GRANDE-ÎLE RIDES AGAIN

In the Valleyfield area, the École de plongée Grande-Île continued its community involvement during the past summer. After hosting a major treasure hunt, the volunteer divers joined the clean-up efforts led by the Comité ZIP du Haut-Saint-Laurent. On Saturday June 7, approximately sixty divers, under the supervision of divemaster Michel Truchon, picked from the bottom of Lake St-Francis over a ton of trash. The target of this eco-dive was the Federal pier of Les Coteaux. Divers found dozens of not so discarded bottles, old pipes, tires and of course the omnipresent complete truck frame. Will people ever change...

Six complete flood lights stage ramps appeared to all as the greatest and most puzzling find. Some say it is proof that a film crew of a not so distant past forgot something in a hasty retreat!

In another area of involvement, the Grande-Île crew of volunteer divers made arrangements with the town of Saint-Timothée and sank a 28 foot fibreglass cruiser in 24 feet of water. The new wreck lies close to shore in the Parc régional des Iles de Saint-Timothée, a major nature park. Waters offer some thirty feet of visibility. The wreck has already attracted bass, carp, eel, walleye and pike. Access to the dive site is only three dollars for divers (otherwise beach access is seven dollars). Two dams control water level in this section of the St-Lawrence river. During winter only 8 to 10 feet of water will cover the wreck, but no major ice accumulation can occur that could damage the site. Divers can reach the Parc régional by calling (514) 377-1117 or École de plongée Grande-Île 1-800-363-4961.

PROVINCIAL DIVING BILL PASSED

Volume 129, number 27 of the Gazette Officielle du Québec dated July 2, 1997 published the final voted version of the provincial bill destined to legislate some diving practices. Legislation applies as of June 12, 1997 with exception of Articles 46.17 and 46.18.

One note is that the legislator has changed the wording from the original. Article 46.14 now mentions "compress gas" instead of "compressed air" thus including all types of scuba diving.

Also added is Article 46.23 giving full power to the minister to end accreditation given to the non-profit governing body described in Art. 46.15.

All this technical talk can be summarized in a few words. When the final procedures are edicted diving and diving instruction will be regulated in Quebec. Fortunately a careful reading of the bill shows that it will only enforce many of the already practised safe diving attitudes like no more diving without a C-Card, diving within trained level limits, and that properly trained instructors maintain approved certification agency levels and standards. For the complete version one could access the Quebec National Assembly Web site http://www.assnat.qc.ca.