UKDIVING CLUBFOCUS
Father and daughter members Miaya and Nigel Roberts on a trip to Oman
So where do you go?
Our next major dive trip is to Sharm El-Sheikh in the Red Sea, scheduled for November 2025. Recent dive trips have included Cozumel, Mexico and another favourite destination for members has been Ishigaki, Japan.
What achievements are you celebrating this year?
The section recently celebrated 43 years as a BSAC special branch, a significant milestone.
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Our main goal is to have fun and introduce more people to the world of diving, and we’ re proud that the Sub Aqua Section is one of the most active and popular groups at the Royal Automobile Club.
We’ ve hosted five major educational talks, featuring leading figures in the underwater world. Attendance at these talks ranges from 50 to 170 people, and they are open to members and their guests. The RAC subsidises these events, allowing us to bring in renowned speakers, including: Kat Zhou, Underwater Photographer of the Year, speaking on
‘ Blackwater Diving’; Henley Spiers on‘ Diving with a Submersible to 500m in the Maldives’; SCUBA magazine editor Simon Rogerson on‘ Understanding Sharks’; Alex Mustard on diving the Thistlegorm; Nur Tucker( voted Most Promising British Underwater Photographer in the 2020 UPY competition) on‘ Above and Below the Ice in Antarctica’; and Rick Stanton on‘ The Thai Football Team Rescue’.
We also host a number of sub-aqua specific social events throughout the year, including our annual Christmas event, complete with a champagne reception and an elegant dinner in the Committee Room.
What is the club planning for the next few years?
We aim to continue the success of our educational talk series, focusing on raising awareness of ocean conservation and exploration. Expanding training opportunities and developing more instructors is also a priority. We’ re excited about the possibility of organising more overseas dive expeditions and, of course, introducing our underwater photography training sessions.
The Royal Automobile Club Sub Aqua Section is a vibrant community of passionate divers, explorers and ocean enthusiasts. With a robust training program, thrilling travel opportunities, and a strong commitment to education, we look forward to growing, learning, and diving together for many more years to come. �