Certificates of Merit awarded by BSAC ’ s CEO , Mary Tetley and signed by BSAC Chair Edward Haynes and National Diving Officer Dai Atkins . “ What an achievement for one BSAC branch to have three members who have all been diving for 50 years ,” Mary said . “ It ’ s a pleasure to recognise these three members of Potteries Divers for their dedication and loyalty to BSAC and their branch . Well done for 50 years diving and thank you !”
Since then , the ‘ Three Amigos ’ have also received letters of recognition and congratulations from both HRH King Charles and the Prince of Wales . Here are their stories ...
How did you get into diving ?
Bob : I was inspired by the Jacques Cousteau TV programmes . Eric : I read an article in a Sunday newspaper . Paul : After learning to swim at the age of 23 , I had a try dive with another agency and didn ’ t like it . Then I had another try dive with a BSAC instructor and I was hooked !
Who did you learn to dive with ?
Eric : I ’ ve only ever dived with BSAC12 . Sadly , my instructors are no longer with us . Bob : Initially with Plymouth University SAC before moving to Liverpool . Paul : My initial instruction was with a BSAC instructor who wanted to start a new branch – which didn ’ t happen , so I joined Brighton BSAC ( 007 ) in 1974 .
What was the training like ?
Eric : Arduous , because skills could only be passed with lots of practice . Like swimming a perfect square using only a compass , diving watch and depth gauge , if you didn ’ t arrive back at the starting point , you failed . Paul : More rigorous than it is today . Before getting anywhere near a scuba set , you had to become a proficient snorkeller . Bob : Much the same as it is now really , but with very different equipment .
What was the kit like ?
Paul : Wetsuits … lifejackets that could only be used on the surface ; a single second stage and masks without skirts that dug into the skin to form a seal . Bob : We made our own wetsuits , which regularly split on the seams ; twin hose valves , and torches with candles in them . Eric : Homemade wetsuits and lifejackets with CO2 cylinders for surface buoyancy .
Regional Coach Stephen Dorricott ( left ) with the Amigos
What was your first dive like ?
Bob : Looking back , it was horrible , but fantastic at the time - 6m depth with about 0.5m visibility in Gosport harbour . The highlight was seeing a hermit crab . Paul : My first sea dive was on a wreck off Shoreham – the excitement of seeing shoals of fish , conger eels and many crabs . Eric : It was so long ago ! I remember having to crawl up Chesil Beach in a swell and being pulled back by the waves !
How many dives have you done ?
Paul : I ’ m sure I ’ ve exceeded 2,500 dives . An average of 55 dives per year since 2009 . I was diving more frequently while in Brighton branch . Eric : It would be a guess , but probably over 3,000 , including all the instructing I ’ ve done . Bob : I don ’ t really know – I stopped logging dives 20 years ago . I ’ d estimate at least 2,000 , maybe more , but very few have been in quarries .
Paul , Eric and Bob at Pool night
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