With fellow Dacorum members and friends at Lundy Island
stint as club Chair, I wanted to ask about his role on the committee at Dacorum SAC; what it was that made him volunteer in the first place?
The short answer, he says, is that a committee member gently persuaded him, while sitting in Nemo’ s bar, after a day out at Stoney Cove.
I persist and ask what in him made him want to volunteer.“ Being underwater is my happy place; for me it’ s all about escape and quietly observing the interactions of marine life just going about its underwater day. I can sit and watch a single creature for ages,” he replies.
“ The counterpoint to that, and the reason I volunteer, is that the club community itself adds a richness to the diving experience. It wasn’ t something I appreciated fully until I’ d been a member for some months.
“ Sharing the highs by reliving an excellent dive trip or learning from and laughing about the lows; all of this makes for a much deeper and more fulfilling experience. Volunteering specifically helps to bring that joy to more people on their diving trips.”
John says that at the start he felt rather new and unsure as he’ d only been a club member for a short while, and had not
VOLUNTEERINGTIP
If you’ re able to get involved, then“ do it! Your club will be richer for it and you’ ll find it very fulfilling. Taking part opens up a whole range of possibilities for learning and enjoyment as well.
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initially trained with BSAC, so there was a lot he needed to learn.“ However,” he says,“ our entire club is a wonderful environment, so it is really great to work with not only a massively talented and skilled team, but one where everyone is kind and supportive.” In his second term, John explains, he sees the Chair’ s role as one of mainly encouraging and enabling people do what they’ re skilled at or interested in.
“ It’ s very rewarding to be a part of the legacy of all those who have volunteered before,” he adds,“ and to try and add whatever you can”. Dacorum has just celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a big party.“ Meeting so many ex-members from our history really brought that into stark focus.”
As a member, John’ s favourite activity is to go on club trips.“ It can be quite magical and having friends you can discuss everything with topside makes it more memorable and real. Whether it’ s the dolphin shooting past on the shot or an octopus oozing into some crevice, reviewing all of that after the dive keeps the diving feeling going long after you’ re dry.”
A volunteering highlight is the club’ s photography competition, which John has organised for a few years now.“ Seeing what all our members have caught on camera or video throughout the year is always inspiring. You can’ t be on every dive and every trip, but you still get a chance to share their experiences. A key part of that is bringing new divers into either the sport or the club; fresh viewpoints are vital to keeping your own diving interesting.”
On that note I ask what John would say to a newly qualified diver or snorkeller looking for a club to join.“ Nothing beats chatting to the members,” he replies.“ Go along to a few meetings. I think you can quickly feel a club’ s vibe and whether it’ s a good fit. And do remember we all have the same interests, so it’ s an easy conversation to start.” �
Back on board
Become an Instructor!
Sports Divers and up( for scuba) and 16 + year olds( for snorkelling) can start instructor training.
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With friends in Dahab
Or visit bsac. com / instruct 49