The Battlefords Scuba Community has reached out to the greater community with assistance from Battleford Agency Tribal Chiefs and its Community Development Corporation.
In March, the scuba group was notified its grant application had been approved, and the real work began. For some time the club was trying to attract new members to its diving activities, and the grant was an opportunity to make the outreach idea even more appealing. The grant included 60 spots on Discover Scuba Diving programs to be made available to the three local high schools on an equal basis. All three schools expressed their appreciation for this chance to try something new with their students.
Previously students would have to go to Saskatoon for this opportunity, which cost a lot of time and money. The convenience of having the experience locally could make it available to more individuals.
A class from North Battleford Comprehensive High School was the first to jump into the water. On May 1, 16 students and two teachers put on the gear and swam with the fishes, although the fish were conspicuously absent from the Battlefords Co-Op Aquatic Centre. There were plenty of excited swimmers and lots of wide grins during the four hours the group spent learning some of the basic techniques. While everyone seemed to have a good time, some of the students indicated an interest in getting certified and a couple were interested in careers that involved diving.
Jamie Sommerfeld, a student, said he was pleased with this addition to the physical education program at the school and it was a treat for the students. He appreciates the funding from the BATC and the work the scuba club put into getting the grant and organizing the day.
"If it happens again, we'll be there," Sommerfeld said.
Dennis McCullough, BSC President and Instructor, called it a win-win for the club. He said every person who tries Discover Scuba is a potential student, a potential diver, and a potential member.
"The more people who know that we are here, the better it is for us," McCullough said. "People in the pool at that time of day are not used to seeing divers with gear in the water and they become aware of our existence, and the kids go back to school and go home and talk to friends and parents who may decide that they have to try this cool new activity."
McCullough, who also works at the pool, said the pool wins in terms of numbers - more bodies through the doors adds to the already impressive attendance figures at the facility, and they are doing something that has not often been done in North Battleford.
Ken Stewart, a PADI Divemaster, and McCullough, a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, handled the instruction while Janalee Rumpf, a PADI certified Open Water Scuba Diver, handled the logistics on the deck. McCullough stated that the event could not have happened without the assistance of the other two individuals.
The PADI Discover Scuba Diving program is a short introduction to the sport of scuba diving in an approximate four hour session. Potential divers spend some time in the classroom learning some of the basic physics that affect dives and the safety precautions that must be observed at all times. The divers head for the pool and learn a bit about the gear divers use, some underwater communication signals and very basic skills, each advancing at his or her own pace and comfort level. Once comfortable in the shallow water, the divers head for deeper water for more practice and some fun swimming and playing without having to surface for air. McCullough said the usual comments from students range from "neat" to "awesome," and those are music to any instructor's ears.
McCullough said this could not have happened without the financial assistance provided by BATC and he expressed most sincere appreciation on behalf of the club and himself for the generous investment BATC has made in the community.
Other outreach efforts included in the grant are: Emergency Oxygen Provider training for the staff at the Battlefords Co-Op Aquatic Centre, Skin Diver certification for interested staff members at the BCAC, and a discounted rate on Open Water Scuba Diver training for interested staff at the Aquatics Centre.
Anyone interested in becoming a skin or scuba diver can check the club's website at www.battlefordsscubacommunity.ca. Those already certified can check what the club is doing at that same address - dive events, courses, socials, and whatever strikes a diver's fancy.
