Club News

‘Try Dive’ for potential new members – Sunday 18^th January 2009 (starting at 16:00 until 18:00) at Riversdale Leisure Centre, Urney Road, Strabane. You MUST book a place - send name/address/contact number to this e-mail address

Bring an old T-shirt/Towel/swim suit/10p coin (refundable) for a locker

This will be followed by an 8 week training period (starting 15:00 until 18:00 - first half will be theory, second half in pool);

Sunday 25^th January

Sunday 1^st February

Sunday 8^th February - no training - recovery day from the Donegal Bay SAC Dinner Dance!

Sunday 15^th February

Sunday 22^nd February

Sunday 1^st March

Sunday 8^th March

Sunday 15^th March

Sunday 22^nd March is Mother’s Day - no training

Sunday 29^th March

First sea snorkel on Sunday 5^th April

First dives - Easter Sunday/Monday 12^th and 13^th April

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Tory Island Trip over the weekend of 4th/5th/6th July 2008

We are getting close to the dates and need to finalise our booking very soon.

A number of people have confirmed they are coming a few have said that they aren’t and a few we haven’t heard anything at all!

We are setting Sunday 1^st June as the cut off date – if you haven’t confirmed that you are coming by them, it will be too late as we will tell the hotel they can let the spare room go (they are now getting booking queries).

I am going to be away for most of the next two weeks, so please let Malachy know - malachymcgarrigle@btinternet.com

People coming don’t have to be divers – friends and family are also welcome.

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CFT Medical Commission Report (Dated January 2008)

Please see this link for the latest CFT Medical Report - there are changes which will impact everyone. The summary reads;

In summary From 2008, CFT divers will be asked to complete a fitness test and confidential medical assessment each year together with a medical assessment by their own GP which will be less frequent than in the past.  Easily accessible health standards will provide benchmarks against which divers and doctors can assess the potential effects of health problems on their suitability to dive. 

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Message from Noel Hannigan, Training Officer; (Dated 25th January 2008)

Hi fellow divers,

It is that time of the year again; the new diving season is nearly on top of us, I hope you have all recovered from the Christmas circus.  Below you will find a list of courses and test dates for up coming events in the northern region in 2008.

Please contact Paddy Foley or Noel if any course suits you or if you have any questions.

We hope to run the new Diver Emergency Responder (DER) course, which replaces the old diver medic course within the club, this is an important and a very hands on course , it covers the new CPR. Techniques, the use of the oxygen set and its different masks, also you will learn and get a chance to use a training Automated External Defibrillator (AED), divers with the old diver medic qualification can update at the reduced rate of approx. 15euro; the normal cost is 40 euro.

There are a few options of either running the course over say three Wednesday nights from seven to ten or may be one all day Saturday session, if you have any preference, let me know.

I am awaiting more information from the RDO on the course, re- the availability of the AED and costs for venues etc, an update will be sent out at a later stage.

VHF course 8/9 March, Cost 180 euro, 50 euro to be paid two weeks before course, (this is to cover  notes etc , a little study before hand does help on this course)Contact.  Derek Flanagan. 086-8095737 (Venue Sheephaven Club House)

Coxswain course, 29/30 March, Venue Mullaghmore .Cost 60 euros. Contact P. Foley

Rescue Diver course, 26/27 April.  Venue Sheephaven Club House Cost 60 euros. Contact P. Foley

Rescue Diver Test, 24/25 May. Venue Sheephaven Club House. Cost 60 euros. Contact P. Foley

Three dates have been set for the club diver tests;

1. 17th May. Venue Mullaghmore
2. 24th August. Venue St. Johns Point
3. 28^th September. Venue Sheephaven Club House.

Nitrox course.

Venue Inishowen Club House, course to be run on demand, cost 80 euros. (Nice qualification to have especially if you are going on a foreign diving holiday) contact Noel as soon as possible.

Nitrox diving is the way forward, as a club I think we should have another look at the pros and cons. (Costs, equipment, compressor compatibility, training etc)

If anybody has bought a delayed surface marker buoy for Christmas we will give a short talk on their safe use. (There have been a few fast ascends reported to CFT last year).