Cymru Chronicle: Winter 01/01/2007
Winter Warmers !!
Plenty of action looking at getting organised for February. Looking at diving down west on the 10th and 11th of February for those that are interested. Also 18th February, we're having a jaunt to Vobster Quay for a change. For those of you wishing to get wet, or just spectate, let Craig know as we can all share the travelling down.
Karen Gets PADI approval for Course Director Training
Karen received some good news recently in that she was notified by PADI that her application had been accepted to attend the Course Director Training Course to be held in Malaysia in March. The 3 week intense course will enable Karen to teach the IDCs from start to finish and will also mean she'll be able to run contining education courses for already certified instructors.
Karen hopes that this will encourage would be instructors and already qualified instructors to take their courses here in Wales. It will also be attractive to other potential candidates from away who wish to take the courses residentially i.e. onsite accommodation, pool and divesites only 5 minutes away. Please see dates below
2007 Instructor Course Dates
Course dates scheduled for WWDC in 2007 are as follows:
IDC Part 1 (Assistant Instructor) 16th-20th April IDC Part 2 (Open Water Scuba Instructor) 23rd-27th April
IDC Part 1 (Assistant Instructor) 3rd-8th June IDC Part 2 (Open Water Scuba Instructor) 11th-14th June
IDC Part 1 (Assistant Instructor) 24th-28th September IDC Part 2 (Open Water Scuba Instructor) 1st-5th October
IDC Part 1 (Assistant Instructor) 5th-9th November IDC Part 2 (Open Water Scuba Instructor) 12th-16th November
For more details on becoming an instructor, or continuing education instructor courses please e-mail karen at the shop.
2007 Holidays- a bit of everything ?
Malta is the first trip that WWDC has organised between May 12th and 20th. Price includes escorted unlimited diving for 1 week on 15l cylinders for those wanting them, 2-3 dives a day and night dives, Self drive car hire including taxes and insurance, accommodation in self catering apartments just around the corner from the dive centre (twin share), airport transfers in Malta. We'll be wrecking and reefing, and spending at least one day on Gozo. Digital photography, Deep, Night and Nitrox specialities will all be taking place for those interested. £365. Price includes flights as of time of writing but as these are liable to go up the longer you leave it it to book, so you may end paying a few quid more if you leave it too long. Price excludes ferry crossing to Gozo and boat diving shoudl people want a change. Open Water is the minimum certification level for this trip, although some of the deeper dives will require further training and experience. Matt-hopefully we won't be diving the Rozi at night this time. Roly-the accommodation isn't listed on holidays from hell !! Technical Colin-Valetta Hospital are looking forward to seeing you and the family again this time, but advise you to keep away from the springboard diving and subsequent dislocated shoulder !!
Maldives liveaboard will be our next destination in September (9th-17th). This will be a new trip for us onboard MV Monsoon, a tornada fleet boat that was only launched in October.At the moment it's still in the Nile (it can't move as there dredging there apparently !) It's pricey £1695, but does include all your diving, meals, flights transfers, marine park fees etc etc not to mention some of the best diving you'll probably ever do. We're trying to negotiate better terms with them at the moment so watch this space or ask craig for further details. This will be a trip to remember as it will be taking in the best sites of the Maldives.
Red Sea Liveaboard at the end of October onboard MV Grand Sea Serpent on the 24th til 31st. Our itinerary will take us to Daedulus home of the hammerheads, and Rocky Island. Price includes nitrox, 5 and a half days diving, meals, flights, soft drinks, marine park fees, airport transfers and overnight stay in hotel before flying back. Should be £1200 but we should be able to get it for £1150 providing we get the number. If you need to get Nitrox certified before going, let us know at the shop.
UK Excursions will be taking place over a few weekends this year. We realise that divers don't want to dive West Wales all the time, so we're in the process of organising some diving on the south coast as well as some diving out of North Wales. We'll keep you posted on what's happening.
Christmas Bash and the Pre-season drinky !
For those of you that missed the Xmas bash, you missed Karen and Rachael entertaining the crowds at this year's venue, The Wolf's Castle Hotel. The girls did a sterling job of keeping the music (if you can call it that!) going when the village had a powercut ! However, after two hours of doing various covers, the girls retired for more wine, and the peace and quiet was well received by all. Thankfully the girls haven't given up their day jobs and started their own group, and no one has threatened to sue-YET ! Shame about the music, but good night out with good company. Huw's jokes haven't improved, but nice to see Dave H in a tux and clean underwear ! There will be a pre-season bash, dates to be announced shortly. This will be based at the dive centre and will involve a day of free boat diving, free air fills followed by a BBQ and several ales ! (Sometime in March). Watch this space..