Thurrock Aqualung Club

taclog.gif (61454 bytes)

The club was formed by Roy Williams and Ralph Cater in 1964 based at Palmers School. After several years Roy left to form a new branch at West Ham. In 1970/71 another group split off to found Grays Divers which folded after a few years. After the time at Palmers the club obtained the use of a pool at Ardale School and prospered there for about ten years. A back room in the Dog and Partridge served for lectures until a scout hut was hired in Grays. The pool fell into a poor state of repair and suffered frequent closures. The Shell Club pool was used as a stop gap but being open air was far from satisfactory. Luckily Thurrock Council built a new pool at Belhus and we found our present home. We have been there since the early 1980's. Lectures and dry meetings are held at the adjacent Capability Brown pub who allow us use of a meeting room.

The club rents an hour of pool time each week on Fridays at 8 p.m. After the pool members meet to socialise at the bar or attend lectures as required. Training equipment is stored at the pool and consists of six complete sets.

There is an oxygen therapy kit, GPS, VHF, echo sounders, and a library of diving videos.

We have many qualified BSAC instructors within the club and can offer both basic dive training as well as specialist courses. Come and have a try dive on a Friday night at 8.p.m. You will be supervised by qualified BSAC instructors and all equipment is included in the Ł7 cost.

The club is managed by a committee which meets every two months. There is an AGM to elect officers held on the last Friday of October. The club is affiliated to the Thurrock Sports Council and both the British Subaqua Club BSAC(608) and the Sub Aqua Association SAA(814).This is to give freedom of choice and increase access to the sport.

The membership list is about 80 full members. We cater for a wide mix of participants. Our members range from 12 to 75 years. There is a good mix of people. Extra support is given where appropriate. There are many levels to participate in sport and all are equally valuable. Subscription is Ł90 PA (paid in two halves) and includes entry to the pool. In addition affiliation fees are collected on behalf of the BSAC and the SAA. Use of all facilities is free at the point of service except for operating costs (petrol, air etc) which are shared. In cases of economic hardship we have concessionary subs for students, unemployed, retired etc. We recognise the special difficulties women and mothers in particular, experience in juggling their family duties with work etc leaving no time for themselves. To encourage their participation mothers can bring their children with them to training sessions. This depends on the continued good will of the pool management.

Several dances, quiz nights, BBQ's etc. are held during the year. These promote camaraderie and help to raise funds. A trophy is awarded at the Christmas dance to the member judged to have contributed most to the club during the year. Another award is for best novice. The club has a notice board in the pool foyer and a newsletter is issued every month.

In addition to our individual members trips in the UK and abroad, there are major club events. For example recently :-

	A winter week in Malta.
	Easter long weekend to Bigbury Bay.
	May a long weekend to Portland for novices.
	Whitsun a week in Swanage.
	June a week on the Isle of Mull.
	July a week at Lyme Bay.
	August a week base at Oban.
	August supporting the snorkellers at Lyme Regis.
	Various day trips to the south and east coasts.
	Shared charter boat the the Channel Islands.
	Shared charter boat to Normandy.
	The Red Sea.

	YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SUPER FIT BUT
	YOU NEED TO BE IN GENERAL GOOD HEALTH
	AND CONFIDENT IN THE WATER.
	WE TRAIN FROM AGE 12 YEARS UP.

	CLUB SUBSCRIPTION IS Ł90 PA (CONCESSIONS AT 50%).
	AFFILIATION FEES OF ABOUT Ł40 PA.

	TRAINING MATERIALS OF ABOUT Ł25.
	YOU NEED MASK AND FINS Ł60
	NO WEEKLY FEES (POOL ETC. FREE).
	LATER FOR OPEN WATER YOU NEED A SUIT Ł150 UPWARDS.
	BOAT TRIPS COST ABOUT Ł10 PER DAY.
	MOST MEMBERS BUY THEIR OWN KIT OVER SEVERAL YEARS - Ł1000 TO Ł1500

	COME TO BELHUS POOL AT BELHUS PARK, SOUTH OCKENDON, ESSEX.
	BRING YOUR SWIMMING KIT FOR 8 PM ANY FRIDAY.

	IF WE ARE NOT TOO BUSY YOU CAN HAVE A TRY DIVE. COST Ł7

	THE CLUB AWARDS QUALIFICATIONS UNDER THE BSAC CURRICULUM.
	YOU START AT BASIC LEVEL AND CAN PROGRESS FURTHER IF YOU WANT.

	OUR MEMBERS DO IT FOR FUN.
	MOST OF OUR DIVING IS IN HOME WATERS
	SOUTH COAST, WEST COUNTRY, SCOTLAND.
	IT CAN BE DIFFICULT BUT IT IS VERY REWARDING.
	WE VISIT SOME OF THE BEST WRECKS IN THE WORLD.
	YOU MAY SEE SEALS, DOLPHINS, OTTERS ETC.
	NO CORAL REEFS BUT OUR NATIVE MARINE LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.
	ON EXPEDITION WE VISIT REMOTE COASTS AND ISLANDS.

	MOST OF OUR CLUB TRIPS ARE IN THE UK BUT
	WE SEND GROUPS TO EGYPT, MALTA, ETC.
	MEMBERS DIVE ON VACATION ALL OVER THE WORLD.

	YOU CAN GET LESSONS AT A DIVE SHOP.
	AFTERWARDS YOU NEED PEOPLE TO GO DIVING WITH.
	MOST SHOPS ONLY TRAIN AND DON'T TAKE YOU TO THE SEA.