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KILKENNY SUB AQUA CLUB is a recreational Diving and Snorkeling Club. We are affiliated to the Irish National Diving Organization, CFT, The Irish Underwater Council. CFT are under the umbrella of CMAS the world federation of SCUBA Diving. We have a membership of over 40 divers from those in basic Training to advanced Instructors. Because we have our own Instructors we can do all our SCUBA training in house, lectures in our own clubhouse in Hebron Ind. Estate and in water training in Watershed pool. Then on the ocean or one of the inland lakes. Some of our experienced divers then join the Search and Recovery unit. We dive all the year round in Irish waters. Local diving from shore is Hook Head, Club has 3 ocean going dive boats. Launch the boats in Dunmore East or Kilmore Quay and dive the reefs and wrecks off the South East Coast. Bank Holidays will find us in Cork/Kerry or up the west coast where there are many excellent dive locations staying in local B&B’s or Holiday Homes. Club Facilities Club House in Hebron Industrial Estate, consisting of Equipment Storage and garage facilities. Meeting and Lecture Room facilities with Projection Equipment Dive Boats XS – 7.8 Mtr . Rib with 300 HP engine XS - 5,8 Mtr Rib with 150 Hp engine Humber - 5 Mtr Rib with 100 HP engine Boats are fitted with VHF, Sonar, GPS, Bottle Rack, First Aid and O2 Kit’s etc. Zodiac 4 Mts. with 40 HP engine used as river boat for the Search and Rescue Unit. Mobile Compressor, for Irish trips. Electrical Air Compressor with Bottle Bank Nitrox Membrane Compressor filling system with own Bottle Bank Trimix Blending setup with Haskel booster pump |
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THE FOUNDING YEARS
By John Ryan
In the mid-sixties Telefis Eireann delivered a glimpse of the underwater world of Jacques Cousteau into Irish homes. The wonder and abundance of life, with the intensity in colour of these exotic locations, left me captivated and was the key influencing factor in my life-long interest and love of diving.
So, how did I go about pursuing my dream? Well, Kilkenny being an inland city did not have any club, so I went along to Waterford. At that time, in the mid-sixties, places like Kilkenny and Waterford were very parochial, everybody virtually knew everyone else, so through a few contacts in Waterford, I was put in touch with Gerry Stokes. I introduced myself to Gerry who was at that time endeavouring to form a diving club in Waterford, along with Brendan Farrell, Junior O'Neill and Johnny Aylward. Very shortly afterwards Waterford Harbour Sub-Aqua Club was formed and I subsequently dived with the club for ten years.
In the mid-seventies, a few Kilkenny guys who were interested in diving approached me. I approached the instructors in Waterford and they suggested that we form our own club, and that they would give us every assistance in setting it up.
The first meeting was held in Bobby Kerr's house. Gerry Stokes, Junior O'Neill and Brendan Farrell travelled up from Waterford and outlined the guidelines and basic rules of diving. Some lectures followed in the house over the following weeks, and this set the scene for the formation of Sub Aqua Club Kilkenny, or S.A.C.K., as it became known.
The first committee meeting was held on the 24th September 1976 in Newpark Hotel and was attended by sixteen people. A committee was formed. Chairman, John Wise, Hon. Sec., Bobby Kerr, Hon Treas., Tony Richardson, and I, John Ryan, was elected Diving Officer. One of the main items on the agenda at that first meeting was the negotiation on the availability of the swimming pool for weekly training sessions. (When we started in Waterford ten years previously, the only pool available was the cold-water pool in Newtown College).
We were affiliated to the Irish Underwater Council (An Comhairle H-Thtlinn) or C.F.T. for short in November 1977. The club mushroomed very quickly, and within two years had purchased a twenty foot assault craft, ex Royal Navy, with a 25 H.P. Johnson engine. A compressor was soon purchased. Previous to that the Fire Station compressor was very kindly made available to us to fill our bottles, taking one hour to fill one bottle. Sundays saw the club members and their families head for popular diving spots such as Dunmore East, Hook Head, Kilfarrassey, Tramore, Newtown Cove and Slade. The long weekends were something else! These were and remain wonderful club and family occasions. Frequently, as many as fifty members would head west to Mizen Head and St. John's Point in Donegal.
Many were the wonderful week-ends enjoyed in Mullaghmore, Belmullet, Clew Bay, Achill Island, Kilkee, Dingle and Castletownbere to name but a few. Very many wonderful and enduring friendships have been forged as a result of these trips, and it is indeed rewarding to see the next generation now becoming part and parcel of the club.
The first overseas trip took place in January 1979, to Eilat on the Red Sea, safari style, sleeping under the stars, with virtually no facilities; however the diving was superb. Things improved vastly in the intervening years, and with a huge upsurge in diving numbers, dive sites abroad became very business-like in their approach. Since our first trip in 1979 we have as a club enjoyed many wonderful trips to Florida Keys, The Caymans, Cuba, Mexico, The Maldives, Thailand and Sharm El Sheik in Egypt.
By John Ryan
In the mid-sixties Telefis Eireann delivered a glimpse of the underwater world of Jacques Cousteau into Irish homes. The wonder and abundance of life, with the intensity in colour of these exotic locations, left me captivated and was the key influencing factor in my life-long interest and love of diving.
So, how did I go about pursuing my dream? Well, Kilkenny being an inland city did not have any club, so I went along to Waterford. At that time, in the mid-sixties, places like Kilkenny and Waterford were very parochial, everybody virtually knew everyone else, so through a few contacts in Waterford, I was put in touch with Gerry Stokes. I introduced myself to Gerry who was at that time endeavouring to form a diving club in Waterford, along with Brendan Farrell, Junior O'Neill and Johnny Aylward. Very shortly afterwards Waterford Harbour Sub-Aqua Club was formed and I subsequently dived with the club for ten years.
In the mid-seventies, a few Kilkenny guys who were interested in diving approached me. I approached the instructors in Waterford and they suggested that we form our own club, and that they would give us every assistance in setting it up.
The first meeting was held in Bobby Kerr's house. Gerry Stokes, Junior O'Neill and Brendan Farrell travelled up from Waterford and outlined the guidelines and basic rules of diving. Some lectures followed in the house over the following weeks, and this set the scene for the formation of Sub Aqua Club Kilkenny, or S.A.C.K., as it became known.
The first committee meeting was held on the 24th September 1976 in Newpark Hotel and was attended by sixteen people. A committee was formed. Chairman, John Wise, Hon. Sec., Bobby Kerr, Hon Treas., Tony Richardson, and I, John Ryan, was elected Diving Officer. One of the main items on the agenda at that first meeting was the negotiation on the availability of the swimming pool for weekly training sessions. (When we started in Waterford ten years previously, the only pool available was the cold-water pool in Newtown College).
We were affiliated to the Irish Underwater Council (An Comhairle H-Thtlinn) or C.F.T. for short in November 1977. The club mushroomed very quickly, and within two years had purchased a twenty foot assault craft, ex Royal Navy, with a 25 H.P. Johnson engine. A compressor was soon purchased. Previous to that the Fire Station compressor was very kindly made available to us to fill our bottles, taking one hour to fill one bottle. Sundays saw the club members and their families head for popular diving spots such as Dunmore East, Hook Head, Kilfarrassey, Tramore, Newtown Cove and Slade. The long weekends were something else! These were and remain wonderful club and family occasions. Frequently, as many as fifty members would head west to Mizen Head and St. John's Point in Donegal.
Many were the wonderful week-ends enjoyed in Mullaghmore, Belmullet, Clew Bay, Achill Island, Kilkee, Dingle and Castletownbere to name but a few. Very many wonderful and enduring friendships have been forged as a result of these trips, and it is indeed rewarding to see the next generation now becoming part and parcel of the club.
The first overseas trip took place in January 1979, to Eilat on the Red Sea, safari style, sleeping under the stars, with virtually no facilities; however the diving was superb. Things improved vastly in the intervening years, and with a huge upsurge in diving numbers, dive sites abroad became very business-like in their approach. Since our first trip in 1979 we have as a club enjoyed many wonderful trips to Florida Keys, The Caymans, Cuba, Mexico, The Maldives, Thailand and Sharm El Sheik in Egypt.
Search and Recovery Emergency No. 0818 206206
Nick Murphy 086 853 5217 S&R Diving Officer
Jimmy Lenehan 087 273 6930 S&R Training Officer
Denis Coughlan 086 822 1828 S&R Equipment
Nick Murphy 086 853 5217 S&R Diving Officer
Jimmy Lenehan 087 273 6930 S&R Training Officer
Denis Coughlan 086 822 1828 S&R Equipment
Kilkenny Sub Aqua Search & Rescue Unit
Operates within the diving club and is based in Kilkenny city. Our S&R unit has been involved in search and rescue and search and recovery operations throughout the South East region and on a National level with coastal communities since 1975.
All members of the unit are volunteers and give freely of their time, experience and equipment. Members of the unit will take personal leave from work to participate in search operations with any expenses incurred covered by the individuals involved.
Members of the unit have undertaken extensive training and are experienced in search and recovery operations. Training continues throughout the year to keep skills sharp and conditions in local waterways are rarely ideal, with cold and poor to zero visibility being typical.
The work of the unit can vary from providing rescue and boat cover for community water based events, rescuing stranded domestic and farm animals, to the unenviable task of recovering a missing person.
The time spent on a search for a missing person can have a devastating effect on a family and community. In an effort to reduce this time the S&R unit endeavors to have the most up to date equipment and technology available. Equipment includes a Side-Scan Sonar and In-water communication equipment.
None of this work could be done without the support of our local communities. Fund raising is an integral part of the S&R unit and we are constantly overwhelmed by the generosity of people in the community.
Operates within the diving club and is based in Kilkenny city. Our S&R unit has been involved in search and rescue and search and recovery operations throughout the South East region and on a National level with coastal communities since 1975.
All members of the unit are volunteers and give freely of their time, experience and equipment. Members of the unit will take personal leave from work to participate in search operations with any expenses incurred covered by the individuals involved.
Members of the unit have undertaken extensive training and are experienced in search and recovery operations. Training continues throughout the year to keep skills sharp and conditions in local waterways are rarely ideal, with cold and poor to zero visibility being typical.
The work of the unit can vary from providing rescue and boat cover for community water based events, rescuing stranded domestic and farm animals, to the unenviable task of recovering a missing person.
The time spent on a search for a missing person can have a devastating effect on a family and community. In an effort to reduce this time the S&R unit endeavors to have the most up to date equipment and technology available. Equipment includes a Side-Scan Sonar and In-water communication equipment.
None of this work could be done without the support of our local communities. Fund raising is an integral part of the S&R unit and we are constantly overwhelmed by the generosity of people in the community.
Kilkenny Sub Aqua Club not only dive around the beautiful coast of Ireland where we regularly see Dolphins and Whales on surface as well as a beautiful and clear underwater environment and whatever species come out to welcome us or are just passing by. There are plenty of ship wrecks dotted around the coast and they also make great exploration dives.
We also go on foreign dive trips to exotic tropical locations. There we see different species and on Coral Reefs lots of colourful fish and strange critters, some you may know and many you will not. The nearest and one of the best value locations is Egypt when the political situation is stable or venture further afield to the Caribbean and beyond.
The first overseas trip took place in January 1979, to Eilat on the Red Sea, safari style, sleeping under the stars, with virtually no facilities; however the diving was superb. Things improved vastly in the intervening years, and with a huge upsurge in diving numbers, dive sites abroad became very business-like in their approach. Since our first trip in 1979 we have as a club enjoyed many wonderful trips to Florida Keys, The Caymans, Cuba, Mexico, The Maldives, Thailand and Sharm El Sheik in Egypt.
Club had a great trip to Sharm, in the Red Sea in Oct 2019 and plans are in place for further trips in coming years.
We also go on foreign dive trips to exotic tropical locations. There we see different species and on Coral Reefs lots of colourful fish and strange critters, some you may know and many you will not. The nearest and one of the best value locations is Egypt when the political situation is stable or venture further afield to the Caribbean and beyond.
The first overseas trip took place in January 1979, to Eilat on the Red Sea, safari style, sleeping under the stars, with virtually no facilities; however the diving was superb. Things improved vastly in the intervening years, and with a huge upsurge in diving numbers, dive sites abroad became very business-like in their approach. Since our first trip in 1979 we have as a club enjoyed many wonderful trips to Florida Keys, The Caymans, Cuba, Mexico, The Maldives, Thailand and Sharm El Sheik in Egypt.
Club had a great trip to Sharm, in the Red Sea in Oct 2019 and plans are in place for further trips in coming years.
New SCUBA Training Class starting 9 Feb
As Covid restrictions are now receding we can continue with our Club activities and Training classes also starting.
The pool was unfortunately closed and with limit on close contact it was not possible to train. These restrictions are now lifted.
We also continue to welcome anyone who has complete initial pool or sheltered water SCUBA training, such as CMAS 1* or PADI Open Water or equivalent to the Club.
Kilkenny Sub Aqua Club SCUBA train under CFT the Irish Dive Training National Body. CFT are a member of CMAS the world federation of country diving organisations. Your Dive card will be recognised worldwide in all Dive Centers and resorts. We train from beginner to advanced Instructor. We start with an Open Night in our Clubhouse where we explain to new divers and members what dive training and Kilkenny Sub Aqua Club is all about. We then go on to the Watershed Pool for an in water session in SCUBA equipment. Lecture and Pool sessions are in February and March which is usually the closed time for Ocean Diving due weather.
Not only can we train people to dive but we also run courses in Advanced diving and courses that make you a better diver and up your skill set, like Rescue and Boat handling courses. There are lots of Specialty courses available and these are run when needed, i.e. Photography, Nitrox, Gas Blender, Sea-search, Leading Diver and SCUBA Instructor.
Training Officer Mark Dolan 085 148 9848
As Covid restrictions are now receding we can continue with our Club activities and Training classes also starting.
The pool was unfortunately closed and with limit on close contact it was not possible to train. These restrictions are now lifted.
We also continue to welcome anyone who has complete initial pool or sheltered water SCUBA training, such as CMAS 1* or PADI Open Water or equivalent to the Club.
Kilkenny Sub Aqua Club SCUBA train under CFT the Irish Dive Training National Body. CFT are a member of CMAS the world federation of country diving organisations. Your Dive card will be recognised worldwide in all Dive Centers and resorts. We train from beginner to advanced Instructor. We start with an Open Night in our Clubhouse where we explain to new divers and members what dive training and Kilkenny Sub Aqua Club is all about. We then go on to the Watershed Pool for an in water session in SCUBA equipment. Lecture and Pool sessions are in February and March which is usually the closed time for Ocean Diving due weather.
Not only can we train people to dive but we also run courses in Advanced diving and courses that make you a better diver and up your skill set, like Rescue and Boat handling courses. There are lots of Specialty courses available and these are run when needed, i.e. Photography, Nitrox, Gas Blender, Sea-search, Leading Diver and SCUBA Instructor.
Training Officer Mark Dolan 085 148 9848
