Category: Training

Capernwray – 11th September 2022

As a joint trip of scuba diving and hiking, four of us headed up to the Lake District for a long weekend of activities. On Saturday we made an early start and set off to Orrest Head for an easy walk up to a view point over Lake Windermere. We continued on to Ingleton Waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales, where we endeavoured on a harder, 4.5 mile hike around the valley where and saw some of the magnificent waterfalls.
When Sunday rolled around we were keen to get to Capernwray to dive. We made an early start and arrived for site opening. This was a prime opportunity for some Dive Leader training, so across our three dives we ticked off three lessons, as well as having an explore around the dive site. It was a comfortable 19ºC, so we had the chance to do some long dives and find a lot of the wrecks, including the planes, the gun and, of course, the massive sturgeons. It was a great weekend and we hope to travel up again soon and make it a bigger trip next time!
Credit – Jack (Trip Organiser)

02 Admin Course – 26th March 2022

As we are nearing the diving season and with plenty of DL trainees working through their theory PSAC ran the annual O2 Admin course.
It had been a bit of time since the last course (due to COVID) so it was a great day refreshing skills and getting up to speed with Basic life Support, Administering Oxygen and considerations for AEDs.
Credit – George (Training Officer and Training Organiser)
In addition, huge thank you to all the instructors that helped out on the day – we can’t do this without you! 

Boat Handling Course – 22nd January 2022

After some hard work giving our new RIB (Femti) a bit of TLC towards the back end of 2021 and early 2022 it was time to run our annual Boathandling course.
Tactically chosen for the cold winter months to ensure we have plenty of keen boat handlers ahead of the diving season, four members (Andrew, Charlie, Henry and George) braved the cold Thames.
Saturday was our theory day excellently provided by Steve. We even managed a brief launch and recovery with the old RIB (Putney Diver) and a small amount of boat handling practice.
Sunday was the big practical day: Nick took Putney Diver out with Andrew, Charlie & Henry for their drills and Steve took Femti out with George (with Michal and Brian) to check her over again after a bit of trouble shooting on the engine and to practice the relevant drills for the Boathandling course.
A great day out and lots of knowledge passed on, ready for using on the south coast very soon!
Credit – George (Training Officer)

Vobster – 15th January 2022

Organising a trip to an inland lake should be easy right.

Announced in October 2021 a trip to Vobster in January, I wasn’t expecting much interest but slowly I was getting more people interested and by Christmas I had 11 nutters sorry divers and 1 spectator. Usually organising a trip to an inland lake is easy tell people where and when to turn up and jump in the lake, but during a pandemic the lakes have changed the entry rules. Vobster being my initial preference now has membership rules, so I looked at NDAC which just before Christmas announced it was closing for January, Stoney Cove was mentioned as alternative as well as a few lesser-known lakes. Then though a contact of John Heagney now encamped in Bath, Jonathon Hudson a member of Bath SAC with John and the South West regional coach arranged for us to use the Bath SAC membership so we could all get in to Vobster without having to pay membership.

The Day

So, with a meet time of 7.50am at Vobster it was a very early start for people travelling from south west London, I had opted to stay with John a mere 25 minutes away so not sorry to miss the early start.  Once everyone had arrived and parked up, we split in in to 2 pre-arranged groups 1 for twin set divers and 1 for single cylinder. With Vobster turning misty the kitting up process was not done with any urgency and after about an hour and half later the mist had cleared, and the 1st divers jumped in to the barmy 8 °C degree water. We were greeted by amazing vis of around 15m and everyone had a pleasant dive if not dry dive. Step forward Adam, Michal and Charles who’s drysuits didn’t seem to be that dry. After a stop for getting cylinders filled, hot food and drink from the snack wagon to warm up. Drysuits were repaired well Adam’s and undersuits hired to replace the wet ones. We had our 2nd dive of the day. Another nice dive with the vis very slightly less than the 1st but still amazing although still damp for Michal and Charles. Once diving was complete, we packed up and headed for home some of us via the Talbot Inn in Mells which I can highly recommend for a post pint after Vobster.  My impression of Vobster had not changed out of all the inland lakes this is my favourite easy entry and exit to the water, great vis and friendly staff.

Thank You

Jonathon Hudson for arranging entry and Nic Denby for doing the dive sheets, assisting divers and the photos.

The Nutters

Adam, Andrew, Brian, Charles, Charlie, Cameron, George, John, Liam, Michal and Mark

PS

We have our 1st nomination for the Skomer Claw for 2022 as Charlie turned up with an out of test cylinder

Credit Brian (Outing organiser) 

Accelerated Decompression Procedures – 13th November

A few members of the club have been interested in progressing our diving to longer bottom times, and the deco requirements that come with that. The opportunity to learn to use a richer gas mix to reduce the amount of deco time was something 3 Putney divers were keen to explore.We booked onto a weekend course with the BSAC wales region, to be held at NDAC, along with 4 others from various other BSAC clubs. After completing the online lectures we were ready to go!

The first day started with learning how to mark up the stages and checking out the various equipment configurations, followed by an in water skills lesson. Great to recap some skills as well as learning the gas switching procedure. Second dive of the day was lead by the instructors, taking in the highlights of NDAC and a gas switch on the ascent. Having learnt a huge amount we retreated to the gurka curry house for a well earned rest and some time to contemplate everything we had learnt.The second day was the time to put everything we had learnt into practice. Cam and I had a solid dive plan, neatly written up in our wet notes and we were ready to go. The dive went really smoothly and we had clearly learnt our lessons from yesterday, gas switching was much smoother and the deco stop much more controlled. Following the post dive debrief we were delighted to hear we had met the requirements and passed the course.

Overall ADP was an interesting course and would recommend to others looking to accelerate their deco. Really interesting to switch to a more technical mindset, where planning and preparation are even more important.

Many thanks to all of the instructors (5 instructors to 7 students!) and especially to Mark Lewis for leading the course.

Credit Charles

Wraysbury – 30th October

On 30th October, 6 members of Putney BSAC went to Wraysbury to do some training and experience dives. Despite low visibility our trainees ticked off their compass skills as well as other lessons and at the end of the day we had two newly qualified sports divers. Congratulations to Henry and Grace on this great achievement.
Credit – Emma (Training Officer and Trip Organiser)

Swanage Training Trip – 18th September 2021

In September, we organised one of the most ambitious training trips Putney BSAC has done.
8 instructors, 8 trainees and our trusty RHIB went to Swanage for the weekend, doing a mix of hardboat, RHIB and shore diving. This included 6 members who have joined since the pandemic and for some, this was their first time in British waters. We did some (pretty fast) drift dives, the Fleur de Lhys, Swanage Pier, Peverill ledges and one of our favourites – the Valentine Tanks. The tanks didn’t disappoint with good visibility and teaming with life, including some massive moray eels. On the whole the weather was pretty good and we were able to enjoy a large barbecue and toast marshmallows one evening at our accommodation. We signed off 4 ocean diver, 7 sports diver and 6 dive leader lessons, as well as gaining experience in the water, a huge testament to both our instructors and trainees.
Credit – Emma (Training Officer and Trip Organiser)
Extra Credit must be given to Emma for organising the most logistically complex trip we’ve had and all with a smile. Everything went pretty smoothly and a great time was had by all! Thank you Emma!

Training Days – September 2021

In early September we did two quarry trips in preperation for our training weekend in Swanage.  Our ocean divers trainees went to Wraysbury for their first experience in open water. Our sports divers signed off the dreaded rescue skills and another lesson in St Andrews lake whilst a couple of our dive leader trainees practiced their skills. We had great weather and a fabulous time was had by all
Credit – Emma (Training Officer and Trip Organiser)

Thames Rhib Trip – 20th August 2021

Three members (including myself) enjoyed a day on the club RHIB in late August. The objective was to take Putney Diver upriver, enjoying a day on the Thames and getting in some boat handling practice and hours logged. The latter is useful for members who wish to aim for a BSAC Coxwain qualification; note that 5 hours PQE is required after the Boat Handling course.

Brian, Nancy and myself met at the HYC to check and hitch up the boat, all of which is useful practice for divers following up from their boat-handling course. Launching on the flood at the Putney embankment, the boat crew circled back to the pontoon at the HYC to pick up the tow-crew before heading up-river.
We passed under the newly-reopened Hammersmith Bridge and spend some time practising low-speed manoeuvres and coming alongside at Chiswick pier. Somewhat embarrassingly this was in front of the RNLI station, who are much better at this sort of thing than us.
Steady progress was made upriver, the scent of Himalayan Balsam wafting from the banks and bird-life aplenty.  The sluices were open as we passed through Richmond lock and we were close to high tide as we neared our destination; the White Swan at the downstream end of Eel Pie island.
This a top pub; great beer and importantly easy access and mooring. Nancy and I enjoyed battered haddock and chips, Brian had a healthier option.
Post-lunch we made the short journey to Teddington lock, catching the start of the ebb-tide for our return.
Returning via the HYC and the embankment, we thought we would make the voyage on one tank, but a last minute change was required for basically the last 500m. A visit to the Sainsbury’s petrol station on the way back topped up the tank. On that point, it maybe advisable to use E5 “premium” petrol for the boat. The effect of the new E10 (10% ethanol) on two-strokes is uncertain.
Note that Putney Diver is available for use by suitably-qualified members. We had a great day and I can thoroughly recommend the upper river, even when no diving is involved. 
Credit – Mark (Equipment Officer)

Portland Expedition – 9th July 2021

In July three members joined with divers from the BSAC southern Region to complete part of their Advanced Diver training. Some of the lesser-known targets of Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour were dived, making use of various searching, surveying, and dive planning techniques. Lots learnt by everyone involved and a great opportunity to visit some sites that are too small to dive with a charter boat of 12 divers, so lots of life on them too! Thanks to Quality Time Training for provision of boat and cox, and to BSAC southern region for the support and guidance of the instructors.
Credit – Cameron (Chair)