Quarry.
Date - 09/08/09.
Type - Quarry.
Divers - Post comments here to confirm dive or contact Dave Robinson.

Max depth 40m with a possible second dive much shallower for trainees depending on numbers of divers attending.

August 1st - Chili and Pub Quiz night

2009-07-29T22:26:00.004+01:00

Well the Chili and Pub Quiz night is almost upon us. We all just want to say thanks very much to all those who have donated prizes. Looks like we're going to have a cracking turn out, so let's hope it's the first of many social nights!
There's still a few spots left so if you're in the area and dont have a ticket feel free to turn up and pay on the door, hopefully we'll have made enough Chili!
Well folks, hope to see you all on Saturday night from 7pm onwards, I get the feeling we won't be diving too early on Sunday.

July 26th - Club Dive - Porth Ysgaden

2009-07-20T09:36:00.004+01:00

Looks like the weather is against us I'm afraid folks. 20mph+ Southerly winds and raining all day.

Please ensure you have organised cylinder fills before arriving at the clubhouse. All divers will need a compass for this dive. Maximum depth, approximately 15m.

Meeting at 9:30am at the clubhouse to organise equipment and transport.
Location - Porth Ysgaden.
Date - 26/07/09.
Type - Shore.
Divers - Post comments here to confirm dive.

July 18th - Sailing Club Barbecue

2009-07-20T09:30:00.002+01:00

A few members of North Wales Sub Aqua Club joined the Sailing Cub members for their summer barbecue last Saturday evening. Although the weather wasn't fantastic the evening itself was. We'd just like to say thank you very much to Llandudno Sailing Club for making us feel so welcome! We all had a great evening and really enjoyed ourselves, the food was fantastic by the way, especially the coleslaw.
We hope to see much more of the Sailing Club in a social capacity in the future. Looking forward to the next barbie!

August 1st - Quiz and Chili Evening

2009-06-29T10:09:00.006+01:00

On Saturday the 1st of August North Wales Sub Aqua Club will be holding a social evening. The event will take place at Llandudno Sailing Clubhouse on the promenade in Llandudno, North Wales.

For the meager sum of £5 new pounds you will be entitled to:

Entry into our pub quiz, including a music round, with some fantastic prizes up for grabs.

A bowl of Zoe's chili. This is not a euphemism, we are talking actual chili! It will not be made to radioactive standards as usual, due to varying levels of chili tolerance, however sauces will be issued along with health warnings at patrons request.

Cheap drinks courtesy of our well stocked bar.

A raffle with loads of prizes up for grabs.

Basically this is a fund raising event for our club and also a way of socializing with other divers who may be local to the area or just visiting. Everyone is welcome, families included.
Entry is by ticket only, so if you need tickets contact Dave either by e-mail.

June 28th - Club Dive - Menai Strait

2009-06-24T08:45:00.002+01:00

Please ensure you have organised cylinder fills before arriving at the clubhouse. All divers will need a compass for this dive. Maximum depth, approximately 15m.

Meeting at 11:00am at the clubhouse to organise equipment and transport.
Location - Menai Strait.
Date - 28/06/09.
Type - Shore.
Divers - Post comments here to confirm dive or contact Martin Adshead on 07768 883342 for more information.

June 21st - Try Dive - Llandudno Swimming Pool

2009-06-16T20:25:00.006+01:00

We are holding another Try Dive session at Llandudno Swimming Pool on Sunday the 21st of June at 6.30pm. The cost is £10 for an hour long session explaining the use of SCUBA equipment and trying it out in the pool.
If you fancy having a go just to see if you like diving then get in touch with the club :

Training Officer Andy Richardson on 07785 184388
or
Dive Officer Martin Adshead on 07768 883342
or
Secretary George Robinson on 07740 478841

June 14th - Club Dive - Trefor Pier

2009-06-16T20:11:00.003+01:00

Location - Trefor Pier, Llyn Peninsula
Date - 14/06/09.
Type - Shore.
Divers - Martin, Carl, Andy, Maggie, Alby, Eamon, Dave, George and Kirsten.

We met as usual at the clubhouse to organise equipment and gas at 10:00 and also met Kirsten who was joining us as a guest for the day. We set off in convoy and expected the journey to take around an hour and a half.
We arrived in Trefor to find the main car park was jam full so we had to use the shore side car park instead, not surprising considering the weather and also the fact there was a local football match taking place just up the road. At the breakwater maybe 20-25 divers were already assembling kit and preparing to enter the water using the steps inside the breakwater at high water which was 13:30. So we decided to get in the water a little earlier than planned and dropped in to the West of the pier at 13:15. Viz was upwards of 5m but under the pier itself the heavy traffic of divers made it a bit murkier.
We saw plenty of life including wrasse, pipefish, pollock, tompot blennies, small plaice and the usual spider crabs. Care had to be taken as a few anglers were fishing from the end of the pier. Maximum depth was 7m and the water was a toasty 15*c. Maximum dive time was agreed prior to the dive to top out at an hour, which proved to be just enough. A pleasant day was had by one and all, and to top it off the ice cream van turned up just in time!

June 14th - Club Dive - Trearddur Bay / Trefor Pier

2009-06-10T14:31:00.004+01:00

Please ensure you have organised cylinder fills before arriving at the clubhouse.

Meeting at 10:00am at the clubhouse to organise equipment and transport.
Location - Trearddur Bay or Trefor Pier dependant on weather.
Date - 14/06/09.
Type - Shore.
Divers - Post comments here to confirm dive or contact Dave Robinson for more information.

June 14th - Club Meeting

2009-06-08T09:33:00.003+01:00

The club meeting has been set back a week until Sunday 14th of June due to the Try Dive that took place on Sunday 7th of June. The meeting will begin at 8pm.

June 7th - Holyhead Harbour

2009-06-05T18:58:00.004+01:00

Location - Holyhead Harbour, Anglesey.
Date - 07/06/09.
Type - Shore.
Divers - Post comments here to confirm dive or contact Martin Adshead on 07768883342.

We have a club dive planned for Sunday 7th of June at Holyhead Harbour.

Depart Club - 8:30am
Arrive at site - 9:30am
In water - 10:00am

If anyone needs kit or air this should be arranged prior to the day.

We intend to dive the South wall where there should be better visibility than the main harbour area. Maximum depth will be around 15m.

Dive Site Map

2009-06-03T16:06:00.005+01:00

Our dive site map is now live and can be found here. Dive Site Map. The current labeling policy is Inland dive sites are blue, Sea dive sites are yellow and the clubhouse is red.
For instructions on how to contribute to the map please contact Dave.

June 7th - Try Dive

2009-06-01T09:15:00.007+01:00

We are holding a Try Dive session at Llandudno Swimming Pool on Sunday the 7th of June at around 7pm. The cost is £10 for an hour long session explaining the use of SCUBA equipment and trying it out in the pool.
If you fancy having a go just to see if you like diving then get in touch with club Training Officer Andy Richardson on 07785184388.

May 31st - Porth - Y - Pwll

2009-06-01T09:08:00.007+01:00

Location - Porth - Y - Pwll near Trearddur, Anglesey.
Date - 31/05/09.
Type - Shore.
Divers - Zoe, Dave, George.

We arrived at around 2pm and it wasn't that busy at all, compared to Trearddur itself which was rammed full.
We spent an 65 minutes bimbling around the bay up to the Western headland and it was great. Vis was around 7-8m and the water was a toasty 13*c. We saw tons of Ballan and Corkwing Wrasse, quite a few Pollock, a big Blenny and a Fan Tail Pipefish. There was quite a bit of fishing line near the headland and we ended having to cut ourselves out once or twice.
After we'd gotten out of the water and dropped our kit off a few more divers surfaced who were on holiday from Carlisle, nice friendly bunch, however it turns out they'd spotted a rather large Conger Eel sat out in the open in around 2m of water right in the middle of the bay, which some how, we had managed to miss. Seemed like a great bunch of people though, and they certainly got the weather for their weekend away.

In summary, a cracking day and a cracking litle dive. ***It has come to our attention that the bay may actually be called "Porth - Y - Pwll" and is visible on Google maps here.

May 31st - Menai Strait

2009-05-26T09:25:00.006+01:00

Location - Menai Strait, Menai Bridge, Anglesey.
Date - 31/05/09.
Type - Shore.
Divers - Post comments here to confirm dive or contact Martin Adshead.

We have a club dive planned for Sunday 31st of May down in the Menai Strait. It will be busy so we need to be their early to drop off kit and park cars probably at the hotel at top of lane and be ready to get in on the tide!

Depart Club - 7:30am
Arrive at site - 8:15am
In water - 9:00am

If anyone needs kit or air this should be arranged prior to the day.

The straits is a good scenic dive and on the right day can have excellent viz. The depth is suitable for all from 8m down to a max of about 15m and it can be a coast hugging dive or an explore to the far side and back. Some care needs to be taken of tides but we will cover that on the day during a dive brief and risk assessment at 8:30am on site. A compass, delayed SMB and a torch for each person are essential

We are now recruiting

2009-04-28T12:49:00.009+01:00

YOUR LOCAL DIVE CLUB NEEDS YOU!!!

RECRUITING
That's right, we are now actively recruiting both experienced and novice divers alike. If you want to dive with a friendly bunch of people in an area that is home to some of the best dive sites in the country then get in touch with us now!

TRAINING
We can provide training in accordance with the SAA and CMAS, so you know that you're being taught how to dive in a safe an enjoyable way. Even if you have already begun your training with another organisation you can simply cross over your qualification. For more information in crossing over your qualification please see the SAA's crossover chart here.

DIVING PROGRAMME
We have a busy social calendar as well as an active and extensive diving programme. We regularly dive all around the North Wales coast catering our diving programme to suit each divers level of expertise. With both sea and inland dive sites available to us, very rarely do we have a non-diving weekend. We also have our own RHIB to enable us to access dive sites further offshore, and for times when a large number of divers are available we can easily organise trips with the local charter boats. Some of the sites we dive include the Menai Strait, all around the coast of Anglesey, diving with the seals off Puffin Island and also Vivian Diving Centre in Llanberis.

SOCIAL EVENTS
We regularly hold social events and fund raising events both as a dive club in our own right and also in conjunction with Llandudno Sailing Club. The club house is luxuriously decorated and incorporates a very well stocked bar, making it the perfect place to unwind after good days diving. After cleaning our gear ofcourse! So even if you're not a diver you're more than welcome to join us for our Curry Nights, Pub Quizzes or any of the other fun events we organise.

CONTACT
For more information either contact us via this website, phone our club secretary using the details given or simply come alone to Llandudno Sailing Club on a Sunday evening. For a map to the club house in Llandudno please see below.

April 25th - Open Evening

2009-04-19T22:37:00.003+01:00

We are holding an open evening at Llandudno Sailing Club on the evening of Saturday 25th of April. Why not visit us and find out more about what we do and what we can offer. Or you can just have a pint and a chat. The clubhouse will be open from 5pm until 11pm. There will be plenty of food and plenty of drink.

April 17th - Club Meeting

2009-04-14T12:11:00.006+01:00

We are holding a club meeting on April 17th at the sailing club. All members will be contacted either via post or telephone and an agenda has been produced. The meeting will be chaired by Andy Richardson and will begin at 7:30pm. This is an opportunity to catch up on recent events and also to discuss ideas for the clubs future development. All members are welcome but attendance is not compulsory.

April 10th - Holyhead Harbour

2009-04-14T11:51:00.009+01:00

Location - Holyhead Harbour, Anglesey.
Date - 10/04/09.
Type - Shore.
Divers - Zoe, Maggie, Dave, Cliff, Mike Q.

We decided that our best bet for decent viz and also the possibility of some grub was going to be Holyhead Harbour. A shallow bimble in what we hoped would be relatively clear water considering the weather we'd been having. We arrived at around 10am and noticed that the water around the, now closed off, slipway was gin clear! Result!
After we'd kitted up we decided that Mike and Cliff would make the first pair and that Zoe, Maggie and Dave would dive as a trio, ooh how DIR of us... We soon realised that the gin clear water extended no more than about 10 metres from the shore line. As soon as we were over the silt beds the gin turned to soup. It was a great exercise in low visibility navigation and also what to do if you get seperated. Due to the horrendous visibility the dives were cut short, however spirits were raised after Cliff and Mike surfaced with a bag full of scallops.

Divers Required!!!

2009-03-31T11:17:00.007+01:00

Well we are now actively recruiting for our club. We're looking for both experienced divers and those new to the sport, all we ask is that you're enthusiastic. We meet each Sunday in Llandudno, Sailing Club, however at the moment we meet in the Washington Nights pub across the road while renovations are being carried out on the club house.
We're a friendly bunch of people who dive all over the North Wales coast. Everywhere from the inland dive sites of Vivian and Dorothea, to the Menai Strait, Trefor, Holyhead... The list goes on. We currently have a diverse skill set within the club, from complete novices to people who practically have gills.

We also try to organize a dive holiday at least once a year. Most recently was Truuk Lagoon but we also visit the Red Sea and Europe.
The picture on the left was taken on a club trip to El Gouna, Egypt.

We also have a very active social calendar too including summer barbecues, camping trips, social nights at the club house and we're also open to suggestions for more functions. Any excuse for a knees up!
So if you're a diver in the area or your interested in finding out more about the sport then feel free to get in touch with us or just pop down for a pint!
See you there...

March 22nd - Menai Strait

2009-03-23T11:25:00.004Z

Location - Menai Strait, Menai Bridge.
Date - 22/03/09.
Type - Shore.
Divers - Dave, Martin.

Well it was a busy little dive site when we arrived with a bunch of divers from Manchester kitting up, so we decided to head up to the car park to sort all our gear out. After a slight technical hitch with Martin's gear we were good to go. The water was quite cold at around 8*c and the current was pretty strong underneath the bridge itself as we'd gone in a little early. After a while it slackened right off though. We saw loads of crabs including some big edibles, and carpets of anemones but very little else. No lobsters and only one small butterfish. The viz was pretty good at around 4-5 metres and it was a really enjoyable dive.

Update.

2009-02-23T12:02:00.003Z

Nothing has been set in stone as yet but we're hoping the Club House will be repaired and open for service by the middle of March after the damage caused by a burst pipe during the exceptionally cold weather we have had.

Also the club ran a basic Nitrox course recently attended by Carl, Andy, Zoe, George, Dave, Alby and Eamonn. The course was run by newly elected Dive Officer Martin Adshead and everyone passed, which is a credit to Martins training skills. On a similar note Andy Richardson was elected as Club Chairman at the same time.

We would like to wish Martin and Cliff all the best on their upcoming trip to explore the wrecks at Truuk Lagoon.

Happy New Year

2009-01-06T11:42:00.006Z

Happy New Year from all of us at North Wales Sub Aqua Club. Our Christmas party on the 21st was a great laugh, pictures will be posted very soon.
Unfortunately the club house did suffer on New Years Eve as a pipe burst in the ceiling space due to the extremely cold weather we have been experiencing. So until the repairs are complete the Washington Wine Bar has become our temporary home on Sunday evenings from 8pm. We estimate the club house repairs should take no longer than three to four weeks. Stay tuned for more info!!!
Also, we have to say Happy Birthday to Cliff Brown, our equipment officer, who celebrated his birthday on Sunday 4th of January.

December 7th - Menai Strait

2008-12-07T16:09:00.006Z

Location - Menai Strait, Menai Bridge.
Date - 07/12/08.
Type - Shore.
Divers - Dave, Eammon.

After an early start on a crisp, sunny Sunday morning we arrived under the Menai Bridge to find we were they only people there. Did "they" know something we didn't? It seems "they" did. The vis was terrible, one metre at most, hence no pictures, and it was absolutely freezing, our computers were reading 7*C but it felt much, much colder. So after a 30 minute bimble we decided enough was enough. We saw lots of starfish, plumose anemones and velvet swimmer crabs but no lobsters :(

November 9th - Vivian Quarry

2008-11-09T15:10:00.005Z

Location - Vivian Dive Centre, Llanberis.
Date - 09/11/08.
Type - Quarry.
Divers - Carl, Martin, Dave.

We chose to dive Vivian dive centre this morning as there was only three of us going, Martin, Carl and Dave. Also we needed to try out some new kit, including a Veecam! The video will be posted up soon. Viz was quite good but due to the horrendous stormy weather up top there was very little light below 5-6 metres, good job we all had torches with us. Temperatures weren't too bad considering the weather we've been having, 11* seemed to be about average. Zoe was surface support today and by the time we surfaced she looked wetter than we did, that's Welsh weather for you!

NEC National Dive Show

2008-11-01T15:58:00.006Z

That's right! We're off to the Dive Show at the Birmingham NEC tomorrow. There's a bunch of us travelling down in a mini bus at silly o'Clock in the morning on Sunday 02/11/2008.
We'll see you all in the bar!
*EDIT* 9-11-2008
The dive show was a great laugh for everyone, lots of drinking took place as is customary, Lager and Vodka were poisons of choice on the day. Everyone had a good look about and enjoyed some of the presentations that were being given, the Antarctic Expeditions talk by Charlotte Caffrey from Aqua Firma was a real eye opener, definitely one for the wish list. Other than that is was a case of drink as much as possible without spending a fotune on gadgets and goodies (Veecams!!!).
Check out the photos but please be aware they were taken on mobile phones, hence the quality.

September 27th - Vivian Quarry

2008-09-27T17:38:00.008+01:00

Location - Vivian Dive Centre, Llanberis.
Date - 27/09/08.
Type - Quarry.
Divers - Dave, Eammon.

The weather was great, blue skies and no wind but unfortunately the visibility wasn't great at Vivian quarry in Llanberis this morning, between 2-3 metres, average temperature was 14*. We just had a quick bimble around the usual haunts, managed to see pretty much everything in fourty minutes. Still it was quite a pleasant, relaxing dive trying out new kit configurations and playing golf. Oh and the burger and chips at Pete's afterwards was thoroughly enjoyable!

John at Vivian Dive Centre also mentioned that they had a great write up and feature in this months Sport Diver magazine that includes a great little map of the site, very useful!

Photos from Cyprus and the Red Sea

2008-09-12T11:12:00.007+01:00

We have just had a whole bunch of new photos added by Gary Mason, club treasurer.

There's shots of our holidays in El Gouna, Nuweiba and some great photos of the wreck of the Zenobia ferry in Cyprus. To view them you can use the live feed slide show box in the right hand column or click on the "Photos" link above to be taken to our Flickr Photostream.

New Videos Uploaded

2008-08-29T22:44:00.008+01:00

Check the Youtube.com video bar on the right for newly uploaded videos, including a stunning shoal of Golden Antheas over a reef in Hurghada, an "in-depth" look at the 58 Metre tunnel in Dorothea and a grand tour of the Rosalie Moller.

Also just uploaded is a video of the wreck of the Heian Maru shot last year in Truuk Lagoon, Micronesia. She was a 500ft, 11,000 tonne cruise liner commissioned by the Imperial Japanese Navy as a sub tender during WWII. In the excellent video shot by Cliff Brown you can see large amounts of ammunition and ordnance still onboard. A grim reminder of the events of Operation Hailstone over 50 years ago.

The video bar from Youtube.com shows the last four videos, to view all of them click on the "Video" button in the menu bar.

July 27th - Rhoscolyn Beacons

2008-08-14T11:05:00.008+01:00

Location - Rhoscolyn.
Date - 27/07/08.
Type - Boat.
Divers - Cliff, Carl, Dave, Zoe, Carolina, George, Mike Q, Martin, Gary W, Andy H.
Skipper - Captain Ned.

The weather was great and the tides were perfect for this day out. We ran three trips out in the club RIB with between 4 and 6 divers in each run. Most of us pottered around at about 10-12m for most of the dive. Plenty of wrasse and lobsters to be seen and quite a few doggies too, we even spotted a couple of large Bullhuss. Oh and when we all got back to shore we had a BBQ! Which was nice...

North Wales Sub Aqua Club

2008-08-11T14:09:00.003+01:00

Welcome to the North Wales Sub Aqua Club online blog.

NWSAC is club number 136 of the SAA, Sub Aqua Association.

Based in Llandudno, North Wales we dive all over the North Wales coast. The club meets every Sunday night at the Llandudno Sailing Club next door to Venue Cymru. If you're interested in joining why not pop down for a drink and a chat?