Dal SCUBA lives the life aquatic

Swimming in the ocean is probably the last thing you’d be thinking about at this time of year when it’s -20 Celsius with the wind chill. But even if it's too frosty to dive under the waves, the Dal SCUBA club is still plenty busy in the winter.

“We’re an adventure club that aims to bring together divers from various academic backgrounds to dive regularly year-round in a fun and safe manner,” explains club treasurer Anna Sparrow. “The club consists of both current and graduated students who have a common interest in getting wet and salty.”

Sparrow says members tend to stay on land for non-diving events such as film nights or fundraising events during the off-season. During the warmer months they meet in front of the Student Union Building on Sundays at 9 a.m. and then visit a local dive shop to rent gear before heading to the water.

The society dives at more than a dozen sites across the region, ranging in difficulty from beginner through advanced (open water) including Bald Rock, Bear Cove, HMCS Saguenay Wreck (the ship was sunk in 1994 to create an artificial reef off Lunenburg), Hubbards Beach (Treasure Point), Sandy Cove and many more.

Divers of all skill and experience levels

Dal SCUBA brings together divers of all skill levels and actively encourages non-divers to take up the sport. “Unfortunately the club isn’t able to certify people interested in diving, but we’ll organize PADI certification courses through local dive shops in the area,” says Sparrow.

One of the club’s major goals is to put together at least one Open Water certification course per year, but Sparrow says it’s always dependent on the number of people who want to get involved.

“It’s amazing that Dal SCUBA is able to bring together students and non-students from various places to share a ridiculously fun mutual activity,” she says. “These types of clubs promote a common denominator that can build lasting friendships and are vital in encouraging important life skills such as safety, leadership, and compromise.”

The group’s Facebook page is used by divers to organize events among themselves during the week, as well as for the regularly scheduled dives on Sundays. The club’s website, www.dalscuba.ca, also contains descriptions and briefings for each dive site.