I had a good time meeting the club and its members. Whilst I didn’t participate in the food, it smelt great. Well done to Andy for all his time and creative skills. I also enjoyed the RNLI event.
What are the Lecture nights?
The lecture nights give members or guests a chance to present a talk on anything sea and scuba, ranging from underwater archaeology to wildlife to first aid and rescue.
The lecture nights also let us run through theory elements of scuba qualifications.
Presentations usually start at 19:45 and are usually 45mins to 1hr.
It can be good to arrive early for these presentations, because clubmembers often volunteer to cook and provide food for these lecture nights, sold to cover costs. Andy’s curries and Lety’s chillies are delicious.
The clubhouse is usually open by 7pm on these Monday lecture nights.
MDG lecture nights are free to attend and open to everyone. Members of other dive clubs are very welcome.
Hope to see you there!
Upcoming club lectures
May Club Lecture - Rory Sinclair of the Big Blue Ocean Cleanup
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Together, we can turn the tide on ocean pollution and create a cleaner, healthier planet.
Big Blue Ocean Cleanup
Date: Monday 12th of May 2025
Time: Around 7:45pm
Food: TBC
Rory Sinclair, CEO of the Big Blue Ocean Cleanup will be giving us a talk on the mission of the organisation and how plastic pollution effects us directly as UK scuba divers.
June Club Lecture - Peter May of the Nautical Archaeology Society
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Discovery is just the beginning
A charity promoting the preservation, protection and research of our nautical heritage.
Nautical Archaeology Society
Date: Monday 2nd of June 2025
Time: Around 7:45pm
Food: TBC
MDG and Nautical Archaeological Society member Peter May will be giving us a talk on the work of the organisation and how to get involved.
July Club Lecture - Mike Messenger and Barry Shaw of the National Independent Lifeboat Association
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ILA’s mission is to give a voice, assistance and advice to the growing community of independent lifeboats across the United Kingdom, creating a valued, professional and recognised resource for water-based search and rescue.
St Abbs Independent Lifeboat and the National Independent Lifeboat Association
Date: Monday 7th of July 2025
Time: Around 7:45pm
Food: TBC
Barry Shaw, Secretary of St Abbs Independent Lifeboat and Mike Messenger, Trustee and North Area Lead for the National Independent Lifeboat Association (NILA) will be giving us a talk on the history and mission of the NILA and also stories of diver related rescues.
August Club Lecture - Terry Newman of Historic England
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We are the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England’s spectacular historic environment.
Historic England
Date: Monday 4th of August 2025
Time: Around 7:45pm
Food: TBC
Terrence Newman, maritime archaeologist with the National Listing & Marine Team for Historic England is kindly giving us a presentation by videolink on the history and mission of Historic England and the stories behind – and work done – on important wrecks.
September Club Lecture - Kerry Rennie of Seasearch and the Marine Conservation Society
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Any dive can be a Seasearch dive!
Marine Conservation Society
Date: Monday 1st of September 2025
Time: Around 7:45pm
Food: TBC
Kerrie Rennie, Seasearch North West coordinator and tutor is kindly giving us a presentation by videolink on the history and mission of Seasearch and information on how to incorporate citizen science into scuba diving.
October Club Lecture - Dr Lara Howe with the Manx Wildlife Trust
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We are the leading nature conservation charity in the Isle of Man, caring for land, sea and fresh water environments.
Manx Wildlife Trust
Date: Monday 6th of October 2025
Time: Around 7:45pm
Location: Clubhouse
Food: TBC
Dr Lara Howe, Marine Conservation Officer at the Manx Wildlife Trust is kindly giving us a presentation on the marine conservation work of the Trust.
November Club Lecture - Charlotte with the Berwickshire Marine Reserve
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The coastal waters of Berwickshire are home to a remarkable and truly unique mix of marine life not found elsewhere in the UK.
Berwickshire Marine Reserve
Date: Monday 3rd of November 2025
Time: Around 7:45pm
Location: Clubhouse
Food: TBC
Charlotte Keeley of St Abbs Boat Charters and Project Officer at Berwickshire Marine Reserve will be giving a presentation on the work of the reserve and information on how to get involved with citizen science projects.
December Club Lecture - Project Baseline UK
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Using effective teamwork and scientific diving techniques we document aquatic sites around the UK to raise awareness of environmental challenges.
Project Baseline UK
Date: Monday 1st of December 2025
Time: Around 7:45pm
Location: Clubhouse
Food: TBC
Project Baseline will be giving a presentation on scientific diving and data gathering for citizen science endeavours.
some of the Previous Club lectures we have had
Club Lecture - Nick Fecher - RNLI
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Big thanks to Nick Fecher, Water Safety Delivery Support for the RNLI for kindly giving us a talk by video link on rescues involving scuba divers and what mistakes and omissions can make diver rescues more likely or challenging
And thank you to Andy for preparing some delicious curry goat for us to enjoy beforehand
Club Lecture - Catherine - Devil and Manta Rays
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A brilliant talk by MDG clubmember Catherine on the identification and ecology of Devil and Manta rays. The sections on how to find and appropriately observe these beautiful and fascinating creatures while diving was especially interesting
Club Lecture - Doc - Nitrox
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Big thank you to Martin (Doc) for taking us through the IANTD Nitrox course. Congratulations to Chris who now has his Nitrox certification!
Club Lecture - Peter - Shark Ecology and Advocacy
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Thank you to Peter for his excellent talk on shark ecology and advocacy. It was very interesting to hear a positive angle on the good that sharks do for the ecosystem and how the harm they are said to cause to humans can be sometimes very exaggerated
Club Lecture - Joe - BDMLR
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Thank you to Marine Mammal Medic and MDG clubmember Joe for his talk on the history and work of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue as well as what steps to take if you are interested in becoming a BDMLR Medic
Club Lecture - Carl - Knot Workshop
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Thank you to MDG Clubmember Carl for providing another excellent talk on the uses and techniques of tying different types of knots
