PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE SUB AQUA ASSOCIATION

I am delighted to continue into my third year as President of the Royal Air Force Sub Aqua Association and look back on a year in which I managed to join teams for some great diving in locations as diverse as Porthkerris and Ascension Island. My great passion is still underwater photography and I will keep trying to pass on what I have been lucky enough to learn to other divers with a similar interest.

For those that I have not yet met, I joined the Royal Air Force in 1976 as an apprentice and crossed over to a flying career after 6 years in the ranks. I had the great privilege of commanding a fighter squadron, Royal Air Force Cranwell and a number of operational detachments in the Middle East and Africa, but I am now based at Shrivenham, where I work in the Ministry of Defence policy area. I continue to do most of my local diving with RAF Halton and High Wycombe, but I am always open to offers to dive with other clubs; just get in touch with me and I will consider any reasonable offer, especially if you would like photographic coverage of your diving or some instruction on underwater photography.

2012 sees us blessed once again with the same hard working and capable Chairman (Air Cdre Rich Powell), and a willing group of people who have volunteered their time to further the cause of diving within the Royal Air Force through the RAF Sub Aqua Association Committee. They are all doing an exceptional job and I encourage you to mine this web site, which contains the fruit of much of their labour. The improvements that the committee has enabled for the facilities in Ascension Island alone are outstanding and we continue to seek ways to retain that superb adventurous training facility. One way for you to help me is to use it as much as you can. It is ideal for adventurous training, with basic but highly functional facilities and access to superb diving at many levels.You are still blessed with the same hard working and capable Chairman (Gp Capt Rich Powell), who is now also based at Shrivenham, and a willing group of people who have volunteered their time to further the cause of diving within the Royal Air Force through the RAF Sub Aqua Association Committee. They are all doing an exceptional job and I encourage you to mine this web site, which contains the fruit of much of their labour. The improvements that the committee has enabled for the facilities in Ascension Island alone are outstanding and I continue to seek ways to retain that superb adventurous training facility as the pressure of spending cuts inevitably mounts. One way for you to help me is to use it as much as you can. It is ideal for adventurous training, with basic but highly functional facilities and access to superb diving at many levels.

The Association in general and individual clubs in particular cannot survive without those stalwart individuals who give up their own time for the benefit of others. You will all be aware at club level who those good people are. In my younger days, I got so much from the efforts of such selfless people, and this is one reason why I wish to give something back to Royal Air Force sub aqua diving. I would also encourage everybody to consider what you might contribute back to this sport. Beyond club level there are opportunities on the Committee for people to make wider contributions; such inputs are both very welcome and formally recognised.It is good to be well established with the RAF sub aqua community. I look forward to diving with more of you at club level this year and – work permitting – joining the occasional expedition over the next 2 or 3 years. If you have recently joined this community, I extend a warm welcome to you. If you aspire to dive or just give it a try in the safe confines of a swimming pool, then use the resources on this web site to contact your nearest club. Their members will be very pleased to see you and it can open up that world of water that covers most of our planet, yet which relatively few people explore.

It is good to be well established with the RAF sub aqua community. I look forward to diving with more of you at club level this year and – work permitting – joining the occasional expedition. If you have recently joined this community, I extend a warm welcome to you. If you aspire to dive or just give it a try in the safe confines of a swimming pool, then use the resources on this web site to contact your nearest club. Their members will be very pleased to see you and it can open up that world of water that covers most of our planet, yet which relatively few people explore.

My best wishes to you all for 2012. Safe diving.

Paul Colley, Air Vice-Marshal