The first-ever scuba (scuba is an acronym for “self-contained underwater breathing apparatus”) diving course offered here was held at the Aquatic Centre this weekend.
Led by Sheldon of Serpent Aquatics in West Kelowna three novice divers — Alicia Kindret and Brian and Elizabeth Kozak — donned tanks, masks and fins for this course.
“Brian and I are planning to go to the Caribbean and we’d really like to dive,” Elizabeth said.
Alicia wants to go to Australia and dive along the Great Barrier Reef as well “go cage diving with sharks.”
Knowing how to dive puts those goals within reach of these three, but Sheldon Boyd cautions that knowing how to dive is not enough by itself.
“It’s important to know the local conditions,” he said, adding that this means using a qualified and “knowledgeable local diving guide.”
For more information about this program contact Meghan MacIsaac at 250-837-9351.
Here are a few photos from the first scuba diving class:
Novice diver Alicia Kindret gets a helping hand from Freeda of Serpent Aquatics during the first-ever scuba diving class offered at the Aquatic Centre. David F. Rooney photoDiving instructor Sheldon Boyd (right) helps diving student Elizabeth Kozak shrug into the harness fo her diving tank. David F. Rooney photoElizabeth, her husband Brian (right) and Alicia put on their swim fins as Boyd (left) checks his regulator. David F. Rooney photoWith their fins on and their masks on their faces the novice divers are ready to enter the water. David F. Rooney photoElizabeth Kozak takes the plunge, really just a simple step off the edge of the pool. David F. Rooney photoOnce in the water, the student divers learn how to use their equipment properly. David F. Rooney photoIt’s a different world underwater and learning how to operate under water is the skill the three students want to master. They all envision themselves diving in Caribbean or off the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. David F. Rooney photoInstructor Sheldon Boyd (right) tells student Brian Kozak that he should’t work too hard while underwater. Straining the body will sap your energy and use up your allotment of air faster than if you take your time to accomplish your tasks underwater. David F. Rooney photoStudents also learned how to use a simple snorkel in situations that do not require sucking air out of their tanks. David F. Rooney photoThis class, led by Sheldon and Freeda of Serpent Aquatics in West Kelowna, was the first offered in Revelstoke. But becoming a qualified diver takes more than one lesson. You need to perform four consecutive open-water dives in the course of a weekend. Revelstoke Community Centre Programmer Meghan MacIsaac said this course will be repeated in November. David F. Rooney photo
