Scuba training for Ottery Scouts

Ottery St Mary Scouts have been making a big splash at the Pyramids swimming pool in Exeter as they learn how to scuba dive.

Leader Bruce Harvey organised for Aquanauts Diving Club to teach 38 scouts and explorer scouts the essentials of basic scuba diving such as buoyancy and using the underwater breathing apparatus.

Mr Harvey said: “It’s all very new to them, but we’re working with fully qualified British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) instructors with all the latest gear and it is a fantastic experience for the young people.”

Kevin Gray, who has been leading the sessions for the Aquanaut diving school, had his first experience of diving himself through the scouts as a teenager in 1976.

He said: “I was completely hooked by that experience. I think it’s great that the young people are given this chance, as you don’t know where these kinds of experiences lead.”

Asked about their scuba diving sessions, scouts Josh Goddard and Robert Johnstone both raved about the experience, but lamented the lack of fish on show in the swimming pool. The scuba diving qualifies the scouts for their ‘Water Sports Badge’ and also counts towards their more demanding ‘Adventure Challenge Badge’.

Group leader John Green said it is part of a range of activities they try to provide for the young people in the scouts, and announced the launch of a new Facebook page to let parents know what they get up to. To view the site go to www.facebook.com/OtteryScouts or visit their website at www.otteryscoutsuk.org.uk