argonauts.org.uk

Argonauts’ Buddyline

the newsletter of the Argonaut Divers Ipswich Saa 43

Issue No. 1 June 1994

Chairmans Chat

Someone has had another bright idea!! I can’t remember who now, but somehow after several pints I volunteered to lead off this, our latest and hopefully regular venture – A CLUB NEWSLETTER.

The intention is for everyone to contribute, so here I am to get you started.

If this takes you as long to read as it did for me to key there may not be another issue for quite a while – Editor

First the news, the club has bought a boat complete with engine and accessories, at an outrageously reasonable price from John and Betty Franklin. For what we are about to receive, we are truly grateful. With this in mind we come to a name for the boat which is as yet unnamed (so hopefully our good luck will continue).

One suggestions for a name is ARGO 1, but a little bird told me that John considered naming it after his mother. I felt that this would be an appropriate gesture to take this name if John was happy with this. But what do you think? Any suggestions for a name to be put on the back of a beer mat and given to me asap. The most voted for name wins, one vote only each, please or I’ll be buried under beer mats! Then I suggest an appropriate naming ceremony for the boat complete with champagne! Well maybe a little bottle of light ale is more our line!

Next onto that old chestnut, taking the boat out. In order to achieve this we need the boat installed at Nick’s. One small problem is that there is no roof on the container we have at Nick’s for the boat. Again somehow I volunteered to help out with this, there being several constraints on my time, not least ‘er indoors who having helped me out with this chairmans chat expects a few things done at home, mow the lawn, clean the windows, fix the loo, tidy the garage etc etc at the risk of boring you the list goes on! So back to the point. I need a hand with the container roof or I wont get my work done at home and my life wont be worth living!

Ignorance of the roofing trade is no excuse, a crash course can be arranged. I heard Vaughn volunteered to lead a crash course on welding and rooves but having seen his alterations to a Renault 5 maybe I can manage without his help. (Sorry Vaughn couldn’t resist it … next one on me!!!)

Recent Events or A good time was had by all

The one and only of late was a barbeque at Nicks. This was to raise money for an air ambulance (I didn’t know they could fly.) Seriously we were pleased to help raise some money for this by making a club donation of £25 and it all went off with a bang. Many thanks to everyone for all your support. It was great to see so many faces old and new. So lets see some more events, one idea is for regular social nights at a pub (of course!) or anything else you fancy but please keep it legal if you want the social secretary to organise it! To this end please pester Rita with your ideas and maybe we can get some events off the ground. Lets face it if you’ve read this far you’ve got nothing better to do, or if you have share it with the rest of us!

Still plenty more to come so keep reading folks - Editor

Coming soon at a venue near you

One down and two no maybe three to go – weekends diving at Weymouth or at least that’s what Nan told her husband! – Contact Rick Graham for more details.

Reports of these expeditions to far off dive shops to replace equipment will appear in the next issue of Buddyline – Editor

On this theme where else do you want to go? Any potential Dive Leaders out there show us your OK’s and get something going.
Also coming up is Broomhill pool during the summer hols. (See Sec’s spot for dates)

This is a venue which is close to my heart and my local! So use it or lose it! It is also a good intermediate step, the only chance you’ll get to experience this sort of depth yet in a controlled environment and to try the top board fully kitted! This is an experience to remember take it from one who knows.

It’s also ---- cold so you’ll need a suit – Editor

We also plan to invite other clubs to share the this venue and maybe we could combine this with socialising afterwards. ‘er indoors though a fun quiz would be a good idea. If you agree see Rita or ‘er and we will see if we can get something off the ground.

More news

Our new regional representative is Colin Evans. He is the man who organises courses (or he knows a man who can!!), among other duties. Maybe a boat handling course is in order, now that we have another boat, as NO ONE can take the boat out without a qualified boat handler to cox the boat.

Also there’s a whole range of other courses that can be run. Show you interest to Colin and if there’s enough demand he will get it sorted (or so I’m told!)

Big Brother is watching you

The committee feels that safety is a paramount issue. Therefore, a new diving ruling has been made. Before each and every club dive your qualification book will be checked. If you do not hold a current dive medical and insurance certificate YOU WILL NOT DIVE.

This applies to every diver including me. So make sure that you have your book and check mine! Any sensible dive will be proud to show you his or her qualification book, not insulted by this.

Safety is an important consideration for all of us. We dive to have a good time without having an accident. At the back of each divers mind should be the safety of the dive. If you’re not happy don’t dive. Your dive leader is not a mind reader, so be responsible for yourself and him, think before you leap in and if you’re scared brainless say so! I have been sometimes as have most divers. Its part of being a good diver to know your limitations. Anyone who tells you they were never scared never dived.

Health Matters

Anyone interested in knowing more about Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease) should see me as I have a short information sheet on this. It is a consideration to remember if we dive in fresh water particularly that which is still and not checked.

Another consideration worth discussion (maybe over a pint) is the risk of Hepatitis B contact particularly if we dive in waters that are sewage contaminated.
This is not meant to frighten you off diving in these situations but to make you aware of possible risks and therefore more informed divers. Any comments on health matters would be most welcome for future newsletters then I wont have to write so much. Is writers cramp a serious condition of diving newsletters? And how will it effect my buoyancy control?

On these lines mentioned to me at a recent social event was “if I pass wind in my dry suit particularly after a curry will this increase or decrease my buoyancy, bearing in mind that methane is a heavy gas?” I thought we might have a few comments in the next newsletter. Perhaps the DOC would add his expertise to this important matter.

That one just passed the sensor but it might not be a dry suit after that! – Editor

CHAIRMAN COMPETITION

For each newsletter I will produce a small competition sometimes silly sometimes serious. The prize is a pint from me at the pub!
Ps prizes are not transferable but female winners may be negotiable!!

Negotiable to what? – Editor

This time I want to know:

• The maximum bottom time for a safety stop of 22.5 meters?
• What would the RG be?
• What would the re-entry RG be after 75 minutes surface interval?
• What would the residual nitrogen time be for a second dive of 17 meters?

The correct answer wins a pint. Entrants must be of a lesser qualification than club diver, as I know all club divers know the answer. Any that don’t can buy me a pint and I’ll show them how to use the tables while I drink it thru a straw!!

The rumour that our chairman is obsessed with drink is only a rumour - Editor

In Conclusion

I apologies for the length of this Chairmans Chat but I thought someone should get the ball rolling and get an issue in print! The next issue is up to you lot. The more space you use the less I’ll have to write.

This is your newsletter please use it and save me a fortune in ink

Cheers Duane

Anyone contributing material for the next newsletter if you present it to me as a asci or text file (IBM comp please) I would be eternally grateful – Editor

In the next article the names have been changed to protect the innocent – over to the boating officer – editor

Hello Argonauts,

I have two reasons for writing this, one is to give Rod a report to start the new club magazine and secondly to let you all know how we stand with a boat.
As all but those of you who recently joined, we know we have not had a lot of luck with boats to date, and last year we had our engine stolen.
It was at the time uninsured so we had no claim and no way of replacing it.

Myself and a few other members looked for a second hand engine but there were very few to be found. The price for a good reliable engine of around 30 hp was said to be around £1300 plus, and because of this the committee had to whether it was necessary to have a boat or keep the money in the bank. Most if not all the committee decided that a diving club with no boat was not able to give the membership a good chance at open water training.

It was suggested that if we purchased another boat it should not only have the Decca navigator but also a fish finder of some description to enable the finding of wrecks and other diving sites off shore.

After much deliberation in committee I am pleased to inform members that we are the proud owners of a very well serviced RIB complete with a recently professionally serviced 40 HP Yamaha engine and many of the items needed for the use of the RIB including such things as anchor, navigation lights, ropes, tools and spares for the engine and other items to numerous to mention, but including the trailer to tow the boat to our first dive site. I am also looking at prices to purchase the fish finder and we hope to have the RIB operational in the next few weeks.

The price of the boat was a reasonable £2000 and it was purchased without his or his wife’s vote from our treasurer John Franklin.
One more thing I must do is to ask for volunteers to give up a weekend or two to enable the container at Nick Packers to be painted, Roofed, and ramps made to let us get the RIB into the container for storage.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and lets hope that the weather, tides and boat handlers let us use the RIB all this season and on that point the keys and information on how to use the Decca etc. may be obtained from me by all of the boat handlers.

Good diving,

Vaughn Lucock Boat Officer

Secs Bit or Forthcoming Events

June 18th 6pm Dive at Boyton Reservoir followed by a Bar-B-Q at Nick Packers proceeds towards cost of RIB

The boat is not a spare – Editor

Summer Training – Broomhill Pool commencing Wed 13th July 7:30 – 9pm then every Wednesday up to and including August 31st
Cost £2 per person per session

Its cold so you will need a suit or old track suit.
Good experience as the pool is 5 m deep.

SAA AGM
Eastbourne October 7th and 8th – why not make a weekend of it. Lets get enough members to attend then we can hire a coach and travel down on Friday evening. Please let me know asap.
We will require non returnable deposits.

Don’t forget there is a holiday savings cub. Save what you like, when you like. If you are unable to attend the event you are saving towards your money can be returned at any time. Why not try and save regularly then when diving is arranged you will already have the money saved.

SUPPORT YOU CLUB ll these things are done for your benefit – not for the benefit of the club.

Betty

The end – any contributions for the next issue to the Editor (alias the equipment officer alias Rod Burrell). Remember anything considered! - Ed