This is a profile from two of our new members who joined the branch this year, Mark Curran and David Miller. 

Diving all started for me when a friend asked whether I'd like to go for a try-dive at his local pool.  I turned up on the appropriate day ready to do a belly flop from the high board.  Imagine my surprise when I found out instead we'd be wearing diving equipment and breathing underwater.  Needless to say we both enjoyed it. I can recall my excitement as I found the new found freedom of just floating underwater and the extraordinary ability of doing front rolls without getting water up my nose. So after the first day we paid our fees and joined Bishop Auckland Sub Aqua Club. 

From then onwards we embarked on an intensive training program to make us club divers.  Well to be truthful intensive is a lie, we were both very keen and nothing seemed to happen quickly enough.  But in hindsight I can see why it took so long, the training was excellent. 

The pool sessions were very well organised. Bishop Auckland had wisely invested in some pool training kit so we were able to learn skills without having a large initial outlay.  All of the training was done in a very supportive manner.  Training went at the pace of the students; there were no complaints if things had to be repeated.  

The theory classes were also great.  Obviously it's all based on BSAC presentation materials, they are clear and simple without being patronising.  All the lecturers showed great enthusiasm and filled the talks with personal anecdotes.  The club even arranged guest lecturers from other BSAC branches.  So on to open water sessions.  This is where the club excelled.  Ken, the training officer, helped to organise equipment hire, transport and made sure as novices we dived with a variety of buddies (a sure-fire way of making sure you pick up everyone else's bad habits!). On more than one occasion Ken leant me his personal equipment so that I could dive while he stood and watched.  One of these occasions was a superb night dive at Ellerton Park.  Visibility was great, wildlife was abundant and everyone thought it was a great dive.  I guess Ken was non-too pleased.  All in all the skills were learnt in a gradual, natural process over a number of months - much better than a week’s crash course. 

So finally we both decided diving was a sport we could grow into, bought all the kit and passed our open water assessments.  Where to now? Well I for one am looking forward to this year’s season and intend to take the sport diver qualification.  I'm pleased I learnt to dive with BSAC and even more pleased I chose Bishop Auckland Sub Aqua Club.