PSAC Annual Report 2003

Committee 

In view of the increase in size of the club from a circulation of 55 to over 70, it was decided to split the positions of Chairman and Diving Officer. Doug Bell accepted the job of chairman. His position in BSP as a professional environmental specialist gives a great boost to the environmental project. 

Russ Peterson will leave Brunei in January and his position as Treasurer was taken over by Shona Macdonald. 

Dave Outhwaite will take over from Steve Holyoak as Training Officer after the Kapalai trip in February 2004. Steve will continue in his role as Project Leader of the Environmental Project. 

Platforms 

Diving on the platforms is now firmly re-established. 

Boat 

The club's dive boat, Naga Laut (sea dragon) has performed well during the year, but started to have problems in August (failure of the steering hydraulics) and November (fracture of fuel inlet into port engine). A new integrated echo sounder / GPS system was purchased mid-year, followed a few months later by a VHF radio. Both items replaced unserviceable / old-fashioned items of equipment. The underground fuel storage was completed and in regular use (not without drama) by the end of the season. 

Dives 

The club saw a marked increase in dive activity compared to previous years. A total of 1016 dives were carried out comprising 601 local dives with the club's boat, and 415 on trips outside our home area. 47 club boat dives were advertised with three being cancelled due to poor weather and five dives cancelled due to boat problems. Advanced divers were rewarded by four trips to dive the wreck of the Toho Maru. This comprised our only deep diving of the season. The total of 1016 dives is the sixth highest in the club's history (we were narrowly beaten by the 1035 dives in 1995). It is interesting to note that 50% of the club's dives were carried out by six divers, and 25% by two divers!

Expeditions 

Club trips were made to Kapalai-Sipadan (February, May and September) and Manado, Sulawesi (October). The dispute over the sovereignty of the offshore reefs precluded trips to Louisa. The increase in charter costs for the Zoe prompted a major re-think of the boat's suitability for long offshore trips. 

Environmental Project 

The project is now at the half way stage and progressing according to plan. Technical supervision is being provided by Dr. Steve Oakley (Tropical Research and Conservation Centre, Kuching). Survey work is encouraging, and a good understanding of the presence and distribution of a broad range of species is being built up. The use of clear survey forms with thumbnail photographs of various species is greatly aiding data collection. Various articles have been published, and stakeholders continuously engaged. Encouragement has been received from BS-AC and the Royal Geographical Society. The challenges for 2004 include production of a professionally made underwater video film. Further survey work will contribute to final reporting in Q4 2004. 

Finances 

Financially the club saw a total income of BN$ 28,710 (a BN$ 10,905 increase from 2002) and expenses of BN$ 27,187 (a BN$ 4,251 increase from 2002). This indicates at year-end a small profit of BN$ 1,523. This is, however, a temporary gain as additional expenditure is expected on boat and compressor items in early 2004. The increase in turnover can be attributed primarily to the increased number of dives carried out during the year. With more platform dives being carried out (partly due to the environmental project) there is a small net gain from each dive. Reef dives generally produce a net loss due to their higher fuel requirements, as they are a greater distance from shore. In addition, the move to Kapalai for carrying out the open water training for new Ocean divers has increased the flow of cash through the account in Q1. Currently the club has a balance of BN$ 7,809 in the general account. 

The Environmental project account started in April with a balance of BN$ 20,000. To date only BN$ 803 has been debited, however, the Technical Supervisor's fees are currently outstanding. Next year will see the rest of this account used as invoices from the Technical Supervisor are received. An underwater film around the platforms is expected to absorb some of this account, however, alternative external funding is being sought. The balance currently stands at BN$ 19,197. Capital allocation proposals were submitted, and approved, to re-engine the boat in 2005, and to replace the compressor in 2007. 

Membership 

At the end of the year, membership stood at about 70 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 Three social barbecues were held. The first coincided with the inauguration of the environmental project, and the others simply got the club together. PSAC hosted a successful Quiz Night at the KBBC with 10 teams attending. That nitrogen has a long-lasting, detrimental effect upon divers was not apparent, as the Diving Section won the quiz for the second time in a row! 

Training 

Two entry-level BSAC courses were held during the early part of the season. The first course took the club to Kapalai-Sipadan to complete the open water training. This was more successful than the latter home-based course and will become the norm from now on. The graduates of these courses are well progressed towards Sports Diver. Three Sports Divers will qualify as Dive Leaders before the start of the new season. Together with the Garrison, an oxygen administration course was held. 

Equipment 

All the club's cylinders were hydrostatically tested and passed for another four years. All the club's regulators were serviced, either in Singapore or UK. Plans for 2004 Two National Instructors will visit in March / April time to run a series of Skills Development Courses. During this period, all Sports Divers and above will be given the opportunity to take the appropriate level of instructor course and exam. 

Plans for 2004 

This year promises to be a busy one with a focus on training and the Platform Environmental Project.

February sees the first training course that will be for new divers, some of whom will complete the open water exercises in Kapalai.  During the first half of the year, an oxygen administration course will also be held.

A National Instructor will visit in April/May to run a series of Skills Development Courses. During this period, all Sports Divers and above will be given the opportunity to take the appropriate level of instructor course and exam.

Although not yet scheduled it is probably that a Sports Divers course will be held in the latter part of the year.

To ensure the future strength of the club it is vital that there are suitably qualified divers, in particular, that the potential Dive Leaders and Advanced Divers become involved in marshalling.

On the PEP a large amount of data acquisition will be done, particularly of small non-mobile species.  There is also the underwater video and then the completion of the final reports and a coffee table book.  All of this will consume a large proportion of the free time of those involved.

Finally, to round the year off, a club trip to Sulawesi is being planned.