Liverpool Uni’ s 12-hour diveathon
LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY SAC RECENTLY COMPLETED A 12-HOUR fundraising diveathon in open water, raising over £ 1,500 for Treaddhur Bay Lifeboat Station.
Believed to be the first such event to be conducted in UK seas, a total of 24 divers in pre-agreed buddy pairs took their turn in the surprisingly calm seas of Anglesey’ s Treaddhur Bay. With each dive lasting around 35 minutes, the team worked to ensure at least two divers were in the water at any one time. The result was a continuous 12-hour underwater dive at a maximum 6m depth, all under the watchful eye of their surface cover.
Event organiser and the club’ s President Kira D’ Arcy said LUSAC had wanted to do a fundraiser that everyone could get involved with.
“ I initially suggested doing a 24-hour dive challenge, where we had at least two divers in the water at all times, but we decided 12 hours was a more achievable target. And, given that a large proportion of our diving is done in Anglesey, raising for Trearddur Bay Lifeboat Station was a no-brainer.”
During the diveathon, the divers spent their time photographing the resident wildlife, picking litter, and completing dive management and experience lessons towards their next qualifications. Two trainees even completed their final experience dives to get their Ocean Diver qualifications.
Kira thanked everyone who took part in the diveathon as well as everyone who supported the day and donated.
“ The atmosphere on the beach was truly fantastic, and everyone really got stuck in and involved with all aspects of the event,‘ Kira added.
“ As a club, we’ ve historically struggled to raise money, so the amount we were able to raise, and to do it in a safe and fun way that really brought the club together was truly fantastic.” www. justgiving. com / crowdfunding / lusac-diveathon
Benefit of the Month
Save with BSAC Kit Partners
For anyone passionate about exploring beneath the surface, having the right equipment can make all the difference. That’ s why BSAC’ s Kit Partner benefits are designed to help both new and experienced divers and snorkellers access high-quality gear for less. Whether you’ re just starting out or looking to upgrade your setup, these offers make it easier to stay safe, comfortable and well-equipped in the water. For those on a budget or looking to purchase their first set of equipment, SEAC SUB is offering 15 % off its entire product range. Whether you’ re a diver or snorkeller, this exclusive in-store offer gives access to everything needed to enjoy the sport for less. Likewise, UK diving stalwart Northern Diver offers 10 % off its sport diving range for BSAC members. Anyone who uses a Navionics chart plotter can access 10 % off, with an even greater 15 % discount available for club boats via Branch Officers. More accomplished recreational and technical divers should take a look at Custom Divers, who offer discounts on most of their product range to instructors and members. When it comes to exposure protection, BSAC has partnered with some of the UK’ s most respected manufacturers. O’ Three Custom Drysuits provides £ 100 off base layers when purchasing a new drysuit. Similarly, Otter Drysuits gives members 10 % off the awesome Atlantic or Britannic Mk2 suits, helping divers stay warm and comfortable in UK waters. By reducing the cost of quality kit, BSAC helps make underwater adventure more accessible. So be ready to show your digital membership card … For more information on how you can save, go to bsac. com / kitpartners
Interactive map for snorkellers
SNORKELLING BRITAIN GUIDEBOOK authors Emma and Gordon Taylor have just launched an ambitious interactive map showcasing British snorkel sites and snorkelling providers. www. snorkelology. co. uk / map is a‘ one-stop-shop’ for snorkellers of all abilities, bringing together sites from the guidebook alongside an ever-growing list of new locations. It also features the entire network of Scottish Snorkel Trails developed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust as well as details of many snorkel training providers around the UK.
The map’ s launch arrives as BSAC reports a surge in interest, with around a third of new enquiries relating to snorkelling.
Gordon, who has been snorkelling around Britain’ s coastline for over 25 years, said the time was right for a comprehensive snorkelling map of Britain to be launched.“ We want to bridge the gap between finding a snorkel site and getting the right support, ensuring anyone can find the training they need to get started safely,” he added.
BSAC Mary Tetley said the new interactive snorkel map showcased the diverse opportunities for snorkelling around the UK.
“ Snorkelling is a great family activity and helps to make the UK coastline accessible to people of all ages. By using this map, snorkellers can easily filter and search for sites, and then use the information to safely plan their next snorkelling adventure!”
BSAC snorkel members and clubs are encouraged to submit their favourite UK snorkel site, if it is not already listed on the map by sending the details to hello @ snorkelology. co. uk. Any BSAC clubs or snorkel training centres that would like to be included on the map should also get in touch with the Snorkelology team.
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