Confirmed Courses and Dates for 2007

SAR Training Update Saturday 6th December

Colm O'Reilly & Declan Walsh during a search & recovery training exercise today, Colm & Declan were the guides for the divers below navigating them whilst the divers carried out a line search on the river bed.


Thanks to all who turned up on Saturday, the morning started at 9.30am and finished at a reasonable 1pm.
Three line searches were done, initially there was difficulty in keeping the line straight and running at right angle to the river bank, this was due to the fast flow and currents going under the bridges. Different ideas were tried and on the third run all went to plan. The RDO (regional diving officer) Brendan Flanagan had asked to take part in the training and afterwards had high praise for the Athlone SAR for its commitment and high standards. Declan Walsh and Colm O Reilly were rope tenders, Brendan Flanagan and Niall McHugh were the Anchor divers, Ciaran Kelly, Ollie Fallon, June Robbins and Cian Hynes were the divers on the line. Steward McMickan was coxan with Peter Chatterton assisting. Training continues every Saturday at 9.30.

Rgds,
Ger C

Athlone Search & Recovery Training Update

The SAR team trained last Saturday the 30th of December. The training concentrated on line searches in fast flowing water, with particular attention to quick deployment of the dive team and collection after the dive. The day was very successful, three line searches were done and all who took part enjoyed the experience. More importantly things were learned and improved on. Thanks to our DO Liam Sheringham for doing coxan with John Kenny assisting and Robbie West, Cian Hynes, Declan Walsh, Stewart McMickan, Ollie Fallon and Niall McHugh for doing the practical work. Apologies were given from June Robbins, Colm O Reilly and Peter Chatterton who were unable to attend. Members of the SAR team please note that your dive certificate last two years and you must turn up and practice the different search methods over the coming months. This is for your own safety. Over the coming weeks, solo dive training will be done along the areas around the weir such as the eel lines and the lough gates.

Rgds
Ger C

SAR search for lost shotgun

On the 16th of December members of the Athlone Search & Recovery team searched for a lost shotgun on the request of the owner. The owner of the shotgun had fallen in and was unsure of the area in which he lost the gun. Cian Hynes, Stewart McMickan, Colm O Reilly and Ger Craven searched using the circular search method with the aid of a metal detector.
Liam Sheringham did coxan. The searches were unsuccessful with extremely poor visibiliy and a sillty bottom not making things easy. The searches were done in the Barley Harbour area of Lough Ree and we will try again to locate the gun in the coming months. Thanks to those who helped out.

Lectures 2007

Hi all, Well done to all trainees that have turned up for Pool & Lecture training since the schedule was started, you all have been working away at getting it right and getting results.We will have a break for Christmas Holidays and we will resume the Lectures and Pool training on Jan 7th @ 10.00a.m. This Lecture will be on "effects of pressure" & "buoyancy" these can be found on pages 17 & 20 of your course book. We look foward to seeing you all on the night out in "Gerties" as per text.where we can have a laugh and partake of some good old socializing, actually I think they call it" Guinness". see you there.
Thanks Colm & Alan for helping out while I was at the Defib Course. Thanks to all our Instructors and members who help out each week. " Happy Christmas"
June

Committee 2006 - 2007

Chairman - - - - - - - - - - Brian Duffy
Vice Chairman - - - - - Pauric Hynes
Diving Officer - - - - - - - Liam Sherringham
Training Officer - - - - - June Robbins
Treasurer - - - - - - - - - Ger Craven
Secretary - - - - - - - - - Cian Hynes
Equipment Officer - - Aiden Henry
P.R.O. - - - - - - - - - - - - Ollie Fallon
Fundraising Officer- - Seamus Glynn
Snorkelling Officer - - Kieran Kelly
Competitions Officer- Conor Holohan

Clubhouse Caretaker - - Pat Wynne

Delegates - - - Ger Craven and Matt Gleeson

Search and Recovery Unit Diving Officer - - - Ger Craven

Subs Now Due

Hi Folks

Subs are now due. You won't be allowed use scuba in the pool after xmas
unless you are paid in full.
The subs are as follows

Adult Diver 210
Student Diver 135
Senior Snorkeler 95
Junior Snorkeler 65
Associate Membership 25

Family Membership will depend on the second and subsequent membership
types. Ask Ger Craven or Myself for details.

Also this year we have introduced a prepay diving option. If you pay 120
euros then you dive for the rest of the year at no extra cost. If you
do not wish to avail of this option then it is 10 euros per dive. The 120
euros must be paid in full after your sub is fully paid before you can
avail of the prepay option.

Any questions on the above then contact Me on 086 8734935

Cian

AGM

Don't forget the club's AGM is on this coming Sunday 3rd Decemeber at 3pm in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel. This is a big event for the club where a decision on the club becoming a company will take place. Also anyone interested in taking up a position on the committee should make themselves known to any senior member of the club so they're name can be put forward, and if you know of someone that is interested in taking a position then again make their name known to some senior members.

The meeting is open to all.

Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Remember this is a chance for your voice to be heard.

You have dived the U-260 now try the U-861

Dive Site: U-861
Location: Malin Head, Donegal, Ireland
Description: WWII Deadlight Submarine
Length: 87.4 metres
Depth: 43 metres
Visibility: 15 + metres average
Only 30 of the U861's type were built. It sank during "Operation Deadlight" and broke into three sections at a depth of 43m. Slack water dive only.

Lovely dive in the same location as the Laurentic, well worth a visit in 2007, I took these photos in October.
Rgds,
Ger C.

new gear for trainees

Many thanks to John Malone for giving up his Sunday morning and coming over to the Clubhouse to furnish our new members with the gear they needed to start their training in earnest.The advice from our own members was also on hand and much appreciated, like wise during our pool session, seasoned divers were generous with their encouragement and instruction.The Lectures will be starting on Sunday 26th November at 10.00a.m sharp in the Clubhouse, please bring a note book and pen.Trainees will be able to purchase their Starter Pack this Sunday at the Clubhouse, which will enable them to get their Medical Forms & logbooks signed by their G.P.s. the cut off date for submission of your medical is Dec 3rd 06.
Keep up the Good work !
June..