Dive club looks to make a splash with free taster sessions

WOULD-BE divers have been taking the plunge with free taster sessions at a local pool.

Chaumont Dive Club has been offering them the opportunity to have an hour-long lesson at Active Copley, Stalybridge.

After advertising the sessions on social media, the club, which was formed in 1979, received about 10 enquiries.

And the divers were accommodated over a period of four weeks at the club’s weekly sessions on Monday at 8pm. They have an hour in the pool between 8.30pm-9.30pm.

Two of those who attended one of the sessions were eight-year-old Holly Lancashire and Thomas Crowther, aged 16.

 

Holly Lancashire with dive instructors Scott and Becci Lomas

Royton-based Holly, whose parents are friends with diving instructors Scott and Becci Lomas, had been itching to dive for some time.

However, she had to wait until her recent eighth birthday as that is the youngest anybody can begin diving in the pool, though she will have to wait until aged 12 before she can do the BSAC ocean diver course.

Holly, also a talented gymnast, surprised Scott and Becci how quickly she took to diving.


Thomas, who is studying for his GCSEs at Bluecoat School, went along after his mother saw the taster session advertised on social media.

He described it as a “great experience” and something he would like to pursue.

“It was difficult at the start getting used to the oxygen tank but, once I overcame that, it was really good,” he said.

Thomas Crowther aged 16 gives the safety signal

“After I finish my GCSEs I will have a lot more time, and it is something I would definitely like to take up.”

Chaumont Dive Club, named after Ashton’s twin town, was formed in 1979 and was initially based at Ashton Baths. Once they shut, the club relocated to Active Copley where today it has 34 members. They are predominantly from Tameside but there is one who lives in Ormskirk.

Club chairman Jim Donbavand, 68, who lives in Hyde, describes diving as a pursuit for all ages.

“They say the sport is for everybody aged from eight until 80,” explained Jim, who took up diving in the mid-1990s and make an annual pilgrimage to the Isles of Scilly to explore the many shipwrecks off its shores.

Some of the members began by attending the Copley-based Stalybridge Snorkel Club, which meets each Friday, and then progressed to diving.

Chaumont’s members are aged between eight and 73 with Oldham’s Vinny Binns their most senior one.

It is a branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club which is recognised as one of the most thorough training organisations for diving worldwide.

They offer training ranging from complete beginners to those who are vastly experienced, and the club is lucky to have a couple of national instructors.

Once newcomers have completed their pool sessions, they progress to open water, initially in a quarry at Carnforth before being able to go on more adventurous dives.

They event recently had a simulated night dive at Copley where half the pool was covered to provide darkness.

Chaumont has organised six club trips in 2022 to Anglesey, Pembrokeshire, River Clyde, Farne Islands, St Abbs and the Sound of Mull.

The club owns Valhalla, its own RIB (Rigid hull Inflatable Boat) which is stored at Anglesey during the diving season, but which is used on all the club trips.

For more information, go to www.chaumontdiveclub.co.uk or www.facebook.com/chaumontbsac1149 or email chaumontinfo@gmail.com