Sunday Catch Up

Gary was back to his role as mentor this week at Basildon Academies, as well as starting their after school club on Monday! But most of Monday and Tuesday was spent washing, drying and checking kit from our recent Red Sea, and we also took individual photographs for everyone’s certification cards. Although this is part of the paperwork people don’t like doing, making sure all documents are completed properly is very important and some people have come across various problems because of this.

However, after hours of uploading the video to YouTube, here’s the clip of our Red Sea trip!

On Tuesday night we were back in the Basildon deep pool for a busy and active session! Matthew, our documentary filmmaker, was doing a dry suit orientation ready for the upcoming weekend. Nick was running a rescue course with the help of some students who have just completed their own rescue course. We find this very useful for newly qualified rescue divers, as they get a different perspective and it reaffirms what they’ve learnt. We also had seven DSDs and two open water courses running in the pool as well. As ever, this would not be possible without the fantastic help of all our staff: Ian H., Carol, Paul D., Peter W., Rhonda, Nick, and our scholarship student, Nicole, who does a lot of running up and down the stairs sorting kit out!

This week we have also had Katie in the shop on work experience, who has had to work very hard as Janie is away! She has been learning how to sort and check equipment, as well as answering the phone and taking messages.

On Thursday night we were back in South Woodham Ferrers pool. Rhonda and Dave both took open water courses; Nadine was working with two DSD students; and Jamie started a new SEAL Team, which there is still time for anyone to join in with Jamie if they want to! Following the SWF pool night, there was meeting held regarding our next Red Sea adventure, which is with Writtle College students in July! Forward planning for any trip of this nature is very important and it gives all staff the opportunity to ask any questions and for us to clarify exactly how the trip will run. There will be more details about this trip closer to the time!

On Friday, Gary was back in Basildon Academies, working with BTEC Sports students who have nearly finished their confined open water and we are now starting to plan open water dates! One of the pupils on the course has already completed his open water course before with the after school club in a previous year; so when the rest of his colleagues are doing their qualifying dives, he will be taking his advanced open water! The rest of Friday consisted of getting ready for an open water weekend!

Jamie went to Gildenburgh on Saturday to complete Calum’s advanced open water course, and Steve went along as well to log up a few more dives with Joe working as dive master. At the same time, Rhonda was in Nemes with Matthew doing his qualifying open water dives. As it is still early in the season, Matthew was doing his open water course in a dry suit, after completing his dry suit orientation on Tuesday evening! And on Sunday, Rhonda was back at Gildenburgh to complete Matthew’s open water and dry suit course and she was also assisting Nick who was running the qualifying dives for the rescue course and everyone qualified! Well done!

In the upcoming week, we will be posting Ben’s photos of the Red Sea trip on our blog. Here’s a little taster of his amazing work…

Next week there will be no pool on Tuesday as there is filming in the deep pool. We will be in SWF pool on Thursday as per usual, so if you want to join the SEAL Team get in touch!