Dive in and learn a new experience as Sub Aqua Club wins equipment

The Bradford branch of the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) won the organisation’s Branch Diamond Event Competition, which ran throughout last year to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

This weekend the Bradford group received its prize – six pieces of diving equipment valued at a total of £2,500.

Chairman Mick Barraclough said: “This is the biggest thing to happen to the club.

“I was absolutely over the moon when I heard we had won the competition. The gear will make a massive difference for us as a club.

“We really want to use this equipment for new members who join us in the future. We hope to find people who haven’t had the opportunity to take part before and use the equipment we’ve won on them.”

The equipment was awarded to the club at the London International Dive Show at the ExCel London Exhibition Centre on Saturday.

Bradford Sub Aqua Club, which has 65 members, organised 60 dives at 60 locations around the world, 60 free ‘try dives’ and a 60th party.

Mr Barraclough said: “With the ‘free try’ dives event, we found 60 people in the Bradford district who wanted to have a go at the sport who wouldn’t normally be afforded the opportunity to do so.

“I’m very much hoping that winning this competition will increase our profile in the area and with the equipment we’ve won I’m confident we will attract more people here.”

Jeff Parker, of AP Diving which donated the prize, said: “We were impressed by all of the finalists but Bradford gained top marks for a sustained effort over the year which involved all members of the club and which provided an excellent out-reach for diving as a sport.

“All of these experiences were well-documented to reflect an outstanding collective effort.”

More than 30 clubs entered the competition and each picked a way to celebrate the 60th anniversary.

The Bradford club, which was formed in 1957, dives throughout the UK with other clubs. For more information visit bradfordsubaqua.co.uk.