The website has now been upgraded to the latest version of the Wordpress software that we use.   Everything seems to be working OK, with the exception of one thing.  Previously, when writing a post, you could add images from the GLUG Gallery by clicking on the “G2″ icon.

This particular “plugin” is not compatible with the new version, although a patch is promised very soon.  In the meantime, you’ll just have to upload photos manually instead.

If you’re one of the few members who write posts, you’ll notice a couple of new features on the write page:  You can now switch between the Visual Editor and a Code editor.  If you’re comfortable with writing XHTML, then you can use the code editor - otherwise stick to the Visual Editor.  There’s also a new “autosave” feature, which means that your post will get saved regularly while you edit it - so if you inadvertently close your browser window, or your PC crashes, you won’t lose everything.

The login screen has been updated too, but I think, for most people, those will be the only changes you see.  Let me know if you find any problems I’ve missed.

Neil.

The South East region of BSAC is organising a conference for divers of all training agencies (BSAC, PADI, SAA,etc.) to be held on Sunday 18th February in Guildford. Speakers will include the likes of Innes McCartney (submarines), Paul Naylor (British marine life), Royal Navy ( submarine escape), Met Police Dive Team (search and recovery). There will also be stands and exhibits including a dive shop.

Tickets cost only £5. To book your place visit www.bsac-se.org.uk. For further information phone 07976 749607.

Sounds good. I can’t go, but would love to hear from anyone who does.

The guys at Wordpress.org have released a new version of the blog software that runs the GLUG website.  It has several enhancements which will make life easier both for me and for others writing posts.

I plan to upgrade the website within the next few days, so you may find that at times you just get a “Website offline” page when you go to the homepage.

Bear with me - I’ll try to get it all back up and running as quickly as possible.

Neil.

Although the trip is still over 6 weeks away, the apartments are getting booked fast. There are hotel rooms available but they might be a bit more expensive and have no catering facilities. Therefore, if there any more people interested in this trip please let me know ASAP. Please see the previous post or Events Page for details.

I’ve had an email from a guy called Brian in the USA asking whether we know where the good dive sites are in Ireland, since he’s going there for a holiday.

If anyone can recommend anywhere, please leave a comment below this post.

Also, if anyone from Ireland is interested in meeting up with Brian when he’s over there, leave a comment below, and I’ll forward your email address to him.

Neil.

Dives for 2007 are filling up fast, so if you’d like to join us for any of the planned weekends, please fill out the relevant booking form(s) and send them to me asap.

Ta!

As yet, no-one’s claimed the spare ticket for the RGS (Royal Geographical Society) dive lecture. I’m posting a reminder, in case people were confused by the comments under the last post, none of which actually claimed the ticket!

To reiterate. I have one place still available for the free Dive Lectures at the Royal Geographic Society on Thursday 25th January at 6.30pm. At present there are 6 of us going - we plan to meet in the bar by 6.15pm, so that we can get seats together.

If you would like the place, please log into the GLUG website, and leave a comment under this post. First GLUG member to leave a comment will get the place. If no-one has claimed it by 9am Monday morning, I’ll tell the LDC (London Diving Chamber) that we no longer need the place.

Those who already have reserved places are: Me, Alan Larsen, Jason Starmer, Chris Lee, Anna B, and Andy Sandison.

Neil.

I have one spare place for the RGS (Royal Geographical Society) Dive lectures (see the previous post for details).

The first GLUG member to leave a comment below this post on the website will get the place!

Sorry for keeping you waiting for the info about this trip but I’ve just received a quote from the Tenerife Diving Centre and a package of 4 dives over 2 days, 3 nights of self catering accomodation and transfer from and to the airport will cost £110/159 euros per person. Therefore, the other costs will be the flights, food and drinks.

In order to secure your place on this trip you need to book a return flight to Tenerife South (aka Tenerife Sur, Reina Sofia or TFS) for 16th of March, returning on 19th of March and e-mail the confirmation to me. I’ll forward it to the center. They do not ask for a deposit but they need all flights confirmations as guarantee of your commitment to booking and also to check arrivals and departures to plan the transfers.

As the trip is not only diving but also a social event, please arrive at Tenerife before 7pm on the 16th March that we can have a briefing, go for a meal together and get to know each other before diving.

When booking a return flight for 19th March please ensure that you departure is not earlier than about 4pm to allow a 24 hours surface interval after the last dive.

I’m going to put this trip on the Events list tonight so please click the tick if you are interested. It doesn’t oblige you to anything but at least will give me a rough estimate how many people are keen.

Please e-mail me any questions by clicking on the envelope on the top of this post. 

One of the benfits of having online trip reports rather than a newsletter is that we are no longer limited to print and photos. I have set up a YouTube account in GLUG’s name to host any video footage that people may want to include in future trip reports.

I’ve used two short clips in my Mozambique trip report to give you an idea of how it will look.

So, if you have any video that you would like to share with the club or use in a trip report please let me know and I will send you our YouTube username and password so you can upload it (or email me the clip and I’ll do it for you).

I have almost finished transferring all of the old trip reports from the newsletters onto the website. We also have three brand-spanking new, never-seen-before trip reports which you might want to take a look at:
Scapa Flow by Lee Brown
Farne by Aleš
Marsa Alam by Robert Ho and Andy

I have loaded some of my pics from New Year in Djibouti into the gallery. (The GLUG contingent was Brian Broadbridge and me.)The highlight of the trip was snorkeling with several whale sharks and a manta ray for about an hour on New Year’s day - and again on the next day. Comments etc. gratefully received…

If anyone is planning on going to the Dive show in the Docklands for the weekend of 11th/12th March and would perhaps like to have dinner afterwards in London on the Saturday night with Fred and myself (the visiting Guernsey folk) then drop either of us an email and perhaps we could arrange a meet up for those wishing to …as well as the meal in London for the evening. (Venue open for suggestions/feedback?).
If not going to the show but wish to join in the meal then all are welcome…looking forward to seeing you!

For those who missed the excellent Xmas Glug meal (a definite must for this year)…here’s your chance to redeem yourselves!

There are now links on the Events Page to booking forms and accommodation lists for this year’s UK dives.

You’ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them.

To save them to your hard disk, right-click on the links, and choose “Save Link As…” or “Save Target As…”

Don’t forget to register your interest for these UK events - just click on the tick on the Events Page!

For when planning your dive trips abroad I found this site to be excellent to save trawling through all the web sites for the cheapest airfares- it’s Martin Lewis’s (he of Radio 2’s money saving expert fame) search engine which will trawl through them all for you.
He has a regular email newsletter which gives good savings on everything from travel to freebies as well!

http://flightchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/

Teletext.co.uk has some fabulous deals as well especially to good dive destinations! They too have a regular newsletter worth subscribing to.

Good hunting! Hope it saves you guys and gals some money to spend on dive gear this year!