www.mcdoa.org.uk ROYAL NAVAL Three from One 4000 Siebe Gorman present a new air compressor and cylinder charging decanting set, with an integrated control panel, which can be used for three distinct operations:— To charge large high pressure air storage cylinders to 40001b./sq.in. To decant air from storage cylinders into breathing apparatus or aqualung cylinders. To charge breathing apparatus cylin- ders direct from the compressor. filter and control panel Is mounted in a tubular steel carrying frame and Neptune 4000 weighs approximately 400 lb. It can bo Siebe Gorman's new high pressure used Independently er inceiperilled compressor set is designed to provide in a static installatiee a versatile unit for charging breathing apparatus or aqualung cylinders with clean, dry air to pressures between 1800 and 4000 p.s.i. Driven by either a 4 stroke petrol engine or electric OF ENGLAND motor, the air-cooled compressor has For further information, please write to Siebe Gorman & Co. Ltd., an output of 4.5 cu. ft. of nominal free Neptune Works, Davis Road, thrce pond landing of a tiling Ray air per minute. The complete appara- Chessington, Surrey. tus, consisting of motor, compressor, Telephone: Lower Hook 6171/8 Printed by Coast)), & Co. Ltd., St. James' Road. Southsea. Hants Vol. 11 No. 3 2/- www.mcdoa.org.uk We specialise in EVERYTHING FOR THE UNDERWATER SPORTSMAN including the latest designs and all the better makes of LUNGS DIVING SUITS SWIMMING GEAR & EQUIPMENT Stainless steel Rolex Oyster, £37.10s. See 0 at your Rolex jeweller's now YOU WOULD BE PROUD TO WEAR THIS ROLEX OYSTER THE ROLEX OYSTER is a watch which any man would be proud to own. Its permanently sealed Oyster case is 100% waterproof, dustproof and dirtproof. It May we send you our is superbly accurate. It is elegant—you can see that— but actually handling it will tell you far more ... and NEW LIST and this is exactly what your nearest Rolex jeweller in- folder of illustrated leaflets? vites you to do. Call on him yourself, today—or UNIQUE. The Oyster is the FREE—of course write to the address below for a free, fully illustrated only watch with the 100% catalogue and his name and address. The catalogue efieetive serew-down whaling shows the hill range of Oyster watches, including the button that gives UOU D L profrelhill where U Is M051 'Tudor Oyster from J:24.5s. areded,helponake the Oyster the finest waterproof watch. ROLEX 126 HANWORTH ROAD OYSTER HOUNSLOW, MIDDX. Tlw official watch for Royal Navy Divers Tel. HOUnslow 6722 THE ROLEX WATCH COMPANY LIMITED (Founder, H. WIlsdorf.) I GREEN STREET, MAYFAIR, LONDON, W.I. 'PAY-AS-YOU-DIVE' DEFERRED TERMS ARRANGED www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk Contents R.N. Diving Magazine PAGE TREASURER'S NOTE 3 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 5 Merry Christmas "RECLAIM" 1964 9 THE SEA (PART 1) 13 and a PORTSMOUTH COMMAND EX-PED DIVING EQUIPMENT 15 DIVING UNDER THE ICE . 17 Prosperous New Year SAPPER DIVERS HELP IN AFRICAN LAKE PROJECT . 18 THIS IS AMERICA 19 VIDAL STATISTICS 21 ONE-HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIVE DIVING ACCIDENTS 23 to all our MY SOLENT SWIM 35 THE BIRTH OF A TEAM 38 Readers 0041) DEATH LIES AT 43 FATHOMS 41 "CENTAUR'S" DIVING 43 vol.ii Winter 1964 THE PEACEFUL DEEP 45 EDITORIAL STAFF P.O. V. SToR v OF A LIFE 45 Editor GIBBONS No. 3 1)11 P SI A Treasurer .. SILT. P. R. PARK RI:SI:ARCH AND EXPLORATION 46 l'imnip IONS AND ADVANCFMENTS 48 Treasurer's Note 1 DI 11( QUI SI IDNS ANSWI RID 48 'Flue to improved sales, the magazine at the November audit finds itself " I I II I DNI RAND' It" 4 jreasonably solvent and it is intended to increase its size and interest 49 Dvalue accordingly. NI•ws But I I IIN 52 If all Diving Officers continue to sell at the present (or slightly higher) rate we should go from strength to strength. 01. AN FRA 54 4 The editorial staff are attempting to collect a complete set of editions 0111111/%10( to keep for posterity, but find that the following issues are missing: 55 Vol. 1, No's 1 and 4. Vol. 2, No's 3 and 4. Vol. 3, No's 1, 2 and 3. Vol. 4, No. 2. Vol. 5, No's 1 and 4. Vol. 6, No. 2. Vol. 7, No's 2 and 4. Vol. 8, No's 1 and 2. If any reader has any of them and can spare them for the master record we will be most grateful and will forward a new copy of the latest magazine by return of post. P.R.G.P. 2 3 www.mcdoa.org.uk Letters to the Editor "IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM, can only result in ridicule and con- IGNORE 'EM" tempt from professionals who, al- though not owning £50 worth of COLLYER SMITH & CO. Ltd. Sir, fancy equipment, do have a sounding 219 WEST STREET, FAREHAM, HANTS It was with considerable interest line. that I read the points made by C.P.O. In conclusion it is to be hoped that Telephone No. 2211 and 2212/2213 Lam in his article "Sport Diving in the cordial relations that exist be- the Naval Air Command". (Pub- tween the Clearance Diving Branch Incorporated Insurance Brokers lished Volume 11/2). and the Sub-Aqua Clubs continue. In the eight years between 1955 and It might even be possible to have a Mortgage Brokers 1963 H.M.S. Vernon undertook to disarmament conference with the (Members of Services Insurance Brokers Association) provide diving instruction to the H.A.C.S.A.C., if their shoulders were British Sub-Aqua Club on Sunday brushed free of chips. afternoons. In 1956 alone 202 people P.O. A. W. G. BROOKER, C.D.I. availed themselves of this oppor- We specialise in ALL forms of Insurance for the tunity. It is estimated that over these years more than 2,400 visitors were * * ROYAL NAVY given displays, instruction and prac- NAVY TO THE RESCUE . HOUSE PURCHASE MORTGAGES ARRANGED tical diving. It was with regret that this practice had to be stopped at the Sir, commencement of 1964 due to Naval Business conducted only with LEADING LIFE OFFICES instructional requirements. Please allow me through your magazine to express public apprec- Charging no extra for From the above facts it should be iation of the salvage work done at apparent that instead of 'ridicule and Marsalforn, Gozo, by the Fleet WAR RISK contempt, a considerable effort has Clearance Diving Section of the been made to assist the amateurs. British Royal Navy on September CLIMATIC CONDITIONS As regards the status of Naval 14th and 16th. Three cars, a van and Divers v. S.A.C. Divers, some most two motor scooters were carried into AVIATION (other than Air Crew) important facts must be taken into the sea at Marsalforn beach by the consideration. Divers in the Fleet torential rain which hit Gozo re- and are given an intensive and varied cently. The P.W.D. managed to pull course. How much of this instruction two cars out of the sea. The other WORLD-WIDE COVER is retained depends on the individual car was deeply embedded in mud and • and on his diving officer. It should be shingle and could not be extricated. NOIE Personnel in SUBMARINE SERVICE and NAVAL remembered that Ship's Divers are The van and the scooters could not not regularly employed on diving DIV ERS can normally be placed without extra charge be found. The owner of the third duties as are Clearance Divers. An car went to Valetta to try and get example of the ability of one branch help from Royal Naval Divers. After of the N.A.C.S.A.C. from Kalafrana enquiries he managed to get in touch S I) YOUR INSURANCE PROBLEMS AND was the discovery of a Phoenician with the F.C.D. Officer at Manoel QUERIES TO US AND WE WILL GIVE YOU galley at Xlhendi in Gozo. This Island. Lt. Lovell-Smith was very THE BEST ADVICE OBTAINABLE intrepid band of auqanauts were sympathetic and promised to do supposed to be splashing about at what he could. This was on Friday REMEMBER, IT COSTS ONLY A STAMP TO i 60 feet when they found amphorae 1 1 th September. Next day he at 180 feet. Now we all know that telephoned and said that arrange- SEEK OUR ADVICE YET IT CAN SAVE YOU A the Med. is clear, but not that clear. ments had been made to start work CONSIDERABLE SUM OVER THE YEARS How many times has this particular the following Monday. Frogmen club and others like it taken similar were on the job for two days and risks ? This sort of stupid bravado really tried to do what they could. 4 5 4 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk They salvaged the car, which could Gormans, and in the police, we in ground floor of this establishment DIVERS I HAVE KNOWN not be pulled by crane from shore Surrey have now got a diving school would be the club rooms, a flat on Mrs. N. Spencer, alias Mum. the first floor could house the club before the divers had cleared the going for police underwater units. It he Shot Rope . I wonder, to Thud and silt around it. Unfortun- is with regard to the trainees we have manager and the other two storey's converted into self contained flats.