SCUBACHAT
There is a season
BACK IN LATE DECEMBER 2024 WE AT WEST NORFOLK Sub Aqua Club held our Christmas Swim at Gildenburgh Water . The club tries to always hold a Christmas Dive , but what made it extra special this year is that we celebrated 50 years ! With an increased membership during 2024 , the club is grateful for our continued growth and we look forward to many more Christmas events . JACQUI SCOTT , West Norfolk SAC
There and back again
ON A RECENT LIVEABOARD TRIP , OUR conversation turned to the subject of artefacts removed from the Thistlegorm over the years . One such diver , a dear friend , had been spotted saluting the wreck as he left the deck . It was to be his last trip to visit The Thistlegorm , a sad farewell to a wreck that he knew so well .
This fellow never fails to entrance us all with tales of his many adventures , however this time we were in for a surprise . He casually dropped into conversation that he had a steering wheel from one of the trucks that went down with the Thistlegorm . In 1995 , a younger and energetic diver [ Well , he would have been 51 or 52 – Maths Ed ], he thought it would be worth giving one of the steering wheels a tug to see if it would come off . This was clearly in an era before he knew better than to remove items from shipwrecks .
On that day in 1995 , he returned to the dive boat triumphant with the wheel scratching his bare skin after it had been
32 hidden under his wetsuit . He tasked his fellow dive buddies to distract the crew while he nimbly climbed the ladder and rushed to his cabin to stash his ill-gotten gains .
Now at the tender age of just 81 , as our friend told us of his ill-gotten gains , he realised how much he would have liked to have returned the steering wheel to its rightful place . That was it , a plan was hatched as to how we could successfully carry out this mission .
With the hope that in the event of being caught , the fact that we were returning an artefact would be welcomed rather than frowned upon , we discussed our plan of repatriation with the Egyptian dive guide , who was very much on-board and rather excited with the idea .
Once back home , the wheel was retrieved from behind the lawnmower and packed for our return to the Red Sea . A small brass plaque was engraved and attached to the
Trafford looks to youth
TRAFFORD SUB AQUA 584 HAD A Promotion Day on Saturday 23 November at our local training pool . The staff at Move Urmston allowed us to set up a promotional display for the day . We had kit , videos , books , banners , posters and vouchers in an effort to introduce diving to local residents . We also used the free BSAC promotional material to help with the event and for people to take away and read up about diving . wheel . Just six weeks later we were back , same boat , same crew all with an exciting mission in mind . The initial dive on the Thistlegorm became a scouting mission to decide which truck to place the wheel in and how best to attach it . We soon had it … port side , hold 1 , lower level , perfect ! The dive guide was so proud to be a strategic part of this mission , it ’ s now part of his dive brief with pictures of him proudly re-attaching it . Our unnamed diver is delighted that the wheel is back where it belongs , and he hopes that it will encourage others to follow suit . JONATHAN STARKEY
Editor says : Thanks to Jonathan for sharing this story , but I should add a note of caution . In similar circumstances , I ’ d recommend keeping things above board . Contact the authorities first , or ask BSAC HQ how to go about it . I ’ m glad it turned out well though .
Over the day our idea was to sign up likely candidates and get them started in diving . We also targeted qualified divers to get them involved in our club and give them the opportunity to progress their diving within a club community . The day was a huge success with lots of interest and a great number of people signing up .
One point that did become clear is the interest shown by young people in diving . Recently , we have also had a member ’ s son complete a successful try dive . This has made us think about how we could potentially incorporate a ‘ young divers ’ section into our club . The committee is going to be discussing this in the near future . SIMON READ , Trafford SAC