PSAC ANNUAL REPORT for 2006

Committee

The committee is as follows:-

The changes over the year were that Dave Outhwaite left Brunei. The Training Officer position was taken by John Elder until Mark Steinhart would take the job in 2007. Jim Bray stood down as equipment officer and was also replaced by John Elder. This left a position for environmental officer that was taken up by Derek Gunn. Kara Shepherd stood down as treasurer for family reasons and was replaced by Steven Smith leaving a position as welfare officer which was taken by Roy Buchan.

Diving

The 2006 season was kicked off by the largest ever club group going to Kapalai. After that massive start to the year, the weather precluded diving for another two months. Since then the boat went out 35 times and the club logged 1014 dives. This looks very healthy, however, there is an underlying and disturbing trend. Traditionally, 40% of the club's dives have been away from the KBBC at resorts or at Miri and Bandar. In 2006, it rose to 50%.

Traditionally, since 1990, 60 - 70% of the club's dives have been carried out on the platforms of the SW Ampa field. In 2004, this dropped to 50%, in 2005 - 30% and this year, just 10%. Marshals are getting concerned about communicating with the platforms and the number of times a designated platform turns out to be unavailable at the last minute. The trend is clear, the platforms, that used to form the mainstay of Panaga diving, are scaring divers not just onto the reefs, but away from the KBBC to dive elsewhere.

Recreational diving within the Panaga Sub Aqua Club, BSAC 0788, continued to demonstrate an excellent safety record with no incidents or injuries occurring throughout the year. This outstanding safety performance is testament to the high degree of safety awareness within the branch and reflected by all of our members. Continuous progressive diver training was conducted and detailed below in the training section.

The club matured three new diving marshals in 2006 and through visits by BSAC National Instructors developed three newly qualified instructors. Additionally, the arrival of Elaine (AI) and Mark (OWI) Steinhart helps to swell our instructor ranks and PADI Divemaster Brigitte (now BSAC DL) will further expand our dive marshal and instructor base.

Environmental Project 

The Environmental project concentrated on studies of the Chearnley Shoal reef complex. Many trips were made to the outlying fringes of the shoals called the Chearnley Ridges. These are markedly different from the shoals and are characterised by whip coral sand gorgonian fans. As a tribute to Steve Holyoak, the first environmental officer, a double reef was named Samanda Reef after his two children.

Weather and drilling precluded a trip to study the progress of colonisation on Egret DP-1.

Finances 

Year-end review of PSAC account 3442

The year beginning balance was B$9,380.47

The year-end balance is B$2,484.99

2006 has been another a busy year for PSAC with a total of B$19,027.89 income and B$25,923.37 in expenses. This has created a decrease on the year of B$6,895.48 for the year.

INCOME:

Dive chits          7,115.00

Equipment 0.00

Members fees          6,197.30

Courses 850.00

Miscellaneous          1,214.50

Sales  2,285.00

Social    976.00

EXPENSES

Fuel    3,557.00

Boat maintenance          3,774.26

Equipment maintenance          2,787.04

Membership costs  6,718.88

Courses          2,583.25

Miscellaneous             350.70

Sales  4,811.24

Social 1,314.00

Unfortunately the amount of dive chits income did not recuperate the costs for fuel (which included 2005 charges), increased boat and equipment maintenance, and boat insurance. To this end, the chits for 2007 have been updated in line with committee proposals with slight increases in charges to members.

Miscellaneous income comes from B$500 sponsorship from Weatherford and B$585 cash from the garrison for cylinder fills along with B$50 for boat rental. Miscellaneous costs arise from leaving presents and queries from club members over chit charges on dives.

Membership charges appear higher cost to the club than recouped.

There is a discrepancy between course income and course expenses, but B$2,078.58 from the OD training is expected to be recouped in early 2007.

Similarly sales expenditure is higher than income but the club is awaiting payment of B$2,800 from the WM department of BSP for the production of the 2007 calendars.

Year-end review of Environmental account 3830

The year beginning balance was B$5,274.43

The year-end balance is B$3,777.43

The reduction was planned and relates dominantly to the payment for fuel.

Membership

At the end of 2006, 39 divers had renewed their membership of the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) via the Panaga branch and an additional 26 were registered as new members of BSAC. Many of the new divers have crossed-over from other diving organisations such as PADI. Total club membership stands at 66 BSAC Members. In addition to BSAC members registered through the club, any Panaga Club member who is a certified diver of BSAC Ocean Diver / PADI Advanced Open Water standard or above may join our dive trips. In practice this means that the end of year membership database contains 118 members & guests.

Socials 

Three social barbecues were held, the first early in the year together with AGM, second one was mid of the year together with farewell party for leaving committee members and third one was at the end of the year to celebrate the end of the season. One movie night has been organised in KBBC.

Training 

The level of training activity carried out in 2006 was again extensive.  The year started off with a 26 person trip to Kapalai in January. There we qualified six new divers to Ocean Diver level. Cross-over training sessions were organised regularly during the year.

Training during the year, under the excellent leadership of Dave Outhwaite, progressed a number of divers towards Sports Diver and Dive Leader. In May, two National Instructors flew to Brunei to conduct Instructor Training Courses and several Skill Development Courses such as boat handling, diver cox’n, nitrox and extended range diving. Three new instructors passed their Open Water Instructor exams.

Towards the end of the year Dave left Brunei and John Elder stood in as caretaker Training Officer. His major effort was to progress two divers to Dive Leader and to organise the 2007 Ocean Diver course.

Boat 

The annual hull inspection in January showed no damage or osmosis and the hull was re-painted before the season got underway. Since then, the boat has continued to function well, although continued leaking from the steering hydraulics has necessitated regular maintenance.

Equipment

A delay in ordering replacement compressors to for the Hamworthy, resulted in temporary repairs to the old compressor. In fact, it functioned well throughout the year but now needs to be replaced. Two 9 cfm Bauers were ordered and delivered mid-year, but delays in connecting a reliable electrical source means that they are still uninstalled

Several new dive cylinders were purchased. The remaining AP valves Buddy BCD’s were retired due to unacceptable leakage.

Plans for 2007

This year promises to be another busy one with a strong focus on training.

January sees the first expedition for the year with 19 divers and six non-divers going off to dive in Kapalai. This will complete the Ocean Diver training course.

We will also be running Sport Diver training later in the year and Dive Leader training for those who completed the theory at the end of last year.

We also plan to run several skills development training courses throughout the year and an instructor training course with the assistance of an external National Instructor.

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.

Web Site:

The web site www.panagadivers.com was updated throughout the year.