2009 Report of Panaga Sub Aqua Club (P.S.A.C.)

 

Committee

 

The committee is as follows:-

 

 

Start of 2009

End of 2009

Chairman

Dale-Pine, Brigitte BSP-EPE/6

 Dale-Pine, Brigitte BSP-EPE/6

Diving Officer

Tuttle, Mark M BSP-TSM

 Moes, Evert BSP-WPE/31

Environmental Officer

Allen  Hazel , BSP HRS/41

Grant, Craig, BSP/TSW11

   Equipment Officer

Moes, Evert BSP WPE/31

Twaddle, Don BSP- EPE/7

Secretary

Watts, Lee BSP-EPE/21

Yong, Ivan EPE/31

Treasurer

Smith Stephen  BSP-TSM/11

Smith, Stephen  BSP-TSG/1

Training Officer

Steinhart, Mark BSP-TSW/1

Kuenchel, Thomas TSG/21

Social Officer

Steinhart, Elaine TSW/1

Allen Hazel, BSP-HRS/41

Equipment Team

Clouatre, John BPE/31

Vacant

Webmaster

Brothers, Ryan bSP-TSM/21

Brothers, Ryan BSP-TSM/21

Welfare Officer

Smith, Stephen BSP-TSM/11

Felius, Astrid

Expedition Officer

N/A

Robert Van Delden, BSP - EPE/11

 

At the AGM in February 2009, several changes to the committee were made as a result of upcoming departure of Mark Tuttle, The “Steinharts”. John Clouatre left Brunei too in the course of the year. A big thank you to them for their contribution to the club. In 2010, there will be some changes due to expected departure of other key members. The  new committee for 2010 will be elected at the AGM (March 2010). Contact the club chairman should you wish to stand for any positions. The club needs the support of its members and it is expected that some committee positions will become vacant.

 

 

 Diving

 

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, in the pool as well in openwater including diver rescue scenarios.

 

Diving started at the end of February when we enjoyed a 2 months weather-window during the best part of the diving season.  The main focus was on the Ocean Diver and the Sport Diver training.  Two trips were organized: to KK and the Philippines which counted a 32% of the total club dived.

 

In total, the club logged 376 dives (19 trips) in 2009, excluding trips from Bandar with BDSAC compared to 1016 dives in 2008. This represents a 63% decrease in diving compared to 2008 statistics and an all-time low in the club’s history with the weather limiting the outings. 32% of recorded dives in 2009 were conducted during trips away from Brunei.  Naga Laut now replaced and stayed as fallback option, completed 5 journeys with no serious mechanical issues.  The new boat Naga Loncat made a comfortable 14 trips but was hampered with several mechanical problems preventing us to go out on several occasions. The second half of the year only 3 trips(!) left KBBC with an acceptable forecast although the second trip was again cancelled after the first dive due to worsening weather conditions. 

 

Equipment

 

After significant expenditure in 2008, much of the club effort focused on the commissioning of the bottle bank; which can now supply a variety of “air” mixes. Blending equipment to prepare high O2 blends as well as Trimix capabilities was also installed. A Humminbird sonar was purchased to allow the detailed mapping and sighting of new dive sites.

 

BCD/Regulator sets were serviced.

 

Boat

 

The club sailed the new club boat Naga Loncat from Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Belait in February and diving soon started from the new vessel. A few glitches (eg. air intake  noise /arrangement to secure bottle/drainage points etc..) were fixed thanks to effort from Don Twaddle and Evert Moes.

 

Later in the season, problems with the engine developed. After much investigation, the root cause to these problems has been found and repairs will take place hopefully in March/April by the engine supplier (worldwide recall of some key parts !).

 

 

Environmental Project 

 

Throughout the diving season, a fantastic selection of underwater photographs taken by PSAC members were collected and have been added to the extensive collection.  Production of a calendar or book to showcase these is currently being evaluated.

 

The Environmental Officer and Diving Officer represented Panaga Divers in the “Marine BioDiversity of Brunei: Opportunities for Marine Eco-Tourism” Seminar organized by the Brunei Department of Fisheries in April.  This well attended conference highlighted Brunei’s fantastic marine life noting there were in excess of 450 species of coral species identified in a recent survey of Bruneian waters.  Such a number brings Brunei close to joining the “Coral Triangle”, considered to be the global epicenter of marine biodiversity, and a global priority for conservation.

 

An environmental clean up dive was planned late in the season, but due to weather conditions has been postponed until 2010.  Such clean up dives have been highly successful in other areas and potential sites in Brunei will be evaluated throughout 2010.

 

Offshore activities did permit the annual photographic survey of Egret. A group of experienced divers undertook some discovery dives on a mapped obstruction, which proved to be an old wreck in 24 m water depth. Two trips took place in 2009 to survey the site.

 

The impact of the work done with the environment projects is being leveraged around BSP and in Brunei with for example the Life Underneath the platform film done by the club being shown at Bandar airport. Around the office you will also note large scale pictures of the marine environment which visitors note.

 

 

Finances

Year-end review of PSAC account 3442

The start of 2009 balance was B$13,470.56

The end of 2009 balance was B$17,872.29

 

2009 was a relatively quiet year for PSAC with a total of B$16,449.16 income and B$12,047.43 in expenses. This has created an increase of B$4,401.73 for the year.

 

Expenditure          

Fuel                                       121.29

Boat Maintenance                    2,382.46

Eqpt. Maintenance                   2,438.56

BSAC membership                  6,043.23

BSAC training                         175.39

Expeditions & extra curricular   0.00

Sales                                     0.00

Social                                    771.50

                             

Income                 

Chits                                     6,625.00

Expeditions                            0.00

Equipment                             0.00

Membership                           6,633.16

Courses                                 1,461.00

Misc                                      0.00

Sales                                     490.00

Social                                    1,240.00

                             

Income - Expenditure         4,401.73

 

Carried over from 2008       13,470.56

 

Fuel costs above are low due to cash purchases. However, due to the reduced diving amount spent on fuel was still only 335.29.

 

Membership charges received were positive with all expenditure being covered for 2009. This will need to be monitored with the coming membership renewal to make sure costs recovery is maintained.

 

There was limited expenditure on course material last year, but significant income from training (based on material bought at the end of 2008). Its anticipated that course material expenditure will be around 4,000 for 2010.

 

Social events have been well attended and a slight profit has been accrued from these events. However, the largest income was from diving with B$6,625.00 in chits. This is much reduced from previous years, due in part to the poor weather conditions in 2009. This was offset by equipment maintenance of B$2,438.56 and boat maintenance of B$2,382.46. With this in mind it has been decided that there will no increase in any diving charges in the near term. However, this will be monitored to ensure the purchase of fuel does not make dive trips uneconomic.

 

Year-end review of PSAC account 3830

The start of 2008 balance was B$3,722.93

The end of 2008 balance was B$3,399.93

 

It is planned to close the 3830 account and absorb the money into the 3440 account.

 

Membership

 

At the end of 2009, 38 divers 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 64 BSAC Members.  This represented an increase of 9 BSAC members or 14 % increase over 2008. This figure does not include the 6 members who were BSAC direct.

 

Socials 

 

During the calendar year, two social barbecues were held at the beginning and at the end of the diving season. In May 2009 we had a beginning of the Season Texas BBQ hosted by Darryl and Wendy Williams which was a great success.In October 2009  we had the end of season Curry evening at Mark and Liz’s Place.

 

Expedition

One expedition dive trip were organised to Kota Kinabalu with 8 divers/divers in training. During this trip three new divers qualified as Ocean Divers under Don and Brigitte’s training and one qualified as PADI open water through Borneo Dream. A 2nd expedition planned to Puerto Gallera took place were more training was undertaken by Mark Tuttle and Thomas. Disappointingly, a 3rd trip, organised by our new expedition officer, was cancelled at the last minute by club members. Measures to avoid this in the future are being put in place. Panaga divers in smaller groups visited Puerto Gallera and Subic Bay dives site on other occasions. 

 

Training 

 

The level of training activity carried out 2009 was lower compared to 2010; partly due to weather, boat problems and lack of student availability. Training was supported by resident instructors Don Twaddle, Evert Moes, Thomas Kuechnel, Brigitte Dale-Pine and Hazel Allen (who finally completed her Diver Leader course).

 

The following training was completed in 2009

 

ü      Ocean Diver: 11 (most finished, some need a few open water dives)

ü      Sport Diver: 10 new + 17 not finished from previous years – all completed theory/pool with some open water sessions outstanding

ü      Dive Leader: 7 completed theory, 3 finished open water

ü      14 x XO from PADI to BSAC at various levels

ü      2 x Cox’n ticket: Thomas and Ryan

ü      1 x Cox’n assessor: Don

ü      Other training qualifications gained outside club – gas blending and CCR diver

 

 

Plans for 2010

 

This year promises to be another busy one with a focus on training and making full use of our new boat (once engine repairs are carried out), subject to weather of course ! A plan for the future of Naga Laut will also be made.

 

Plans to run the following courses in 2010: Sports Diver, Diver leader, O2, Boat Handling, Gas Blending, compressor operator and a nitrox course starting in March.

 

 

Web Site:

 

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

 

Minutes of AGM 2010

 

The AGM was held on 12th March 2010 at G4/2 attended over 21 club members. The above report was presented to the meeting and approved by the members. The 2010 committee members were voted in:

  Chairman                       Dale-Pine, Brigitte BSP-EPE/6

Diving Officer                 Moes Evert BSP-WPE/31

Social Secretary              Allen Hazel, BSP-HRS/41

Equipment Officer          Twaddle, Don BSP-TWD/21

Secretary                       Brothers, Tara BSP-TSG/2

Treasurer                      Saville, Paul H BSP-TSW/5

Training Officer              Kuenchel Thomas TSG/2

 

Environmental Officer      Grant, Craig BSP-TSW/1

 

Boat Officer/Equipment Team                 

                                     Ryan Brothers BSP TSM/41,

                                     Paul Saville TSW/5,

                                     Ann Williams TSW/45x,

                                     Rachel  Handford Garrison/Hornbill school,

                                     Paul Strobech BSP WPE/11

Webmaster                     Brothers, Ryan BSP-TSM

Expedition officer            Vacant

Welfare Officer               Astrid Felius BSP-BLNG

 

This was followed by the first social BBQ of the year.

 

AGM attended by

Peter Henneberg, Robert Van Delden, Don and Cathie Twaddle, Evert Moes, Hazel Allen, Paul Strobech, Paul Saville,  Tara and Ryan Brothers, Brigitte Dale, Thomas Kuenchel, Astrid and Bas Felius, Gerry Alan, Rachel Handford, Jan Gindro, Laura Smith, Stephen and Mrs Smith, Michi Overstolz.