CLUBFOCUS
Left to right Caroline Jones ( Chair ’ s wife ), Ocean Diver Agata Deren and Membership Secretary / Treasurer Hilary Bolis
What sort of club diving did you do ?
Back in 2016 we worked with another club , Sub-C Divers in nearby Atherton , to organise an expedition to the Summer Isles off the west coast of Scotland . The project was awarded the BSAC Expeditions Award . Sixteen divers and one non-diver took everything needed for a 10-day stay , including a 7.5-tonne wagon with all dive kit and a compressor , a minibus for passengers towing a RIB and a van with all the food towing a second RIB . From the largest island Tanera Mor , the team dived on wrecks and reefs ; doing all the chartwork , filling cylinders and catering . The aim was to build diving experience and carry out some Seasearch projects . It really was a traditional club-run diving expedition . The team worked together to prove that , despite being from different branches , we are all part of the same club .
And now ?
The regional team is active here in the north-west ; we joined the BSAC 70th anniversary day out at Capenwray in September ( 2023 ) and had great fun . We met clubs celebrating all sorts of anniversaries . Our longest serving member Steve Slade ( who joined in 1979 and is still
Our 50th Plaque in place at Capenwray ; made by longest serving member and monumental mason Steve Slade diving ) is a monumental mason ; he made a plaque for us to attach to the diving bell at Capernwray as part of our 50th celebrations , replacing the one he fitted there for our 40th . Newer members enjoyed diving as part of the plaque installation and supported by filming and photographing the dive to promote on our social media .
What ’ s next ?
We are gearing up to increasing our diving members , snorkellers and family members , as we are a socially focused club . Our first move is to get involved with the leisure centre ’ s own 50th anniversary event and run half-hour snorkel experiences . Even if no-one dives on the day , this will give us wider exposure in the community and a chance to warm up and practice our try dive planning and preparation for future events without any costs . We are already working with local scouts to host a snorkel experience ( we are hoping to get some interest in scuba training from their leaders and families ). This work will help to reinvigorate our regular try dives . It is financially worthwhile ; try dives bring in £ 20 per head and the only cost is our time . Local dive shop DiveLife in Whitefield was kind enough donate a bag of assorted masks and snorkels to the cause .
We hope to work up to securing some community grant aid . New kit would allow the club to achieve its goal of community interaction to increase awareness of scuba diving , and the environmental and educational benefits in particular .
Anything else to tell readers ?
If you ’ re nearby we ’ d love you to come and meet us . You can contact us via our Facebook page , but wherever you are please like share and follow us on Facebook and Instagram as it really does help . We look forward to marking our 60th , so watch this space in 2033 . �
50 years of memories and friendship across the decades at the anniversary party
Chair Gareth Jones cuts the anniversary cake
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