For over 40 years, the club has used an open water lake, part of the Civil Service Sailing Club, in Shepperton for its club training. Sadly, due some politics and changes in management, the lake is now no longer available for use. So we had to find a new home for our trainee snorkellers.

Luckily, this gap has been filled by the wonderful people, and amazing site at Wraysbury Dive Centre.

For some, including our leader Nick, the move was a jolt, if nothing else for sentimental reasons, but it has without doubt been one of the best moves the club has made in recent years.

The facilities on site alone are fantastic. The water is clear, and relatively warm depending on the season. It is full of interesting things to look at, including a plane fusilage, sunken boats, training platforms and an old bus. Almost all of it is reachable by snorkellers. On site there is loads of parking, a dive shop, toilets and changing facilities. As well as a small cafe for burgers and coffee. So much more than the old lake, which basically had water and a patch of dirt to change in.

The site is the only dive lake servicing london and the South East, so it is full of divers from various training organisations, and as such you can circulate within the sport like never before. Seeing new skills, watching how people run their dives, making friends and being part of a community. It has been very popular with the first group of trainees attending, and we have been very well received. Weve even met up with other snorkelling clubs for a catch up. Its a great place to network.

The dive centre has been very supportive of snorkellers, and they are keen to encourage more. They are even in the process of setting up a dedicated Snorkel Trail which we hope to use in 2025.

All in all, this site has been a great step in the development of the club and a good start for a prosperous future…

Check out some videos of our time there…