Researched And Written By Tim Prince
A book has been written to celebrate the history of the Birmingham Underwater Exploration Club – possibly the oldest independent scuba diving club in Great Britain, if not the world.
The contents of the book, researched and written by fellow BUEC member and diver Tim Prince, are based upon the club’s records, which include the minutes of every ‘dry’ meeting that has taken place since 1953; the many letters between the club, its members and external bodies; and on the memories of our members.
Since 1953, the Birmingham Underwater Exploration Club (BUEC) has been giving everyday people the opportunity to learn to dive in a safe, friendly and inspiring environment, and to explore the lakes, quarries and seas of the UK and the wider world.
Founded upon the teachings of Captain Trevor Hampton – our Chairman for some time during our early years – our club has moved with the times, but has retained its rich history and many of our members have been with us for several years.
It is amazing that a dive club has thrived for sixty years, particularly one based almost as far from our shores as it is possible to be!
A book has been written to celebrate the history of the Birmingham Underwater Exploration Club – possibly the oldest independent scuba diving club in Great Britain, if not the world.
The contents of the book, researched and written by fellow BUEC member and diver Tim Prince, are based upon the club’s records, which include the minutes of every ‘dry’ meeting that has taken place since 1953; the many letters between the club, its members and external bodies; and on the memories of our members.
Since 1953, the Birmingham Underwater Exploration Club (BUEC) has been giving everyday people the opportunity to learn to dive in a safe, friendly and inspiring environment, and to explore the lakes, quarries and seas of the UK and the wider world.
Founded upon the teachings of Captain Trevor Hampton – our Chairman for some time during our early years – our club has moved with the times, but has retained its rich history and many of our members have been with us for several years.
It is amazing that a dive club has thrived for sixty years, particularly one based almost as far from our shores as it is possible to be!
Our survival and continuing success is owed to the drive, determination and hard work of the founding members, which is continued today by our present members.
We have our own dive boat, the BUEC , lying on the south coast of England; we run weekly pool sessions, where we train new students and help our divers to learn new skills or to perfect certain diving techniques; we have weekly dive meets at one or two local quarries; and we have at least one trip abroad each year.
Starting out affiliated to the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC), we later transferred our training to the Sub Aqua Club (SAA) and then to the Professional Association of Diving instructors (PADI).
Today, our membership comprises people with varying levels of experience – from commercially-trained divers, through to instructors, divemasters and students – and with an array of qualifications issued by BSAC, PADI, SAA, TDI/SDI and CMAS.
We welcome anyone, irrespective of which organisation has provided their training and of their level of experience; all we ask is that they are safe, competent divers.
When BUEC was created in 1953, the majority of those interested in the sport were male. Over time, although not written into the club rules, BUEC became a male-dominated organisation, with females seen as guests or ‘honorary members’. Early BUEC records indicate that while all of its divers were men, a woman was allowed to be their Treasurer!
We have our own dive boat, the BUEC , lying on the south coast of England; we run weekly pool sessions, where we train new students and help our divers to learn new skills or to perfect certain diving techniques; we have weekly dive meets at one or two local quarries; and we have at least one trip abroad each year.
Starting out affiliated to the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC), we later transferred our training to the Sub Aqua Club (SAA) and then to the Professional Association of Diving instructors (PADI).
Today, our membership comprises people with varying levels of experience – from commercially-trained divers, through to instructors, divemasters and students – and with an array of qualifications issued by BSAC, PADI, SAA, TDI/SDI and CMAS.
We welcome anyone, irrespective of which organisation has provided their training and of their level of experience; all we ask is that they are safe, competent divers.
When BUEC was created in 1953, the majority of those interested in the sport were male. Over time, although not written into the club rules, BUEC became a male-dominated organisation, with females seen as guests or ‘honorary members’. Early BUEC records indicate that while all of its divers were men, a woman was allowed to be their Treasurer!
Our founder members were trained by the late Captain Trevor ‘Skipper’ Hampton, the same man whose other early students formed the British Sub-Aqua Club in 1953.
Lord Arthur Entwistle, one of our longest-standing members, gave freely of his time and spent many enjoyable hours regaling us with stories of salvaging shipwrecks and carrying large amounts of explosives through road tunnels.
One of his early dive buddies was a young English actor who, whilst on a diving holiday in Ibiza, accidentally discovered the wreck of an ancient Roman galley. Best known for his memorable performances as Dr Who, Jon Pertwee was part of the gang.
Lord Arthur Entwistle, one of our longest-standing members, gave freely of his time and spent many enjoyable hours regaling us with stories of salvaging shipwrecks and carrying large amounts of explosives through road tunnels.
One of his early dive buddies was a young English actor who, whilst on a diving holiday in Ibiza, accidentally discovered the wreck of an ancient Roman galley. Best known for his memorable performances as Dr Who, Jon Pertwee was part of the gang.
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From diving on remote Scottish wrecks and salvaging valuable metals at a time when many people considered a holiday in Scotland too difficult to execute, through working with police forces across four counties in search and recovery missions, to our adventures on our fast dive boat the Buec in 2012, we have been there since the beginning of recreational scuba in the UK.