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Muscat Divers being a branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club is required to have four committee members. Elected from the members and by the members, they are the Chairman, the Secretary, the Diving Officer and the Treasurer. Below are the current members of the committee, as well as some of the sub-committee responsible for helping to run the club and ensure that the diving is as pleasurable as possible.

Andy Woodward - Chairman The overseas life is hell, but someone has to do it. Fate tapped me on the shoulder and as a result I've lived, worked and dived in the Netherlands Antilles, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and now Oman. That's fifteen years diving and, insha'allah as they say around here, my 1000th dive this year. Add on my wife Mandy's 700-odd and the three kids' combined efforts and it is a lot of time under water. None of it ever other than a joy, especially with a camera underwater and a fish anorak above water to argue with about identification. High points? - oh probably the tiger sharks in Sharm, the mantas in Elphinstone and, whatever I saw on the last dive (my first sea snake) and, whatever's coming next weekend.....

Mick Cansdale - DO I started diving with Muscat Divers in 2005 and my instructor told me "you will never be a diver!". I am now a BSAC instructor with over 400 dives under my belt. My main diving has been along the coast of Oman, but I did venture to Thailand and did some diving there. I have dived with dolphins and to me, the Gulf is probably one of the best unknown secrets for warm water diving. This is my second time as Diving Officer for Muscat Divers.

Colin Ingram - Hon Secretary I started diving in 1967 with BSAC in Penang , Malaysia and have continued diving in Thailand , Borneo , Cyprus , Malta , Gozo, South West England, and Oman . I have been an Advanced Diver/Advanced Instructor for many years and at various times have filled all Committee positions in the BSAC Branches and now after some ´ fierce´ competition I have the honour to be Muscat Divers Secretary. Some of my interests over the years have been Nautical Archaeology, Wreck Research and Marine Conservation, having gone from poacher to gamekeeper.

James Smith - Hon Treasurer I started diving with BSAC in England in the late Eighties, but lost the will to live with cold water diving (Big Southern Jessie). After a short sabatical, I jump­started my underwater activities once again with a CMAS One Star qualification, followed by a PADI Advanced and other assorted bits and bobs in warmer climates such as the Red Sea and Great Barrier Reef. Continuity, not being one of my strong points, I finally saw the error of my ways and came back to the warm loving arms of BSAC. Currently a Sports/Nitrox Diver, I hope to finish Dive Manager/Leader/Master/Supervisor some time this century, wife and two boys permitting.

Annette Weppelman - Training Officer I joined BSAC two years ago, pretty soon after my arrival in Oman but was hindered from more frequent dives by the fact that I was based in Nizwa. Previously, I started diving three years ago when I was working as a volunteer in Thailand after the Tsunami and, due to the absence of tourists that year I got hooked on the tranquility and peace one encounters under water. I have heard horror stories of overcrowded dive sites at some places in the world and am just thankful that Oman is not one of them – it would put me off forever! I dive to relax and “get away from everything”, and diving in Oman is perfect for that. Now living in Muscat I am determined to finish my Sports Diver Qualification as I am still a fledgling in terms of diving, compared to some of the others on the committee. Not sure if it was due to lack of volunteers or due to me being German, Andy decided that if I organise my own training, I might as well do everyone else’s. In-shallah I say!

Simon Lee 'Tanzy' - Equipment Officer I joined BSAC as a novice diver, gained the Coxswain certification and now the 'Mick Cansdale' seal of approval as a dive leader. Currently I am a PADI Dive Master (The way the world dives!) which I achieved with PADI IDC in march 08. Still marching on with the BSAC Advanced Diver, only thing getting in the way is Tina’s family wanting to come out and have us play tour reps for three weeks at a time!

Mandy Woodward - Environmental and Welfare I have been diving almost as long as Andy, minus a few months The only reason he's got 300 more dives than me is because I had to break off periodically to have our 3 kids along the way - and they are all divers too now. If you are interested in diving but maybe thought it was too dangerous, I am living proof that you don't have to have to be wild and crazy to enjoy diving. My perfect dive is one with flat sea, sunshine, good visibility, lots of fish, turtles and plenty of good company to chat with between dives. Luckily that's just what I get here, almost every week, all year round.

Neil Bedwin - Entertainment Officer I started diving at Liverpool Uni back in the days when we made our own wetsuits and carved our fins out of wood. It seemed like a good idea at the time and 24 years later it still seems like a good way to spend time. I have dived in several countries around the world but still look back on the UK diving as being the most challenging and rewarding. I was an Advanced Diver for 14 years before I took to teaching diving and now, with nearly 2000 dives under my belt, I find I am still learning. There is always something new to learn, some new kit to buy, some techniques to practice don't need 'a life' I have diving :)

Chris Thompson - Bosun I initially qualified under PADI in 1997 with over 400 dives clocked up, I have enjoyed a variety of diving in Kuwait, Thailand, Egypt, UK, NZ and best of all Galapagos to name a few. I have been actively diving in Oman since 2001, and joined the club a year ago. Having dived with ‘Muscat Divers’ and Galapagos for that matter, I'm quite used to diving with numerous Sharks. Muscat Divers Bosun - Naval definition ‘one who plays with boats’,. As a voluntary position, the role is rewarded with the smiling faces of club members and piece of mind we can get to the dive sites ~ and home again afterwards! The job entails making sure that our 3 boats are serviceable and ready for use. It also seems to include Trailers, Compressors, being an electrician, and anything else needed (I draw the line at carpentry however). Background qualification: "a long time at sea & an Engineer". Some say the Club's boats also resemble the Bosun - Old & reliable, but requires plenty of TLC (and beer) to keep going ­ Cheeky lot.