The Wexford Sub Aqua Club was founded in 1971 and has been going strong ever since then.  Some of our founding member’s are still diving today.  Since those early days, diving has seen a lot technological changes.  What used to be a cold dive with only a woolly jumper to protect you, is now a nice, warm, long dive with all the modern equipment to make it easier and safer.  Since the beginning, the club has had an excellent safety record, a standard we strive to maintain.

The club is the proud owner of a LENCRAFT 7.6 meter Rigid Inflatable Boat, which is powered to speeds of around 40kph by a 225hp Honda engine.  Onboard, are all the necessary safety and navigation aids that you could want.  

Your club membership includes the cost of petrol for the boat, so once you pay your annual fee, there are no additional club charges, regardless of whether you do six or sixty dives.  The club also has its own NITROX / AIR compressor to fill cylinders and there is no charge for this facility.  As soon as you get your own bottle you can ask a member of the club to fill it for you, until you become trained at this procedure.  The compressor is housed in our new clubhouse which overlooks the Saltee islands....a prime location.  Possibly the clubs greatest asset is its members.  The club boasts a number of qualified Instructors who will teach you all you need to know.  Please remember that all this work is voluntary and that they too are in the club for their enjoyment, not just to teach.

Some new members completed 50 dives in their first year alone and are well on the road to becoming Instructors.  Like any other club, the W.S.A.C has its social side and you may find that weekends away are on offer (depending on experience) as well as the odd foreign holiday.  In order to ensure that the voice of Irish diving is heard on an International stage, our club is affiliated to Comhairle Fo Thuinn, also known as the Irish Underwater Council.

Typical dive:  The previous Thursday you would ring the allocated Diving Officer of the Day (DOD), telling them that you hope to dive at the weekend.  When you ring, they will tell you at what time the boat is leaving the slipway at.  Be there early as the boat doesn’t wait long for anyone.  When you arrive in Kilmore drop your gear off tidily on the slipway.  Make sure to bring your up to date logbook and membership card or else you won’t dive.  Assembling gear is one of the slowest tasks for anyone to learn and it’s best to do it before packing it in the car.  Don’t worry, we’ll check it for you.  Remember to park your car sensibly.  Before setting off, the DO will give a Dive-Brief, in which all relevant information regarding the dive will be announced, e.g. safety, dive groups, signals etc etc.

When the boat has been neatly organised we’ll set off for the site, which will take approximately 15 mins.  Make sure to hold on tight. When we reach the site the first group will start to kit up.  Everyone helps each other and no one is rushed.  If you ever feel that you don’t want to dive that particular day, or whatever, don’t be afraid to say so.  You’ll get no stick...it’s not that kind of sport.
If you’re prone to seasickness, then I’d suggest getting one of the natural remedies such as, sea-bands, which you wear on your wrist.  I can’t really say if they are effective, but they would be a lot safer than medication (which you should take the night before), which could have adverse reactions underwater.  Try them and see.  Before the groups enters the water the dive leader will remind you of the safety features such as, mask squeeze, ear clearing, breathe normally at all times, etc.  This is when the adrenaline starts to pump and you wonder if it’s all worth it.  This is a reasonable fear, which every diver has experienced and no diver should ever become complacent about any dive. After you do your backward entry, meet up with your buddy and when they give the down signal, let the air out of your jacket and descend. Your first dive will be to around 10mts, depending on conditions. Once you descend through the initial green water you’ll be amazed at what you see. What once you only had T.V to show you, you can now discover for yourself.  Your buddy will show you around, pointing out the things that you will obviously miss, as you consciously check on your air consumption.  After about a half an hour your buddy will signal up and the pair of you will ascend slowly together.  Like everyone after their first dive, you’ll have a smile like a torn pocket. I guarantee it.  Your buddy will then sign your logbook when we return to base.
The final thing to do is help with the storage of the boat and the equipment.  Volunteer!! Diving is all about learning through your mistakes and you will make them.  As someone once said: “Any person that hasn’t made a mistake, has made nothing”.