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Meet Our Club: Bangor University Sub-Aqua Club

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Want to join a dive club? In this new series, we take a look at grassroots diving and find out what’s happening on the club scene in the UK and around the world…


What is the name of your club?

Bangor University Sub-Aqua Club

Where is your club based?

Bangor, North Wales

Club affiliations (i.e. BSAC, PADI, SAA, etc.)

We are a PADI centre and run a range of PADI courses, but our members have qualifications from a range of different organisations from around the world.

Where and when do you meet?

We have weekly pool sessions where we run a range of different activities and training. As a university club we also have a weekly social where our members can come together as a club and we usually visit a couple of local pubs and bars. We also host a range of theme nights to really make our club stand out as we head around town.

How do you respond to the challenge of recruiting new members?

Our biggest time to recruit new members each year is at Serendipity, which is our fresher’s fair. This is a chance for us alongside all the other clubs and societies to sell ourselves to students, many of which may have just started at the university. We also run try dives at points throughout the year to keep the doors open to new members.

We run courses throughout the year for new divers and those progressing further in their diving careers. This helps us achieve a good intake of members and keeps our current members on the learning path.

As a club we also try to promote our activities widely to gather as much interest as possible, including collaborations with different clubs, societies and volunteering projects within the student’s union.

What facilities and resources does the club use/have?

We have access to a range of complete SCUBA kit for any of our members to hire when they go diving with us, including a wide selection of drysuits for our open water dives. We also have access to a RIB which we can launch from the Menai Strait for local trips or we can tow it for our trips further afield.

What sort of diving do you do, and where?

We are able to run local dives within easy reach of the university, with many beaches around Anglesey suitable for our members, as well as Vivian Dive centre in Llanberis. We’re also lucky to have the Menai Strait on our doorstep. This opens the possibility of us running drift dives within the strait itself, or taking our boat out to dive sites such as Puffin Island which has a seal colony living on it – and as the name suggests, puffins, which arrive during the summer. We also run trips further afield with visits to Capenwray; trips have also been run to Scotland.

Do you organise any club trips abroad, and if so, where?

We have our traditional trip to Hurghada in Egypt after exams in the summer. This trip is a chance for all our members to have one last trip before heading home for the summer or for some, leaving for good as they graduate from the university.

Does your club have any special interests such as conservation, special projects, etc?

We have run beach cleans as a club, as well as having several members who are also members of the university’s beach clean volunteering project. Members have also been involved with other projects such as SeaSearch and Capturing Our Coast. Many of our members have a special interest in such projects as a large proportion of our members are on degree courses within the school of ocean science.

We are also fundraising this year for Deptherapy, which runs diving programmes for injured members of the armed forces.

Does your club have any claims to fame or any particularly interesting stories… or members?

A lot of our members have a special interest in the sea and marine life, with oceanography and marine biology courses being a popular choice amongst our members. As such, there is a huge amount of knowledge shared between our members and academics within the university – although we are open to any students, not just ocean scientists!

What are the club’s plans for the future?

As we are a club that is part of the student’s union, we are run a bit differently compared to the usual dive club. As we near the end of the academic year, we hold elections for committee positions, which helps sway the direction that the club is run for the year ahead. A common aim for anyone in the club would be to keep expanding our member base, keep building on our diving experience and carry on with our efforts for the environment.

Where can people find out more about your club?

The main source of any information on our club is our Facebook page, and all our activities also go on Instagram – @busac17.

 Finally… if you could sum up your club in just one sentence, what would it be?

A fun and friendly club that aims to provide the best for all of our members, regardless of their background or diving ability.

Gear News

Introducing the TR-80, IR-50 and CS-30 Regulators from DYNAMICNORD

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regulator

Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver – with the three new main regulators from DYNAMICNORD, everyone will find their favourite regulator. They all look super stylish.

Excellent performance with the TR-80

Quality and performance are the be-all and end-all for regulators. It is not for nothing that the TR stands for Tec Reg. The innovative design of the TR-80 guarantees absolute reliability – even in ice-cold waters.

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Perfect breathing effort at 0.8 J/l / certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / structural design made of solid brass for best cold protection / membrane-compensated design with dry seal of the first stage / reduced exhalation effort thanks to optimized exhalation membrane and bubble deflector / adjustable Venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort / innovative design of the front cover prevents free-flow in strong currents or when diving with scooters / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 LP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.

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Amazing underwater adventures with the IR-50

The IR-50 is the top regulator for advanced and experienced divers. Natural breathing is the essence of this regulator.

regulator

Ideal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / compensated membrane / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort/ outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.

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The Workhorse – our CS-30

For diving centres and diving beginners – the workhorse stands for strong construction, reliability and robustness. Perfect for your training.

regulator

Optimal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /recommended for diving in waters above 10 degrees / non-compensated piston / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) / outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 1 HP and 3 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.

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Octopus OP-30

The OP-30 is the ideal addition to all DYNAMICNORD regulators. It is identical in construction to the CS-30.

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The TR-80, IR-50, CS-30 (DIN & INT) regulators and the Octopus OP-30 are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers and in the online store.

DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.

www.dynamicnord.com

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Marine Life & Conservation

Paul Watson Released as Denmark Blocks Japan’s Extradition Bid

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paul watson

Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.

The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.

Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.

In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.

Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.

Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.

The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.

Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.

Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.

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