Two BSAC clubs came together ( and a third helped ) to create a new UK challenge that doesn ’ t involve charging up mountains . Story by Lydia Walker
Stuff of Legend
UKDIVING
The Loch , Lake and Llyn Challenge
Two BSAC clubs came together ( and a third helped ) to create a new UK challenge that doesn ’ t involve charging up mountains . Story by Lydia Walker
Every year , Ilkeston and Kimberley SAC raises money for a nominated charity . The last few years we have put on auction nights , raising more than £ 1,000 . After deliberating what the club should do this year to raise money for our chosen charity , British Divers Marine Life Rescue , I came up with the idea of a dive challenge . We would dive a lake in England , a llyn in Wales and a Loch in Scotland , all in a day
We needed something that would push us out of our usual comfort zone , something we have never done before . After few hums , maybes and mutterings of ‘ rather stay in the pub ’, we assembled a crack team of 14 , plus three more from our neighbouring BSAC club , Mansfield and District Sub Aqua .
The logistics would prove a challenge in itself – trying to get 17 people up and down the country with dive kit is always a challenge . Still , we had the team , and the rest would fall into place – now it was time to pick our dive locations . We wanted dive sites that were known to people other than divers , preferably ones with some element of myth or legend attached to them .
Making it happen
Then it was time to find accommodation and set up a Go Fund Me page with target of £ 1500 and start fundraising . After months of planning and few hiccups along the way , the weekend was finally here . We were all up early , early , packing the van until there was just about enough room left for the actual people . Someone jokingly asked if perhaps we ’ d like to take more kit , but the truth was that was our attempt at cutting back on the kit !
We ’ d all raced up to Loch Long Hotel on Friday , so we ’ d be all bright-eyed and bushy tailed on the day ... or not in some cases . There were a few mystery headaches , but at least none of us had been ‘ brave ’ enough to take on the deep fried Mars Bar at the chippy opposite the hotel , so at least our blood glucose was normal .
Even though it was a protected loch , the previous week ’ s weather had been horrendous . However , the BBC Weather department had kindly promised a heatwave for our visit ... and for once it was on the money . Our challenge had begun .
Neil Parsons at Loch Long
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