East Lancs (Oldham) Sub-Aqua Club BSAC No. 2 

 

Welcome to our website. We are a branch with around 40 members based in Oldham, Lancashire.We meet on Monday and Tuesday evenings and everyone is made very welcome. If you've never dived before or already have some form of SCUBA training then we can teach you following the British Sub Aqua Club training program. If you've trained with another BSAC branch or school or another training agency you can dive and continue your training with East Lancs. Feel free to drop in any time or contact any of our members listed below if you have any questions.

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Contact Information

Dave Mellor
Electronic mail address dave.mellor@cwcom.net
Home phone 01706 861361

Phil Karran - Diving Officer
Electronic mail address phil.karran@cwcom.net
Home phone 0161 678 7446

Eddie Karran
Electronic mail address eddie.karran@cwcom.net

 

 

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Comments and Suggestions

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Club Information

A Brief History
The branch was formed in 1953 following a visit by Oscar Gugan (founder of BSAC) and was a merger of the Oldham Frogmen and the Manchester Police diving group. It was the second branch to be formed after London branch making it the first in the North of England. Honorary members include Mike Holbrook and Alan Watkinson, former National Diving officers and National Chairmen of the British Sub Aqua club.

 
The Branch Members
          We have an active membership with a committee meeting once a month to sort things out.
           Our officers include:
    
           Phil Karran - Diving Officer
           Kirsty Mullins- Treasurer
Karen Boczkowski- ChairPerson
Teresa Noone- Secretary
 
Our Diving Officer has the responsibility for all diving, training and safety carried out within the branch.

 
Dives
Dives our members have been on this year include: Kenya, Red Sea, Gozo / Comino / Malta, Scapa flow, Farne Islands,  Seal Island, Weymouth, Dartmouth, Millport, Anglesey, Vivian quarry, Stoney cove, Capernwray, Dorethea . The club usually charter boats for sea dives for convenience.

 
We have a growing technical diving group within the branch. The branch has two extended range divers and nine advanced nitrox divers and we hope to provide a club nitrox analyser and personal filter for the more remote locations in the near future. The branch has a PC with all versions of Deco planning and Aladin dive computor download software .

 
Events
Try a dives are run usually on demand and give a taster diving session in full SCUBA gear. You will be accompanied in the pool by a qualified diver under the supervision of the pool safety marshal.
The club has regular social events such as BBQ's and parties at members homes and local dive sites. These serve as fund raising events and a great excuse for a drink. We regularly produce a club newsletter filled with club news, tips, dive trips and gear for sale. Our notice board is a great place to find cheep equipment and find out about diving trips and is updated weekly.

 
Facilities
We have access to 3 training pools including a 3.5m deep pool. The club has a training room, committee room and equipment store as well as its own boat garage. The training rooms have a PC based presentation setup along with OHP, Television and video and can easily lecture to individuals and groups up to twelve people in house. This is hopefully being upgraded soon to allow for more sophisticated presentations. We can also use other facilities for larger groups.
The branch has the enviable position of being able to run some of the BSAC development courses in house. We have members who are BSAC Advanced/Open water instructors with instructor status in Lifesaving, Oxygen admin, First aid, Rescue first aid, Practical rescue management, Nitrox (basic & advanced), Disability awareness, Full face masks and Dive planning & marshaling. This allows our members to reach Dive leader qualification without difficulty and at greatly reduced costs.
We have a meeting room where our weekly branch meetings take place. This room is also available for occasional presentations and guest speakers as well as lectures for skill development courses.

 
Shop / Library
The branch has a small shop that provides small items obtained from headquaters such as decompression tables, badges. dive record books etc. We also have a collection of books in our library relating to various aspects of diving.

 
Training
The branch offers training from Club diver up to Advanced diver grade following BSAC training program.
CLUB DIVER: consists of  8 theory lessons, 6 pool sessions, theory assessment, 5 open water dives and an open water assessment.
SPORT DIVER: consists of  3 theory lessons, 2 pool sessions, theory assessment and 4 open water dives / assessments.
DIVE LEADER: consists of 7 theory lessons, 6 practical assessments and a theory assessment. Evidence of 20 qualifying open water dives since sport diver grade is required.
ADVANCED DIVER: Attend 5 skill development courses, theory assessment, 20 dives since dive leader grade, rescue assessment and dive marshalling.
We can, as a branch, acheive all of the above in house with our nationally qualified instructors.
For further information on diver training contact the BSAC through our links section.

 
Equipment
The club has a variety of SCUBA equipment that can be borrowed whilst undergoing training courses in the pool, and which may be hired for open water use whilst building up your own equipment. We have regulators, cylinders and stabilizer (buoyancy) jackets for pool and open water use along with handheld Global Positioning System, VHF radio, Oxygen and resuscitation kit, Lifting bags and lots of snorkeling gear. The branch has its own inflatable with outboard and trailer which we hope to upgrade in the future. Watch this space!
 
Membership benefits
Annual Membership benefits include: Regular pool sessions with access to 3 pools
Regular evening meetings to discuss diving, training and social events
Regular diving within the UK from one day to two weeks.
Diving holiday's abroad including warm water training dives.
Regular training and skills development courses by in house instructors.
Membership of the Northern Federation of sub-aqua clubs (NORFED)

National BSAC Membership benefits include:
          12 copies of the excellent DIVE magazine delivered to your house
          3rd party insurance
          Membership of an internationally recognized diving body, the British Sub Aqua Club
          Qualification Record Book
          Sport Diving Manual, a very readable and informative book
          Student workbook
          Pool fees for Oldham stadium

 

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Links List

 

 

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Club / Pool Meetings

Mondays 8pm to 10pm
The branch meets at Rochdale Sea Scouts just off Whitworth road near Syke Common. We have the use of lecture rooms, store room, large hall and the bar. A list of events are posted and all are welcome.
Tuesdays 7.30pm to 9pm
Main pool and diving pool at Oldham sports stadium Lord street, Oldham.
 
Dives are announced on Monday nights for that weekend and you can pre book on the dives (sometimes with a deposit) well in advance. The dive list is extended into next year.

 

 

 

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Membership Details

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Copyright ELSAC.8.99.
Last revised: May 13, 2001.