This year sees the 50th anniversary of Castlereagh Sub Aqua Club in Northern Ireland. Interview by Kristina Pedder
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Castlereagh Sub Aqua Club
This year sees the 50th anniversary of Castlereagh Sub Aqua Club in Northern Ireland. Interview by Kristina Pedder
LOCATION: Northern Ireland
MEMBERSHIP FEE: £ 264( concessions £ 132) plus BSAC
CONTACT: e secretary. csac22 @ gmail. com! csac. co. uk f Castlereagh Sub Aqua Club
This busy, innovative branch has come to be known for its welcoming and friendly environment; an ethos members are keen to carry forward into the future. The club hosted a celebratory dinner at the Ivanhoe Hotel in September to mark the event and launched a documentary made for the occasion that celebrates the highlights of those first 50 years on the club’ s YouTube channel( search for Untamed Ocean Northern Ireland). I wanted to find out more about life at the club today.
Tell us about Castlereagh’ s club history
Castlereagh Sub Aqua Club( CSAC), on the outskirts of Belfast, was formed in September 1975. In 1976, the club joined BSAC. From a nucleus of 10 or so founding members, the club is now 50 years old, and has around 70 members. In 1985, members discovered two Elizabeth I era cannons off the County Antrim coast, near the town of Larne. The cannons were eventually auctioned in London and purchased for the equivalent of £ 45,000 in today ' s money by the Ulster Museum. The proceeds of sale were used to help purchase our current club rooms and three small inflatable boats and engines.
Where are you based?
Our club house is on the Castlereagh Road in Belfast. Despite being in a built-up urban area, the club attracts members from across Northern Ireland. We train, socialise and meet there to organise many of the interesting dives that are easily accessed by land or boat across Ireland.
Castlereagh’ s new Dory, 1984 Typical 1970 / 1980s dress code
Rathlin Island harbour, 1980s
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