Following the audit of the club accounts, it was identified that we needed a more robust mechanism for the collection of dive charges. To address this, the committee, with approval from the auditor have agreed on the following guidelines to ensure collection of dive charges/expenses.

If we could please ask you all to review the guidelines, as below and please follow these when dealing with any monies:

• The Dive Marshall is responsible for collecting dive trip related monies due to the club.
• The Dive Marshall may delegate this to an assistant or organiser.
• Kit etc and therefore monies must be noted on the expense form now used for all dive trips, prepared in advance (the expense form is located on the Hellfins website).
• Monies must be collected at the latest on the morning of the first dive, but it is the recommendation of the committee that all fees, when practicable, are collected prior to the trip.
• No claimed expenses will be paid to the DM or delegated person if other charges due are outstanding.

The expense forms and collection will be checked at each monthly committee. Any default in payment will be taken up by the chairman to the individual concerned

Please note that:

After 3 formal requests of defaulting on payments (in writing from the chairman), the individual will be expelled from the club. These guidelines will be incorporated into the club constitution.

If you have any queries regarding this, please contact Jen, or any member of the committee.

Welcome to Laura Gallagher (who joins us as a new trainee) and Cherry Barrowman (a cross-over from PADI to Ocean Diver).

We've been so popular recently that these will be some of the last new members for a while.

The pool is overflowing with trainees and the open water training trips are all nearly full. Sadly, we've had to call a halt to our expansion - so all the instructors can concentrate on getting the current crop of trainees through.

Congratulations to Paul and Jen for tying the knot in Mauritius. They had a wonderful time, and fitted in some diving while they were there (or did they fit in the wedding while they were diving?)

Plus, more proof that Hellfins is to be avoided if you are single and wish to remain that way - congratulations to Jo Crook and Mike, who announced their engagement last week. Best wishes to them.

Oh yes! diving!

Congratulations to those who completed open water training recently:

• Ocean Diver - James, Rob and Lee
• Sports Diver - Alan, Andy and Mark
• Dive Leader - David and Helen

Kathy is organising a trip to the Medes Islands - off of Spain near Barcelona, in September.

The provisional plans are:

Dates - 25th September to 2nd October

Cost - This depends on numbers but I would expect it to be a maximum of £450 for flights, accomodation (in Villas and/or appartments) and the dive package of 10 dives over 5 days.

Diving: There should be something for divers of all levels, see the website www.la-sirena.net for details of the diving and also our website for past club trips in 2001 and 2002. Most of the dives will be to about 25m. You need to be at least a sports diver or an ocean diver with all the sports diver pool sessions completed.

If you're interested in coming please let Kathy know by Wednesday (2nd June) so she can get some more definite details on cost, accomodation etc based on likely numbers.

The highlight of the diving calendar has to be... the Hellfins ski trip! This is the fourth of a very popular series.

This year we're looking around the third week in March - typically we've gone 1st-3rd week in March and it's worked well so far, but exact dates depend on price and availability.

We'll aim for a chalet with half board. Cost depends very much on location and availability, but roughly: Accommodation (and half board) flights & transfers: £500. Six day Lift Pass: £100 and Ski Hire £40-£50. Plus the usual dinner (and beer) money.

For the uninitiated, ski lessons could be an additional cost on top, but no one needed them so far as there's a great mix of abilities each year, with everyone able to help others make it to the next watering hole.

What we need to do at this stage is gauge interest. With rough numbers we can investigate accommodation and tie costs down better.

Paul aims to book this trip late June (i.e soon), so would like to get an idea of initial "I'm interested" right now.

Finally....... location......

A choice of two has been suggested, so We'd like to know your preference:

a) Italy: Hellfins has not been there before, the skiing is excellent, but it can be a bit low if snow is not great. That said, the last two winters there have been excellent for snow apparently. There's a good mix from beginner to advanced runs.

b) Austria, more specifically, St Anton: Yes, yes, we've been there only the year before (2003). Conversely many of you will therefore appreciate what to expect there, and perhaps, why it's been suggested a second time. St Anton will probably cost more in terms of beer money and Red Bull, because of its nightlife, but you get out what you put in! Good snow is almost a certainty, and runs are available to challenge every ability of skier (or boarder).

So, Are you interested?

Where do you want to go?

replies to: paul@hellfins.com

Those ski-blokes are on to a good deal. There you are with a small bag of dive kit and two tee shirts - getting hit for excess baggage - and they wander up to check out with a pair of skis and a set of golf clubs and get away scot free!

Justice will be done! The Scuba Industries Trade Association have started a campaign to give divers equal share of the "extra" baggage allowance allowed to skiers and golfers for so long.

There's a petition up on the noticeboard beside the pool - please sign it. If nothing else it could save you a few quid in excess baggage fees!

Heidi and a bunch of friends had a fine old time in your-favourite-place-and-mine-Swanage recently. Read about the fun (and Nicky awards) on the website.

And the "I'm only in the dive club for the skiing and parties" brigade have been having some fun too - check out Kev's pictures of the fun on the ski slopes and Kathy's photos from the Easter Party.

For sale - all in good condition

UWATEC Aladin Air integrated (by HP hose)computer and compass + Manual - £140
Technisub LED pocket backup torch (dry cell) - £10
Strobe light - Velcro strap attachment - unused - £10

Contact Allan Hesse 020 7632 9886 (day) or 01372 729040 (eve)