By Lloyd Quinn, BSc (Hons) Geology (1st Year)

Whilst looking around the Freshers’ Fayre I came across the UPDUC stand amongst others. UPDUC, (The University of Portsmouth Diving and Underwater Club) struck me as being a fantastic club to join. Instantly I decided I had to go over and speak to these guys, and I couldn’t have made a better decision. SCUBA diving has always struck me as being a sport for real professionals. It requires bravery and responsibility, but especially the ability to have a great time, in a completely surreal environment, tens of metres underwater.

Having arrived at the stand I was greeted by welcoming faces and people that were informative and went out of their way to get me involved, just what you look for when joining a new club or society. With this I was captivated. I filled in the forms, paid up and I was ready to go diving, and I didn’t have to wait long. What struck me was purely the amount of social events that took place, from Pub crawls, to diving trips in places like Lanzarote and Cyprus, all brilliant opportunities and those I couldn’t wait to get my hands on.

My first Social was the Freshers’ Pub Crawl, and what can I say – a night to commit to memory, or not as the case may be!! Starting at the Fleet near guildhall we began (buddied up like diving pairs), and as the night progressed, slowly we became less able to, well, virtually everything – walk, talk, dance, amongst others. At the end of the day beer doesn’t make you fat, it makes you lean… against bars, stools, and poles. Having recovered from the crawl I learnt I’d be able to start my pool training the following Saturday. Shocked at such a quick progression I jumped at the chance to take a try dive on the first available opportunity (that Saturday!). And what an experience. I’ve always wondered what it would feel like to be in space and diving is the closest I’ll get. Controlling buoyancy allowed me to float with my head near the floor of the pool and fins near the surface, a truly bizarre experience – and one that I was determined to continue with, along with other fascinating skills.

My first lesson, and what a lesson it was. Learning how to pivot on the tips of your fins whilst ascending and descending using your breath (emptying and filling your lungs). And learning to remove and replace my air regulator underwater (in case someone kicked it out on a dive!), breathtaking stuff, literally, and only three more sessions until my first open water dive!! All of these opportunities are provided at an incredibly low price, you’d have to be mad to say no.

Having only been in the club a few weeks the opportunities I’ve been offered have been extraordinary. I would recommend joining this club to absolutely anyone! My main focus now is to become a qualified ocean diver in the New Year so look out for my update when I hit the chilly waters of England!

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By big dave, aka Dave Hyde

UPDUC has been so far so good! I have been made to feel more than welcome and find everybody in the society easily approachable. It is a credit to the club and the members within. I had no real intention of taking up diving but it was because of a good friend of mine, Rob Hutchin, insisted I went on the Freshers’ Pub Crawl. That then led on to being pushed through the door of the first Ocean Diver lecture (thank you Nicole!), which has in turn led to me wanting to become more involved and taking up diving.

I can’t really comment on the diving itself at the moment. All I can say about it is that my first two lectures have been enjoyable, all be it reminding me of how bad I was at physics when I did my GCSEs! However, the social side of the club makes up for it. I take my hat off to anyone that tried to explain Noble’s Law to me over a pint in the pub. I do like a drink, or 2, or 3, or 4… and so it would seem people in UPDUC do too. I feel right at home!

It appears to be an extremely well run club with a fantastic group of people. Keep it up guys and gals. My only regret is not becoming part of it sooner!