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| Club News |
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May 2010 |
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Newry and Mourne Sub Aqua Club launched the Maritime Festival on 11th May in conjunction with Newry City Council. The club, who celebrated their 35th anniversary of recreational diving this year, gave a wonderful display. Placards announcing the launch arose from the waters of Newry Canal along with the bubbles of numerous divers to be met by the cameras of the waiting press. Divers from the group then swam to Newry’s Lord Mayor and officials waiting on land to ceremonially hand over flags to launch the eagerly awaited cross border Maritime Festival. The event kick-starts an exciting program of water based action planned for the 24th – 30th May held over numerous sites in Newry, Kilkeel, Warrenpoint, Greenore and Carlingford. A ‘Bathtub Race’ on Friday 28th May on Newry Canal promises to be great craic with safety provided by Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua. The tall ships will be arriving to the sounds of live music and a French Continental market in Newry. The Sub Aqua Club will have a stand with interesting artefacts and diving memorabilia of days gone by on Saturday 29th. The diving club will also have their high speed R.I.B’s used within the ‘Search & Recovery’ unit of the club in the water to give the public a chance to cruise the canal and have a go at boat handling skills under the skillful eyes of club members. It is also expected to have free try dives on Wednesday 26th May for the public to experience the aquatic world. Both these activities will have age limits. Contact Paula 07894272465 for details. Numerous other water based activities will provide lots of fun filled activities for all the family. For full details, see events programs available locally. |
New CompressorJanuary 2009 |
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Due to 400% increase in club membership over the past three years the committee decided that a second compressor was necessary to ensure sufficient capacity to serve all the members of the club. The purchase of the compressor, although a great financial strain on the club (without any funding from government sources) should be a great comfort zone for filling and as a backup unit. Actually no sooner had the new compressor arrived than there was a problem with the old unit which then had to undergo repairs and a complete overhaul proving what a good decision it was to acquire the new compressor.
Specifications:
- Charging rate - 265l/min - 16m3/h - 9.3 cfm
- Driven by - Three phase electric motor 5.5 Kw
- Working pressure - 225 bar 3200 psi/ 330 bar 4700 psi
- Noise Level - 82.3 dB - ISO 3746
- Weight - 109 KG
- Measurements - H 63.5cm x L 85cm x W 45cm
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New Booster Pump
February 2009 |
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Club members will be excited to hear of the recent purchase of a booster pump for trimix diving. BSAC’s National Diving Committee has announced the launch of entry-level trimix qualifications for sport divers as well as a trimix try-dive scheme. Previously this type of diving was open only to the most experienced divers. The new Sports Mixed Gas course will replace the Extended Range Diver qualification to increase the safety for divers who want to dive to depths of up to 50m.
Prerequisites for the course may include the Advanced Nitrox Diver qualification and to have experienced diving with a twin-set. Students must also hold a minimum qualification of sports diver with proven depth progression. Specification:
- Model DTB10 Type 3
- Inlet pressure Regulated 230 barg to 35 barg ( reduced flow operation is permitted with inlet pressures down to 25barg when outlet is below 250bar
- Flow rate 55 to 65 n/ltr min
- MWP 350 bar
- Gas Oxygen,Helium,Argon,Air
- Power 0.55 KW
- Motor 230v or 414v 3phase
- Inlet 1/4BSPP(F)
- Outlet 1/4BSPP(F)
- Approx Dims 550w x 700mm L x 4oomm H
- Approx Wt 60Kg
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New RIB - update |
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Newry & Mourne Search & Rescue Unit (a division of Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua Club) took delivery of a new Search & Rescue craft at the very end of 2007. The 7.5 metre RIB is a purpose built craft that is and will continue to benefit greatly the efforts of the search & rescue unit in carrying out its’ tasks. It has a 325hp inboard diesel engine capable of propelling, at up to 40 knots, the team of search & rescue specialists to the scene of an incident anywhere within the Newry & Mourne area or further afield if requested.
The Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua Club has had a search and rescue unit for more than 30 years but recently the PSNI have disbanded their own search and rescue unit making the Sub Aqua Club’s unit the only one in the area. This makes it the only local vessel capable of carrying out search and rescue operations. It is essential it is properly equipped in order to fulfil the tasks required of it.
The search & rescue unit itself is comprised of volunteer members of the Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua Club who are all BSAC trained ‘Advanced Diver’ status or above. All members are also fully BSAC trained in search & rescue techniques.
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Grant boost for Newry Sub Aqua Club
(News report appearing in the 'Examiner' 29/7/08) |
A project to allow Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua to develop its club by purchasing a new boat has received a £15,000 boost.
The Sub Aqua Club has recently been awarded substantial amounts of money from two funds to enable it to serve its members and the wider community on a greater scale. The "Awards for All" scheme awarded £10,000 to the Sub Aqua club whilst Newry & Mourne District Council awarded £5,000 through the Voluntary contributions Fund. The Club which has been in operation for 40 years plans to continue its work in recruiting new members from within the area and to develop the skills and knowledge of its existing members. The club wishes to thank the schemes for their recognition of the valuable work carried out by the sub aqua club, and all those who were involved with the grant process.
The grant money will act as a springboard for the continued regeneration and growth of the sub aqua club. Club chairman Gerry Brown said: "Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua is delighted to have been successful with its Grant bid; it will allow us to build on the good work which is already being carried out within the club, all on a voluntary basis", the money was spent on enabling the club to purchase a new boat, a RIB capable of high speeds with a higher seating capacity. The new boat will be an invaluable resource for the club when looking for missing people at sea. The reliable, state of the art boat should make a huge difference in response time. Newry and Mourne sub aqua have helped in the search for the Green family, searches within Camlough Lake and Newry Canal along with various other waterways in the Armagh and down area and further afield with "Fiona’s Pride" already having been involved in its' maiden rescue. The high powered vehicle has been named "Fiona’s Pride" in honour of valued instructor Fiona McKeown who sadly died in recent years. Her memory still resonates and the RIB will allow more new members to be trained to the high standards set be Fiona within the club.
The club continues to fundraise to meet the purchasing costs of the new boat and will be holding a bucket collection on Saturday 9th August in Newry. They would appreciate donations/ contributions towards the purchase of the new boat which will help them to save lives. Training will reopen to the public in September, and the club will be taking on a new batch of recruits then. The club wishes to invite anyone who would like to have a "Try-Dive" to these Wednesday night sessions to get a tater of a new and worthwhile challenge. Contact Peter on 07836774694 or see this site for details.
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New Instructors
Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua wish to congratulate the four members of the club who recently undertook a high pressured training course in the prestigious Lagan Valley Complex in Lisburn. The course encompassed theory and practical lessons enabling the members to become qualified instructors. These newly qualified Instructors undertook this training in order to allow the club to cope with the influx of new trainees. Already instructing a new batch of trainees, the instructors are enjoying the new challenge they’ve been set and are looking forward to introducing many more novices to the joys of the underwater world. With the next bookings for Ocean Diving training already being taken, they will certainly get plenty of chances to pass on a wealth of knowledge, backed up by the veterans of the club. So once again, congratulations to Paula O Hare, Declan McNally, Eilis Devlin and Damien Finnegan.
Why not come along to Newry Pool on a Wednesday night at 8.15pm and have a 'Try-Dive' with the new instructors to get a taste of a wonderful pastime. Or give an exciting present this Christmas with a Try-Dive voucher? Just give us a call. Contact Peter on 07836774694 for more information.
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Trimix Instructor
Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua Assistant Dive Officer, Keith Farrell has recently qualified as a BSAC Trimix Instructor.
Since obtaining his First Class Diver qualification, we now congratulate Keith on this latest achievement.
Keith is the first BSAC Trimix Instructor in Ireland.
On 03.06.08 A BSAC Extended Course will commence. For additional info, please call Keith on 07764814512.
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Date: 19.08.08
New RIB to be ordered
Due to the decision of the PSNI to disband the Police Diving Unit, it was decided at a meeting on 16th June 07 to purchase a new 7.5 Meter 325hp Inboard Diesel RIB. This purpose built, enviromentally friendly, state of the art craft will greatly assist the Search & Recovery Unit, a division within the Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua, in carrying out search & recovery missions, in the local and surrounding waters of the Newry & Moune Area. To date we have received great support from the local people and businesses in the area and their assistance has been greatly appreciated in this latest venture. It is hoped that we will obtain funding from Newry & Mourne Council.
There was a very suscessful fund raising event in Newry Golf Inn on Friday 12th October 07. This event was greatly supported by the local people, local businesses, as well as Newry & Mourne Council. The event had a four course meal and dancing into the early hours. Prior to the event taking place, our Chairman, Gerry Brown gave a speech that spoke from the heart and touched on matters that were dear to those who had in the past attended Search & Recovery missions. During the event, there was a very suscessful auction and raffle, where a huge amount was raised towards the funding of our new vessel. The enjoyment continued into the eary hours and a great time was had by all that atended.....See local media for details.
We would like to thank everybody who was involved with making the function possible as well as those who supported us, by attending. Thank you.
Watch this space for details of our next fund raiser or call Philomena on 00353872324699 or Peter on 07836774694...or Tommy 07801089010
........NEWS FLASH....NEWS FLASH......... THE ORDER FOR A NEW 7.5 METRE RIB AT AN APPRXOXIMATE COST OF £50k WAS PLACED WITH REDBAY BOATS LTD ON FRIDAY 28.09.07.....DELIVERY TO BE ADVISED ............A NEWS UPDATE WILL FOLLOW SHORTLY...................
"Please help us to help others".
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Nitrox Compressor purchase
 At a meeting of the Newry & Mourne Sub Aqua Club on the evening of 20.10.05, it was unanimously agreed that the club would purchase a purposely designed Nitrox Compressor at a cost of $10k. This was a very brave undertaking as all of the funding would be from individual club members.
In what one could only call a united show of solidarity, there was a unanimous vote to purchase the Nitrox compressor.
Although putting the club under severe financial strain, due to the high interest and demand it was decided that the purchase be made. The purchase of the Nitrox compressor will not only make the individuals who use the higher enriched Oxygen content mix in their cylinders, less prone to the bends" but allow less time on decompression. This will be of signficant safety to recently trained divers, where on occassion their loss of boyency can lead to hospitalisation or on occassion a fatality.
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New RIB
Our last arrival.
A Redbay 145HP Diesel 6.5 Meter RIB.
with Jimmy Lyons, one of the Club Founder Members. |
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