Hello from (ready?) California!!!

[Dewy]

Hello all,

I just found out today that I will be moving to the UK in about 7 months and was almost saddend that I wouldn't be able to dive anymore!!!

I was quickly shown the error of my thinking in that england is an Island!

Several previous BSAC members have refered me here for info that have since relocated to the states.....so here I am!

I am currently in San Diego California, have my OW Cert with NAUI and Advanced with PADI, (I already know....)! :)

I understand the area to where I am going is land locked and was hoping to find out where would be the closest place to go diving, (Molesworth), and / or who to talk to about joining a club in that area...

Thank you in advance and I look forward to diving with you all.

Dewy

[Ben Panter]

Hello Dewy,

Rich mentioned that you might pop up ;). Welcome to the forums. In terms of clubs near to where you'll be, have a look at this list of BSAC branches (http://www.bsac.org/branches/branchlist.htm) for your nearest.

I asked him to pass this link on, but just in case he hasn't done it yet, BSAC Travel Club's guide to UK diving (http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk/where/uk.htm) may be useful. It will tell you where is likely to be good all round the country. In my (very) humble opinion, the South Coast England and most of Scotland have the best diving in the UK, but I've not managed to sample Northern Ireland yet...

Ben

PS: Might be a good idea to condition yourself into thinking of the UK as England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland rather than just England too... saves embarassement later. :)

[Dewy]

Ben,

Thank you for the quick reply....man news travels fast if I was already expected!

I understood that that Cambridge area would be my best bet for where I will end up, and jumped the gun and contacted them for guidance. (I haven't even looked for a place to live yet!)

I am still checking out the BSAC site itself and will definately look at the travel guide as well. Rish did indeed give me that link! Also pointed out that my toasty 7mm won't help me much there! I will be getting a Dry Suit!

Paul Cracknell also gave me many helpful pointers as to my other equipment, and that as a typical Yank, I forgot about the whole metric thing!

Thank you very much for the tip on what the UK encompasses, apparently I need to go back to school for a bit.

Again thank you for the welcome!

Dewy

[PeteM]

I understood that that Cambridge area would be my best bet for where I will end up

I live about 30 minutes drive from Cambridge. We do most of our diving on the south coast; Brighton, Little Hampton, Dover, Eastbourne etc are all within 1.5 hours (About the same, may be ten minutes more from Cambridge). Areas like Poole and Weymouth just about doable for a day but probably warrant a couple of over night stops to get two days diving in.

The South West and North East which both have very good diving are also within easy reach for weekends

[johncolm]

I was quickly shown the error of my thinking in that england is an Island!

Dewy,

Welcome, although England is not actually an island, it's a small peninsula to the south of Scotland. ;)

[Roz]

I understood that that Cambridge area would be my best bet for where I will end up Dewy

Hi Dewy

Just outside Cambridge is a place called Over, and this is where East Anglia Divers are based. http://www.easod.co.uk or 0870 264 7699. Their BSAC Club membership has divers of all levels and experience, and they are very welcoming. They also run trips.

The other BSAC Club I am aware of is St Neots. (Gareth, where are you?). Gareth is also another regular forum poster. He is, I think, the Diving Officer or he might be wearing the Training Officer hat now, just can't keep up. He will give you more info on the club.

British diving is some of the very best in the World. Scotland is storming and Cornwall just breathtaking. Stuff of dreams to wow your socks off.

I hope you have a good time over here, and enjoy learning English. :)

[Ian@1904]

A little to the west of Cambridge you will find Mid Beds Dive club. We get to South Coast on a couple of hours (well I do anyway) and places like Portsmouth and Swanage are a day trip. I manage to get to South and North Wales easy enough.
We can always aclimatise you by diving at Gildenburgh, a few miles to the north of Cambridge.

Ian
Diving Officer
BSAC 1904