What does a typical training year look like ?
We run our Ocean Diver course in semester one . Trainees typically start weekly theory sessions in late September , complete pool training at the end of October , and openwater training in Oban on the first weekend of November . New members can then attend our January overseas trip and semester two fun trips , as well as starting Sports Diver training , which runs during semester two . Dive Leader is trainee-led and occurs throughout the year whenever the group decides they want to organise trips .
When do you dive ?
We ’ re a year-round diving club . The university is closed for undergraduate students from May to September , so we maximise the winter season . We welcome members back in September with Farnes trips to see the seals . Training runs until mid-November , then we have an overseas trip to escape the cold water in January . Our regular Scapa trip runs in February : it ’ s a bit nippy , but the viz is exceptional and we have the whole fleet to ourselves ! We then round off the academic year with the Sound of Mull , or even up to Skye . Those staying in Edinburgh for summer enjoy chilled fun diving , often Clyde or Eyemouth trips with our boats , before the academic year brings new trainees . Members are often doing wonderful summer things ; many are marine biology students taking part in awesome expeditions . Aside from the bigger trips , we ’ re out most weekends at the west coast lochs , or somewhere on the east coast marine reserve .
How has Covid affected you ?
It ’ s been a tough year with limited diving . Even when travel was allowed , our union imposed a “ no travel outside Midlothian ” rule , concerned about the image of the university . However , since March 2020 , we have logged around 200 dives within Covid rules . We ’ re proud of this , and the effort to get required policies in place to allow us to dive was appreciated by members . Of course , there have been fewer dives and trips than usual . We reduced our training intake from 16-18 Ocean Diver trainees , to eight . We were only able to run two crossover trips for 12 qualified divers before the tier system came into place , halting diving . We have a large group of Assistant Diving Instructors waiting to continue their instructor training when possible . Depending on guidance we are hoping to run Sports Diver and continue Dive Leader training soon , as well as a few SDCs .
What about club life during Covid ?
We ’ re delivering online lectures and workshops . Trainees have been getting to know the club with online and outdoor socials in small families , with experienced members acting as parents , when rules permitted . When in-person meetings ceased we replaced our Halloween social with a dive trip . Divers in fancy dress participated in a pumpkin scavenger hunt dive around Prestonhill quarry !
We are famous for our annual Burn ’ s Night celebration , and when plans for an underwater strip the willow were cancelled by lockdown , we delivered packages containing whisky , haggis , and other treats to our members for a black tie zoom call .
Enjoying Dunbar beach after a dive
28