Diver Profiles
We have a wide range of members in the club. Some snorkel, some are trainees and some are seasoned and experienced divers. We also have a contingent of former divers who have now retired and participate in the club in other ways. There are a range of diving related special interests including underwater photography, marine biology/ecology, marine conservation and marine archeology to name a few. Within the club we even have members with dive medic experience who have done commercial dives. The club mainly dives open circuit, but also has a handful of rebreathers (closed circuit) divers.
Name/Nickname: Andy (Hinge)
Dive Buddy: Rob (Bracket)
Diver Grade: Dive Leader
Kit: 10L Apeks Twinset, Wing BCD, 7L Bailout
Favourite Dive: Breda, Sound of Mull, Scotland
History: Dutch WWII Steam Cargoship Built in 1921 (4,387 Tons), Sunk by German aircraft (Heinkel Bombers)
I always had an interest in snorkelling so diving was a natural progression, which also lead the way into playing octopush (underwater hockey). My first dive experience was a try dive in a local pool, followed by several weeks of pool training. My first sheltered water dive was at a local inland dive site and was unusually cold but I stuck with it. I then progressed to ocean and shore diving which was surprisingly warmer. My main interests are underwater archaeology (shipwrecks), identifying artefacts and large structures. Diving in Scotland on trips has been amazing as well local wrecks off Bridlington including German submarines.
Progression: I have been fortunate enough to snorkel in Sri Lanka and explore reefs as well as more recently dive off the coast of Tenerife and see stingrays and octopus. Eventually I would like to qualify as an advanced diver.
Name/Nickname: Elaine (Chairman)
Dive Buddy: Debbie
Diver Grade: Sports Diver
Kit: Jacket BCD / 12L
Favourite Dive/Wreck: Longbenton [Range Wreck] - The volume of marine life and shoals of fish were incredible. It made for a really memorable first ocean dive. It was really impressive and I was ‘buzzing’ after surfacing.
Background: I always enjoyed snorkelling abroad so had a try dive whilst in Turkey. Unfortunately it turned out to be a bad experience, my BCD didn’t work and I ended up dropping to the sea bed (at 8 metres) on my first ever dive and needed the instructors to get me back to the surface. Several years later, my niece (Laura) joined SSAC (Scarborough Sub Aqua Club) and told me about the training and how she really enjoyed it. It prompted me to sign up for a try dive which was held in a swimming pool. Even though my bad experience had initially put me off diving, the thoroughness of the training in the UK gave me more confidence and now I have my own kit and dive various wrecks in the UK along with the rest of my family.
Progression: Holidays are now focussed around diving. Have been to Mexico and Lanzarote and going to Malta this year. Going to go on as many UK dives as possible. Enjoy researching history of wrecks as well as marine life. Enjoys social side of things. Eventually want to look at being an instructor.
Name/Nickname: Matt (Vice-Chairman)
Dive Buddy: Anybody
Diver Grade: Dive Leader
Kit: Jacket BCD, 12L / 3L Pony
Background: I first joined to learn to dive to pursue my interest in marine biology aged 16. I had no idea how much it would change my life! I’ve been all over the UK and parts of Europe with my diving. It gave me a basis on which to started university and put me in good stead with my work experience for scientific diving. It also gave me confidence I never knew I had to achieve things I never dreamt I would, such as organizing the Boxing Day Raft Race.
I didn’t realise just how good the diving is off Yorkshire! I was interested in diving locally anyway to see what was there but nothing prepared me for the variety of marine life and how incredible the wrecks are. Every wreck is different and no two dives are the same. OK, the North Sea isn’t as warm and clear as the likes of the Mediterranean, but the wrecks and marine life are certainly worth it! Many non-divers I speak to don’t believe there’s anything worth looking at in the North Sea and I’ve made it my mission in life to prove otherwise!
Favourite Dive/History: HMS E-49 in the Shetland Islands which I dived in July 2012. She was a British submarine which was mined in the First World War. It was an early morning dive, watching the sun come up as we anchored in. We descended down and the visibility was unbelievable, pushing thirty metres! We saw most of the submarine exposed including the brass conning tower, glass still in the periscope. A hydroplane lay upright and a ballast wheel lay on the sand. Even after 95 years I could still read the writing on it. And sightings of a large lobster and good sized ling were a nice treat too. Stunning dive.
Progression: I also found a passion for maritime history. It was while talking with other members and diving the wrecks I began my own research into maritime history and became really interested in it. I even joined up with the Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre and co-ordinated an exhibition there on behalf of the Scarborough Sub Aqua Club.
Name/Nickname: Kirsty (TBC)
Dive Buddy: Spud or Phil
Diver Grade: Sports Diver
Kit: Jacket BCD, 15L
Have you got a pony? No but I have a pet bird and a rabbit!
Background: I came into the club to ask about the annual raft race because a friend and I wanted to take part. Even though I had done a PADI diving course back in South Africa years ago, it was not something I had to confidence to pursue. I signed up for a try dive through SSAC and the rest is history. I really enjoy the dive trips and this year was my first dive trip to Oban (2018) - it was great to see larger intact wrecks in more sheltered waters.
Favourite Wreck/History: HMS Falmouth (Bridlington)
One of my first and most memorable dives was the HMS Falmouth (Bridlington Bay). It was one of the first British destroyers to be damaged and later sunk in the battle of Jutland. I am fascinated by the history of what we dive, especially the WW1 wrecks on the north east coast.
Progression: Eventually I plan to start diving with a bailout or pony as I start to do deeper dives to 35m-40m. I am hoping to become a Dive Leader. Am looking to dive in Sodwana Bay in South Africa next year and maybe dive the Great Barrier Reef at some point as well as dive with sharks.
Name/Nickname: Edmund (Spud)
Dive Buddy: Trainees!
Diver Grade: Dive Leader / Open Water Instructor / Snorkel Instructor
Kit: Jacket BCD, 15L / 3L Pony
Background: In 1982 I got slightly drunk in a bar in Northern Spain (L’Estartit) and signed up for a try dive which was a few days later. The kit was very basic, lungs were used for buoyancy and the dive cylinders were fitted with J valves (before submersible pressure gauges were common). I thoroughly enjoyed it and it gave me a sense of adventure. I dived abroad until 12 years ago and then dived with the club to bring my qualifications up to date.
Favourite Wreck/History: UC39 (Bridlington)
The WW1 submarine has a lot of history; it intact and still has bulkheads. It has been there over 100 years . The prop from the sub is now in the maritime heritage centre in Bridlington.
Progression: Close to completing Advanced Diver.
Wanting to do the accelerated deco course.
Name/Nickname: Sophie
Dive Buddy: Martin (normally)
Diver Grade: Sports Diver (in training)
Kit: Jacket BCD / 12L
Favourite Dive/Wreck: The P31 in Comino Malta. The visibility was so good we could see it from the surface. It was 20M down and 52M long so we could spend lots of time exploring. The wreck is made for divers so we could swim through all the rooms. There was lots of marine life including nudibranch and eels.
I also loved the Farne Islands (in the UK) as we could dive with seals pup who were not shy and interacted with us.
Background: I’ve always loved water and have been snorkelling for years. I did my first try dive in Lanzarote and instantly felt comfortable with it and was eager to train. Since then I have done inland dives, North sea dives and dives such in Mexico.
Progression: I am now at University so I am going on a diving holiday with them and trips. I have now dived in 3 countries and hopefully this number will increase in the next few years. I hope to be a qualified Sports Diver by 2020.