MEMBERS of a Stourport club have been marking 25 years of taking the plunge with a series of events.

Stourport-on-Severn Divers - SOS - was founded in 1979 by five friends who shared a passion for the sport of scuba diving.

Since then, hundreds of people have dived into the unknown to discover what lies beneath the surface after receiving training from the club's qualified instructors.

Members have clocked up thousands of miles on their travels around the country in pursuit of the unusual sights the pastime can bring.

The globetrotting divers have also gone underwater in a variety of far-flung locations including, Egypt, Jordan and Cyprus.

The club's chairman, Paul Bartle, whose association with the organisation spans 22 years, said: "The best thing about the club is the real sense of camaraderie that exists between all the members.

"Unfortunately, I can't join them any more when they go and dive. It is so frustrating and I miss it so much but I do have some fantastic memories."

The club, which currently has about 50 members, received "public acclaim" in 1986 when some of its divers prompted the rescue of a family in Challaboro, near Falmouth.

They had been "left stranded on rocks" because of an incoming tide.

Over the years SOS has helped manage safety at numerous events, including the Lions Club annual raft race, the rowing regattas at Bewdley and Stourport and the opening of Kidderminster's Forest Glades Leisure Centre, conducted by the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

The club was boosted in 2002 by a £3,500 lottery grant that paid for new equipment now used at the regular "Try-a-Dive" taster sessions for beginners at Stourport Sports Centre.

Old and new members gathered earlier this year and marked the milestone with a special anniversary party at Stourport Working Men's Club.

Secretary, John Carmichael, who is a qualified open water instructor, said the "club is stronger than ever" and is looking forward to helping more Wyre Forest residents take up the sport.

He added: "The club has made things possible that I never dreamed I would be doing this time 10 years ago."

Splashing way to make friends

SOS is a non-profit organisation regulated by the Sub Aqua Association and offers scuba training for anybody aged 12 and upwards.

Training sessions take place at Stourport Sports Centre's swimming pool, in Harold Davis Drive, on Sunday afternoons.

John Carmichael, the club's secretary, said: "The training that we provide is on a one-to-one basis, carried out at the diver's own pace, taking in both the theory and practical elements.

"We provide free use of the club's equipment to all members through the basic training and it is a great way of meeting new friends."

Anyone interested in joining Stourport Divers Club can contact Mr Carmichael via e-mail at crmjhn@aol.com or visit www.stourportdivers.com

Shuttle/Times and News readers can also follow the exploits of club members on our weekly District News page.