Welcome
Summertime , and the diving is – hopefully – easy . Fish are swimming , and the viz is high . With apologies to George Gershwin , that ’ s my clunky introduction to an issue celebrating the best of BSAC diving .
As we head into Summer 2024 we have a lot to be proud of , and much to look forward to . Diving festivals are planned for the South West and the North West regions ; club expeditions and training events are planned and ready to unfold ; sunny days and flat calm seas have been pre-booked ...
So we ’ re all raring to go . Could you do me a favour and take any back issues of SCUBA and leave them somewhere they may be picked up , wherever you may wander ? Perhaps even this issue , once you ’ re finished reading , obviously . This magazine is all about celebrating the activities of our divers , our instructors , our culture ; I think it ’ s worth putting out there so that those not directly involved in BSAC can see what we ’ re about .
It ’ s a busy issue this month , with an emphasis on BSAC activity . Check out the Learning Curve report on Dave Lucas ’ s three-part instructor event hosted in Oman by Ras Al Hamra BSAC ( Training in Oman , page 43 ). Or read about the divers of Bury BSAC in this month ’ s Club Focus ( page 31 ), in particular their young member Louis Heal , who is on his way to a career in marine biology .
We also have our regular columnists . Science writer Becky Hitchin turns her gaze to plankton and the importance it holds for the health of the planet ( page 27 ), while lateral thinker Kirsty Andrews ponders the UK ’ s status on the international dive scene ( page 22 ). Meanwhile , Andy Torbet goes off-piste ( his preferred habitat , admittedly ) with a piece comparing snorkelling with the Japanese concept of ‘ tree bathing ’ ( Torbet on the Tube , page 68 ). I feared initially he couldn ’ t see the wood for the trees , but his essay raises some deep rooted truths .
Holding out for affordable holiday ideas ? I commend this issue ’ s Travel Briefing on CAP Plongée , a friendly BSAC Centre located in the South of France ( page 57 ), close to the birthplace of scuba itself . They haven ’ t had any members visit yet , so those in the vanguard are guaranteed an enthusiastic welcome .
Have a great summer and I ’ ll see you again for the September issue , out on 15 August .
Simon Rogerson – Editor simon @ scubamagazine . co . uk
Cover photo : Diver with Jazz Hands , Cornwall , by Jane Morgan
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