Kirsty Andrews addresses a perennial challenge for dive clubs – how to keep the tradition of pool night alive and finning
KIRSTYANDREWS
Just keep swimming
Kirsty Andrews addresses a perennial challenge for dive clubs – how to keep the tradition of pool night alive and finning
Totalling up the club accounts for every BSAC branch ’ s AGM , there tend to be two large items of expenditure – boat-related costs , and swimming pool hire . The significant cost of the pool , often used just for training and a minority of swimmers is an old chestnut and source of strife in all the dive clubs I ’ ve ever been a member of over the years .
In my university BSAC club we didn ’ t have regular access to a pool . Sometimes student clubs are at the mercy of the union ’ s appetite or the available facilities . Our solution was to hire a pool for one full weekend and , in an operation worthy of the military , to get all of our Ocean Divers through their pool lessons over two jampacked days .
It was all I knew , and it worked pretty well , especially for divers who take to their new skills like , er , a duck to water . They don ’ t benefit , however , from the repetition of putting their kit together and doing their buddy checks week after week until they become second nature , or have much of a chance to reflect and consolidate new-found skills . And for those students who take a little longer to get to grips with mask-clearing , for example , there isn ’ t much wriggle room . I should note that my old club now has a weekly pool session ; good for them .
When I graduated and joined my new local club , I was wowed by the luxury of a weekly evening pool facility . But it was under-used , under-appreciated , and became increasingly contentious
“ Those seeking to practise skills or try new kit in safe spaces should be encouraged ”
as costs went up . And I got a sense of deja vu today as I received an email from another club , also looking at ways to save pool costs . As it ’ s a perennial problem , I thought I ’ d set out some ideas that I ’ ve tried , to more or less success , in the hope they might be helpful to some clubs out there .
Some pools may allow hire on a fortnightly basis , or seasonally during the Spring . Both feel to me like a bit of a slippery slope . And with many public pools closing over the years , it feels important to hold on to those we still have .
How about changing the charging structure ? Some clubs don ’ t charge their members at all to use the pool ; some charge a modest sum , and some have swimming-only members . Whichever way you cut it , there are debates , and there ’ ll always be fewer pool users than those who pay to use it , so this often has to combine with ideas to increase usage .
You could encourage one-off events such as first aid and rescue refreshers . Those seeking to practise skills or try new kit in safe spaces should be encouraged . Photographers too might be lured into the pool to try new camera gear . I once organised an octopush taster session , which was fun but convinced me that I really need to get fitter to enjoy that sport . Talking of which , it ’ s such a luxury to have our own effectively private pool , and fitness is so helpful in our sport , divers shouldn ’ t need too much cajoling to go for a swim ( but we do , don ’ t we ).
Try dives are a potential source of funds , for prospective trainees or community groups such as the scouts . And if that doesn ’ t fill the financial hole , local clubs can consider sharing with another club , although this does require some compromise and thinking through the details . I ’ ve seen paying per user or splitting the monthly cost . Both are better than losing the facility altogether , in my view . For what is a dive club without a pool ? �
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