View the gallery The British Sub Aqua Club
Recognised as the UK's Most Successful Branch!
at The British Sub-Aqua Club's Branch of the Year 2009 Awards
 
Welcome to Mid Herts Divers!

Here you'll find information about the club, what we do and where we meet. You'll also find a repository of interesting and useful scuba-diving information.

We welcome both experienced divers from any affiliation as well as anyone interested in learning.

Training is performed by Nationally Qualified Instructors in a safe and structured manner. Theory lessons are conducted in a classroom environment, followed by pool sessions in our indoor swimming pool. Open water lessons are conducted at both inland lakes, and coastal locations including Arlesey Blue Lagoon, Gildenburgh Water and Stoney Cove.

Throughout the year, we run Ocean Diver, Sports Diver, Dive Leader and, Advanced Diver training courses alongside a packed schedule of Skills Development Courses (SDCs) including First Aid for Divers, Oxygen Administration, Practical Rescue Management (PRM), Automated External Defibrillator (AED), Wreck Appreciation and Underwater Digital Photography.

We also pride ourselves in our intensive and very successful in-house Instructor Training Programme. With a perfect pass-rate (so far), we ensure all our branch instructors meet and exceed BS-AC's strict Instructor training standards.

Membership of the branch includes both use of branch-owned scuba kit during training and the indoor swimming pool.

We meet every Wednesday evening at Monks Walk School, Knightsfield, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. AL8 7NL between 7.30pm-9.30pm.

Mid Herts divers (also known as Mid Herts Sub-Aqua Club) are branch #1784 of the British Sub Aqua Club (BS-AC), the world's biggest diving club.
 
Latest events

 Latest articles

 
Swanage Pier, Wreck & Drift Diving - May 29th and 30th 2010
Submitted on 02-Feb-2010 21:45:21 by Steve Begg. Updated on 28-Feb-2010 22:09:26

May Swanage Dive Weekend Update:

19 divers have put there name down for the Swanage weekend - and the schedule for the Wreck Dives, Drift Dive and Pier Dives has been put together.

Apart from Pier diving, there will be 3 wreck dives and one drift dive (all off a hard boat - the Mary Jo) ...

Firth Fisher   -   37m (shuttle ~20 mins)
dept. Saturday at 11:10
£20.00 per diver

Fleur de Lys   -   13m (shuttle ~10 mins)
dept. Saturday at 15:20
£18.00 per diver

Drift Dive - max 18m (shuttle ~10 mins)
(The Old Mussel Beds)
dept. Sunday at 09:50
£20.00 per diver

S.S. Kyarra    -  22m to 30m (shuttle ~20 mins)
dept. Sunday at 11:50
£20.00 per diver

Note: Sunday PM are all Pier Dives

This is an ideal venue to finish off Sports Diver qualifying dives.
With the Fleur de Lys, and the pier dives, this is an ideal opportunity to finish off Ocean Diver qualifying dives.

 ____________________________________________________________________________

The Drift Dive will be on the Sunday morning Flood Tide ...

The Old Mussel Beds (avg 15m, dips to 17m)    - slower drift ideal for novice drift divers
£20.00 per diver
 

Click here for more details from Swanage Boat Charters

You WILL need a RED only SMB (the skipper dislikes Red/White)

____________________________________________________________________________

Dates:                    Sat 29th and Sun 30th May 2010

Places:                   Plenty for the Pier and Drift Dive, but now very limited for the Fleur de Lys and Kyarra    

Costs:                     Varies between £16 and £24 per dive

Deposit:                  £10 for ALL dives
                              
                              I will need to book by 2nd March to guarantee places
 

Minimum Quals:        Ocean Diver (for Fleur de Lys & drift dive)
                              Sports Diver (for the remainder)
                              - (all dives
will need approval from DO)

Minimum Gear:         Strongly recommend drysuit (sea temperature is around 12 degC in May)
                               - plus extra 2kg or 3kg of weights (as this is a salt water dive)

Contact:                  Steve Begg 

For more information please refer to information pack. Click here.

Steve Begg

 


 
Weekend trip to Vobster Quay and NDAC Chepstow
Submitted on 08-Feb-2010 09:37:52 by Daniel Hodkin. Updated on 27-Feb-2010 18:00:27

Weekend Trip to Vobster Quay and NDAC Chepstow

Unfortunately I have had to change my plans of going to Lundy, as after searching, have found out there will be poor Viz and more importantly NO SEALS in April!!

So the new plan is as follows: travel down early Saturday morning to be at NDAC for approx 09:30

Saturday 24th April- NDAC Chepstow

Open to Ocean Divers and above.

Opening Times-

08:00- 18:00

Prices-

Non-members- £15

Cylinder Fills-

12L- £3.40

15L- £3.50

Again this is a dive not to be missed, so many and I cant emphasis how many features there are in and around the 20m shelf, this includes some great swim through’s ideal for any experience.

Check out the website

http://www.ndac.co.uk/

Sunday 25th April- Vobster Quay Inland Dive Centre

This trip is open to all diver grades

Opening Times-

08:30 - 17:30

Price-

Non-members: £15

Cylinder Fills-

12L -  £3.25
15L -  £3.75

There are many features for all experience levels!! Check out the website for more details.

For Divers attending both days accommodation is recommended as Vobster Quay is only around an hour away from NDAC.

Accommodation: After searching the Internet for possible hotels, I have decided to use the Premier Inn at Frome, it is an hour drive from NDAC but will benefit us for the morning journey to Vobster as it is only 7 miles away! Price of a twin room for one night is £60. 

£30 each if you can find a buddy to share with.

There is a Pub/Resturant on the side of the Premier Inn (Frome Flyer) which we can use for our evening meal.   

 http://www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/FROBRE/frome      link for you to book your room!!

If anyone is interested in any of these dives then please get in contact with me!

Email-

hod_brum@hotmail.com

Mobile- 07875463630

Look forward to hearing from you

Dan Hodkin


 
What a mug!
Submitted on 24-Feb-2010 16:28:07 by Adrian Colegate. Updated on 24-Feb-2010 16:28:16

Are you sick of people nicking your mug at work?

Never quite sure which has your slobber on? (or more importantly which haven't been licked by other people?)

Well, now your problems could be over with a special limited edition Mid Herts Divers mug!

If you'd like one of these beauties to grace your desk at work, please let Clive know and we'll place an order.
Mid Herts Divers Mug

 
Spaces available on sea dives with Stortford Divers
Submitted on 11-Mar-2010 09:38:45 by Adrian Colegate. Updated on 11-Mar-2010 09:44:58

Stortford divers have places on some of their trips this year 

Swanage 24th/25th April Ocean Diver & above 4 Spaces (6 on the Sunday)
St Abbs 15th/16th May Ocean Diver & above 2 Spaces
Lyme Regis 5th/6th June Sports Diver & above 6 Spaces
Plymouth 17th/18th July Ocean Diver & above 8 Spaces (part charter we don’t need to fill the boat)

If you're interested in finding out more, contact Ian Mackay or Mark Norbury .


 
Ilfracome and N.Devon SAC 50th Birthday events at Dive Fest 2010
Submitted on 22-Feb-2010 13:16:18 by Adrian Colegate. Updated on 22-Feb-2010 13:17:08

Ilfracombe Sub-Aqua club are celebrating their 50th birthday this year and are running a number of dives to coincide with the activities and events at Dive Fest 2010.

Dives range from 15 to 40 metres and include a treasure hunt suitable for all qualified divers.

You can find out more about Ilfracombe Sub-Aqua Club and the dives they're running on their website.

 
News from DiverMagazine.co.uk

12 new wrecks found in Baltic
Twelve well-preserved wrecks have been discovered in the Baltic Sea by a company laying a gas pipeline.

Diver died saving buddy
British diver Robert Fox, who died diving in the Red Sea in January, suffered a heart attack that could have been triggered by helping a buddy.

BSAC instructor wins award
An instructor at a BSAC centre in Malta has been a runner-up for best diving instructor at the Malta Tourism Authority Star Awards.

Prizes announced for BUIF
Thousands of pounds worth of prizes are announced for The British Underwater Image Festival

Plane to be sunk at Capernwray
A passenger aircraft is to be sunk at Capernwray, an inland dive site at the edge of the Lake District.

£500 funding for dive clubs
Dive clubs can apply for £500 to buy equipment, improve a clubhouse or pay for transport from the Mars Refuel Drink Fund.

Diving fraudster jailed
A diving instructor who defrauded the NHS of £250,000 by claiming false hyperbaric treatments has been jailed.

PhotoPro: How to win underwater photo competitions
With the deadline for the British Underwater Image Festival (BUIF) approaching, judge Alex Mustard offers his top ten tips for succeeding in underwater photography competitions

Cruise liner smashes into Sharm harbour
A cruise liner has crashed into a pier in Sharm El Sheikh harbour in Egypt killing three crewmembers.

Orca kills trainer
Wildlife charities have condemned keeping dolphins and whales in captivity after a killer whale killed its trainer at Sea World in Orlando, Florida.

 News from ScubaHerald.com

Peter Bethune… not really an eco ninja? Or a smart bloke….
Kiwi anti-whaling activist Peter Bethune is expected to be arrested by the Japanese authorities when he arrives in Tokyo today on the whaling ship Shonan Maru 2. Bethune has been held on the harpoon ship after a collision which destroyed his own boat last month. You may wonder… mm how did the japanese catch Peter Bethune… [...]

Seaworld Trainer Death Video
So this is the catch, 99% of people know about the Seaworld whale trainer that died… and 99% deep inside WANTS to watch the video. You like it or not this is the reality and that’s why the marine park and the family of and the family of a park trainer drowned last month [...]

Exotic Diving? You bet
We are always trying to find really new amazing destinations: and for sure, the Philippines comes in mind… so what about an exotic destination once you arrive to the Philippines… well think Malapascua Scuba Herald had a chat with Zoe from Exotic Dive Resort Question: Zoe, Thanks for your time ,and to start… tell us a bit [...]

Dive Asia Safari: inspirational dive adventures.
In life we need dreams… and if you are a diver, you need to DREAM with new adventures, new trips… new ways of discover the underwater world. Well, meet Dive Asia Safari: Not the same same… instead… something different, and amazing. t’s not unusual for disillusioned graduates to pack a bag and hit the road, but [...]

Suba Operator Finds Wreck in Hawaii
Finding a new wreck… that is easily one of the top dreams of any serious diver. Well, now a very lucky die center in Hawaii (Brad Varney), it seems his dream is now a reality. Brad Varney from B&B Scuba Maui, claimes that he found a wreck of a World War II-era U.S. Navy [...]

Another Scuba Diving Record…
It seems that we can’t get enough of Scuba diving records. I wonder was it the point…? Do you guys know what is the point of idiotic scuba records? Are you trying to push the limits of stupidity? or are we breaking records trying to bring awareness to a good cause. No idea.. well today [...]

Ang Lee becomes certified scuba diver
Is pretty cool when we see celebrities learning to Dive. Last time was Paris Hilton lol … one of the latest Scuba celebrities , but now the turn is for someone that is actually a real star: Filmmaker, producer and Oscar’s favorite: Ang Lee. Acclaimed contemporary filmmaker, Ang Lee arrived in Ambergris Caye, Belize [...]

Horrible Scuba Diving Accident in Pattaya
We all love to dive in Thailand, and for sure Scuba Diving in Thailand is a must if you are seriously into diving.. but if you have ever been in Thailand, you may well know that THAI boat Drivers are bloody insane… and well, today, I’m afraid we have another horrible accident, thanks to [...]

Scubacraft the convertible Scuba Vehicle
There are 2 type of people that will buy the scubacraft… divers with a lot of money …. and divers with a sick amount of money…. . Regardless on which group are, this could be the most difficult “scuba product” to justify as a “must”, but hey! it Looks pretty amazing, don’t you think? The Scubacraft [...]

Scuba Swat dies after 3meter dive… in Israel.
Israel Navy commander Adm. Eliezer Marom has convened a panel to investigate how a soldier in the advanced stages of training as a naval commando drowned early yesterday in a routine three-meter training dive at Ashdod Port. Sgt. Gal Azoulay, 19, of Zichron Yaakov, was diving at the time with the rest of his team [...]

 News from ScubaTravel.co.uk

Update: Best Dive Spots in 97 Countries
SCUBA Travel have revamped their diving destination directory to make it easier to find what you are looking for. Now arranged by country, sea, ocean and continent.

Europe Argues for bluefin tuna trade ban
The king of Japanese sushi and sashimi may disappear from menus after Europe joined the United States on Wednesday in arguing for a ban on trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna. The 27 European Union (EU) nations agreed, despite opposition from Mediterranean island Malta, to urge a United Nations (UN) body that lists endangered species to vote for a ban when it meets in Qatar, starting on Saturday.

Marble Ray is Creature of the Month
The giant Marble Ray is three metres long. It is not aggressive but watch out for the spines on its tail. You see the Marble Ray in the Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to southern Japan, Micronesia and tropical Australia; and in the Cocos and Galapagos islands in the Eastern Pacific.

2010 El Nino Reduces Marine Life
The ongoing El Nino of 2010 is reducing the numbers of pelagic fish, according to scientists at NOAA and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Update: Diving Pakistan
SCUBA Travel guide now includes Charna Island, Pakistan. Diving window is end of September until March.

Issue 118 of SCUBA News now On-Line
The latest issue of SCUBA News is now available at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/scubanews118.html. This month: best dive spots in 97 countries, diving Mozambique, wreck photo gallery, 10 tips for underwater photographers and all the diving news from around the world.

Barnacle Dinner in the Galapagos
The barnacle, a key thread in the marine food web, was thought to be missing along rocky coasts dominated by upwellings. Now a research team headed by Brown University marine ecologist Jon Witman has found the opposite to be true: Barnacle populations thrive in vertical upwelling zones in moderately deep waters in the Galapagos Islands.

Massive Iceberg Threatens Ocean Currents
The calving of a massive iceberg off east Antarctica last week has prompted fears that the event could alter the salinity of the surrounding ocean, with damaging effects on marine life and global ocean currents.

Census discovers 5000 marine species
A preview of the Census of Marine Life has revealed that the project has discovered over 5,000 new species. The final report from the decade-long census will be released in October 2010. A major aim of the census is to provide the scientific support for the establishment of a global network of marine protected areas to prevent damage from fishing and other human activity. Dr Jason Hall-Spencer, a marine biologist from the UK's University of Plymouth, said that delicate coral reefs were under threat from deep-sea trawling.

Update: Diving Borneo
Read rave reviews of the diving around Sipadan and Sabah at the SCUBA Travel Malaysia directory.