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Introduction 
The
Totnes Branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club was formed in 1973 and
currently has over 100 members. Membership is not restricted
to Totnes residents, with Plymouth, Newton Abbot, Torbay and even
Sheffield represented. The branch has a "wet" session
at Totnes Leisure Pool at 8.00 pm on a Wednesday evening, where
members and their families are welcome to come and swim, snorkel
(the branch has an active snorkelling section) or to practice their
diving skills for only a small fee to cover pool costs. This is
followed by the weekly gathering in the upstairs bar at the Meadowbrook
Community Centre, Dartington, from around 9.00 pm onwards, for
a social get together and to plan the following week's diving.
 The
club gained national recognition from the BSAC in 1994 when it
was awarded the Heinke Trophy. This Trophy is awarded annually
to the branch judged to have done most to further the interests
of its members and the BSAC and is hotly contested. We were also
the runners-up for the BSAC/Diver Spotlight Award in 1998 and
the Heinke Trophy in 1999. We won the Heinke Trophy again
in 2006 and to cap that one of our members (Richard Handy) won
the Wilkinson Sword trophy for his performance in the NI exam.
South
Devon is undoubtedly one of the places to live if you are a diver,
with enthusiasts from all over the UK coming to the West Country
every year just to dive off our coast, where underwater visibility
is sometimes as good as 20-30 metres and the water abounds with
colourful marine life. The area has as much to offer underwater
as it does on land, with spectacular underwater scenery and many
local shipwrecks to be visited. Diving is an exhilarating sport and great fun and, given proper
training, it is safer than driving to work or playing football.
The branch runs regular training courses, both for those learning
to dive and for more experienced divers wishing to increase their
skills, such as boat handling and lifesaving or to gain higher qualifications,
either using our own instructors or in conjunction with other local
clubs.
 New
members are always welcome, whether you are a complete beginner who
wants to learn to dive or an experienced diver who would like to
join a club that does lots of varied and interesting diving. Diving
is organised throughout the year at sites all over South Devon,
visiting wrecks like the Persier, the Maine and the James Egan Layne;
or more scenic dives such as Hilsea Point, the East Rutts and the
famous Eddystone Reef. In the summer there are likely to be
evening dives during the week as well as weekend diving, with all
levels of experience catered for. We also make regular trips to
Cornwall and expeditions to such places as the Scillies, Scotland
(Oban and Scapa Flow), Pembroke, Southwest Ireland and the South
of France.
It isn't all just diving either, with a regular programme of
social events such as ten pin bowling, trips to see the likes of
the Mary Rose and The Victory, and beach barbecues (umbrellas optional!).
The club also has a very successful Octopush (underwater hockey)
team that competes at national level.
The branch owns two RIBS
each fully equipped with radio, echo sounder, electronic navigation
and safety equipment. These are kept in a purpose built boatshed,
which also houses our 4WD Shogun, compressor and a wide variety
of training equipment.
 The club is run financially by annual fees from its members
as well as numerous fund raising events through the year. We
have recently introduced the facility for members to pay their branch
subs by standing order. The branch is managed by an elected committee
of ten members who meet regularly to make major decisions affecting
the organization and development of the branch.
Visiting divers, whether BSAC, SAA, PADI, NAUI, SSI
or any other recognised organisation, are welcome to
come and dive with
the club, provided that you have a valid medical and appropriate
third party insurance. Totnes SAC is both a BSAC branch
and an SAA Club although at present we only train using
the BSAC system. However,
you do not need to be a member of either to join Totnes
SAC, although this will get you automatic insurance
cover
and, in the case of the BSAC a monthly copy of Dive Magazine (full
members only).
If you have any questions, or need anything explained, then
please feel free to contact us at any of the numbers below, or even
better - email us.
Branch Committee - 2010
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