Leading Diver Killybegs

Sep 05 2012 Posted by Office Administraton


Killybegs hosted the Leading Diver weekend (one of only 2 held nationally this year) with seven candidates from the following clubs in attendance, NUIG, Grainne Uaile (Mayo), Aquatec, Omega, (both Dublin) and Portmarnock. Fifteen examiners and instructors (trainee examiners) attended from all over the country including the following sub-aqua clubs; the Curragh, Aer Lingus, Alpha, Aquamarine, Aquatec, Donegal Bay, Galway, Kish, Garda and Omega.

Saturday’s weather proved difficult but the divers still managed their forty metres and twenty metres dives together with their oral tests on dive tables, charts and weather, rope, compressor, CPR, regulators and cylinders.  Sunday morning’s fine weather afforded the divers the chance to enjoy a leisurely boat ride out to St. John’s Point where the candidates led the final dive test to thirty metres.  All divers were delighted to report an abundance of fish life with sightings of many juvenile lobsters, bib, wrasse and small crayfish among the reefs at between twenty and thirty metres.  Water temperature remains at 15 degrees.

Once again the Tara Hotel in Killybegs went above and beyond the call of duty, welcoming and accommodating candidates and examiners alike.  A big thank you to their friendly and helpful staff who organised examination and meeting rooms for the various groups and served up delicious and hearty food at several intervals over the weekend.  A special word of thanks goes out once again to Miriam Feely, Mon 3 with Donegal Bay SAC who organised all the logistics regarding boats, compressors and who needed to take what as well as liaisoning with the Tara Hotel.

Sunday’s conclusion saw six out of the seven candidates pass their Leading Diver exam, with a large number of the travelling divers already making arrangements to return to Donegal in the near future to take advantage of our fabulous range of dive sites.

Article by Dearn Mc Clintock, Sheephaven SAC

CFT would like to congratulate all the leading diver candidates for 2012 for the dedication and hard work  leading diver 2012leading up to and including the examination weekends. CFT would also like to thank both Peter Brady and Nigel Kelleher (Jury Presidents), the Sub Jury Presidents, Regional Diving Officers and Examiners who dedicated their time to helping the candidates prepare and proceed through the examination process.