ANNUAL REPORT 2002
Committee
The committee saw a substantial
change as detailed above, however, all the new committee members volunteered to
take up their respective positions
Platforms
The club's 25 year history of diving
the Brunei Shell (BSP) offshore platforms was threatened when permission to dive
these structures was refused at the beginning of the year. The committee
developed a structured argument to explain the benefits that might ensue from
the club's activities (see environmental
project). In September, these arguments
were accepted by BSP's leadership and permission to dive on the platforms was
reinstated.
Boat
The club's dive boat, Naga Laut (sea
dragon) has performed well during the year, however, the fuel consumption of
nearly 100 litre/hour ate into the club's finances, particularly when dives were
carried out on the Chearnley Shoals which are twice the distance of the Ampa
platforms. The boat was used on 28 dive trips.
Dives
The club saw a marked increase in
dive activity compared to previous years. A total of 652 dives were carried out
comprising 323 local dives with the club's boat and 329 on expeditions. 40 club
boat dives were advertised with nine being cancelled due to poor weather, one
dive cancelled due to boat maintenance, and two cancelled due to alternative
entertainment. At the
beginning of the season, the boat was running with four - five divers and losing
money on every trip it made to the reefs. With the return of platform diving,
the boat was usually filled to capacity and the shorter trips saw each weekend
return a profit to the club.
Expeditions
The club sent members to dive in
Sipadan (January) and Kudat (May). In addition, the charter vessel Zoe was used
for some longer trips that the club boat could not manage. Louisa Reef was
visited in April and June, and an overnight trip to the wrecks of the Southern
Glory and Petani Mistral was carried out in September.
Environmental Project
This project
to study the diversity of marine life on the platforms was approved by the BSP
leadership team who also agreed to cover the costs of professional supervision
and publication of results.
Finances
Financially the club saw total
income and expenses for the year of B$ 17,805 and B$ 22,936, respectively.
Though this indicates that during the year the club lost a total of B$ 5,131
this was primarily due to: 1) exceptional one time expenses associated with
painting the boat and; 2) operating losses due to high fuel costs incurred when
diving on the platforms was not permitted and weekend trips were forced to go to
the shoals. Expeditions have been self-funding with income roughly equaling
expenditure. Since platform diving has resumed, weekend dives are generating a
positive cash flow. Currently the club has a balance of B$ 6216 in the general
account.
Membership
At the end of the year, membership
stood at about 60 divers. The number is not precise since the club does not
require specific membership. Any Panaga Club member who is a certified diver of
BSAC Club Diver / PADI Advanced Open Water or above may join our dive trips.
Socials
Two social barbecues were held. One
was to announce the swapping of committee positions between John and Steve.
Steve was awarded with a glass statue of a diver to say thanks for the three
years of effort he had expended on the club. Steve's initiatives saw the
purchase of the dive boat Naga Laut, the inception of the Environmental project
and the construction of the underground fuel storage tank.
The second barbecue bade farewell to
Dave Boardman, the outgoing Equipment Officer. Dave was presented with a wooden
plaque inscribed with line drawings of the 'big four' wrecks that he dived in
2002.
Training
Dave Outhwaite helped run a course
with the Garrison Divers and several PADI / BSAC cross-overs were conducted.
There was no other formal training carried out in 2002 due initially to a lack
of experienced divers and instructors. However, two instructors moved to Brunei
in 2002 and one more will arrive early in 2003. Two BSAC Club Diver courses are
planned for 2003, and those approaching Sport Diver and Dive leader will be
given the opportunity to train for these grades.
Equipment
Thanks to the efforts of Dave
Boardman and Dale Chenery, the equipment remains in excellent condition.
I would like to thank all the
committee members and instructors for helping to run the club, and to thank all
our members who dived with us in 2002 for generating the wave of enthusiasm that
should stand us in good stead during 2003.