CLUBFOCUS
Light sabre and a prop / rudder Bren on a deco stop
Many members have a passion for marine conservation, and founders of Fathoms Free( fathomsfree. org), a charity specialising in the recovery of ghost fishing gear and raising public awareness about the issue, are PSAC members. The group was recently awarded the King’ s Award for Voluntary Service, which is equivalent to an MBE.
Tell us about club life. What resources does the club have?
The club has its own rigid-hulled inflatable boat, Wild Spirit which goes out regularly for Sunday club dives. We go out all year round, weather permitting, and are always inclusive, with sites chosen to ensure anyone who signs up will be able to dive.
Our members are also encouraged to organise their own dives and are welcome to take the boat out, as long as they have the right qualifications and experience. We have our own towing vehicle, which helps make this possible. We are looking at replacing the boat and will need to fundraise for this.
In winter, we hire a pool once a month and members are welcome to come along to try out new kit, practise skills or carry out training if needed.
Barbecue at Silver Steps
Visiting DDRC’ s chamber
Enjoying the reefs of Dahab
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Do you meet for a social?
During the summer months we organise Friday evening shore dives with a barbecue. Popular sites for this are Silver Steps in Falmouth or Porthoustock beach. Members can come along to dive, eat or both. These are sociable and provide a good opportunity for new or prospective members to meet us. Otherwise, members meet at a local pub once a fortnight on a Monday evening to take part in a general knowledge quiz night.
What is your local diving like?
For Sunday dives we usually launch from Penzance, Falmouth or Hayle, all of which offer superb opportunities. If members want to dive a more challenging, deeper or tidal site, that usually happens on a Saturday or during the week.
We are incredibly blessed with very diverse dive sites including wrecks such as Victorian steamship SS Mohegan wrecked off the Manacles; the four-masted barque Hera just out of Falmouth, and the armed cargo vessel Alice Marie in Mounts Bay.