Newsletter

Welcome to the November edition of the newsletter....

I almost can't believe it but we have come to the final edition of the newsletter for 2001 and Christmas is now in touching distance. Never mind though, we have still got plenty of time left to get together and enjoy everything on offer, so read on and digest all of the information.

After nearly a year of looking we have, at time of going to print, sent draft contracts to our solicitor (and at the money he's charging we wouldn't do that if we weren't serious about going ahead) on a 4,000 square feet unit on Clifton Industrial Estate off Cherry Hinton road. The new premises means that we will have in house classrooms, a large filling station which will pump cylinders all day if needed, a display area that is roughly five times the size of our present shop and much, much more. So please keep supporting your favourite local dive centre and hopefully we will be able to afford it.

P.S.It will also be known from the 1st of January as The Cambridge Dive & Watersports Centre.

As usual your club fees are due for 2002 in January so it's time to dig deep and cross our palms with silver.

We are going to have to increase the cost this year (the first increase in 4 years) due to increasing costs to £35 per annum with an increase to family membership of £10 to £60 per annum. However, if you renew before 31st January 2002 you can still pay this years price of £30 and £50 respectively... Bargain.

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Christmas club meeting

Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat, so what, I hear you say, well if nothing else it means it's time for the Club Christmas get together at the Master Mariner on the 5th December. As normal we have pulled out all the stops and arranged for a veritable feast to be on offer at no cost to yourselves, with crackers and a raffle to match anything that you've ever witnessed anywhere.

So don't be a miserable old git and get down to the Mariner to be amazed at what fun is on offer. (I can think of at least two people who will be merry on Christmas spirit)

At long last after being asked for years to start this, we have finally sorted out a day a month where we will be doing nothing more than taking people up to Stoney Cove for experience and practice.

The last Thursday of the month is the day we are going to use and we are starting on November 29th 2001, yes, you've got it, next Thursday.

Now, the idea of this is to give people the chance to experience some fun dives in a nice safe environment with an Instructor on hand to answer questions, lead a tour of the site or even practice something new.

You don't even need to own any equipment as included in the price of £55 for the day we will also provide you with a complete set of hire equipment, not bad heh. Now don't get confused into thinking that this is only for newly qualified divers, as although they will benefit greatly from the experience, we also understand that lots of more experienced divers want to practice Deep dives to gain some more experience or maybe get that elusive compass out and practice navigational skills, all of that will be on offer too. So if you want to practice then get your name down on the list for the 29th (due to Christmas this is the first and last for the year) and come along.

The price is only £28 if you have all you own your kit.

As mentioned in the last newsletter we are running an IANTD advanced Nitrox course on December 15th / 16th so if you're interested in learning to learn about Nitrox from either a novice or more technical point of view then this is the course to get on. Don't hang around though as we've only got 2 places left to fill.

Well, here it is again people, this Christmas thing.

And just for you I've put together this little snippet for your reading pleasure. So be afraid, be very afraid because yes it's the one you know and love, me good self Fireman Sam. Ex Underwater Fighting Force diver. Sometimes copied but beaten, I am the official mouthpiece of The Cambridge Dive Centre Club bringing you the hers and sirs, all the info you need to know about the who's, the what's and the do you mind if I don'ts . For the new punters of the club, a quick description of myself. I'm like Stevie Wonder with a flamethrower with the safety catch off, get the legal teams together, send the kids upstairs and go tell granny to make the tea.

O.K people, lets get started. And what's this I hear SCANDAL, yes SCANDAL. It was brought to my attention after my write up that some of you punters were trying to blow my cover. What outrageous behaviour. Shame on you all for even thinking about unmasking me. Only the selected few know my true identity so if anyone says to you, "I know who that Fireman Sam is", they're talking turkey.

Right then. So what did go on this year. Well to put it simply, lots, although from a personal point of view not a lot really. We kicked off the year with a bit of a jolly to Thailand which I was told was really good.

After that, a damned good shindig down Cornwall way with our old friend Gary Fox, bless him. A fine four days was had by all with much diving during the day and even more fun in the evenings.

The following month saw us back across the water, this time to Malta, which again I was told was rather a good show. Hot sunny weather, fantastic viz, and an old friend of the centre, Jason, leading us around his new workplace.

Then, due to the Dive Centre running an overdue instructor development course, total letdown. The trip which I myself was so looking forward to was nearly a non-starter. It was of the long awaited trip to Scapa Flow. All I'll say people is don't let me down next year, it was a great trip but you can't beat having a few friends around to swing the lantern.

Then Finally the large trip to Indonesia was cancelled one week prior to departure due to the silly fighting on the streets of Jakarta due to bomb dropping on the poor defenceless country of Afghanistan. Never mind, I wasn't going anyway.

As well as the main trips away there was the odd weekend to Wales and Portland with the odd day up to Stoney Cove, where we put the new guys through their paces. This leads me nicely to a certain weekend which I won't forget in a hurry. Having settled into the rooms of the wonderful Longshoot Hotel, I found myself put in with the main man (I'll let you work out who this is but it's not the older skinny one ). After a few days of not quite feeling himself, he proceeds to down a double figure number of Stella Artois and a large mixed grill containing half a farmyard of meat, we sleepily made our way back to the room whereupon mister nameless turns into a mister pooshooter. I wouldn't have cared too much but for the fact that I had to be up early the next morning and it's not all that easy to get the old shuteye with the telly going at full blast and the odd expression of, "Oooo my arse! " .To this day I still can't recall driving to Stoney that morning after a total of 24 minutes 38 seconds sleep. Answers on a postcard to the usual address.

O.K then people. Time to wind things up. All I can say is I hope you all had as good a diving year as I've had and don't worry, it's not over yet. There's still plenty of things going on and December's club night is going to be a bit of a knees-up so

Don't miss out you lucky people. For me it's a case of wining and dining as many females as my mouth can handle if you know what I mean.

What about next year I hear you ask. Well, the biggest thing to happen is the move to a bigger and better place of trade. A new unit up on the Clifton Road Industrial Estate will be the new Cambridge Dive and Watersports Centre. And what a place it will be. We're talking better shop, better parking and better facilities and it all kicks off next January so put that one in your diaries folks and good luck Richard and Cliff. Right, I'm out of steam people so I'll sign off now by saying I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and remember, take care down there .

In almost every business, the way it operates and projects itself is almost always supported by a team of competent people pushing forward and thankfully ours is no different.
The last twelve months have been the busiest we have experienced in the five and a half years we have been open. The courses have thankfully been full all year and when you add in the club trips, we have hardly had time to turn around at all.
In May, when my arse and my motorbike decided to part company at 95mph on the A14 whilst on the way to complete a course in Wales, we were left in a position that called on everyone available to stand up and be counted, and they did.

Graham Regan offered to help out one evening in the pub by Divemastering the next few courses and hasn't been able to get home since, Jacquie Morton who only completed her Divemaster course that fateful day in May has been available to help every minute she has had off work and how well you have both fitted in. Also in the last couple of months Dave Blowes has joined the Divemaster team and really made life a lot easier on course days, especially at the bar at the end of the courses. Thank you all

Paul Hart is not only an extremely proficient Assistant Instructor but also does a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes making various bits and pieces for Cliff in the tech room. He also designed, maintains and updates the Web site, something that has been invaluable this year. One criticism though would be the over protective way he bungees his waterproofs on his bike. In my experience you only need an elastic band. Thanks Paul

Jeremy Milnes is our busiest Instructor at the moment and is always willing to do anything he can to help, whether it's in the shop, on a course or even just arranging to take out most of the female population from our Open Water courses, he is always willing to lend a hand and we really appreciate the enthusiasm and ability you have.

Buzz has been with us now the longest in terms of staff, and has, as ever, been a great help. This year he finally completed his instructor course and can always been relied on to help out where possible. Not forgetting the work you have done throughout the year on the newsletter and although no longer participating on it, you have definitely left your mark. Thanks

Clive Ratcliffe is a new member of the team but has definitely started off on the right footing, keep up the good work. And last but by no means least, our very own Gwyneth, who also completed her instructor course this year and has been a great help throughout the year, not only on courses but also in keeping Cliff on the right track. Probably the hardest job of the lot………

Some specialities have already been arranged for club weekend trips, and others can be arranged as requested. For more details or bookings pop into the shop.

We are already taking bookings for next years trips and as always places will be based on a first come first served basis. Deposits will be required at time of booking.

Prices of trips will be based on type of diving and accommodation. These prices will be confirmed in December!

We look forward to reading about your experiences!!

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Club membership is £35 per year. Family membership is £60. Please make cheques payable to the Cambridge Dive Centre

The Cambridge Dive Centre
252 Cherryhinton Road
Cambridge
CB1 7AU
Tel: 01223 240818

E-mail: cliff@cambridge-dive-centre.co.uk

www.cambridge-dive-centre.co.uk