The last club trip to Mull , in 2019
Do you dive all year ?
Yes , the winter is no barrier , as the huntergatherers are out continuously and the brave never miss the Boxing Day dive at the coast . During the Christmas holidays , Hodge Close in the Lakes is a popular dive for the brave , even though the sun never sees the water ’ s surface .
Do you train all year ?
We are constantly training new divers in small numbers ; some stay with the club , some move on . We like to see beginners ’ reactions to initial training in the pool , which to a newcomer is a whole new world . Then when they reach open water , the environment changes , which creates a greater excitement and challenge for each trainee . We do not have specific dates for intake of trainees , the majority are instructed on a one-to-one basis , we align training wherever possible to give us the opportunity to provide club weekends at Ellerton Lake and Capernwray .
Who is in your instructor team ?
We have seven Assistant Diving Instructors ; six Open Water Instructors ; one Advanced Instructor ; and four Snorkelling Instructors .
A good day at Redcar
Do you run any Skill Development Courses ?
We run defibrillator training for the whole club , and do a fair few SDCs : nitrox workshop ; buoyancy and trim ; chartwork and navigation ; rescue management ; wreck diving ; twinset diving ; outboard engine and boat maintenance ; and boat handling . We also practise flare handling and operation , and do GPS and depth sounder training both on the water and classroom .
What is the club planning for the next few years ?
We have a number of short-term goals : the first is to buy a compressor for our base at the football club . Another goal is to grow our membership ; we have suffered , as many clubs have during the pandemic , losing members who have retired from diving , while unable to train new members during lockdown . Also , we aim to run as many dives as we can , as our members have missed the sea .
To finish with we ’ d like to toast absent friends , and here ’ s to another 40 years . �
Training day at Capernwray 31