SCUBA Oct 2026 issue 169 | Page 32

CLUBFOCUS
Do club boats require a lot of investment?
Monthly pool try dive session
Well yes, we’ ve been very busy with maintenance – requiring significant investment, together with a huge amount of volunteer time from members. Our boat shed was needing new doors and a lot of TLC – that was a massive job as we bought the doors but installed them ourselves.
One of the RIBs needed major works( hydraulics, electrics and fuel lines), for that we went to experts. But recently we also put four members through a dedicated outboard engine maintenance course run by Solent Boat Training. So if we
group of retirees who like nothing more than heading off midweek for some diving without the crowds.
What does the spread of experience look like among your divers?
We have four Ocean Diver trainees, seven Ocean Divers, one Advanced Ocean Diver, six Sports Divers, nine Dive Leaders, three Advanced Divers and one First Class Diver. Eight members have instructor qualifications. Our sole snorkel diver trainee in 2025 has progressed to Ocean Diver this year.
Tell us about your instructor team?
Collectively, the instructor team can deliver most Skill Development Courses( SDCs) in branch. We have one Advanced Instructor and one Assistant Advanced Instructor( also a Snorkel Instructor), two Open Water Instructors and Four Assistant Instructors. We would like to increase our
pool of OWIs – it’ s the usual challenge of competing priorities and time. Recently one of our instructors qualified to teach the Accelerated Decompression Procedures SDC and around half a dozen members have already completed the course.
What does the club offer members?
We are very proud of our two rigid-hulled inflatable boats( RIBs). Both are six-metre, twin-engined RIBs. One is a Humber Ocean Pro 6 and the other an Osprey Viper( named the‘ Dave George’ after a much-missed member). We think of our boats as our greatest asset and what differentiates us as a branch. We use them wherever we can. We are lucky to have members who are happy to tow and launch from slipways and beaches. We provide boat handling training and Diver Coxswain assessments in-branch; as a result, more than half our members have achieved these qualifications.
David Smith maintaining the stats
Boat kitted and ready for launch at Rhoscolyn Beach, North Wales
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