Due to mix-up in their bookings, Ocean Optics have some spaces on their Underwater Photography Stage on January 31st (This Sunday) , which they’re offering to us at a discount.  The UW Photography Stage is a large tank, normally used for film making, into which Ocean Optics place an artificial reef, including all sorts of little critters to photograph, as well as a small boat, jellyfish, a Hammerhead shark, etc.  It’s ideal for divers wanting to practice their photography skills.

Normally, they charge £45 for a two-hour session in the tank, but if we can get four divers together, the group will pay just £100 – that’s £25 each.

I’m quite keen to get in some extra practice before my Philippines trip, so if you’d like to join me, and take advantage of this great discount, please give me a call ASAP (07595 465265) – I’m sure Ocean Optics will be trying to sell the spaces to others too.  If you live in London, I can also give you transport to get there.

Neil.

I’m considering buying a new lightweight BC for travelling, but it would be nice to know I can sell my old one first…

It’s an AP Valves Buddy Ranger (XL size).  It’s served me very well for several years, but is still in very good condition.

It’s currently got an Air2 on it – but I will be keeping that.  (I should be able to swap it for the Inflator on the new BC, but that’s not guaranteed – you might have to buy a new inflator).

The colour is bright yellow, as pictured – and it’s not faded, despite quite a few years of use.  It has a pull dump on the right shoulder and the bottom left of the back (but not an inflator dump).

There are two integrated Weight pockets (you can see the handles in the picture), holding up to 5Kg each, but despite this, there is still plenty of pocket space for slates, camera, or even a small reel and SMB (one of the things I really like about Buddy BCs is the huge pockets!).

There are also two shoulder pockets for trim weights, which is great for keeping you horizontal in the water.

The BC does not come with the emergency bottle that’s an optional extra on Buddy BCs, but I believe one could be fitted easily (in fact, I think I have the one that came with the Buddy Commando I had originally – would need servicing though).

For a review of this BCD, click here.

It’s a great BC for beginners, and still has many years use left in it.

If you’re interested, leave a comment below, or give me a call on 07595 465265.  All reasonable offers considered.

I know there are quite a few iPhone users within the club, so I thought I’d share a few Scuba-related Apps that I’ve found…

Long story short, Natwest are being awkward again, consequently I’m only aware of payments received up to and including 15 January.

We still have a significant number of people in the database who remain marked as ‘not renewed’. If, when you login to the site, your status is ‘Membership Renewal Due’ then you need act now!

Anyone who believes that they have paid and that the indicated status is therefore incorrect should email me ASAP as should anyone who arranges payment from this point forward. The email address to use is

A full list of payment methods is available here - it is now too late to use the cash option without at least temporarily loosing access to the site.

Cheers

Mark
(Webmaster & Membership Secretary)

With discovery divers based @ fort bovisand on hard boat Red Alert, a big purpose built dive boat with a big lift on the back.

Check out the link: http://www.discoverydivers.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=91&Itemid=34

For up to 12 divers @ £34 per day, per diver.  Dive sites dependent on divers going but if you have a special interest let me know and i will do my best to ensure it happens.

Accomodation available at fort bovisand bunk room @ £15/ night Twin en suite @ £22.50

Call me 07960944766 or email to confirm your intent or meet me @ the monthly meeting.

Those who would like to discuss this idea further can contact me through my email, posted in my profile in the members section of the GLUG website. – Steven Zetlan

For folks going on the St. John’s trip this summer, is anyone interested in exploring Egypt afterwards? Pyramids, anyone?

Hello and a Happy New Year to you all,

Welcome to the GLUG training bulletin for Jan 2010

Just wanted to update you all with what’s going on and help keep divers diving, get new divers into the water, further your education and make you all better divers!! I am planning to run a series of courses designed to improve your diving over the next few months.

Some upcoming hilights!

Try Dive  – Saturday 13th March - £25

http://www.glug.co.uk/trydive

We are continuing the very successful try dive days, if you are unsure about scuba, come along and have your mind changed! ;)

Open Water Course Part One £249 (TBC but will be roughly end of March 2010)

Get your PADI scuba certification. If you’ve always wanted to learn how to scuba dive, this is where it starts. The PADI Open Water Diver course is the world’s most popular scuba course, and has introduced millions of people to the adventurous diving lifestyle.

This is the first part, the referral, it covers the theory and pool sessions, you can then go on to finish your course abroad or here in the UK. This course is filling up, so please be quick. I am scheduling others though, so get in touch!

Open Water Course Part Two (hoping for April/May 2010)

This is the second part of the PADI Open Water course, we’re hoping to put a trip together (ideas include Malta, Tenerife, or Egypt) to finish off all those Open Water courses. Please get in touch if you are waiting to finish, or even just want to come along!
Nitrox (EANx) Diver (Afternoon of 21st Feb £99)

The Enriched Air Nitrox course improves your diving in one enormous way! It allows you to spend longer under the water. This course is conducted entirely in the classroom and doesn’t require any diving. This course is almost full, get in touch ASAP

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

If you or anyone you know is interested in any training from absolute beginner to instructor, or interested in technical diving including rebreathers, we can get you trained and diving!!!

All courses can be arranged, if you are unable to make a date, or I haven’t mentioned a course, then please get in touch and we can arrange one. Training can be arranged in the UK or abroad.

http://www.glug.co.uk/training/padi

Don’t forget club night, 1st Tuesday of every month at the Phoenix Club on Charing Cross Road.

Please contact me on: 

or

Thanks very much,

Ian

GLUG Training Coordinator

www.pathfinderdiving.co.uk

The PADI Enriched Air Nitrox course improves your diving in one enormous way! It allows you to spend longer under the water by removing some of the nitrogen from the gas we breathe and replacing it with oxygen!

This course is conducted entirely in the classroom and doesn’t require any diving. The course covers the equipment aspect of diving with nitrox as well as dive tables and computers. You’ll also analyse cylinders of nitrox and go through the procedures to obtain nitrox fills.

This one of the courses all divers should undertake! Spend longer and be safer underwater! Ideal for all those off to the philipines and upcoming liveaboard trips!

If you are interested, please get in touch ASAP as I need to make sure you have study materials well beforehand.

Nitrox (EANx) Diver (1 Afternoon £99 includes manual, tables, and certifcation)

Thank you so much.

Ian
GLUG Training Coordinator
www.pathfinderdiving.co.uk

Now here’s an Interesting Idea for beating Airline Baggage restrictions! :-)

Hi Fellow GLUGgers

Just a quick reminder that the January Meeting will be tomorrow – January 12 – at the Phoenix Artists Bar!  From February to November the date will revert to the first Tuesday of every month.

The Committee part of the evening will commence at 18:30, to be followed by a recap of the meeting to Members at 19:30 :-)

I hope to see you there (weather and transport permitting)!

Doug

Hi everyone,

I have got a Northern Divers Metalux 300 m. undersuit for man.

It is brand new in it’s original package.  

Height: 170cm, 5′6″

Weight: 70-80kg, 11-12.5st

Chest: 99-104 com, 39″ – 41″

I use the female version of it and it is really easy to handle and very warm.

The lastest official price is £108.00, I am selling it for £80.00.

You can see a picture of it here: http://ndiver.com/site/products/undersuit_metalux.html

If you are interested, let me know.

Sonja

Credit to Ian C for managing to convince his branch to hand over a print out of the bank statement! As a result, earlier than I could possibly have hoped, I’ve been able to update the database with membership payments received up to and including the 6th January.

Therefore many people will now find that their status has changed. Roughly half the club now stands as renewed and I hope that the 15th will see most of the rest being renewed.

A similar post will follow that update. As usual any queries just let me know.

Cheers

Mark
(Webmaster in Membership Secretary mode!)

Firstly Happy New Year! I’m afraid its time for me to riase the issue of membership renewals again!

I’m hoping to not have to bang on too much about this subject, but you all know I will if I have to! You’ll all notice that I’ve added a line to the login box on the Welcome page. This appears while you are logged in and will display one of two messages to indicate whether or not, according to the database, you are a renewed 2010 member or not.

Before anyone panics, the database has not yet been updated with any SO or bank transfer payments. Due to new policies about how a certain bank implements certain policies, there will be a short delay in the database being updated to reflect these payments. For this I can only apologise.

Those who have paid by cash or who have free membership for 2010 from try dives etc should already see this reflected by the system when logged in.

Also, a reminder that if you haven’t already checked, setup or altered your standing order to run on the 15th January, now would be a good time to do it! Though, I would advise that if your SO is set to run at any time in January it is better to leave it as is. The deadlines are 31st January when accounts not renewed become suspended and 28th February when accounts still not renewed will be deleted.

A reminder of the details for your standing order or bank transfer:

• Account number: 30520541
• Sort Code: 604005
• Payee: G.L.U.G
• Reference: YOUR NAME <– THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!
• Frequency: Annually
• Duration: Until further notice
• Date of first payment: 15/01/2010
• Amount: £10

And a reminder of all the various payment methods available in order of preference:

• Standing Order
• Bank Transfer
• Cheque (payable to GLUG)
• Cash at a monthly meeting
• Payment Gateway (Currently AlertPay or PayPal) – pay buttons available on the Membership Page.

If posting a cheque please address to: GLUG, 144 Don Phelan Close, Camberwell, London, SE5 7DB

Thank you in anticipation of your assistance to make the renewal process as smooth and easy as possible. If you have any questions or queries regarding your membership please drop me a line () and I’ll assist.

I will make a further announcement when the database has been updated with SO transactions shortly after the 15th.

Cheers

Mark
(Webmaster)

One of our newer members (Richard) who is also a member of London Frontrunners has supplied some information about a forthcoming fundraising event which may be of interest.

A member of London Frontrunners has given up employment in order to train for and qualify to race in Iron Man championships in 2010! Full details are contained in the pdf document linked to below and for those who are debating whether opening the pdf is worth the ‘hassle’… I’ll just mention, 26 years old, bicycle, Lycra shorts…

The link to the full flyer.

The event is a cabaret style evening with a variety of performances including drag queens, music and fun and there’s a raffle.

Essential details are: Upstairs in Comptons, Saturday 16th January @ 7.30pm.

There’s also a facebook link for the event.

Mark