Welcome to The WYPSAC Website here is a report on what our members have been doing this last year
The Sub Aqua Association AGM in April was held this year at the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate. (We did not set fire to it) Following the business of the day and awards there was a presentation on Barotraumas and discussion on creating ‘Direct Membership’ to the SAA without being a member of a club. This proposal was defeated in a vote. There was also time to share experiences and diving tips with fellow divers from around the country. The dinner dance was once again a great evening.
Members of the club have logged around 500 dives in another incident/accident free year. Club organized diving took place at locations including inland sites at Stoney Cove in Leicestershire, Blue Lagoon in Yorkshire, Dorothea Quarry in North Wales and Capernwray in Lancashire. Sea locations were visited at St Abbs in S.E. Scotland, Bridlington, Tynemouth and Sharm el Sheik in Egypt.
The annual trip to the Red Sea this year was to Sharm el Sheikh where members completed 11 dives each over 5 days of day boat diving on wonderful reefs.
Unfortunately the weather has been against this year. Three weekend trips to the British east coast were ‘blown out’ by gales. The May weekend trip to St Abbs was cancelled by the charter boat skipper before anyone left home. This was re-arranged for mid August and once again called off. However, half the group was well on their way so continued just incase the weather improved. Needless to say it didn’t. Four hardy stalwarts, not be beaten, persuaded the harbour master to let them dive in the outer harbour as there was no boat traffic. It has to be said it wasn’t the best of dives. Lastly a September trip to Seahouses, to dive the Farne Islands, saw some spectacular waves breaching the harbour wall. Not a single boat left the harbour all weekend.
At the end of July we made a weekend trip with the club boat to a launch site at South Shields to dive wrecks around the mouth of the River Tyne. This is the first time the club has visited this area and we were soon wondering why hadn’t we been here before. Good launch site, good diving on some interesting wreckage combined with excellent digs and a very helpful dive shop nearby. In early September we returned on a day trip. Although enjoyable, just too far to travel in one day.
Members have visited foreign dive locations including Malta, South Africa, Truk Lagoon in Micronesia, Cyprus, Turkey and Majorca.
Training throughout this year continued developing existing members to higher grades of Open water Diver, Club Diver, Dive Leader and Advanced Nitrox (diving using oxygen enriched air). A recruiting campaign on the intranet site organized by Darren England brought in six new members. They are progressing well and the instructors are enjoying delivering training once more.
The club finances remain in a healthy state. Subs remain unchanged at a total cost of £10.80p per month. The boat this required the steering gear replacing at a cost of £1100. Thankfully due to good financial housekeeping this was not a problem and the boat is running better than ever. The club continues to meet at Rothwell Sports Center where we have half the pool on Wednesday evenings from 7.30 to 8.30 and afterwards in the Toby Carvery Bar across the roundabout from the sports centre. There is still a stable membership of hardened cold water divers.
The aim of the club remains the same, in that money will always be given as a priority to (and in order of):
1. Diver Safety
2. Diver Training
3. Affordable Diving.
Club Awards: - Diver of the Year - Vicky Stephaneck