Introduction

On Monday 23rd September 1957 a group of like minded people met to discuss diving in Jamaica. Interest had been generated by an article on skin-diving in the Daily Gleaner and it was agreed that if there was sufficient interest in the subject locally a Club could be started along the lines of similar organisations already existing in other parts of the world. The group saw the advantages of organised skin diving as the enjoyment obtained from a shared activity, increased safety factors, access to diving sites and boats, other equipment and facilities which could be obtained by an organised reputable body where they were denied to individuals. Together with pooled knowledge and experience of the group and the possibility of sharing expenses which were often prohibitive to all but the wealthiest. It was pointed out that the British Sub-Aqua Club could provide instruction and safe training for novices and expert supervision at all times and so ..welcome to the Club History, celebrating forty years from 1957 to 1997 of diving in Jamaica. Taking the island from the truly pioneer days of Jacques Cousteau in the 1950s to the Nitrox diving to great depth taking place at Discovery Bay in the 1990’s with Club members involved on both occasions. Branch 51 has always been an ‘International’ BSAC Club, with members not only from Jamaica but coming from around the globe with ever changing interests - now scientific, now instructional, now diving for pleasure. During the years there have been good times and bad times, there has been lack of interest, frequent turnover of membership, people being trained but not continuing as members, lack of funds and careless diving but these are the day to day records, there are many stories not found in the minutes and notes available so if you have a particular memory that should be passed down through the Club as we enter the 21st Century please let us have it, particularly history of the dive sites and underwater experiences as some of the old favourites are now being lost to the developer.

1957

Facts and Figures: Beer was said to be one shilling (1/-) a bottle (equivalent to J$2.80 in 1997) >>> On 1st October 1957 the inaugural meeting of the first overseas branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club (Branch No. 51) was held at Morgan’s Harbour Hotel. David V Stiven in Jamaica with the British Consultants, Sir Alexander Gibbs and Partners, was elected Chairman with Stan A Downton, an existing BSAC member from England, as Secretary and Treasurer and Dr Tom Goreau as Diving Officer. Also present were Lt. D Alan Allport of the Worcester Regiment based at Up Park Camp, Dr Ivan Goodbody and Professor David Stevens of University College of the West Indies (UCWI), Bruce Laurie from Sproston’s Jamaica Limited and Sir Anthony Jenkinson owner of Morgan’s Harbour Club. On 13 October the first Club expedition was held at the 187 feet (57 metres) deep Blue Hole in Portland. Forty people were present to see a demonstration of aqua lung diving by Tom Goreau and Stan Downton. Permission was subsequently granted for the Club to use the University College of the West Indies (UCWI) Olympic pool for training and for one pound sterling a book of 10 tokens to cover the use of the pool were issued. while the Jamaica Oxygen Company were used to fill the tanks. Trainees were charged 10/- an hour for lungs and air. On the 18th October David V. Stiven discovered certain items of brass and copper off the Palisadoes on the seaward side and the Club decided to investigate further. An exploratory dive was held at Bull Bay looking for a suitable training site. Although it was not suitable an interesting reef structure was found. In November a dive was organised at Ocho Rios, working from ‘Casa Nina’ with David Owen Chief Diving Officer of the Research Vessel from Woods Hole and Dr Brooke Knight National Museum, Washington, DC. Two members took underwater photographs off Lime Cay for possible use in Life Magazine. In the search for equipment in order to commence training the Club negotiated with JPSCo for two Siebe Gorman lungs and members were granted a 15% discount from A M B Aguilar, sports dealer At the AGM the Chairman expressed the need for a Branch Record Book, the encouragement of local cinemas to show films such as ‘The Silent World’ and ‘Under the Red Sea’.

1958

Chairman: D. V. Striven; Secretary: Stan A. Downton; Treasurer: Dennis A. Catt; Diving Officer: Dr. Tom Goreau Facts & Figures: Membership 26; Air increased from 3/- to 10/- >>> Club successfully dealt with the pump intake at UCWI Pool which involved diving in a 17 feet (5.2 metres) water filled chamber inside the pool with the entry point a manhole and the chamber only 8 feet (2.4 metres) wide! One dozen copies of the publication ‘Sea Pests’ bought by the Club. ‘Dry’ meetings to commence in January 1959. Two members visited the Pedro Cays on a trip organised by Mrs. Blackwell who chartered ‘Fair Weather’ Large gap in Club records but the birth of the Branch was reported to Triton. Eventually Chairman’s comment that Committee members were finding it difficult to devote time to the Club due to “fulfilling obligations to our employers or professions”. First Club excavations of the sunken city of Port Royal were led by Paddy O’Callaghan with the Link expedition. On one dive actor Errol Flynn joins the group and due to the poor viz has to hold hands with Paddy!

1959

Facts & Figures: 54 members including 8 ladies; Air 10/- a fill >>> It was suggested that a Branch Newsletter be started. UCWI pool closed and training is moved to the Barclays Bank pool in Hope Road however due to the poor viz in the pool a search for a new training ground leads the Club to Cow Bay. The first Club dive at Cow Bay is by ex-paratrooper Dennis Catt and Paddy O’Callaghan. A reef was surveyed at Discovery Bay and there were notable expeditions to Blue Hole, God’s Well, Pelican island, Salt Gut, Silver Sands and Cow Bay as well as further excavation of Port Royal under the auspices of the Link expedition. Surveys were carried out on the approach lights of the new Palisadoes airport runway and under the Jamaican Government’s No 1 Railway Pier. The Club also assisted in the salvaging of the Gypsum Company’s pier at Harbour Head. Club receives full page coverage in the Sunday Gleaner and at least two radio broadcasts were recorded, one of which included interviews done at sea on Biddlecombe Shoal in a canoe by the veteran broadcaster Dennis Hall. Investigation of reef structure at Salt Gut (west of Boscobel Beach) on the North Coast, of which a film was made by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts and which had been shown in New York Experiments in diving physiology carried out in Blue Hole by Dr Tom Goreau with five people descending to 180 feet (55 metres) and three to 210 feet (64 metres) at Cow Bay.

1960

Facts & Figures: 97 members; Membership £1.00 (15/- to BSAC); 130 dives (10 to 200 feet (3 to 60 metres)); Fenn Compressor £14.00; Weights 5/- members; 7/6 non members;Air Fill 40 cu ft 2/-, 70 cu ft 3/- >>> HRH The Duke of Edinburgh becomes President of BSAC. The Club becomes involved in the Link-Smithsonian-National Geographic expedition to examine Port Royal underwater remains. Feature appears in the February 1960 Edition of National Geographic. Discussions held with the Beach Control Authority on underwater diving at the North Coast which becomes a continuing saga through the following years. Assistance given to the Army to form a new branch. The first Club News Letter is started and the Club decides to enter the Heinke Trophy and the rules are sent out - but no record of them exists and what exactly the competition entailed although obviously our winning entry contained a full years record of the activities of the Club including photographs. No copy of our entry survived. Kaiser Bauxite requested the report on the dive which took place in Crater Lake and the Club charged 50/- for the cost of air on the Palisadoes air strip. Club acquires its own compressor which breaks down three month later and the start of another Club saga begins. The Bronze Medallion of the Royal Lifeguard Service is to be included in the 2nd Class Diver Qualification. The Committee discussed the ‘inadequacy of communication’ between surface cover and divers down - ‘where were you boat captain’ or words to that effect could be heard echoing across Cow Bay.

1961

Facts & Figures: 268 lessons; Annual dinner 21/- >>> Beechcraft airplane crash - several Club dives at the request of the police. A Club member disciplined for removing several parts from the plane and banned from Club dives for three months. Dr. Tom Goreau criticised members participation in that he considered to be undesirable publicity for the Club and also requested that members should undertake more diving with a definite purpose. Lifesaving courses run by the Club for University students, Boy Scouts and the general public. The committee decided that no dive would be allowed over 200feet (61.0 metres) using 70 cubic feet tanks except in exceptional circumstances when expressed approval sought. Police ask for assistance in training and also in investigating the currents and sea bed at Hunt’s Bay where many people have drowned. Purchase of the first Club boat, a wooden ex-coastguard boat named NOMAD is purchased from Senian Yap. Trouble with Club Compressor which was sent to the Government Railway Engineers for repair. First Annual Dinner. Chairman gives talk to the Rotarians of Kingston. Constitution and Bye-Laws adopted. Club entry comes second in the Heinke Trophy competition for 1960. During the year 5 First Class, 15 Second Class, 30 Third Class, 16 Bronze Medallions, 1 bar (?) and 4 Instructors qualified. The First Class divers included Mrs Pat Cairney, Mike Poulson, Dennis Catt and Paddy O’Callaghan. The Club admonished by M A Smith, Collector of Taxes, for a dive at Port Royal that occurred without permission being sought.

1962

Facts & Figures: Red Log Books 2/- >>> BSAC sends out a circular on the dangers of free and other types of ascents and a questionnaire was completed for return to London. The Club expressed the opinion that based on their experiences the dangers were over stressed, always assuming that in training the techniques were properly supervised. Discussions were held on the lack of emergency procedures and it was decided that a small bottle of oxygen should be taken on Club dives. On a dive at Eaton Hall a Club member had to make an assisted ascent from 200 feet (61.0 metres). The Club chairman emphasized that the rules concerning dives holding on to the harness of a companion below 100 feet (30.5 metres) must be adhered to. Lectures for March and April included Underwater Archeology by M. Pawson and Salvage Operations by J. Dibsdall. Mrs. V. Austin of the Polio Centre requested small pieces of coral for their jewelry work. ‘Gossip’ was officially banned at the Club! The Club Secretary was instructed to write to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh welcoming to Jamaica as he has become the President of BSAC. Heinke Trophy won for year 1961 and was presented in London at the Underwater Congress to the High Commissioner for Jamaica and a branch member. No copy of our winning entry has survived, the copy in the Library which we had assumed was the winning entry is actually the 1969 entry. Photographic and Archeological groups formed and the archeological group was in the process of making a film. Underwater portraits could be arranged by individuals with their own cameras. Collected coral for a table centre for the Independence celebrations which were later given to Princess Margaret. BSAC in London sends out directive limiting free ascents from 30feet (9.1 metres) only. The Club was invited to enter a team in the US National Spear Fishing Championships. It was suggested that a contest, open to the public, be held in order to pick a suitable team to attend. This competition is for Hawaiian Spears and without aqua lungs. At the same meeting the Diving Officer confirmed the Diving Rule banning no spear fishing of any sort whatsoever (even lobsters) should be allowed with an aqua lung.

1963

Facts & Figures: Membership 108 - 46 divers; Anchor £6.00; Rope £2.50; Cayman Flight £10.00 return Leslie Stockhausens volunteers to organise a branch library but no funds available. Water skiing introduced as an alternative when diving conditions too murky and underwater sledges used for the first time. Deep diving discussions held and whilst not being encouraged deep dives (150 feet-200 feet) were a necessary part of a diver’s experience. The Club was asked not to disturb a very large grouper that had been discovered at the South East Cay. Club acquires new boat - SIMBA, an ex-police launch. Industrial Gases Ltd had agreed to fill tanks at 5/- per 70cu ft tank which was less expensive than the Club’s compressor. Boat rides were 4/- Old Club boat Nomad painted and sold for 275 pounds. Silver Sands rates increase to three guineas per night In October Hurricane Flora gets stuck north of Jamaica and cuts off many of the dive sites on the north coast and after the hurricane has passed diving is still very disrupted.. Abandoned boat in Harbour is towed out by Captain Tough and Stan Willers of the Port Authority to be scuttled just prior to the storm but brakes her tow and is washed up on the Palisadoes. Roger Woodward edits JAMAICA JOURNAL and David Owen of Woods Hole had carried out a series of dives with Tom Goreau off Buttress Reef. Club propose a grade of diver between First and Second Class called “Jamaica Diver” Many working dives done for Esso Oil Refinery. Beach Control Authority (BCA) asks for views on the regulations to be put in force regarding the proposed Ocho Rios Marine Park. The Park is intended to be an educational, not tourist, facility, to acquaint people on the island with their own environment. Recommendations on preserving marine life especially restricting trap fishing, and aqualung training were rejected. Dives held at Cow Bay, Orange Bay, Eaton Hall, Flemairie, Dunn’s River, The Cays, Silver Sands, San Souci, Tower Isle, Ocho Rios, Port Maria, Gods Well, Little Bay.

1964

Facts & Figures: Members 103; Annual Dinner 30/-; Air Fill 5/- >>> For the first time the Club Committee encourages night diving as a Club activity and Shean Jackson and Frank Mackey were asked to collaborate on an article for the Journal. Dry meetings were held fortnightly but due to lack of support discussions were held as to whether they should be monthly. It was felt desirable that the Club should have a permanent home and Shean Jackson offered his garage whilst he is to be off island. The Committee were also encouraged to search for new sites around the island and two members were commissioned to take day to travel around coast to research the possibilities! Dr. Davidson of UWI had commenced a booklet on dive sites in 1960/61. Montego Bay Branch formed by Paddy O’Callaghan. First contacts were made with the US Navy Divers based at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (known as the Reef Raiders!) telling them about the Club and offering accommodation if they visited Jamaica. Continuing correspondence with the Beach Control Authority asking for JSAC recommendations on the control of aqualung equipment hire and ask the Club to carry out a survey at Albion, between Cow Bay and Yallahs River. Alcan offered the Club three flood lamps and Ian Champion had a portable compressor for use with them in order that crab and lobster studies could be carried out at Cow Bay! The privilege of diving at the Yallahs Piggery had been withdrawn but it was hoped that members could still access the site from the beach. Discussions with Mr. A. K. Elliot of the Ministry of Tourism and Industry regarding recommendations for aqua lung divers amongst tourists arriving on the island but the Club could not take on this responsibility but agreed that if the Ministry employed personnel in this role the Club would train them free of charge. However the Club would submit diving regulations for use by the industry. Ian Champion’s air account is to be credited 16/- for cleaning woman after a party at his house. (some party! Who was the lady in question?)

1965

Facts & Figures: Members 77 (October); Junior members 15/-; Associate members 4/-; List of Dive Sites 2/6; Beer 1/- per bottle at Committee Meetings; Stadium Pool 15/- >>> Publicity in two television appearances after script prepared by Mark David and completed by Ian Champion with Fred Bjornsen and George Warner actually appearing on TV, also participation in the Cross Harbour Race, and the Montego Bay Aquatics Weekend. A Club hand bill was also prepared. Dive group ends up in hospital after swimming into a swarm of sea wasps on a night dive. After various discussions and methods of paying for air bills had failed the Club decided to have a token system. V.E.VENDRRES produced 500 bronze tokens at a cost of 1/- each and 1 token represented 1 air fill. Offer of Club House at the University for £3.10s.0d. per month plus refrigerator £1.0s.0d per month. Lease taken for trial three months. Club house acquired at 71 Lady Musgrave Road as decision was taken not too renew lease on University Club House. Members to pay £6.0s.0d in the first year and renewal to cost 5 guineas to facilitate the increased costs of having their own ‘home’ . Shean Jackson opens the first dive shop in Kingston Cost of a page advert in the Jamaica Journal was £10.0s.0d. A chapter on Skin Diving written by Club member Dolores Keator appears in the book “Ian Fleming introduces Jamaica” edited by Morris Cargill in which she describes Club dives at Silver Sands, Blue Hole, Lime Cay and Port Royal. On the 7thOctober the Club became officially known as the Jamaica Sub-Aqua Club thus celebrating Independence Day for Jamaica. The wearing of life jackets on dives was introduced. The Club directed publicity towards the Government regarding the regrettable practice of exploding dynamite underwater with a resultant tremendous waste of fish and other life. Pool training canceled for a time because of drought, then changed to the National Stadium. Training was carried out at Gun Boat beach. Astropygia (?) found at Blue Hole, Port Antonio. Club promised 4 dives to Mobay in order to help carry out a strength test by simulating a fish at end of 80lb test line. Club completes its own cine film ‘Journey to the Sea’ (or was it in 1964) W Hamid edits the Club magazine JAMAICA JOURNAL JSAC requirements for dive operators approved by the BCA. Club to give a suggested written exam for prospective aqualung hirers. Dr Tom Goreau and Shean Jackson do tests with a Nitrogen/Oxygen mixtures. Dr. M. Mettrick searches Cays for scientific purposes and engages Club in collecting fish by using the Slurp gun.

1966

Facts & Figures: Members 103; Olympic Pool £10.0s.0d >>> SIMBA disposed of and Yvette Carby donates a 14 feet (4.3 metres) fibreglass skiff. Club rents Shean Jackson’s personal compressor. George Warner and R Vaughan edits JAMAICA JOURNAL Lengthy discussions were held with the Port Royal Trust and the Beach Control Authority (BCA) regarding diving Port Royal both with and without Robert Marx. Letter received in June gives Club permission to resume diving at Port Royal but members must not interfere with the sea bed and report anything seen of interest to Mr. Lewis of the Institute of Jamaica. However, further Club records report that at a later date it is made illegal for unlicensed persons to interfere with the sea floor adjacent to Port Royal, hence Club forbids any further expeditions there. Spear fishing resumes at the Club as minutes banning the practice from Club Dives cannot be found (they did not search far enough back as the ban appeared in 1962). August saw the introduction of new diving signals from BSAC. Marked increase of dives to 300 feet ( 91.4 metres) and a Deep Diving Report was instigated. Dive at Hermitage dam to recover a dredge cutter head. JSAC asked by the YMCA to train youngsters as snorkel divers. The archaeologist/treasure hunter Robert Marx invites the Club to help with the preliminary work at Port Royal prior to commencing his own excavation. Club help is rewarded with heavy criticism. Surveys for BCA at Hope River and Harbour View to determine suitability for bathing. Complaints about Club discipline, especially with the more experienced divers who make 300 feet (91.4 metres) dives. Start of a shell collection in the Club house. Work on sea eggs (urchins) by Mary Metrick and crynoids by Norman Copland

1967

Facts and Figures: Monies from work done: £90.5s.0d; Pool fees: £4.0s.0d; Membership: 131 >>> We move to a new Club house at Altamont Crescent (where we still find ourselves thirty years later). Paddy (?) and Jeff Harrod edits the Club magazine JAMAICA JOURNAL Jason Cadet swims away on a dive at Cow Bay never to be seen again. The circumstances sadly point to suicide. Dives of note: n T. Vorrhoeves expedition to Port Antonio with the help of Jamaica Railway. n Shean Jackson dives an abandoned mine shaft at the back of the University. n A long weekend at Salt Marsh involving a dive on the wreck of the ‘Finlabelle’

1968

Facts and Figures: Nikonos camera: US$85 >>> Shean Jackson killed in a road accident A memorial service is held in the Rio Bueno Church and he is buried at sea at a site known as Pinnacle II in Discovery Bay by Club members. His father donates a boat to the Club and the Shean Jackson Memorial Library set up. Linda Voorhoeve, Barbara Parker and Gwen Johnson edit the Club magazine JAMAICA JOURNAL.. Fort Rupert, which was part of the eastern defences of Port Royal that were lost in the Great Earthquake of 1692 is first discovered by Club member Ian Sutton-Brown and excavations are undertaken by the Club for the National Trust Commission. Judgement of size and distance underwater experiments were carried out at Cow Bay by Jeremy Woodley using among other things Red Stripe bottles. Training for the Jamaican Defence Force. Working dive to repair a hovercraft for Jamaica Hovercraft Co. Club members were advised never to take spearguns to Cow Bay as great emphasis was put on keeping good relations with the fishermen.

1969

Facts & Figures: Members 90 >>> Peak diving month March, December and August with the most frequently visited sites Cow Bay, Orange Bay and Braco. JSAC granted a licence for salvage of shipwrecks in the harbour. Survey of Long Beach after several drownings. Participation in demonstrations at the Stadium for June National Water Safety Month. Further surveys of Hotel dive operations for the Tourist Board. The Herbarium at the Institute of Jamaica asks for contributions for its collections of marine plants. On a safe and normal dive Christine McCarthy dies from a massive air embolism. JSAC bans its members from spear fishing at Cow Bay. Artificial reef built at Discovery Bay, using the fragments of coral left after dynamiting by local “fishermen”. New compressor acquired. Existing compressor needs a lot of work even to move it - shed overgrown. Fails shortly after and is returned to Miami. Club decides to arrange tests involving induced narcosis to let members experience the sensation. Yvette Carby donates a table tennis top which is kept in Jaycees building. ‘Operation Fishpot’ Fisheries Ecology research Project ask JSAC to report on the contents of fish pots in various areas; species, numbers, size etc. Work continues on the excavation of the Fort Rupert site, from September to Christmas every Saturday under the direction of Ian Sutton Brown or Jeremy Woodley.

1970
	Founder member Dr Tom Goreau dies. Tourist Board asks for surveys of prospective underwater parks, and to check all the equipment of scuba operators on the North Coast. Fort Rupert project falls through owing to failure of Public Works Department compressor, hence all the silt and algae is redeposited on the already cleaned site.

1971

Facts & Figures: Training Fee $10.00; Membership Fee $10.00; Regulators for Sale $34.00 >>> Death of Fred Bjornsen in a car crash at the corner of King and Harbour Streets. Trophy created for the Diver of the Year. We believe that Hans Hass visited the Club and expressed an interest in diving Port Royal. Purchase of a 16 feet (4.9 metres) launch which is kept at the Marine Laboratory at Port Royal. Club shares premises for a long time with the British contractor, Higgs & Hill (Rugby Club). Training resumes at the UWI pool. The Club assists visitors from Edinburgh University who are carrying out experiments on colour perception, size alterations in fresh and salt water. Diving was carried out on the Olive Jar wreck (where is this?) Thore Dahl joins Club. Thore arrived in Jamaica November 1970 after six years in Trinidad where he had married Ulla Britt and given birth to a son, John Michael. This extraordinary diver was born in Sweden and coming to the West Indies was never in his plans for his future but in 1964 he and five friends embarked on a sailing trip that landed Thore in Trinidad after numerous adventures and commenced work for Alcoa, transferring to Jamaica. He joined the Club in 1971 and has been active ever since as committee member, equipment officer assistant, diving officer, chairman and is a BSAC Instructor. He has done approaching three thousand dives and only work and extreme bad weather stops him from diving. He knows the waters around the island better than most people. In 1973 he received the Fred Bjornsen Trophy for diving excellence in 1973. His love of diving was taken across the world, in warm waters and cold including Baltic, North Sea, Cuba, Bermuda, Haiti, British Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Cozumel, Cayman, Penniekamp Reef etc etc. He has an impressive collection of shells found in the early part of his diving career. He enjoys wreck diving and has a formidable collection of items collected from wrecks far and near. Thore enjoys everything that has to do with the oceans and can be counted on for solid, sensible and safe diving knowledge.

1972

Facts & Figures: Tank Rental per year $150; Twin Hose Regulator for Sale $30; Tank and air $1.30 >>> Diving Rules: The following depth limits were set 2nd, 1st Class Divers limit 200 feet ( metres) 3rd Class Divers limited to125 feet (38.1 metres) but with DO’s permission may go to 150 feet (45.7 metres) when coming up to 2nd Class. Thore Dahl made tokens as a method of controlling the issuing of tanks prior to dives by Norman Campbell - no token, no dive! Jeremy Woodley gave a Club lecture on the Crown of Thorns Starfish. Police Force request scuba training. UWI boat CARYNX used regularly for Club dives. Lack of records until mid 1973.

1973

Facts & Figures: Red Strip 25c; Small Pepsi 10c; Sodas 15c; Weights 75c; Tee Shirts (BSAC) $2.00 >>> Complaints of lack of interest from all. Club became interested in COLLECTING OBJECTS FROM THE SEA (corals etc). Although there is a law, (1972) it is not enforced, if Club does it scientifically there is nothing to be concerned about ie people selling shells and corals along road side. Club talked to Dr. John Munroe about placing cars and junk in ocean ie artificial reef. Read article “Another look at the Ecology band Wagon” by William I High which was published in Skin Diver in February. First attempts at building an artificial reef at Cow Bay - research for this history show that this was certainly not the first attempt as much had been done in the early days of the Club. Original attempt was three dozen fish traps at 60 feet ( metres) to 70 feet (21.3 metres) but most were later washed away. Later a car body was placed at 45 feet (13.7 metres). Beach survey at Jackson Bay for Beach Control Authority. Survey of commercial Scuba operations around the island, plus recommendations. Short story of JSAC along with a copy of the BSAC Manual given to Jamaica House at their request for the Government Library. Chairman, Chick Fowler’s Underwater Cocktail Party with two cases of red stripe consumed underwater as well as Balloon Cocktails served by cocktail waitresses were more than a little surprised by a very large and ungainly visitor. A two seater plane gets too curious and crashes in the sea a few hundred feet from the site. Club members help pull it out. Late headline News on television: The Jamaica Aviation Society continues an inquest in connection with an incident when a Jamaican pilot ditched his plane in a place where aquatic exercises were being conducted.

1974

Facts & Figures: Regulator rental 20c; Back pack rental 20c; Air fill Club tank $2.00; For sale: Spartan wet suit, flippers & boots $35.00; BSAC Tee Shirt $2.50 >>> The Committee passed a new Club rule that all divers on Club dives must wear inflatable life jackets. The diving officer requested that the Club continue in its efforts to metricate records. In March the Club dived the wreck of HMS Texas and reported excellent visibility, the whole ship could be seen. The deck is rusted away but the gun on the foredeck is still on its turret. A five feet Grouper was seen and beautiful spiny oysters. Hectors River was reported as being dived for the first time in 6 years and everyone agreed that it was a beautiful dive, many different fish and beautiful sponges. 60 feet ( metres) viz was recorded at Cow Bay and divers were down for 50 minutes. Bad weather and price of gas curtailed diving thereafter. Also increased theft at Cow Bay with members being advised to take out an ‘all risks policy’ and not to carry unnecessary valuables or loads of money to any dive site. Jeremy Wilby died from shallow water blackout while snorkeling at Chalet Caribe, Montego Bay. Temporary move to Upper Musgrave Avenue for the Club House. JSAC joins the World Underwater Federation (CMAS) as a separate entity from BSAC as the representative of Jamaican divers. However, in 1982 a proposal that the club should rejoin was rejected as the club was an associate member through BSAC. Two more shell collections are donated. Ocho Rios Sewerage Disposal Pipe inspection for leaks in January, 9 divers were involved. Pipe located at depth of 75’, 500 ft from shore and a crack was found. A snippet from BSAC ‘Dr.Joseph Reusch, President of the German Lifesaving Association says that male divers are sexier that the average man “divers take a remarkable quantity of oxygen in their blood when they dive, and this gives a big boost to their sex lives on dry land.” A report form Bob Reiland of Palm Beach County (was he visiting or a member) says that on a really busy day they have two or more chamber cases per day. So if you don’t want to get left out, better get there early and avoid the rush! You might find out who your real friends are if you ask to go in the chamber first! A south coast dive site investigation through the Hellshire Hills when the new road opened found the sites to be shallow and ‘sharky’ and unfit for training. However, Goodyear and the Fisheries department began an artificial reef at Jackson Bay and had begun to establish one behind Drunkenman’s Cay

1975

Facts & Figures: Weights: 75c per lb; Membership $30; Joint membership $51; Renewal $15 per person >>> The Shaw Car Wreck and Dahl tyre reef have become an historic part of Club diving with continued observation and enlargement being encouraged by the Club Committee. However, the mid year newsletter reported that the large coral formation disappeared from the car wreck plus several small coral heads from the top of the trunk (boot). They had been growing for two years. New decompression tables from BSAC delivered to the Club by Tony Watts who attended the Diving Officer’s Conference as he was in London. The Coastguard asks for assistance in training their divers. Club moves back to Altamont Crescent. Ten divers travel to Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac for a long weekend. The Newsletter recorded that ‘ They had a ball, (so I heard) including two night dives with full moon. Some of them switched off their torches and watched the fluorescent creatures, others laid on their backs at the bottom and gazed at the moon light.’ Not only shore watch needed at Cow Bay but car watch as cars broken into and one life jacket mutilated and hung on tree for divers to see, members then displayed in the Club house. From the newsletter (March) ’recently the seas have been very rough so we indulged ourselves in sink hole and cave diving. Recently the Club explored a cave in Hellshire Hills (only 20 minutes drive from Kingston). There are two caves next to each other and are call The Two Sisters. So far we have dived twice in the bigger one and named it The Big Sister. Our next venture will be the Little Sister if sea conditions do not improve. Also, there is God’s Well. The Name came from the first diver (I guess) who has seen it and said “ Oh my God! But well let’s try it anyway” In future the Club will try to explore more of these fresh water sites with the aid of the Jamaican Caving Club. ‘

1976

Facts & Figures: Dinner $8.00 per head; Regulator Rental 50c; Life Jacket 50c; Visitors $5.00 per month (other than BSAC); Red Stripe 40c; Sodas 25c; Spirits 40c; Cocktail party $2.00 per person; Dinner $8.00 per person (J. Mahfood’s house) >>> Committee confirms that a Club Dive is a dive where a 2nd class diver or an advanced 3rd class diver (approved by DO) and one other member of JSAC or BSAC is present. Club opening hours were Tuesday 8pm (end of lectures 10pm and onward, Thursdays 8pm onward, Saturdays 5pm (after pool training) onward. Malcolm Henry to carry out sedimentology research at Cow Bay and all members asked to restrict their shell collecting to dead shells and coral. Collecting live shells, corals and sea fans destroying reef life. Annual Underwater Cocktail Party at Cow Bay - fancy dress only , seems to have been recorded as either June, July or August - must get the recipe for the mix if the memory lingers on that long! Diving Tip: What do you do when you see a shark? Stab your buddy and swim away. Club Funny: Q: What lies trembling at the bottom of the sea? A: A nervous wreck. Much of the first tyre reef disappears. Goodyear gives a $500 cheque to the Club to build another tyre reef, in response to a study and photographs of the Jackson Bay tyre reef laid down by Joe Mahfood. Proposes donating all used tyres to the Club for reefs for scientific study. A $500 fine for taking lobsters and crayfish if they have eggs or a carapace of less than 3” (76mm) is to be enforced in Jamaica waters. Dive sites visited during the year included Cow Bay, drapers Reef, Orange Bay, Oracabessa, Lim’s reef, Folly, Eaton Hall, Port Maria, The Texas, Kingston Harbour, Pear Tree, Discovery Bay, Turtle beach, The Port Royal Cays. Joe Mahfood receives a letter from Ministry of Youth and Community Development advising the club that Jamaica had been selected as the site of the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The Club was asked to complete a questionnaire.

1977 - 20th Anniversary

Facts & Figures: Members 96 (July); Full membership $65; Renewal $40; Diving wives $20; Associate members $10; BSAC Visitor $25; Standing Fan for Club $78; Boat Rental $1; Equipment rental 50c per item >>> The first mention of a PADI trained diver after a visiting diver experienced difficulties at Cow Bay and as a result the Committee decided that visiting divers with limited experience had to take the ‘E’ and ‘F’ tests . PADI had been recognised by CMAS. The Club agreed to purchase octopus rigs and it was agreed that they should be worn by persons with known low air consumption and must be worn when a trainee is present. Twentieth Anniversary celebrated with the following guests invited based on their past contributions to Club: Tony Watts, Bermuda, Sir Anthony Jenkinson and David Myers, Cayman Islands, Professor Ivan Goodbody, Norman Campbell, Desmond Bailey, Dr. Jeremy Woodley, Paddy O’Callaghan. BSAC Instructors come for celebrations, and qualify 5 members with Instructor ratings. New Recompression Chamber at Discovery Bay. Course held on its operation. Thore Dahl and Andrew Podzorski climb to the top of the Blue Mountain, 7402 feet (2,256.1 metres) and dive to the bottom of the Blue Hole, 187 feet (57.0 metres) within 24 hours on May 13. Club Team, “Bangsticks” joins Darts league. The following is an extract from the Club Minutes dated 24th January 1977 which resulted from an offer the Goodyear Company had made to Joe Mahfood concerning the availability of old tyres to construct a tyre reef; they were willing to reimburse the Club for equipment needed for the operation, such as rope and lifting bags: ‘Tyre Reef: There was a further discussion on the Goodyear Tyre reef, Chick Fowler recently approached Mr. Carl Aitken (from Fisheries Dept) as to whether there would be any opposition from the Fisheries if the Club built a tyre reef. Mr. Aitkenet assured Mr. Fowler that as long as the reef would not cause a hazard or be built in a shipping channel the Fisheries would be only too pleased to see the Club venturing upon such a project. Joe Mahfood will put out reports from time to time on the progress of the reef. A scientific study on the reef involving fish counts will be published in 3 - 5 years, the object of the building of the reef is to encourage fish life in an area where there is no natural reef. Joe Mahfood has approached the local fishermen at Cow Bay and discussed with them the possibility of building the reef in the vicinity. They seemed agreeable to help with tying up the tyres, and transporting them to the site. We also hope that we can get them to cooperate with us by not fishing upon the reef in the initial stages unless we feel that this would be advantageous to the scientific study.’ The tyre reef outings were called ‘Working Bees’ and the Club usually managed to set up a bar b que to feed the hungry crew! Joe Mahfood was instrumental in anchoring buoys at Cow Bay to form a triangle and the fishermen were asked to co-operate in keeping their pots out of the area until the fish population was well established. Goodyear donates a further $500 towards tyre reef. About 1500 tyres laid in 1977-78. Club writes Guideline for Scuba Diving in Jamaica, which is accepted by Government as a code of conduct, ultimately to become law. The Shean Jackson Memorial Library as at 7th November 1977: Progress Report - Andrew C. Podzorski, Librarian All books are now catalogued, missing volumes recorded and new volumes requested. A search is being made of all our journals for articles of all types (except the chatty ones) with relevance to the Club in Jamaica. These articles are being recorded on cards and will e stored at the Club, alphabetically, by author. On completion of the search, a subject index will be prepared listing the articles under many headings (some may come under two headings) such as: safety, Marine Biology, diving physics, photography, medicine, archaeology etc, etc. A ‘Borrowers Book’ will be prepared listing the books alphabetically by author. I suggest that books may only be borrowed when a committee member can countersign the issue. The return is only valid, similarly, if a committee member countersigns the return. Books should be borrowed for 2 weeks only and no member should take more than 2 books at any one time. Journals are included in this suggestion. To prevent loss of journals and to give easy access to a required journal, some box files perhaps should be acquired for their storage. Some suggested books: Skindiver (annual subscription), The Navigators Art, Exercises in Coastal navigation, The Inflatable Boat Book, Night Diving, Camera Underwater, Underwater Medicine, Coastwise Navigation. ‘Stolen Books’: Scuba Diver, Archeology Underwater, marine Salvage Operations, Pirate Port, Underwater Medicine, Skin and Scuba diving Fatalities, World beneath the sea, Tropical Marine Aquaria, Dangerous Marine Animals, Guide to the Underwater, The Living Reef. Honorary Club members in July were Norman Campbell, Elizabeth Sides, Willy and Judy Simms

1978

Facts & Figures: Members 95 (January); Club Insurance $47.25c; Membership $91; Renewal $54; Social $29; BSAC Manuals $29; Air $3; BSAC Visitor: $20 x 3 months; Other visitor: $50 x 3 months; Red Stripe 65c; Soda 40c; Spirits 65c; Excelsior Pool 50c per trainee >>> A blackboard was installed over the sink to advertise extraordinary Club activities and short notice events. Discussions were held at Committee level as to whether a lockable box for tanks should be constructed at Norman Campbell’s due to tank losses. Paul Thomas presented 400 newly designed qualification certificates as a donation to the Club. Andrew Podzorski produced coral posters for the Club and good publicity was recorded from the Daily News, The Star and full page article in Skywritings (Air Jamaica’s in flight magazine). Several Club members get histoplasmosis (a lung condition) from a caving expedition. Cow Bay is declared by the Club as a conservation area and a car reef is laid there. The Chairman met the curator and Richard Hubbard of the Port Royal Museum in May and chose a project for the Club to undertake. He was to organise a dive and search on a wreck off Hellshire which is thought to be an old slave ship. Other projects put forward were: n Survey the underwater city n Search for wrecks along the Hellshire coast. Using a lorry from WISYNCO courtesy of Joe Mahfood the Club collects car wrecks from along the route to Cow Bay and sinks them as a car reef. In November Thore Dahl molested an orange octopus at Rock Reef which promptly bit him after squirting orange ink, had to be treated with oral piraton and topical hydrocortisone. Geologists from the University of Colorado on a long term survey of the Cow Bay Area discovered a drop oof from 50feet ( 15.2 metres) to 150feet (45.7 metres) approximately 4000 feet (1200 metres) off shore from Daphne’s Pool training moves to Excelsior and then Immaculate Conception pools. BSAC Bronze Medallion training given to Immaculate Conception pupils. Daphne, the restaurateur at Grants Pen is given $400 by towards extending her dining room which is frequented every Saturday by Club members returning from Cow Bay. The Recompression Course to be held at the Discovery Bay Marine Lab failed to happen on a number of occasions.

1979

Facts & Figures: Boat: JA$4470 inc duty and tax; Visiting Diver: US$25 x 3 months; US$20 x 2 months; Non-BSAC US$30 x 4 months; BSAC US$15 x 4 months; Club house Rental J$240 per month; Membership J$ 110(91)(80); Renewal J$65 (54)(50); Social $30 (25)(29); Life Jacket Rental $2; All other $1; Red Strip $2; Boat ride $4; 95 Newsletters sent out (Membership?); NB frequent increases due to inflation! >>> Underwater Swimathon held at Immaculate to raise funds for a new boat. Thore and Ulla Dahl were awarded free air as Thore filled minimum of 30 tanks twice a week at Norman Campbell’s. Special General Meeting held reference buying a 19 feet (5.8 metres) boat. Rejected, but later Club buys a 16 feet (4.9 metres) Avon 650-S SCUBADOO. Training in BSAC Bronze Medallion given to dive operators on the North Coast. Medical Officer’s report for the year included the fact the 3 divers reported slight ‘narcs’ at 125 feet (38 metres), 154 (47 metres) and 167 (51 metres), 7 divers were involved. Club member appoint to NRCD (?) - government body for regulating scuba diving in Jamaica. A DC6 plane carrying a cargo of hatching eggs crashes in sea off Palisadoes. Club members retrieve bodies. The Club was asked by the Coast Guard for any volunteers that could be contacted for immediate rescue work. Club members free a turtle trapped in a net in St. Ann’s Bay Sever floods and heavy rains curtail diving and JSAC offered the services in salvage operations in the Newmarket area. NRCD approaches the Club to train divers to collect black coral but the Club refuses. Club assists in the salvage of ‘Independence’, an old Marine Police boat. Brenda Pou suggested that a Club scrap book be started to include pictures of happenings members have enjoyed (did this ever happen and if so where is it now?). Mike Golden prepares a Club Questionnaire on Sunday Diving asking for the likes and dislikes of members and some of the results are described below: Problems - North Coast. Like to know site ahead of time. Long drive to North Coast. Transportation for some. Return home too late. Children on long drive. People have other activities on Sunday. Saturday night out too late for early start. What People Wanted: Get boat from Morgan’s Harbour. Switch days. Need more South Coast dives. More long and short week-ends at North Coast. More sites without boat on North Coast. Publish list of Dive Marshalls and dive sites in letter. Would like more Barbecues. Comments from Committee: Need phone numbers of Dive Marshalls. Mini bus might be arranged by a Club member for transportation. New up dated dive forms to be made up for those to sign up at Club. Suggested that those need transport to North Coast pay at least $2.00 for lift.

1980

Facts & Figures: Membership 44; Tank, back pack & regulator $1.00 per dive; Life vests $2.00; Red Strip boat $2.50 per outing per person; Scubadoo boat $6.0 per outing per person >>> No Committee Minutes have survived for the whole year. First discussions occur regarding exchanges with the US Navy Divers, known as the Reef Raiders, that are based at the American naval base of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, lovingly known to all as “Gitmo”. Hurricane Allan scrapes by. Club members dive at Trident Hotel for ‘treasure’ that could have been swept out to sea however none found and it was decided that it was more likely “swept” inshore and far away. Coral, especially stag and elkhorn are badly damaged right along the coast, down to 30 feet (9.1 metres) and more. Caving/diving expeditions are popular. More than usual amounts of tanks and equipment go missing.

1981

Facts & Figures: Membership 67 (31.12.81); Tank $5; Air Fill $4; Regulator $1; Back Pack $1; Life vest $2; Boat ride $6; Red Stripe $2.50 >>> Expeditions officer for the year was Simon Jacyna whose motto was ‘diving with a purpose’ as he reminded members about the chance of finding wrecks around the island. On one HMS Texas dive members reported a large shoal of atlantic spadefish (who are still there in 1997), a 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 metre) Grouper and much Black Coral. In May a Morant Cays trip took place where a wreck and 30 barracuda were recorded and most members commented that the site was as ‘good as anywhere’. Steve Oakley and Joe Mahfood were in charge of an underwater camera bought from Richard Williams. Rental was $10.00 a day. Training played an on going role in the Club and lecture schedules appeared at the beginning of each Club year.Red Stripe Lite purchased (12.5 Avon R380) and Red Stripe sold. “Gitmo” exchanges started. The Shean Jackson Memorial Library is reorganised. Yvette Carby dies. SCUBADOO taken to Marine Laboratory at Port Royal for convenience but gets slashed so has to be retrieved. New Mako 3.2 cfm (1.5 litres/second) portable compressor bought with money raised from several fund-raising activities. Deidre Hughes writes “A Compressed History of the Club” covering the first twenty five years. Steve Oakley carried out a scientific research programme on the Black bar soldier Fish at Cow Bay. A large cage was constructed to totally enclose the area to be studied. The fish were caught anaesthetised, measured, marked and released back into the cage. This enabled the particular fish on the reef to be studied. The following observations were made. Reef Fish learn very quickly how to get into and out of fish pots with simple funnels and cages with few exits. Black Bar Soldier fish move away from their ‘home’ reef at night but return to the same reef in the morning. Black Bar Soldier fish and the Coney are associated permanently with a particular reef. Movements of adults between reefs is rare. Juvenile Black Bar Soldier fish first occur on broken fish pots, oil drums and other small objects on the bottom. They then move to larger reefs such as the cars and the tyres when they reach a certain size. Very few Black bar soldier fish, which cannot pass through fish pot mesh, occur at Cow Bay. Grunts, snappers and goat fish are not associated with a particular reef. One French Angelfish regarded the cars, rock reef, tyre reef and tyre module all as part of his territory. Morays move away from home only very rarely. After the research was completed Club members were invited to fill the cage up with tyres and the site was used as an interesting stop off for trainee divers. A letter was received from the South African Underwater Union who are having a world tour by their Springboks Spear Fishing team asking whether they could enter any spear fishing contests with the Club or with members. They were informed by letter that the Jamaica Sub-Aqua Club does not participate in such activities. Steve Oakley the Diving officer sent a letter into Beachcomber of BSAC diver fame ‘not naming any names but the people who after 12 months have still not yet produced any log books despite frequent requests?’

1982 - 25 Anniversary

Facts & Figures:Membership 81; Red Stripe 20c; Soda 90c; Spirit $1.20; Boat ride $4.00; Camera rental $10 a day; 6 hp outboard for sale at $700; North Coast Tourist Dives US$25; Tank, Regulator & weight belt $1.00; Life jacket $2.00; Tank Fill $3.00; Exchange rate 1US = 3.1 J$ >>> Due to outbreak of Polio in Jamaica pools closed in June and pool training suspended, but training continued . A CPR lecture was given by Dr. Dan Van Nimivegan and F.Lohmann, a Norwegian who came to Jamaica to assist in the creation of the maritime Institute and also ran boat handling course for the Club. Sadly, after a long period without electricity the Club was broken into. Randy and Thore were in charge of tank filling and Thore was asked to investigate the purchase of an echo sounder for the Club. During the year there were frequent exchange weekends with divers from GITMO. Hero’s Day Weekend away at Trelawney Beach hotel was attended by 73 members who wished to go back at Easter - what were the group rates! The 25th Anniversary celebrations included a Barbecue at Cow Bay and a Lime Cay Camping weekend and Halloween was celebrated on Lime Cay. (Did the newsletter highlighting the past 25 years get published and if so what was it called and does anyone have a copy). In November whilst the Club were on a weekend at Dragon Bay the whole of the north coast suffered serious flooding with the roads home badly affected.

1983

Facts & Figures: Club Rental $100 per calendar month; (November) Membership $185; Abated $85; Renewal $145; Social $50; Airmail charges for Diver $40; Non-BSAC members monthly fee US$20; Non-BSAC members 3 monthly fee US$50; Air Fill $3; North Coast Air Fill $8; Club boat $4 per dive; ABLJ $4; Backpack $2; Regulator $2; Weight belt $2; Tank $2; Pool rental $1.50 per Head (CAST); Tee Shirt $11 adult, $9 children >>> Club successfully exhibits at MARITIME WEEK in October put on by Port Authority of Jamaica - represented by Thore Dahl and sponsored by Alcoa with slides and artefacts from Joe Mahfood Daphne Bennett of Grants Pan dies of a heart attack in November - Club helps with funeral expenses many members attend the funeral. Daphne had provided many a Saturday lunch for returning divers from Cow Bay Training sessions. CAST and YMCA pools used for training. Four more divers join the “Top and Bottom” fraternity in June - Blue Mountain, 7402 feet (2256.1 metres) to the Blue Hole 187 feet (57.0 metres) within 24 hours. Prolonged discussions with Jaycees, the Club landlords over who pays the electricity ending in the Club being under notice to quit! Some things never change! Jamaica hosted the first Caribbean Underwater Seminar and Market place (CUSM) at the Rose Hall Beach Hotel and Country Club in Montego Bay. The event was geared toward the diving tourist market . The Club members present managed to gate crash the VIP Saturday evening party and appeared wearing their JSAC Tee shirts.

1984

Facts & Figures: Membership $300; Renewals $220; Abated $150; Social $50; Air fill $6; Weight belt $4; Regulator $4; Life Jacket $5; Tank Rental $2 >>> The Club boat, "Scubadoo", is kept at Morgan’s Harbour Hotel - vandalised in March (or was this in 1981 or did it happen twice) Independence Day Weekend at Hedonism was a notable success although diving did not prove top of the list. Arlene and Gary managed three dives each but this was put down to the topless diver from California helped, Bill Platt lost his trunks attempting to canoe round the island. Lena Campbell judged the ‘male with best assets’ and Keith ? showed his versatility on the dance stage! Discovery Bay voted one of the finest dives in Jamaica after a weekend in October, although underwater navigation exercise proved more difficult than most expected and the written exam was 3 hours and 50 questions. The Terror of Cow Bay strikes again. Cow bay reported to have developed a taste for black rubber fins no less than 3 pairs swallowed on one visit! Lack of records - large gap in Club records.

1985

The tragic death of Donna Ho Lung while diving at God’s Well after the group deviated from the dive plan to investigate a cave at 175 feet (53.3 metres) and she could not find her way out. Two survived the incident, one after a free ascent and precautionary treatment in the recompression chamber. A team of experienced cave divers from America led by Wes Skiles were called in to recover the body. Subsequent debate queried if the dive was sanctioned by the Club which resulted in all subsequent Club dives requiring prior approval of Diving Officer. "Dive Sites of Jamaica" updated.

1986
	Club imports scuba tanks - tanks stuck on the wharf for two years. Start of another saga! GITMO exchange arranged. Large gap in Club Records.

1987

Facts & Figures: 53 members >>> Club still trying to clear scuba tanks. Tyre reef laid in June with 400 being roped together to Thore Dahl and Keith Campbell followed up by further expeditions in July and August. National Instructor qualifies three Club Instructors. Club invites Keith Campbell to draw up disclaimer for visiting divers to sign. Sandra Butler requires medical attention after being thrown on to the reef at Strawberry Fields. Only 251 dives were logged in this year at 13 different sites, most dives in year were by Vassel Spencer - 26 dives, followed by Odd Karlsen - 20 dives. Conclusion that many dives were being conducted and forms not filled in.

1988

Facts & Figures: New member $500; Renewal $350; Abated $250; Student $400 >>> Club finally clears scuba tanks from the wharf, originally imported in 1986! In September Hurricane Gilbert makes a direct hit on Jamaica - extensive damage to coral reefs on north and south coasts down to 70 feet (21.3 metres). Tyre reef of 1500 tyres disappears at Cow Bay due to Hurricane Gilbert. Training moved to Alcan Pool in Hayfield. Training in conjunction with USAC at Discovery Bay with 3 Dive Leaders going for Advanced Diver qualifications. Club compressor gets new engine. George Baeclte becomes Barman.

1989

Facts & Figures: 50 Members; Membership $700; Renewal $500; Abated $400; Air fill $8; Full Equipment Rental $100; Club Rental $500 per month; Tank Valves US$32 each; Sports Equipment Duty 123%; Red Stripe $4; Soda $3; Spirits $3; Pool Charge (Holy Childhood) $50 per person >>> Club votes to adopted BSAC TABLES Police request training - attempts to form a special branch but they fail to mobilise personnel and equipment - start of another saga! Club membership low with only twenty eight members - very small core group of divers. 506 dives for the year at 17 sites. Sandra Butler organises exchanges with GITMO with the Club hosting `GITMO' at Jamaica Jamaica. D & G sponsor 250 Club tee-shirts with original design by Natalie Butler. Talk of re-establishing MoBay Branch - ongoing saga! Introduction of Club Dart Board. Wreck appears at Puerto Secco Beach. Club joins NEST in December.

1990

Facts & Figures: 48 members; 2 Overseas members; Membership $800; Renewal $550; Abated $450; Full Set of Equipment Rental $500; Red Stripe $6; Soda $5; Spirit $5 >>> Informal proposal from Fisheries asking Club to train fishermen in safe diving procedure, venture to be sponsored by Grace Kennedy but out of three trainees only one completes. In August Peter Forde and Vassel Spencer sworn in as honorary Fisheries Warden. BSAC National Diving Officer, Mike Holbrock and National Instructor Bob Boler) visit Jamaica at the invitation of USAC resulting in the addition of three Club Instructors and one Assistant Instructor qualified by visiting. Peter Espeut is elected as Clubs contact in the UK with BSAC. Club returns to diving from the newly reopened Dragon Bay. Club starts to update dive site book after Hurricane Gilbert. New Tyre reef laid at 60 feet (18.3 metres) in Cow Bay in March with tyres provided by Alcoa. Fisheries officers offered free training, three start - one completes but fails to write up exam! Library re-organised and the first of a series of Annual Club clean-up days. 520 dives at Sites ( Courses - 2 Novice, 1 Sport, 1 Dive Leader and 1 Advanced. Wyndham Hotel increased its charges for use of pool to $50 per person “Gitmo” exchange in November - 3 members go to “Gitmo” - Club hosts `GITMO' at Jamaica Jamaica with an extensive social programme.

1991

Facts & Figures: membership $1000; branch levy $400; renewal $650-700; members 50; Most popular dives during year: 1. Cow Bay, 2. Devil’s Reef, 3. Blue Hole area >>> “Gitmo” exchange - 2 members go to “Gitmo” - Club hosts “Gitmo” in Kingston. Training moved back to the National Stadium pool after a period of using small domestic shallow pools. First Two Sisters Cave dives for many years. Trouble and general harassment at White River effectively stops Club diving from there to Devil’s Reef and the new wreck the Kathryn. Membership steady at 60. Club member elected to Board of NEST. 453 man dives for the year at 16 sites, Thore Dahl's 2000 dive `HMS TEXAS' wreck on December 21st. Club lays another tyre reef at Cow Bay at 80 feet (24.4 metres) with tyres provided by Alcoa. Heavy rains make the Rio Cobre gorge impassable and curtails north coast diving - Club shifts emphasis to Portland (Blue Hole area). Courses run - 2 Novice, 2 Sports, 2 Dive Leaders, 1 Advanced, Instructors consider this is too much training! Ministry of Fisheries request training for Conch fishermen, Club declines due to their use of “hookah” and refusal to comply with decompression tables. Massive 400% devaluation of J$ makes everything, including diving more expensive. Peter Gayle Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory (DBML), Dr. Morris Cross (Diving Disorders Research Centre) and Peter Forde (JSAC) starts working with the DBML's Mixed Gas Deep Diving Programme in Jamaica.

1992

Facts & Figures: Membership $600; tank rental $30; regulator rental $50; Most popular dives during year: 1. Blue Hole area, 2. Cow Bay, 3. Negril >>> 1990 Tyre Reef slides down slope at Cow Bay, found at 180 feet (56.0 metres) BSAC introduces new training scheme in January - Club implements in June 1992. 604 man dives at 22 sites. HMS Texas regains it’s popularity, Easter trip to Negril and trip to Morant Cays where party was robbed of equipment, tanks and fuel which stops any further diving with the Prospect fishermen. Club members discover new dive sites at Buff Bay and Portland. Police request training but fail to mobilise - the saga continues. Club starts standardisation of all it's equipment. Club asked for assistance in having Blue Hole/San San area declared a marine park. The Club having dived/ surveyed the area extensively complies with pleasure. David Carter resurrects the `JAMAICA JOURNAL' the Club magazine, one issue later to become the only daily newspaper for divers the DAILY JAM-AQUA CLARION, then the JAM-AQUA JOURNAL, then the ENCYCLOPEDIA for NOVICE DIVERS (1993), then the NAUTICAL ENQUIRER (1994) and on and on... First Club trip to Grand Cayman to dive with Chairman Stuart’s cousin Richard Delapenha and his recently formed Aquanuts in July followed by a second larger trip in October. Clare Weiland and Peter Forde travel to Grand Cayman in June for Club and Advanced Instructor Course respectively, both were successful. New tyre reef laid during October on site of old car reef at 50 feet (15.2 metres).

1993

Facts & Figures: membership $800; training levy US$150; Most popular dives during year: 1. Blue Hole area, 2. Cow Bay, 3. Negril >>> Devaluation of J$ erodes financial position of Club results in “some financial management restructuring to cost recovery and user pays principals”, ie Club introduces training levy for Novice Course. 51 member plus 22 new members join (13 local and 9 ex-pats). Easter trip to Negril, Farewell Buoy dives re-started (after many years) in May with local fisherman and starts the revival of Port Royal based diving and an introduction to Cays diving to future Buccaneer owner Gary Casson. September dives on Port Royal sunken city to survey viability of underwater heritage/archaeological trail. Club overseas diving trips to the Columbian island of San Andres, to Santiago de Cuba and to Cayman (third visit to Richard Delapenha’s Aquanuts). Courses: 2 Novice, 2 Sports, 1 Dive Leader. A new T-shirt design is created, utilising a Red Stripe bottle depicted as a scuba tank on the back and is submitted to D&G for sponsorship but idea is declined. Design shows up across Jamaica two weeks later!

1994

Facts & Figures: membership $1250; training levy US$125; membership 80 (but briefly); Most popular dives during year: 1. South East Cay Wall, 2. Jack Hole Black, 3. Wreck Reef >>> The Jamaica National Environmental Action Plan was received from NEST. Club trains 17 divers but only 2 rejoin, some instructors consider that an excess of training is detrimental to the future of the Club. Wyndham Hotel pool used for training due to poor viz in National Stadium pool. Club trains three Fisheries Officers but unfortunately they again fail to finish off with the write exams. Buccaneer Scuba Club formed at Morgan’s Harbour by BSAC member Gary Casson.. New dives discovered in February at Rocky Point, St Thomas and subsequently named Spongerama and Dolphin Rock and in June at Jack Hole Black and the “Ship Black” wreck site(s). Club rediscovered include Wreck Reef and the Vidal Shoal which acquires the name Sandra’s Buoy that is eventually formalised by it’s use in Skin Diver Magazine. Compressor used by Club at Diving & Salvage out of action which necessitates having tanks being filled by Buccaneer Scuba Club at Morgan’s Harbour. Diving activities greatly affected due to the distance, Club diving drops off and Buccaneer benefits. Club buys new tanks - 36 of the planned 42 have now been required. David Carter does his One Thousandth dive at Barebush Cay and carries out an extensive survey of dive sites around Port Royal Cays with Buccaneer Scuba Club and drafts book “The Port Royal Cays”. Members assist Fisheries Division with Conch Survey on Pedro Banks. Expedition to find the wreckage of a World War II B24 bomber off Portland Bight, a small piece of possible wreckage found. Assisted NRCA in attempts to capture manatees held in Alligator River. Third Club trip to Cayman with Richard Delapenha’s Aquanuts.

1995

Facts & Figures: Tee Shirts $250; BSAC New Members £53; BSAC Renewals £43; Membership $1250; Tank rental $50; Equipment rental $300; Training Levy US$125; Most popular dives during year: 1. Jack Hole Black, 2. South East Cay wall, 3. The Edge >>> Start of the JamSAC DIARY, an everyday story of diving folk. An on-going one page broad-sheet of Jamaican Sub-Aqua Club Members (past, present, paid-up and "honorary") activities, the very first true life diving soap opera. Runs on a weekly basis for nearly two years ending in November 1996 when an omnibus edition is published. A ban on smoking in the vicinity of the bar is passed at the AGM and rats reputed to have been enjoying chewing on the Club equipment. Mini-Club trip to Cuba, dives at Valaderro, Cuba Some Club members help with the very successful Lime Cay clean-up organised by Buccaneer Scuba Club. The environment both above and below water was cleared of 200 bags of hazardous debris and three new mooring chains installed to reduce reef damage. Cave diving weekend in Westmorland organised by Debbie Chen, great dives, great reefs, shame about the lack of fish life but the “crack” was good. Dolphins, dolphins every where in the Kingston Cays, above and below water. Eagle rays at Pear Tree Bottom and Cayman Trader. Atlantic spadefish on Arena II. Sharp tail eel, rainbow runner, magnificent sea urchin, garden eels, sea hares and awesome school of mackerel scad at Cow Bay. Manatee seen at Wreck Reef, Alligator Head and Dragon Bay. Large Grouper of Sandra’s Buoy. 2 large Tarpon seen off Cow Bay. Eight whales seen on the California Banks by local boatmen. Small exploratory group carry out survey of the Ship Black wreck sites at Port Maria. 4 dives on Three Fathom Bank reveal 1 ‘falconet’ cannon, 3 anchors (one 20’ long, 8’6” flukes, 3’ ring probably early 19th century or earlier and 3 heavy chains and base of old buoy plus visit by 3 dolphins on last dive! Seven cannon in a pile seen on a subsequent dive. Rainbow Warrior, the Greenpeace flagship, visits Kingston to highlight dangers of the passage of radio-active waste through Caribbean from France to Japan in a British vessel. Buccaneer Scuba Club and members of JSAC save the lives of 2 ladies discovered in the bottom of Morgan’s Harbour pool by prompt and correct application of CPR. Membership drops to 50 but the Club trains 8 new divers. Committee decide that potential trainees should be screened for Club interest to assure retention after training. Training returns to National Stadium pool after viz improves due to improve maintenance. Club purchases slide projector and training material put on slides. Monthly slide shows started in order to strengthen Club. Club buys final 6 tanks - total 42. Underwater cocktail party held by Thore Dahl for all Club members on his retirement from Alcoa. Thore completes his 2,385th dive at Cow Bay on 13 May 1995. Successful Halloween Dive Barbecue in aid of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica includes underwater pumpkin carving. Eight week UK research project to survey the reefs of Morant Cays in conjunction with the UWI Marine Laboratory leaves with English BSAC member Ian Stephens and local environmentalist/diver Harvey Webb. David Carter clearly sees the boat dumping dredge spoil from the back of Lime Cay onwards over HMS Texas.

1996

Facts & Figures: Air Fill $75; Air Fill $57 at Dragon Bay; Triton Trumpet $2000 (price of endangered mollusc sold at Sangster Airport); Tank rental $75; Equipment rental $375; Membership; $1500; Most popular dives during year: 1. Blue Hole area, 2. Cow Bay, 3. Jack Hole Black/Prospect/Trader >>> Regular dives on Jan’s Reef off Blue Hole public beach as Club can no longer pick up Benton and his boat on their beach. Club trip to Cayman abandoned due to approaching Hurricane Lily which missed the islands but brought rough seas and high winds. Club witnesses and photographs coral spawning at Lime Cay with UWI on the eighth day after the full moon, two hours after sunset. SCUBA DIVING IN JAMAICA written by David Carter and subsequently incorporated into “The Yachtsman Guide to Jamaica” written by John Lethbridge Third successful Halloween Dive Barbecue in aid of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica includes the now traditional underwater pumpkin carving and ghostly night dive. New beer cooler bought for Club room and really cold beer is once again available on Thursday nights. Club trains six new divers but none rejoin. First Green Expo held on 7-9 June. Bull Shark seen at Cayman Trader and South East Cay Wall. Hammerhead shark also seen at Cayman Trader. Atlandtic Spade Fish seen at Red Ground Deep, off Bowden Marina. Large, friendly Barracuda and a number of moray eels seen at Cow Bay. School of Snook at Cow Bay, where else! Pure White Southern Sting Ray sighted by divers at Port Maria, Jack Hole Black. Turtles seen almost everywhere, young and old, on the surface and below. Peter Kelly a director of the NRCA wants the Club to check and photograph the underwater terrain at white Horses, Annotto Bay, Treasure Beach and Negril in order that they can check/validate the satellite imagery they have of these areas. New “New Tyre Reef” building well attended by members with tyre rolling starting before the sun got to high. Excellent viz with the Old “New Tyre Reef” visible from the surface. Strong westerly current causes some towing problems although the tyre tow-ers are visited by two or three dolphins (including one baby). In March some members join USAC expedition this time to Mobay with accommodation at Discovery Bay. Saturday dives at Chalet Caribe Wall, big and impressive but few fish and Basket reef, 2 Spanish anchors and a spotted eagle ray. Discovery bay sites known as Mooring 1 and Long term Survey with large bar jacks, barracuda and mutton snappers. A further visit to Discovery bay organised by Debbie Chen reports stunning visibility on LTS1 Buoy and an unusual dive on the Fresh Water Vents that attract fish in the turbulent water. The Sunday dive was at the rarely visited and very atmospheric Rio Bueno East with vibrant sponge population and glacial sand chutes. A group of snorklers report that 99% of the hard corals of the in shore reefs between Parottee Point and Starve Gut (Sandy Bay) St. Elizabeth are dead having been engulfed in algae and silt, however new flat blade fire and elk horn corals are now starting to grow. Why did this reef get suffocated? Chaser’s Café continued to advertise in the Gleaner ‘lobster on the menu’ throughout the closed season, and there are others. Town House Restaurant in Mobay has a flyer on every table informing their customers that lobsters are out of season from 1 April to 30 June. First reports to club that a number of people have been looking into the feasibility of having a recompression chamber at Port Royal and around 50% of the cost has been earmarked at the British High Commission. Cagway has agreed to house it, Bovisand (UK) will undertake the training. The idea of a Kingston Divers Federation that encompasses JSAC, USAC, BUCCANEER, ex-members and the Independents was raised again and the next step forward is being investigated. This new body might have over 200 diver members who could have a considerable voice and resources. Peter Forde has returned from diving with the team at Discovery Bay down to 300 feet (91.4 metres) on Trimix, Nitrox and pure oxygen to obtain a 20 minute dive time but with 114 minutes of decompression required. Although there are few fish at this depth last year the Laboratory discovered 10 new species of sponges here.

1997 - 40th Anniversary

Facts & Figures: Beer is sold in the Club at fourteen shillings and threepence (14/3) a bottle (equivalent to J$40) an increase of 1429% from the first meeting or approximately 9% per annum; Most popular dives during year: 1. Blue Hole area, 2. Orange Bay, 3. Lala’s “wood” wreck >>> Club acts as the catalyst for the purchase of a re-compression chamber for the South Coast to be located at the Coastguard and underwrites part of the cost, $90,000, assisted by many generous donations from Club members, $69,000. Major part of cost donated by British High Commission. Norman Campbell purchases a re-compression chamber for his companies use which is delivered in September. Club membership strong at a modest 40 (15 Jamaicans, 7 Canadians, 10 English, 4 Scots, 2 Dutch, 1 Swede and 1 Trinidadian. Cars broken into on while Club diving just west of Grant’s Pen, much taken and Police informed but considered self inflicted as dangerous area. USAC divers similarly robbed at Cow Bay. Fourth Club trip to Cayman with Richard Delapenha’s Aquanuts. Two new large impressive wrecks (Black-Tip wreck and Lala’s wood wreck) located with the help of the Fort Henderson fishermen seven miles off from Port Royal are very popular dives. No training undertaken in first half of year. JSAC hosts BSAC National Instructor Lizzie Bird who gives instructor’s course at Morgan’s Harbour resulting in seven new Club Instructors and three more for USAC. One third of JSAC are now Instructors. Training resumed with our 9 PADI crossovers the priority. Coral spawning witnessed again but not as profuse as 1996, demonstration by Lab boat on the benefits of always securely anchoring heavily loaded boats in rough seas! Seawater pollution again on the agenda, only 5% of coral reefs reported alive compared with 60% in the 1970’s due to several causes. 30 years in Clubroom at Altamont Crescent, celebrated with Red Stripe at the same price as it was forty years ago. Congratulatory email received from BSAC Chairman, Chris Allen, saying that JSAC was discussed at their Committee Meeting when several members fondly remembered their trips to Jamaica. Club celebrates forty years of diving in the pursuance of “Science, Adventure and Sport” at a dinner in the Terra Nova Hotel on Friday 3 October 1997 followed by dives at Blue Hole where the original expedition was held on Saturday and at the most dived site in the history of the Club, Cow Bay, on Sunday. To be continued....