BRITISH SUB-AQUA REGIONAL COACHING CHAPTER (SINGAPORE)

What has happened and what is new?

YOU CAN HELP BS-AC BY BECOMING A BS-AC LIFE MEMBER!

You may have read about the financial problems now facing the BS-AC in your last Diver Magazine. These problems are not insurmountable if loyal members pull together to help. One very real way that you can help is to become a BS-AC Life Member. The cash flow generated by your conversions to Life Members will go a long way to get the BS-AC back on a strong financial footing.
BS-AC Life Membership has its advantage: Historically, the BS-AC annual membership subscription has increased over the years to keep up with inflation, from £7.00 in 1978 to £16.50 in 1988 and then £35.00 in 1998. The current life membership fee is £400.00 (£600.00 for a full member and an abated member), which covers only a little more than 11 years of annual subscription at today's rate, without factoring for future inflation. Life membership fee will probably increase with inflation, so it makes sense to become a Life Member sooner rather than later.
On becoming a Life Member, you only pay the local fees to whichever BS-AC Branch you are currently affiliated to. And when you travel around the world you remain a legitimate member of an internationally recognised dive club for the rest of your life without paying anything more.
How to become a Life Member? You can contact your Branch Membership Secretary for help, or you can get more information from BS-AC at http://www.bsac.com/membserv/lifememb.htm
Or you can download a BS-AC Life Membership application form (payment is possible via credit card) here, fill it up, and then post it to
Membership,
BS-AC,
Telford's Quay,
Ellesmere Port, South Wirral,
L65 4FY,
United Kingdom.
BS-AC Life Membership Application Form:

Microsoft Word 97 format (9.90 kb) Adobe Acrobat format (7.17 kb)

BS-AC SINGAPORE MILLENIUM PARTY

The Raffles Marina Dive Section organised a year end MILLENIUM PARTY for all BS-AC members in Singapore, in the evening of 11 December (Saturday), at the Raffles Marina Poolside. Mr Goh Kong Wee hosted the evening attended by members from all the BS-AC Branches in Singapore and other divers from the Singapore diving fraternity.
The participants paid a cover charge of $45.00 (GST included) each.

Diving Officers' Conference 1999

The 1999 BSAC Diving Officers' Conference will be held on the 11th of December at the University of London Institute of Education - in the Bloomsbury area of London. Presentations on Branch Training, Incident Report, BSAC Diver Grades, UK Diving, Open Forum, etc will all be part of the Conference. A full and varied programme is promised.
Every BSAC Branch is invited to send its Diving Officer and ONE other Representative and an Application Form for the DO/Representative will be sent out in the September Membership mailing to Branches. Nationally Qualified Instructors (Club, Open Water, Advanced and National), First Class Divers and Assistant Club Instructors are also entitled to attend the conference. You may request your application form by emailing to Sandra Reynolds, sandrar@bsac.com, or Mary Tetley, maryt@bsac.com.

Advanced Diving Techniques SDC

Theory	Saturday, 30 October 1999 1.30 - 8.00 p.m. Venue - The Tanglin Club
Practicals	Expedition on board MV Mata Ikan (subject to change) to Tioman Depart - Friday evening, 5 November 1999 Return - Sunday night, 7 November 1999
Instructors	Faris Alsagoff, YC Lee, Greg Lai, Nicholas Cheong,
Cost (inclusive of expedition)	S$ 380 - Cheques to be made out to "BRITISH SUB AQUA REGIONAL COACHING CHAPTER (SINGAPORE)", payable on Saturday, 30 October 1999.
Entry Grade	BSAC Dive Leader Maximum number of trainees : 10
Contact	Faris Alsagoff E-mail - faris@magix.com.sg Tel : 730 9921 (0) 466 4493 (R)

Dive Planning & Marshalling Course

Thirteen BSAC Divers attended the course that was conducted over the weekend of 9 and 10 October by Dive Club 854. Tan Tsu Soo anchored the classroom work for the course on the first day at the Kallang Community Club, while Philip Loh and Soh Chee Peng brought the course participants through the practical work the next day in local waters.

The Dive Planning & Marshalling Course is a mandatory SDC for Advanced Diver qualification.

John Geow conferred Life Membership by BSAC HQ

John receiving his Life Membership Card from Deric

Deric Ellerby and the Chairman of BS-AC Japan flew into Singapore for a meeting during the 17/18 July weekend. On the evening on 18 July, just before the start of a ten-course dinner, Deric announced to all present, that BS-AC HQ has awarded John Geow with a BS-AC Life Membership in recognition of his unstinting contribution to the promotion of BS-AC in Singapore and the region. John's many outstanding travail include doing the ground work for the participation of BS-AC in all instances of the Asia Diving Exhibition and Conference and Asia Dive Expo.

BS-AC Advanced Nitrox Course

The Regional Coaching Team will conduct the BS-AC Advanced Nitrox Course on 24 and 25 July. The course will be conducted by Dr Y.C. Lee, assisted by Faris Alsagoff and Gregory Lai. Estimated cost is $150.00, which include only boat and tank charges. More details will be forthcoming.
Pre-requisite for this course is a Basic Nitrox certificate, from either BS-AC or other training agencies. Interested members should contact Dr Y.C. Lee.
Dr Lee's e-mail: yeechun@pacific.net.sg

BS-AC Skill Development Course: Chartwork & Positon Fixing

The Chartwork & Positon Fixing Skill Development Course is an optional module for the BS-AC Advanced Diver qualification. Its pre-requisites are BS-AC Sports Diver qualification (minimum) and a current BS-AC membership. This course was conducted over the weekend of 3rd and 4th of July by instructors from the Kampong Glam Dive Club, BS-AC 1189: Mr Tony Soh and Mr Michael Chung. Participants paid only $95.00 for another step towards their Advanced Diver standing.

For more information and photos of the event, visit http://members.xoom.com/GLAMDIVERS/train3.htm.

BS-AC Safety First & ScubaWISE

When was the last time you went for a dive? Do you want to brush up your diving skills? Have you checked your diving equipment recently? How fit do you feel? Can you remember the top ten safe diving tips?

The BSAC has recently launched The Safety First Programme, designed to carry out normal diver refresher training activities promoting safe diving practices in BSAC Branches and Schools.

The refresher diving course offered by the BSAC is called ScubaWISE. The course consists of pool and theory lessons which cover basic diving skills and safety awareness. An assessment is made and the diver, on completion of the course receives a logbook sticker to show that their skills and diving knowledge are up-to-date.

For more information about the BS-AC Safety First Programme, go to http://www.bsac.com/learn/safetyf.htm. You can also contact your Branch D.O. or George Lee of Leeway Sub-Aquatic Paradise Pte Ltd (BS-AC School 183) at telepone number (65)743-1208 or fax number (65)745-3265.

BS-AC Diving Expeditions 1999 - South China Sea
BS-AC Skill Development Course: Extended Range Diver
20 - 24 April 1999

The Extended Range Diver (ERD) Skill Development Course was conducted on board the M.V. Empress during a dive expedition, led by Deric Ellerby, to South China Sea lasting from 20 to 24 April 1999. The ERD course was conducted by Jack Ingle, BS-AC Technical Diving Advisor. A selection of related Skill Development Courses were also conducted at the same time.

BS-AC Extended Range Diver SDC Photo-shoot

Pre-requisites for taking the ERD course are BS-AC Dive Leader and BS-AC Advanced Nitrox Diver or equivalent certifications.

ASIA DIVE EXPO

Asia Dive Expo '99 was held at the World Trade Centre from 15 to 18, April 1999. BS-AC occupied one of the largest stand at the Asia Dive Expo '99. Mr Deric Ellerby led the team from UK bringing the latest development from BS-AC UK to Asia. Representatives from BS-AC Japan and BS-AC Korea and BS-AC Schools of Malaysia and Thailand were present.
The evnt provided a good opportunity for members of all the BS-AC Branches and BS-AC Schools in Singapore and Asia to get together and promote scuba diving the BS-AC way.

BS-AC Try-A-Dive at Raffles Marina, Singapore

A Try-A-Dive week-end was conducted at Raffles Marina on 10 and 11 April 1999. Enthusiastic BS-AC members, some of them who are full-fledged instructors, from the various branches in Singapore joined hands to let interested bodies what it is like to don all that scuba equipment and be submerged totally under water. Response to the programme was overwhelming, resulting in very tired but pleased BS-AC members at the end of both days. Photos taken during the Try-A-Dive weekend can be accessed at:
http://home.pacific.net.sg/~pax_tan/bsac/albm_td99.html
Warning: This photo album webpage runs a Java applet.

Get yourself on the BS-AC Singapore mailing list!

A BS-AC Singapore moderated mailing list has been established at ONElist.com. News on BS-AC activities in and around Singapore will be distributed via this mailing list. Registered members can also post their own messages to the mailing list (subject to moderation). Keep yourself updated by registering with this mailing list through one of the following ways:

Sending an empty e-mail to: bsac_singapore-subscribe@onelist.com
Registering at ONElist com at http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/bsac_singapore

Dr Lee giving a lecture

BS-AC Skill Development Course: Practical Rescue Management

12 divers successfully completed the Practical Rescue Management Skill Development Course on the weekend of 20 and 21 March conducted at Raffles Marina by Dr Y.C. Lee. This SDC module is a mandatory module for obtaining the Advanced Diver qualification.

BS-AC Basic Nitrox Course

The Regional Coaching Team successfully conducted the BS-AC Basic Nitrox Course on 23 January 1999, at Tanglin Club. Dr Y.C. Lee, assisted by Faris Alsagoff and Gregory Lai, transmitted the theoretical knowledge of using Nitrox for scuba diving to nearly a score of BS-AC members.
The practical part of diving with Nitrox is covered in the BS-AC Advanced Nitrox Course, which is scheduled for June/July 1999. Interested members should contact Dr Y.C. Lee.
Dr Lee's e-mail: yeechun@pacific.net.sg

BS-AC (SINGAPORE) COURSES AND EVENTS FOR 1999

DATE	EVENT	CONVENOR	REMARKS
January 23 Saturday	Basic Nitrox Course	Tanglin BS-AC 758	Pre-requisite: Sports Diver Qualification
March 20 & 21 Saturday/Sunday	Practical Rescue Management	Raffles Marina BS-AC 1985	Mandatory for Advanced Diver Qualification
April 16 to 18 Friday to Sunday	Asia Dive Exhibition (ADEX)	BS-AC (HQ & International) BS-AC Singapore	Please attend and help out if you can
April 20 - 24 Tuesday - Saturday	Extended Range Diver SDC	BS-AC International	On board M.V. Empress Pre-requisite: DL & Advanced Nitrox
July 3 & 4 Saturday/Sunday	Chartwork & Position Fixing	Kg Glam Dive Club BS-AC 1189	Option module for Advanced Diver Qualification
July 24 & 25 Saturday/Sunday	Advanced Nitrox Course	Regional Coaching Team	Pre-requisite: Attended Basic Nitrox
October 9 & 10 Saturday/Sunday	Dive Planning & Marshalling Course	Dive Club 854 BS-AC 854	Mandatory for Advanced Diver Qualification
November 5 to 7 Saturday/Sunday	Advanced Diving Techniques	Regional Coaching Team Tanglin BS-AC 758	Option module for Advanced Diver Qualification
December 11 Sunset	BS-AC Singapore Millenium Party	Raffles Marina Dive Section	Welcome to all BS-AC Divers!