Welcome
Hello and welcome to a special edition celebrating BSAC ’ s 70th anniversary . I write a day after the North West Region laid on a day of celebration at Capernwray Diving Centre , attended by 33 BSAC clubs . The event was marked with a huge sense of positivity about the club and what it means to us all .
This issue , we take a beat to contemplate BSAC ’ s legacy . We take a sideways look at the history of scuba kit in Alex ‘ Woz ’ Warzynski ’ s ‘ History of Diving in Seven Objects ’, which considers the game-changers in the development of diving equipment . After all , this is a sport kickstarted by a single invention – the demand valve – by Emile Gagnan and Jacques Cousteau .
Also in this issue , Jane Maddocks weighs up BSAC ’ s changing attitudes to heritage and conservation , while Kristina Pedder traces the formation of the first branches . Andy Torbet , meanwhile , looks back in time for his very own historical enquiry into the origins of snorkelling , while Kirsty Andrews highlights the contribution of expedition leaders .
As for me ... I wanted to show how the BSAC experience has changed – or even stayed the same – over the seven decades since our founders , Peter Small and Oscar Gugen , convened that fabled meeting at London ’ s Waldorf Astoria . I interviewed eight divers , whose development took place during each of the decades , from the 1950s to the 2020s , to see how attitudes have morphed .
At a time when diving is vying for attention amid a host of outdoor activities , there will always be an enduring fascination for the underwater world . All my interviewee ’ s lives have been enhanced by their BSAC experience ; diving has brought them experiences they otherwise would scarcely have imagined .
They all value the quality of their training and the confidence that grew in them as they progressed . And most of all , they value the friendships forged along the way , in a direct line that stretches back to October 15th , 1953 .
Happy Anniversary , BSAC .
Simon Rogerson – Editor simon @ scubamagazine . co . uk
Cover photo : 1960s snorkeller enters the water , photographer unknown
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