JOTTINGS The Editor’s bit

Welcome to the April May June edition of the newsletter. Apologies for the delay in it appearing. I have been slaving away over the PC - honest - but university assessments have to come first I'm afraid. As interesting as the course is, I am looking forward to all those free days during the summer vacation. It could just be that an acquaintance with dear old Stoney might just get renewed on Monday or Tuesday.

Anyway, here we are and something is seriously wrong. It's summer, the RIB's been down at the coast, there's been a week long trip and amazingly we've had a some blazing hot weekends. What is going on? Fingers crossed that it lasts.

This is a somewhat thinner issue of WB than others recently, due mainly to the reason above, but also because, for some reason, news seems a bit short.

Diver Fatalities

I too don't have as much to say as usual. Yet again though it's sad to see a number of diver fatalities at this time of year. I don't know all the details and I'm not going to comment on individual cases, but please, please, remember to work up to any adventurous dips you aim to do.

On TV

Was I the only person who felt a little uneasy watching the documentary (and all the previous press coverage) of the recovery of Bluebird? I wasn't quite sure whether it should have been done or not, especially as many of Campbell's relatives seemed to be against it.

One thing I do know. The wearing of the stupid hat when Bluebird was brought back to the surface, the way the diver sat astride the wreckage and the big grin he gave was one of the most crass and insensitive things I've ever seen.

Summer Social?

I know it's mentioned elsewhere, but if you want a summer social of some sort, talk to Bob. Now!!

Newsletter Contributions

Keep those contributions coming. Trip reports, letters, photos, whatever, they can all be used! All contributions to me please, preferably by e-mail or on disk, but I still take that old fashioned stuff called paper too!

And as ever ...

Happy diving, keep those fingers crossed for some decent weather, and may you bubbles ever upwards go.

Dave

BS-AC Medicals Review

Due to the larger than anticipated response to the request for feedback on the proposed changes to the medicals, it has taken BSAC longer than expected to collate the responses and deal with the issues raised.

However, it is hoped to reach a decision at this month's (June's) Council Meeting. This will be communicated as soon as possible using all means. Watch the web site for details.

Error on Nitrox Tables

There is an error on page 15 Table B 18 metres depth. Decompression stop dives between 92 and 108. The dive time shown in 161, it should say 101.

World's Largest Pearl Found

Divers have found what is claimed to be the largest natural pearl in the world, according to an official spokesman in Burma.

He says divers from the Myanmar Andaman Pearl Company found the 845 carat saltwater pearl off the country's south coast. The previous record pearl is a 450 carat example found in the 19^th century, which is currently on show in the Natural History Museum in London.