Big RED Bash 2006

[Steve Pearson]

Having been appointed as REDS co-ordinator for North West region I am organising an event which should be the biggest expedition of the year, and to do it I need your involvement.

Big RED Bash 2006 is to involve several hundred divers, diving simultaneously on wrecks off the coast of Anglesey(Wales) carrying out a marine survey of the wrecks in conjunction with the Marine Conservation Society and the Nautical Archaeological Society.

Branches are to put forward a team of 8 members using branch Rhibs to carry out the surveys. Teams will have a dedicated Cox, and non-diving marshal, with three pairs of divers carrying out the survey tasks. Tasks will include videoing/photographing the wreck site (to be used as part of an expedition Video CD to be produced) Marine life surveys, wreck state survey, measurements survey.

A HQ will be set up to co-ordinate and compile survey results, with team leaders who are trainee FCD’s being responsible for 4-6 branches each.

Those branches without Rhibs, and individuals/smaller numbers will be diving from hardboats to be chartered for the weekend or allocated to branches who don’t have a full compliment in their Rhib.

Most diving will be in 10-35m range and therefore suitable for SD’s or above, however we are also looking for some Tekkie teams willing to dive on 60m+ wrecks as well.

The expedition will take place Sat 2nd/Sun 3rd September 2006 and we will be applying for grants to fund accommodation for the weekend. A social bar-b-que will be organised for Sat evening for everyone to get together and have a good fun, and entertaining night.

I have a highly qualified team of organisers assisting me in making this a terrific success, but we need your help to do it.

We are hoping to get some good media coverage of the event, and attract a few celebrity divers to take part, you never know you may get one as part of your team.

The event is open to all branches Nationally, the more the merrier. I’ll be giving regular updates as to how things are progressing, but need early commitments from branches in order that we may sort out the administration and accommodation bookings.

Please leave a post here if you are interested in taking part in this possibly record breaking event, or send me a private message.

If you have any positive suggestions as to the event please feel free to PM me.

Don’t miss this opportunity of Diving with a Purpose, at dive sites you may not have dived before. It’s also a chance for those taking advanced diver quals to get AP2 signed off, by submitting an expedition plan for the weekend, based upon guidelines I will give, and then marshaling your branches diving activities for the expedition. Those wanting to be signed off who don’t have AI’s in their club will be allocated an AI for the dives to oversee the marshaling.

Hope to hear from you

Steve

[James - Narked@50]

Hi Steve

Count me in, I'll sort out details later and have a word with the branch, I can't commit for them just now, but I may as well get in from the start.

James

[Adrian Kelland]

Any ideas on location Steve?

Bah, read the post properly. :(

[Garygee]

Hi Steve

Yep count me in also sure their will be more from my club.
Work at present, that we will need to use a dive boat, while we have a RIB its not up to more then 3-4 divers max and then close to shore.

So for now

Hyndburn BSAC
Gary Greenwood (Garygee) Max depth 60M (ish)
Duncan Prestley Max depth 40M (ish)

Will add more as I get names.

Regards Gary

[Odin]

Any ideas on location Steve?

off the coast of Anglesey....
Interested Adrian?
I'm thinking of combining it with a trip to visit family...

[Adrian Kelland]

off the coast of Anglesey....
Interested Adrian?
I'm thinking of combining it with a trip to visit family...
Could be, whoose RIB? :D

[Fiona]

Could be, whoose RIB? :D

Could always see if Elfyn's boat Empress is free that weekend, wouldn't mind coming to play.

[Odin]

Could be, whoose RIB? :D
Won't be Viking Diver!
Hardboat for me...

[Steve Pearson]

Could always see if Elfyn's boat Empress is free that weekend, wouldn't mind coming to play.

Hi Fiona,

We're going to be contacting Elfyn, Terry and other hardboats to charter them for the weekend, I'll make sure you're with Elfyn

Steve

[Paul Rosendale]

Hi Steve,

Sounds like a lot of fun. Our club dive plan is out this weekend, not sure what hardboats etc have been booked/deposits paid etc, (wouldn't want to draw members away from any booked hardboats).Would love to be part of this project. As soon as I view our plan I can ask around our members and get a feel for numbers. Our club could i'm sure cater for the deeper dives if needed, just depends on everyones availability.

Good luck with the planning.

Be in touch soon

Paul

[AndyWilkes]

Hi Steve,

Had a word with the club last night and are willing to be involved bringing our own RIB.

Cheers
Andy

[Paul Beal]

I would be interested in this and no doubt a few more from my club would be too. We do not have a RHIB although I am a diver cox if that helps.

Paul

[Adrian Kelland]

Could always see if Elfyn's boat Empress is free that weekend, wouldn't mind coming to play.
Do you want to give him a call Fiona? Much as I like RIBS, bigger boat comfort is nice too.

Adrian

[Lou Whitehouse]

I would be interested in this and no doubt a few more from my club would be too. We do not have a RHIB although I am a diver cox if that helps.

Paul

Grr, beat me too it! I was going to say that (apart from the diver cox bit!) I'll send an email round the club and see what interest there is.
Lou

[Fiona]

Do you want to give him a call Fiona? Much as I like RIBS, bigger boat comfort is nice too.

Adrian

I will check with Steve first, as his response was he would do it. But I don't mind organising a boat.

You going to be on my team then :D

[Adrian Kelland]

I will check with Steve first, as his response was he would do it. But I don't mind organising a boat.

You going to be on my team then :D
If I can get permission :)

[Keith Lawrence]

If there's a hardboat space going I'll have a slot... :D

Keith L

[Fiona]

If there's a hardboat space going I'll have a slot... :D

Keith L

Oh I feel a team sheet coming on :D

[Fiona]

If I can get permission :)

Surely you will have finished that blooming bathroom by September :)

[Odin]

er... what about me???

[Adrian Kelland]

er... what about me??? What about you - your bathroom is finished :D :D

(Sorry for taking this off topic, but at least it stays on top :) )

[Fiona]

er... what about me???

I kinda thought you two came as a pair :D

[Adrian Kelland]

I kinda thought you two came as a pair :D

Laurel & Hardy?

[Fiona]

My favouite boat Empress is already booked for that weekend, same guys each year.

The other boat Julie-Anne is probably available, just need Elfyn to check the diary, he will let me know later.

This boat might not be for the soft southerners as there isn't a dive lift :D

[Adrian Kelland]

This boat might not be for the soft southerners as there isn't a dive lift :D
Ouch! Not fun for twins then?

[Fiona]

Ouch! Not fun for twins then?

The hard Northerners don't have a choice :D

[Keith Lawrence]

If there's a hardboat space going I'll have a slot... :DKeith LGrrrrrr :mad: Now I notice that there is a Council meeting on the 2nd, in London :mad: We only meet four or five times a year, every meeting is important :rolleyes:

K

[Steve Pearson]

Hi Keith

I though we were divers, meetings can be rescheduled, after all I'd like to see Council members taking part and supporting this as well.

Hey what about if we arrange a venue in Anglesey to hold your meeting Saturday evening, after DIVING...... :eek:

Cmon tell Council no excuses, if there are I can always come up with an answer and solution :p

Steve

[Adrian Kelland]

Hi Keith

I though we were divers, meetings can be rescheduled, after all I'd like to see Council members taking part and supporting this as well.

Hey what about if we arrange a venue in Anglesey to hold your meeting Saturday evening, after DIVING...... :eek:

Cmon tell Council no excuses, if there are I can always come up with an answer and solution :p

Steve
Can you imagine a Council meeting after the BBQ with an audience of several hundred 'interested' members? :eek::eek: Are members allowed to observe?

Your right in terms of changing the date if at all possible. This has the potential to be a big BSAC event.

Adrian

[Steve Summers]

I will check with Steve first, as his response was he would do it. But I don't mind organising a boat.

You going to be on my team then :D


Hi Fi,

I may be up for this is there a space onboard for a little 'un

Safe diving,
Steve

[Odin]

Laurel & Hardy?
More like "Lou and Andy"
Yeah I know...

[Odin]

Can you imagine a Council meeting after the BBQ with an audience of several hundred 'interested' members? :eek::eek: Are members allowed to observe?

a sketch from "Little Britain"????

[Steve McGregor]

Hi steve
My self and others from southport BSAC would be happy to be on board.
Steve Mc

[PaulM]

Steve,

Can I be put down as a definite? As BSAC Direct member I would need to beg a place on a boat.
As an almost soft southerner, lifts I can just about manage without:)

[Bryan Spence]

Please include me.

Bryan Spence

[Steve Pearson]

Latest Update

After a very successful meeting I can give you an update as to how things are progressing.

Chris Holden our Expedition planning officer has identified 60 dive sites (wrecks) to be dived. Some from his first book, and others from his second book due for release 2 weeks after the event.

It has therefore been decided that we will restrict numbers of teams taking part to 45. This will allow us contingency sites in case of inclemant weather preventing diving at some sides of the island.

Accomodation is to be booked personally by teams, and once notified of their inclusion a list of accomodation and contact numbers will be distributed to enable early booking.

NAS have agreed to run some prep courses in the NorthWest for members of teams wishing to get their NAS Part1 & Part2 qualifications. Demand for these courses will be high and therefore I will start a section for individuals wanting to register to attend. Cost will be approx £160. The course will be 3 days, 1 day Intro, and 2 days Part1, The expedition itself will count towards Part2 accreditation. I will give more info in due course.

Secure Parking for Rhibs is being confirmed, at various locations around Anglesey.

I am currently producing an initial team questionnaire which I will email to those teams taking part. I would be grateful if you could PM me with your email details so I can get this out ASAP.

There will be a steady passage of information to teams enabling thorough planning to take place and therefore ensuring a successful event.

Our medical officer will be holding a surgery saturday afternoon/evening to allow anyone with any injuries/ailments to attend and be treated.

HM Coastguard at Anglesey are on board and fully supportive of the venture.

Hyperbaric centre Murrayfield have been informed and are aware of what is happening.

A Code of Conduct will be produced and distributed to all teams for the event. It is expected that you will all adhere to this code and behave impecably as you are ambassadors for BSAC on this venture.

Merchandising is being decided upon, and will probably consist of Video CD of event - £5, Video on Pen Drive with Exped Logo - £10, Embroidered Polo Shirts - £15, Souvenir Mugs - £TBC

Underwater Guide to North Wales Vol1 - A terrifically informative 240 page book by Chris Holden our Expedition Planning Officer , outlining a lot of the dive sites around Anglesey is available beforehand, price £16.95. Anyone wanting a copy of this book, let me know and I'll arrange for an Autographed copy to be sent to you, postage free. Orders for the second book will also be taken in advance, and personally Autographed copies sent out after publication.

We are curently trying to secure a grant, towards the expedition. if this is sucessful the money after expenditure will be evenly distributed amongst members taking part to offset some of their costings.

I will keep you updated of future developments in due course.

I welcome any comments and suggestions

Steve

[Odin]

PM sent (but message must be 10 characters...)

[AndyWilkes]

PM Sent (Just using a few Characters up now!!)

[Steve Pearson]

Celebs Wanted

We're looking to get a few celebs involved in the event, and need your help to contact them.

If any of you out there are anonymous celebs, and interested in taking part, the please contact me by email or PM.

If anyone knows any celebs, divers or non divers, then have a word, see if they fancy getting involved, and get them to drop me a line

Thanks

Steve

[Steve Walsh]

Steve,

WFSAC have confirmed they will be able to send a RIB and a team for the surveys.