The Marine Casualty Investigation Board has recommended that jet skis should be licensed and those using them should have to undergo mandatory training. The recommendations are made in its report into the death of a jetskier on Lough Beltra, Co Mayo, in 2006. The Coast Guard, in its report for last year published today, says that there was a 10% increase in jet ski accidents last year. (more…)
Rescues involving leisure craft and shore anglers have shown another increase in offshore and inland waters over the past year, according to latest Coast Guard statistics. The figures for 2007 show a 38 per cent rise in nuisance calls to Irish Coast Guard staff, while hoax calls are at half the level recorded almost a decade ago. Incident numbers last year involving Coast Guard staff and rescue agency volunteers were up by 154 cases on 2006. Almost half of the total number of 1,961 incidents occurred within a mile of the coast, at 958 rescues. (more…)
We have organized a sub committee to consider and arrange how we should celebrate PSAC 25th anniversary. If you have any ideas or suggestions which you think we should look at, please contact Leah - see Committee Page for contact details.
The Garda-Sub Aqua Club hosted a talk on Tuesday evening given by representatives from the Coast Guard, the Garda Water Unit and the RNLI. It was a terrific and very informative evening. The Garda Unit demonstrated a Day / Night personal flare which can be carried on a diver while on a dive down to 30m and can be deployed if in trouble as Orange smoke (day) or as a Red Light (night) and only costs about 12 euro. The Speaker from the RNLI emphasised the importance of reflective material on your person, on your SMB and on your boat.
I have booked the NAC for Sat 1st March for 1200. It is an excellent opportunity to practice some of your diving skills prior to the start of the season. If interested give Peter or Marie a shout.
The snorkel on Sunday, February 24th is at High Rock ready-to-go at 11.00am. Gary O’Hagan has kindly agreed to be DOD. Weather not looking too great but at least the temperature is up and the winds are to be light and westerly.
Fingal approved our application for an activities grant at their meeting last Monday, February 11th. They have approved us for the maximum amount (3,000) which will be put towards replacing our inflatable (a.k.a. Barbie!). Names for the new boat by reply please. Thanks to Donal who put in all the work on this one.
The annual RNLI 2K Swim is on the 20th April in Rush.
It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of a great friend to CFT - Mr. Ralph White. Ralph passed away in Los Angles and will be dearly missed by all who knew him. On behalf of the Executive I wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Mr. White. May he rest in peace. Ralph White was the film maker for Dr. Robert Ballard and one of three Americans (Dr.Ballard, Emory Kristoff and Ralph) aboard the Le Suroit, the French research vessel when they discovered the now famous wreck of the Titanic in September 1985. Most of the original film footage which you may have seen on TV over the years would have been done by Ralph White. Ralph visited Ireland on a number of occasions as a guest speaker at CFT Dive Conferences. He was a very friendly and approachable person with whom I had numerous discussions. He was a good friend to Irish divers especially Rory Golden of Flagship Scuba whom he helped join a later expedition down to the Titanic whereupon they laid a commemorative plaque from Belfast Shipyard workers on the wreck.
The Garda Sub Aqua Club will host a Sea Safety Information Night at Westmanstown Sports Clomplex,Clonsilla, Dublin 15 on 4th March 2008 at 8pm. This will be attended by speakers from the R.N.L.I, the Irish Coast Guard and the Garda Water Unit. This information night is open to all Clubs in the region and should be of interest to all involved in water sports.