NORTH BATTLEFORD — The Battlefords Scuba Community marked something special on Jan. 23 at the Battleford Co-op Aquatic Centre – a unique Discover Scuba session. (See video below)
The Battlefords Scuba Community has, over the past few years, done Discover Scuba sessions with 1,500 hundred senior high school students from west central and northern Saskatchewan with financial assistance from the Battleford Agency Tribal Chiefs, the City of North Battleford and the Town of Battleford. The executive of the club thought it was time to have some of the people who funded the program and some of those who got news releases and photos sample the program. It was a way of saying thank you for the support and for making more people aware of scuba diving and training opportunities in the area.
The Discover Scuba program is a non-certification course that introduces the non-diver to the world of scuba in a safe and supervised way. The four hour program is split between a classroom session where the topics of discussion include the basic science of diving, the diving environment, safety practices and the equipment used in diving.
Once in the pool, participants don the equipment and try breathing – not always as easy as it sounds – before doing some fundamental skills frequently used by divers in shallow water – using a buoyancy compensating device, clearing a regulator of water, clear water from a mask, sharing air with a buddy should the buddy run out of air and equalizing the ears.
When everyone is comfortable, then it’s off to the deep end to play and experience the near weightlessness that is such a thrill.
With the effects of the COVID pandemic being felt everywhere several invitees had to cancel plans to attend. In the end three representatives took part: Shane Fluney of the Gold Eagle Casino, Ross MacAngus from the City of North Battleford, and MLA Jeremy Cockrill.
The club was hoping that the event would raise awareness of diving in the community and the dive training that is available in the community and across the province. The effort is supported by the Saskatchewan Underwater Council and its member clubs in Regina and Moose Jaw along with the individual members throughout the province.
Over the past couple of years the larger media outlets have covered the Underwater Pumpkin Carving dive and lake cleanup at Lovering Lake, and it was felt that it could be fun to have the coverage extended below the surface. Hopefully, those who were able to take part will have something exciting to talk about with friends and family.
For more information on diving, please check the Community’s website at or its Facebook page.
In the video below, the first individual seen is Shane Fluney, finance director at the Gold Eagle Casino. The diver in the grey wetsuit with pink fins is Tracy Wilson, one of the scuba club's divemasters and she is carrying an underwater frisbee. The third individual is Jeremy Cockrill, Battlefords MLA. | Video courtesy the Battlefords Scuba Community
