Aaaaand relaaaaax.......phew! The weather's turned nippy and we've been just about everywhere and done just about everything this year! But don't forget the last trip. Mike is taking a troop of well 'ard divers up to Oban in December. Time to shake the dust off your party get-up instead. Kathy has flexed her new social sec muscle by booking our Christmas party for Friday 5 December at Boulevard in Covent Garden - let her know as soon as you can that you're coming, to ensure sufficient food and drink provision etc. Any ideas for a theme? Take a look at the training dates coming up - lots of opportunity to work on making a diving grade during the next year, or simply refreshing skills - if you don't find what you're looking for already there, contact Nicky and Ed with requests and suggestions. Lastly, any suggestions for dive trips for next year? Come to the meeting on 5 November with ideas for that dive-trip of a lifetime, or further exploration of the Swanage coast by club rib, or extreme skiing or, well, whatever takes your fancy really. See you there.

Contents Charity Skydive Welcome New Members Congratulations! Date set for EGM & DPM Christmas Party Fancy a Trip to Oban? Lectures and Courses AGM Report Tenerife Sipadan Littlehampton

Welcome New Members

Welcome to Hellfins Simon, Jackie, Lee and Chris. Simon Pritchard is new to club, but not to BSAC. He joins us as a BSAC Dive leader, and PADI Rescue Diver. Jackie Morrell and Lee Johnson have never dived before and Chris Bennett is crossing over from PADI to join us. Welcome, all of you!

Congratulations	Thanks Mike Just want to say 'diamond geezer' award goes to Mike Wilkinson for lending Gretel his drysuit and using his own wet suit when it got really chilly during training at Stoney Cove. He did ask himself whether it was 'stupid geezer'. Gretel was very happy with the arrangement. Gretel 21/10/03
Congratulations Pippa and Sid! No - not another engagement - I think FC and Janos would have something to say about that. Pippa Rouse qualified as a Sports Diver this month and Sid Lothian qualified as a Dive Leader. Well done So you qualified and haven't been congratulated? You only get the official congratulations when you get the official stamp. So off you go to Shona - book in hand....

Date set for EGM and DPM

The Extraordinary General Meeting of the club will be held on 5 November. This is to ratify the budget proposed by the club treasurer, but is also an opportunity to discuss anything else. If you would like to put something on the agenda, please let Ian (ian@hellfins.com) know. We will also be holding the Dive Planning Meeting - so if you were thinking of organising a trip next year, this is the time to let everyone know and fight for a place in what looks like a packed diary next year. It's also a chance to buy a fantastic Hellfins t-shirt - so bring along a spare tenner to make sure you get the colour and size you'd like before they all run out - or order on in advance on line now.

Christmas Party

Yes, this year the Christmas Party is going to be at Christmas!!!! At the Boulevard in Covent Garden on Friday 5 December. You can see the venue on their website. The table's booked for 7.30pm and we'll be meeting in the bar for drinks as early as you can make it. If you want to come along e-mail Kathy kathrynpelham@dixonwilson.co.uk ASAP.

Fancy a Trip to Oban?

Oban Trip : 12-15 December : Jane R liveaboard We are getting together with Colchester branch for a weekend's diving on the wrecks in the Sound of Mull's beautiful clear waters kissed by the Gulf stream. Friday 12th Dec late afernoon : Fly to Glasgow Friday 12th Dec evening: minibus Glasgow to Oban Saturday 13th Dec : 2 Dives then overnighting at Tobermory on the Isle of Mull Sunday 14th Dec: 2 Dives then overnighting at Oban Monday 15th Dec morning: minibus Oban to Glasgow Monday 15th Dec afternoon : Fly from Glasgow to London Costs: To be confirmed, but budget for £100 for flights,£100 for the liveaboard, £50 minibus. That's it... all meals included,just a bit of spending money for a few 80 shillings and some haggis. To qualify for this trip you must be: A sports diver with over 25 UK dives A drysuit diver Well 'ard To reserve your place, please send a cheque deposit of £175 payable to "Tony Mason" to Mike Wilkinson, 71 Dyke Drive, Orpington, Kent BR5 4LY The sooner we get this sorted the cheaper our flights will be, so don't delay. Cheers Mike Tel 077 207 17069

Lectures and Courses

Training Dates for the diary: October 29th Ocean Diver Lectures 5-7 Helen November 1st Oxygen Administration Course Clare November 2nd Practical Rescue Management Course Clare

Report from the AGM

The minutes of the AGM are available to members - just contact secretary@hellfins.com for your copy. In summary though: Ian kicked off proceedings with a fantastic Review of the year Jenny presented the figures for the year and demonstrated that (due to prudent and careful management) we made a slightly larger surplus than the budget had predicted Mike presented his DO's report - loads of dives, loads of fun and nobody hurt Shona presented the training officers report - fourteen people moved up a grade and lots more are close to moving up We handed out the awards to those that have made an extra special contribution this year - see left ...and all those people that got caught "Doing it Wrong" got given their Gregs Oh, and we we elected a new committee All in all a fantastic evening to celebrate a fantastic year for the club. Thank you to all those involved in running proceedings - especially Nicky for organising the venue and, more importantly, the food. The Awards Honorary Membership: Phil Clifton BSAC Special Achievement Award: Pete Pelosi Merit Award: Phil Clifton & Shona Price Trainee of the Year: Tony Monckton Diver of the year: Janos Suto Gifts and Special Thanks to: Nicky Deeley Mike Wilkinson for all their hard work as social secretary and diving officer as they step down The Gregs Pippa for the moment when she decided to cool off in Swanage bay, without checking that her dry suit zip was done up. Sid for the time his mind was on 'other matters' than the trip he was organising to Swanage for a group of first time divers. The map he gave everyone to get to the caravan site actually led them to the middle of an industrial estate on the far side of town. Nic for trying to grab a dog fish by the tail and the dog fish standing up for itself and going for his pipes. Very Funny. Phil for swimming outside the desiganted swimming area and then thinking a massive black bin bag was a jelly fish Ian Two left feet award - for turning up for a trip with two left feet dive boots. Nicky didn't get any Greg awards at all - but somehow the membership agreed to the chairmans proposal to rename the awards "The Nickys" this year! Tenerife Pete's been to Tenerife and come back with a story and some great pictures. you can find them on the website. Sipadan The website has got the first pictures of the Sipadan pictures from Paul, Jenny and Sally. They look good. Littlehampton While they were off sunning themselves, we took the opportunity to do some real diving in Littlehampton. Here are some of Peter's photos from the trip.