In the first of a new series profiling BSAC ’ s Instructors and other volunteers , Simon Rogerson interviews the new North East Regional Coach , Paul Crinnion
VOLUNTEERLIFE
Meet Paul Crinnion , recently announced as the new Regional Coach for the North East . An Advanced Diver and Instructor Trainer , he lives in Kirklevington , a village on the edge of North Yorkshire , and is a member of both Stockton and Hartlepool dive clubs . As he takes on the role of Regional Coach , he is aiming to build on the good work of his predecessor , Dave Woodward , and to support divers and clubs “ in any way I can ”.
With a background in engineering , Paul began his career as a radio specialist and now works in IT . He first got into diving as an apprentice soldier in 1982 . “ I had to have a compulsory hobby on a Thursday night , and the interpretive dance class was oversubscribed ,” he jokes . “ My early memories are of learning Boyle ’ s Law in a freezing shed in winter , playing with an oil drum full of water and various things that float and expand .”
These days he gets wet whenever he can , logging 35-40 dives a year on his AP rebreather . “ I have lost count of how many dives , but with the advent of computers and rebreathers that can connect to a PC , I am again keeping an electronic record of my dives . There ’ s nothing more relaxing to me than pootling around a wreck , absorbing its history and wondering what ’ s around the next corner .”
As with many senior coaches , he got into instructing primarily to develop as a diver , at the same time hoping to give something back to the clubs that
“ I enjoy a good knot ”
In the first of a new series profiling BSAC ’ s Instructors and other volunteers , Simon Rogerson interviews the new North East Regional Coach , Paul Crinnion
Paul ( on the left ) instructing
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The Hispania wreck , Sound of Mull