I am a dedicated ocean worker, explorer and educator having first discovered diving as part of a marine science expedition to the Belize Barrier Reef.

As both a commercial and technical diver, I have a global view of the diving community, and broad technical expertise, which I draw great satisfaction in supporting our club with.

I look forward to leading club members on the many dive adventures I am always planning for.

Outside of diving I am an avid live music fan and keen skydiver.

Qualifications: Advanced Diver Open Water Instructor/Nitrox Instructor

I started diving way back in early 1986, when I joined Leeds BSAC 115. I loved it from the start. We had our own club RIBs then and explored our diverse coastline – diving in some amazing places like the Summer Isles, Skye, Mull, and The NE coast. In 1989 I qualified as Advanced Diver. I then worked abroad for a while in Brunei and joined the BSAC club there – diving around SE Asia and Australia, including Sipadan and the Barrier Reef. I’ve also dived in Canada, Egypt, Malta, Cyprus, and Greece. When I returned to Leeds, I soon got back in to cold water diving. I also loved instructing and arranging trips and became an Open Water Instructor in 1996, Nitrox Instructor in 2000 and Dive Coxswain in 1998.

Then in 2015 on a dive on ‘The Rondo’ in the Sound of Mull, on my ascent at 6m I had an IPO which was very scary. After a year of medical investigations, there was no explanation for the IPO. I decided to stop diving as was told there was a 50/50 chance of it happening again. However, two years ago I decided to return to Leeds 115 to help instruct in the pool. In June 2022 and 23 I decided to dive in Cyprus – with no problem. I am hoping to return to UK diving in August – when the water is warmer.

My other passion is sailing, and you might well see us on our boat off the coast of Anglesey!

Qualifications: Open Water Instructor

Bio

Hi, I’m Steve one of the Open Water Instructors and Training Officers. I started diving in 2016 after falling in love with it on my first try dive. I predominantly only do cold water diving – with my favourite dive site being the wreck of the ‘The Rondo’ in the Sound of Mull.

I have an affinity for depth and metal, when diving for pleasure!

I have dived in multiple locations across Europe such as: Eastbourne, Scapa flow, Shetland, the Sound of Mull and Norway. I have some big plans for future trips.
I am currently training to be an Advanced diver along with my Open Water Instructor exams and hope to move on to using Trimix and a rebreather in the near future.

Qualifications: Open Water Instructor

Hi I’m Henry. I am the newest instructor within the club. I was awarded my first instructor certification in September 2023.
I started diving back in 2016 where I did my PADI Open Water qualification. Two years later, I progressed to do my PADI Advanced Open Water certification.

In September 2019 I joined Leeds SCUBA club as I wanted to experience cold water diving of the UK. As well as being an Instructor, I am also one of the Training Officers for the branch.

I am the youngest committee member the branch has ever had at only 20 years old. Last year I was the Club committee’s Secretary.
Some of my favourite places to dive include the Canary Islands which are full of life. I also enjoy taking photos of the dive sites in which I get the privilege of visiting. I am currently progressing towards Dive leader and to do my instructor qualifications.

Qualifications: Assistant Diving Instructor

Initially trained to Sports Diver in the mid 90’s with Odiham SAC. Over the next 20 years, I did a little diving on and off in the UK, Thailand, and Egypt, before returning to BSAC club diving in 2015 when I joined Gwynedd SAC. There, I progressed to Dive Leader, started work on my Advanced Diver, completed several SDCs, and did the IFC and TIE. I was a member of the committee for a year and helped to organise talks and social events. In 2017, I arranged a successful trip to Gozo for a small group of club members. After a move to Spain in 2017, and a few nice dives in the Med, I hung up my fins in 2019, returning to BSAC diving when I joined Leeds this year.

In my role as Welfare Officer for the club, I hope to encourage an open and honest environment which is as safe, inclusive, and accessible as possible for qualified divers, trainees, and interested members of the public alike. It is also my hope that the goal of moving the branch from ‘training club’ to ‘diving club’ is at the forefront of the committee’s plans and aspirations for the year, and this is something I am very keen to help with in any way I can.

Qualifications: Assistant Diving Instructor/Theory Instructor

A comment from one club member was that I’d been around since before the hills were formed! I have been in the club continuously for almost 32 years. I’m a Chartered Tax Adviser weekdays and a market gardener at weekends so have two completely different working environments. I’m medically not able to dive at the minute but hope this will change, I’m working on it. I have two furry babies, Bailey and Sonny, tortoiseshell neutered tom cats just over a year old and a partner, John. I have served the club as treasurer, membership secretary, social secretary and training officer at different times and some times more than one job at a time.

My role as treasurer is to collect in money due from members for subscriptions, training, course materials and trips and then to ensure we pay for goods and services provided to the club and to keep accounts detailing this.

As membership secretary I answer queries from would be members either directly or via other committee members in relation to the costs and benefits of membership (a few of us receive and deal with these requests). I sign up new members and send details to BSAC HQ together with payment details. I receive details of membership renewals made through BSAC HQ. I also receive membership cards to be distributed to members who have opted in to receive the plastic membership cards.

Qualifications: Theory Instructor

Sadly I was a late recruit to diving as I ran a junior netball club for many years. As the WY League grew I had less and less time for personal ambitions. Finally I found some time and by 2006 had completed the PADI Scuba Open Water and Advanced qualifications. Continued time constraints meant that I only got my diving skills into some order when I stood down from netball. I was so lucky that the dive group I was involved with visited the Red Sea, Maldives, Zanzibar, Malta, Mexico, Bali and Flores. It was on the Bali /Flores trip that I had some notable experiences – a pygmy seahorse on the Liberty ship, manta rays sailing majestically overhead as I knelt on the sand and finally having the fastest, hairiest drift dive down the side of an island. This is what it’s all about.
I am obsessed by marine life, particularly fish and seaweed. I am a gardener so it’s probably a continuation of the fascination I have for colours and textures. My serious love affair started by seeing fish galore in the Red Sea. The first I identified was a colourful little number called a picasso fish.

In 2016 Academy Divers moved too far from Wakefield so I joined BSAC. A change of code meant that I completed the Sports Diver course and most of the Dive Leader. The change of clubs involved more dry suit diving. At St Abbs I have seen the extraordinary wolfish and anglerfish. Also at the same venue I spotted my first octopus in British waters. I was absolutely ecstatic and bored ‘everyone’ to death. The club gave me the opportunity of trips to the Farnes, Lochaline, Isle of Man, South Wales and Anglesey.

My role is Equipment Officer. Strangely enough this job involves sorting all the equipment in the compressor room. I make sure that things are tested or serviced and fit for purpose. I distribute kit to divers on club night and organise their requirements for trips.

Qualifications: Sports Diver

Hi, My name is Alex and I am Communication Officer. This is a new role, which I took on back in March.

I started my adventure with diving in 2022, when I came for a ‘Try Dive’ with our club and fell in love with diving straight away.
Diving was something I had dreamed of since the age of 16, but could not go for it due to the lack of funds and approval from my parents. I forgot about it for years and just two years ago started to remember about my dreams from the childhood and decided to make them come truth. When I am under the water, nothing really matters! There’s no space for worries or problems, apart from my Buddy, a beautiful world and creatures around me and my steady, relaxing breathing. It is amazing!

Being part of the club is a wonderful experience, as we not only dive together, but also spend a lot of time with each other, support each other and form beautiful friendships. Even though I am still new to the club and diving, I am trying my best to support my club as much as I can and go to as many diving trips as possible.
I have done over 30 dives (not many maybe, but means a lot to me) in open water and dived in some amazing places, such as Cornwall, Anglesey and Sound of Mull. I am planning to visit South Shields in August and Sound of Mull again, in October.

I am so excited and looking forward to more adventures.

Qualifications: Ocean Diver

I discovered diving in August 2019 after an incredible try dive experience in Crete, however I was unable to pursue it further at that time due to Covid 19.  In 2023, I  completed the PADI Open Water and the PADI Advanced Open Water certificates.  While I was taking every opportunity that I could to dive abroad, I soon realised that to develop my skills further I would need to take the plunge into UK waters. I joined Leeds SCUBA club in January this year and I have loved every minute of it. I am very much looking forward to continuing my dive journey with the club and the exciting trips that they have planned.

I put my name forward as the Social and Fundraising officer due to my experience with fundraising in another voluntary organisation.  I have been a part of a small cat charity in Huddersfield for many years now. As part of my role at the rescue I have, among other things led fundraising events, managed their website, built up their social media following (X and Instagram), arranged social events such as the Christmas party and quiz nights, and led training.  I hope to be able to bring these skills into my role on the club committee.

Qualifications: Ocean Diver (PADI Crossover)