OCEAN DIVER
Ben Locke with University of Nottingham Sub Aqua
“ Jessica is young and had a bit of a wobble when we had a really early start at Capernwray on the first day as she was so tired ,” she explains . “ Our instructor , Kevin , calmed her down straight away and took her to the two-metre training platform ; she was fine after that . She has done so well . The club is so fantastic . Everyone is so welcoming and helpful – what a lovely community . “ When I was 18 , I went for a try dive in Tenerife and I felt it was rushed . I ’ m so glad I ’ m with a dive club . The way I ’ ve been taught is so thorough . I personally feel for safety and knowledge you are better going through a club .”
“ You can ’ t beat the feeling of a wreck coming into view ”
BSAC has a long held tradition of producing some of its most active divers through the university system . Ben Locke , 20 , is studying history and archaeology at Nottingham University SAC . “ I first learned about BSAC through my father ,” Ben explains . “ When my older sister went to university and learned to dive , that ’ s when I really knew I wanted to do the same .
I signed up as soon as possible during Fresher ’ s Week in September . I completed the Ocean Diver theory lesson and exam by November . We started training dives in Capernwray in April . Then we went to Vobster Quay in Somerset , where I finished the course and started open water dives for Sports Diver level .” Student funds are limited , but costs are kept down by university subsidies given to the club , which owns boats and training equipment . “ I thoroughly enjoyed all my training ,” says Ben . “ Diving does cost , but at the same time we do have a lot of kit available to students . I ’ ve done a mix of warm water and colder water diving in the last year . I ’ ve dived in the Philippines . I ’ m just back from a summer trip to Oban , where I did 12 dives . I had experience diving from a RIB [ rigid inflatable boat ], drift diving and dived the wreck of SS Breda . You get a real sense of adventure diving with a club .” Ben says club diving in the UK makes him feel more of a complete diver . “ You get a fuller experience as you are more involved in the process including planning , working the boat , filling your cylinder ,” he explains . “ It adds an extra sense of excitement . You feel like a diver .” Wreck diving is emerging as a particular passion for Ben – something that also ties in with his degree . “ My degree offers students possibility of underwater archaeology . After diving SS Breda , I can already tell I ’ ve only scratched the surface on what there is to see . You can ’ t beat the feeling of a wreck coming into view .” Like many before him , Ben sees his bond with the club continuing long after graduation . “ There are older members , who may have been at the university as long as ten years ago and they come back as instructors ,” he adds . “ People do tend to stick around . I ’ ve even heard about members who met at the club and got married and gone on to have children . I definitely want to be an instructor . A wonderful aspect of BSAC is you get a chance to give back and I think that ’ s why people stay on . We get to train a new generation . I love the idea of teaching . I ’ m going to join the first IFC [ Instructor Foundation Course ] I can get on .” �
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