Nitrox and Easter Weekend

Well done to Derry and Brian in getting there Nitrox Gas blending cert, Also congrates to Cian Hynes, Kieran Kelly, Colm O' Reilly, Declan Walshe, and Eddie O' Donald in passing there Nitrox theory paper in Mullingar sac clubhouse on Saturday last. Its looking like a lot of A.S.A.C members are going to be making good use of our new compressor this dive season.......Also diving will be in kilkee this Easter weekend, were looking for a van driver so let me no if your around.

Search & Recovery Training Update

Training has continued over the last number of weeks. Training has concentrated on the weir/lock gates area and the use of the AGA full face masks. Diving has been done through the pipes around the lock gates and the posts for the eel lines in front of the weir. Last Saturday, Robbie West, Michael White, Ciaran Kelly, June Robbins, Declan Walsh, Ollie Fallon, Ger Loughnane, Aiden Henry and Ger Craven dived. This Saturday there will be no training as it is St. Paddy's. Training will continue Saturday week the 24th and all SAR team members should take this opportunity to familiarise themselves with this area of the river.
Rgds,
Ger C.

Insurance Information from CFT

A lot of queries come into us regarding our insurance policy so to help answer your queries we put the following questions to our insurance broker.
These are general answers to specific questions. You should refer to Alan Fischer if you require any clarification. Email:alan.fisher@nti.ie
Insurance Q's & A's
1.
Am I covered for Diving outside of my club activities ?
Amateur sports diving is covered outside the club. Does not cover liability for use of boats or for any semi-professional diving.
2.
Am I covered when diving abroad?
Yes up to 30 days a trip but only for court actions taken in irish courtsunder irish law.
3.
Can the club bring out a non members diving and if so are there any restrictions ie number of times, presence of instructor?
Visitors or trainees can be brought out twice without becoming members of club.After that they have to become club members and registered with CFT. Number of leaders instructors depends on CFT regulations for diving.
4.
Is the boat insured when I'm towing?
No cover for boat under PL insurance. Third party risk on trailer andboat is under motor insurance when attached to towing vehicle whether vehiclemoving or not
5.
Is the trailer insured at all times?
No trailer itself covered by marine insurance. Liability under motorinsurance when attached to vehicle and when detached in a public place.
6.
Are we insured to carry non club members?
Non members are treated as quests for two trips in club boats. Afterthat need to me members of club and registered.
7.
Is the boat insured on a mooring?
No cover for boat itself under PL policy, needs marine insurance
8.
Are items such as GPS, depth-sounders etc. insured?
No, needs marine insurance
9.
If the boat capsizes and gear is lost overboard, is the loss ofgear covered?
No needs marine insurance
10.
Is any personal gear covered?
No, not under Personal Liability and not under marine
11.
Is theft of boat covered?
Not under Personal Liability, needs marine cover
12.
What time of the year is my insurance due?
Due with CFT and club subs in January.
13.
When must new trainees pay there for their insurance?
After two lectures/pool sessions.
14
Are all club activities such as fund raisers e.g. a horse race night covered by my insurance ?
Yes, for PL insurance only.
15.
Are we non cft members covered to water ski off the back of club RIB's?
Not on PL, maybe under marine insurance arranged by clubs.
16.
What "extra's" does the new policy have to offer?
See separate details on proposed marine insurance
Answers apply to CFT Personal Liability insurance as of February 2007, they do not take Into account any cover provided under marine insurance by CFT or arranged by clubs.

club photo

Our Trainee divers pictured here at lectures in the Club House.

front right, D.O. & Instructor Liam Sherringham , assisting is Colm O`Reilly, trainees; Marcella O`Reilly, Alastair Gray & Caroline Murphy.

back row, right, Mark Tobin, Niall Collins, Jakub Zuranski,Michael Toohey,Tony Duignan, Ben Murphy,Michelle Roche,Ellen Moore & T.O. June Robbins.

Some of our trainees for this year are missing from this picture. Lectures are held each Sunday for our Trainee Divers, there are also lectures run for a range of courses and for other Clubs here at our Club House "Tigh na Mhara", Athlone. See you all again Sunday, June

C.F.T. lecture schedule. 3rd & 4th March. Boyne Valley Hotel. Drogheda

The following schedule of catch up lectures will be run on the above dates in the "Board Room#1" in The Boyne Valley Hotel.The details for the Dive Show are available from "sub sea"magazine, and" Athlone s.a.c. blogspot. should you require any further info please get in touch.

Saturday, 3rd March
09:00 09:20 Introduction to Scuba & Snorkel *
09:20 09:40 Hand Signals *
09:40 10:05 Introduction to Dive Physics *
10:05 10:30 Effects of Pressure *
11:45 12:10 Out of Air *
17:05 17:30 Dry Suit **

Sunday, 4th March
12:10 12:30 Introduction to Scuba & Snorkel *
12:30 12:50 Hand Signals *
13:45 14:10 Introduction to Dive Physics *
15:00 15:25 Buoyancy*
15:25 15:50 Decompression*
15:50 16:15 Out of Air*
16:15 16:40 Respiration and Circulation**
16:40 17:05 Hypothermia **

Best Regards, Liam

Gala Results

The results from the Gala held in November are finally in. The club were narrowly beaten into third by 1 point. The team consisted of Conor Holohan, Eanna MacComhara, Cian Hynes and Colm O Reilly. The results are as follows.

80m Finswim Eanna 2nd
Rescue Race Eanna and Cian 2nd
Wellie Race Conor 3rd
Balloon Race Eanna 2nd
Life Jacket Race Cian and Eanna 2nd
Davey Jones Locker Conor 2nd

The overall scores were Aquatech 20 points, Irish 12 points, Athlone 11 points, UCC, Kilkee and Mullingar.

Well done to the lads

Training News & Events

Congratulations to our Junior Snorklers and Trainee Divers who recently passed their Pool Tests,the hard work paid off ,our Instructors have been very attentive in all aspects of our training and testing, thanks guys ! The Scuba Tests will be completed by the end of March. We have had an excellent attendance for our lectures of which we only have four more Sundays, excluding St Patricks week end, as we all may be just a little bit too green to take any serious instruction!! Happy Paddys Day to all. As soon as the weather permits we will all be heading up to Yellow Island to put our Snorkel Skills to practice, so the purchase or loan of a >7 ml semidry suit the hood can be attached or not,plus a weight belt with weights will be necessary for this,you will need advice on your weights & suit so please talk to an experienced diver before you make a purchase. As already mentioned this gear is readily available both locally ( Mr John Malone, Midland Water Sports) and at the upcoming Dive Show in Drogheda.
Trainees please put yourselves foward to help out in the upcoming fundraisers that have been circulated, as you are now a member of Athlone Sub Aqua Club, this is an ongoing task that we all must take part in. see you Sunday,
June.

General Updates

Membership Application/Renewal Form.
CFT have introduced new rules regarding registration. Details of every member’s date of birth and the date of their last medical date are now required to be submitted to CFT’s head office. This is in order to comply with insurance requirements. To ensure that these details are supplied all members are required to complete a club membership application/renewal form. Membership application/renewal forms and medical forms are available at the pool, or via email from myself. Thanks to all members who have completed this form to date.

Monthly Meetings
Monthly club meetings are continuing to take place on the first Wednesday of every month from 8pm sharp to 9pm. Meetings of the Club’s Committee follow immediately afterwards. All members are entitled and encouraged to attend monthly club meetings from 8pm sharp to 9pm so that their views and opinions can be taken into consideration at meetings of the Club’s Committee.

Club NewsletterArticles for the clubs newsletter are more than welcome from any club member. Please contact me if you would like to contribute anything to the club newsletter.

Thanks

Cian

Diving Update

Dive Show
This years Dive Show is taking place on 3rd and 4th March 2007 in the Best Western, Boyne Valley Hotel, Drogheda. This is a great opportunity for members to attend a wide variety of interesting presentations, purchase gear, and catch up on missed 1* and 2* lectures and generally socialise and have a good time

Dive outing
A dive outing has been arranged for 18th and 19th March 2007 in Kilkee. Only active, paid up members who have up to date medicals will be permitted to dive. Members must have their Log Books signed by me before the dive outing.

Diver Medic (Responder)
The date of this course has been changed to Sunday 8th of April 2007. All other courses are running to schedule. Please contact the if you’re interested in attending any of these scheduled courses

Congratulations
Congratulations to Aidan Henry and Ger Loughnane on passing their M1 theory Exam in Dublin. We wish them all the best with the rest of the course.

Club Updates

Introduction of Late Subscription Penalty Fee
The committee has decided to introduce the following late penalty fees for members who fail to pay their club subscription before 31st March 2007

· Late Subscription Penalty Fee - Adult Members €40.00
· Late Subscription Penalty Fee - Junior Members €20.00

It should be noted that it is not the intention of the committee to raise additional funding through the introduction of this late penalty. Its objective is to encourage members to pay their subscriptions early in order to improve the clubs cash flow situation.

Associate Membership Base
The committee has recently agreed to make a concentrated effort to increase the clubs associate membership base. Members will be requested to actively encourage family members, friends, work colleagues etc. to join the club as associate members. An associate membership form is currently being designed for this purpose


Church Gate and Flag Day Collection
Members are asked to note that the club has decided to hold its annual church gate and flag day collections on the following dates;

· Church Gate Collection 26th/27th May 2007
· Flag Day Collection 15th/16th June 2007