Each month we feature a selection of your letters
We ’ re still looking for a new prize for a Star Letter , so please bear with us for a while longer . It ’ s a difficult time for the diving industry , so sponsorships are a tricky proposition at the moment .
ChatSend your letters to simon @ scubamagazine . co . uk
Tomorrow ’ s divers
STRATFORD UPON AVON BSAC WAS asked to provide a speaker for a group of children who were involved in a week-long programme during their holidays . The event was enthusiastically organised at St Mary ’ s Church , Tysoe , Warwickshire , and titled ‘ Oceans Day ’, in which the 35 children researched marine environmental issues and created a play .
SOA-BSAC were contacted via the club ’ s website and the request was for a couple of presentations to two groups of Key Stage 1 and 2 .
The impact of Blue Planet II and the Coast television series has clearly had a big impact on the children , who knew a lot about marine life and the impact humans are making to the oceans .
Despite a lack of Wi-Fi in a 900-year-old , stone-built church we managed , and it was great fun . Hopefully , some of the adults will be tempted to ‘ try dive ’ and the children are already hooked .
Who ’ d have thought I ’ d be standing by an altar , brandishing a dive knife and talking about seals and sharks . I learnt first-hand how knowledgeable and enthusiastic the children are about marine conservation and the power of the media in making this widely accessible .
Who knows , this may lead to some new BSAC members in the next few years . NIGEL MARIS , Stratford Upon Avon BSAC
Visiting nudi discovery
ONE OF OUR MEMBERS , ALLEN Murray , made headlines recently with his photograph of this rare nudibranch , which had never before been photographed in English waters . He took it while on a diving holiday in the Scilly Isles during the last week of July .
The Cornwall Wildlife Trust confirmed his find and issued a press release . Allen is a regular Seasearch diver and only recently gave up his role as BSAC ’ s South West Regional Coach .
The multi-coloured sea slug , Babakina anadoni , measures just 2cm in length and was photographed near Melledgan , an uninhabited rock island in the Isles of Scilly , during the Wildlife Trust ’ s National Marine Week . ROSEMARIE LONGFIELD , Chair , Totnes SAC
Arthur Cooke – a tribute
IT IS WITH GREAT sadness that members of Vale Royal SAC 1238 announce the passing of Arthur ( Archie ) Cooke on the 22nd August 2022 after a long period of illness . Unassuming and gentle , his generosity of spirit represented the ethos of club diving at its best .
As an Advanced Diver and Open Water Instructor , Archie was a hugely experienced diver and was always willing to share his knowledge and love of diving with anyone . Archie will always be remembered for his wicked , dry sense of humour that could bring a smile to everyone and light up a room . Everyone ’ s thoughts at Vale Royal SAC are with his wife Alvie , daughter Gina , granddaughter Ella and the family . STEVE HOPPER , Vale Royal SAC
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