Welcome
I ’ ve just been speaking to the owner of a well-established BSAC Centre , who tells me he ’ s putting it up for sale in preparation for retirement . My first reaction was one of sadness because our Centres are valued institutions , and this one had hosted more BSAC members than I care to count .
Nevertheless , it occurred to me that all those generations of visiting divers had gone away with golden memories of the country and their experiences at the Centre . The staff there have a huge amount to be proud of , for they have touched so many lives in such a positive way . Every visiting diver will have valuable diving experience etched into their memories . Many will also have BSAC grades completed as a result of their stay ... a system that has been cemented with the Centres + Branches initiative .
I ’ ve visited many centres – BSAC and otherwise – over the years , and they all have a few common factors : the smell of slowly drying neoprene ; the dripping dip tanks ( hopefully freshly-filled ); the clanking of cylinders around the compressor room ; carefully paired fins hanging from the wall alongside frayed neoprene boots ; the display cabinet of gleaming computers , ready to tempt newly qualified divers ...
We ’ ve all been there , but what you don ’ t see is all the work behind the scenes . Weather planning ; boat maintenance ; staff development ; balancing the books ; bussing in the guests ; trying not to cry when another punter walks in without knocking the sand / mud / worse off their feet .
What would your ideal Centre look like ? I met an owner in Mexico recently who insists on high end kit – his divers start with DIR wings , performance regs and the most expensive computers . Personally , I ’ d be looking for a balance of durable and affordable . I ’ d want a location with access to a good shore dive and easy launching for whatever boats are best suited to the location . And a coffee bar , and a Jacuzzi and a massage room ...
Well , perhaps I ’ m not cut out to run a Centre . But I will conclude this column by saluting those who do . It ’ s very much a vocational line of work , and it can be tough , but the rewards and legacy are tremendous .
Simon Rogerson – Editor simon @ scubamagazine . co . uk
Cover photo : Reef scene at Nun Rock , north of Cape Wrath , by Kirsty Andrews .
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