»
OCEAN DIVER
“ It ’ s never too late to start ”
Chris Bell , 43 , joined Bradford SAC in August last year after completing a few try dives with the club .
“ Many moons ago my dad belonged to Keighley BSAC ,” says Chris . “ He was diving before I was born . I always heard the tales . He dived with Keith Jessop [ famed for retrieving gold from HMS Edinburgh ].”
It was Chris ’ niece who finally made him try scuba last summer with local club Bradford SAC after she told him just how much she enjoyed her experience there .
“ She encouraged me , but I had put it off for so many years ,” he says . “ Then she called to tell me she had booked me in . After I did the first try dive , I was grinning from ear to ear . I came back for three or four try dives and did some basic skills , such as mask clearing and changing over regulators . This meant the training wasn ’ t such a shock .”
Chris completed pool training quickly and was eager to head to open water .
“ It was hard at first putting all the heavy kit on for the training dives at Capernwray and getting to the water edge ,” he explains . “ But as soon as we were in the water our instructor settled us down straight away . As soon as you ’ re underwater you feel like you ’ re flying . It was fantastic . I knew it was definitely for me , but wished I had done it years ago .”
Since completing his Ocean Diver course ,
Chris has dived at Stoney Cove , Leicester , Oban in Scotland , and Anglesey in Wales . He ’ s also qualified as a Sports Diver and embarked on the next step , Dive Leader training .
“ Diving takes us all over the country . In a year I ’ ve done 46 dives . Bradford is a very active club , probably one of the busiest in the region . Oban was fantastic , as I was actually seeing marine life . I am very open to any diving . It has got me hook , line and sinker .”
Chris has made sure his children get in the water at an earlier age than him .
“ I dragged my daughter Amy , who is 13 , to do a try dive ,” he laughs . “ She then did some lessons as part of the BSAC This Girl Can Dive scheme . She loves it . My dad was so chuffed when I started , and then when my daughter did too . My next trip I ’ d like to do with my daughter in the school holidays . My other , younger daughter is also going to get into snorkelling .
“ It ’ s never too late to start diving , but I wish I had got into it sooner . I ’ d tell people to just do it – don ’ t put it off any longer !”
“ Training is done at your own pace ”
Diving was among experiences Victoria Westbury wanted to tick off her bucket list before she turned 40 . The 36-year-old mother of two found out about her local club Bradford SAC at the Yorkshire Water Fun Day . As her eldest daughter Jessica , 12 , was of age , she signed them both up for training .
“ It ’ s been fantastic ,” says Victoria . “ We started together and have done all our training together . We have spurred each other on and given each other moral support .” Despite facing some initial challenges on her open water dives at Capernwray , Victoria says she ’ s really proud of her achievements . “ From the very first day our instructor , Kevin , has been fantastic ,” she says . “ The first time I went underwater it felt so unnatural . I also felt a bit unsure on my second dive when I looked up and saw how deep I was – even though it was only a few metres . Kevin calmed me straight away . All the training is done at your own pace . There ’ s no rush . “ It ’ s a lot of hard work , but it ’ s really rewarding . You feel like you are achieving something . Diving is such a skill to learn . I ’ m really chuffed .” Her daughter Jessica has completed a few more dives than her mum . “ If she carries on , by the time she ’ s 18 she ’ ll be amazing ,” says Victoria . “ There are other young ones at the club , so Jessica has made new friends . My husband is not interested , but my youngest daughter [ aged 10 ] comes along to the club night every Monday for snorkelling and wants to dive when she ’ s 12 .” Victoria says learning with her daughter has made her a little cautious at times , but believes it has also motivated her own training .
Chris Bell with daughter Amy
SJessica and Victoria Westbury
14