Kilkee - Bank Holiday

The club travelled to kilkee for the may weekend. The week leading up to it, the weather was terrific, but unfortunately for us the weekend turned out to be a wash out. But bad weather has never really stopped Athlone SAC from putting to the water, and on Saturday we dived Newfound out. Saturday the trainees were doing the required snorkels but on Sunday they got there first open water dive from the slip at kilkee. The Vis was crap but our eager trainees spent the best part of an hour in it. The only thing that can be said at this stage to any trainee who may be reading this is: it can only get better�..
After the dive we dropped a new mooring for the Athlone diver, as our previous one was washed up on shore in the bad weather over the winter. Sunday evening the wind calmed a bit and two of our trainees dived newfound out, spotting crawfish, lobsters, and a big conger. We decided to lift the boat afterwards as Sunday night was promised to be particularly bad.
We were woke on Monday morning with the wind and rain beating against the side of the van and we decided to call diving off, till next weekend, where it�s Kilkee again. Finally id like to thank everyone who helped out with the weekend, and thanks to Matt for bringing the van and boat down�..Till next week.

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Dive Program 2007

May 5th - 7th B/H Kilkee
May 12th - 13th Kilkee
May 19th - 20th Doolin
May 26th - 27th Kilkee
June 2nd - 4th B/H Inishbofin
June 9th - 10th Skerd Rocks Roundstone
June 16th - 17th St. Johns Point
June 23rd - 24th Kilkee
June 30th - July 1st Teelin
July 7th - 8th Kilkee
July 14th - 15th Ballycastle
July 21st - 22nd Clare Island
July 28th - 29th Malin Head
Aug 4th - 6th B/H Dingle
Aug 7th - 10th C/H Ballinskelligs
Aug 11th - 12th Baltimore
Aug 18th - 19th St. Johns Point
Aug 25th - 26th Kilkee
Sept 1st - 2nd Achill Island
Sept 8th - 9th Doolin
Sept 15th - 16th Kilmore Quay
Sept 22nd - 23rd Stags of Broadhaven
Sept 29th - 30th Kilkee
Oct 6th - 7th Kilkee
Oct 13th - 14th Teelin
Oct 20th - 21st Glen Colm Kill
Oct 27th - 29th B/H Stony Cove

Any queries on the above contact Liam Sherringham on 086 8216670

Two new Instructors in the club

A big congratulations to Ger Loughnane and Aiden Henry on passing their instructor exams
yesterday. This was the result of a lot of hard work put in over many months of preparation.
The club wishes them all the best, in their new role as instructors.
Well done lads!!

Search and Recovery Update

Robbie West, Ger Craven and Michael White dived on Saturday.
We had been asked to search for the cover of an outboard that the
Athlone Boat Club lost. Full face masks were used, Michael found the cover
on our first dive. The next two dives done were under the pontoons in front of the
clubhouse. Michael brought his camera to get some underwater footage.
SAR members should use any opportunity they get to practice with
the full face masks.
SAR DO

Diver Medic Responder

The Diver medic responder course has been changed to Sunday 29th April in Roscommon (D.S.A.C). Let me know if your interested in doing the course....................D.O

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