70YEARSON
On board the RIB , Perseverance Too
Diving Officer Aidan Fewster
London No . 1
London No . 1 Dive Club , the first BSAC branch , was at the forefront of many diving developments . Situated in the capital , by 1955 the branch had more than 400 members and became the pre-eminent diver-training branch in London in the 1950s and 1960s . Many early trainees became famous divers , and many members subsequently formed other branches or set up dive centres around the world .
Long-standing member Terry Dormer
joined in the 1980s , for a training programme of weekly theory and practical sessions over many months , followed by visits to a local pub . The great moment eventually arrived when he was permitted to dive in the sea . This was on a cold and blustery Easter weekend in 1988 at Fort Bovisand in Devon . Terry , now in his 80s , says : “ I have very clear memories . I plunged to a depth of seven metres , in an inadequate wetsuit , in very cold water . The viz was about half a metre . Clutching at my instructor ’ s Fenzy life jacket , I saw a crab ; I was hooked for life .”
Today , London No1 remains busy , with a diverse set of 60 members . The club is gearing up to welcome its first new set of Ocean Diver trainees since before Covid , however , the leisure centre that London No . 1 has called home for most of its existence , and surely defined its image , is being redeveloped , bringing challenges for the future . On a more cheerful note , a successful crowdfunding campaign enabled the club to replace the engines on the club RIB and members continue to visit different dive locations across the UK .
Above : London Diver magazine covers throughout the years
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Celebrating BSAC ’ s 60th under Swanage Pier