Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Hi my name is Clive. I am the slow moving old sea fossil at Perth Scuba.

I started diving in 1970, back when real divers were forged from the sea, sand and storms. My introductory dive was a cold wet winter’s day with all the protection of a baggy wool pullover & an old pair of jeans. I bobbed around on the surface long enough to be violently seasick and went home a dark shade of purple from the cold.

I trained with the Underwater Explorers Club at the old Woodman’s Point facility and spent many a non-training day assisting as a volunteer with The WA Museum on Wreck Research.My initial training took me through to Instructor Level and in 1978, as a member of the W.A. Police Force, I joined the Police Dive Squad.We trained once per month and provided 99% of our own gear for the privilege of diving in Mud, Slime and unpleasant conditions. The novelty wore off after 5 years. Diving took a back seat to raising children and family home life for a few years but I still dived whenever the opportunity arose.

A few years ago my younger son decided to start diving and I leaped at the chance to get back into the dive scene on a more regular basis.With the many changes in equipment and techniques over the years I knew the best I could do for my own safety and others with me was to start training again.

So here I am, a Master Scuba Diver with eleven speciality qualifications and a newly qualified Dive Master. In June I will enrol in the Instructor Development Course. It all comes back, just a little slower. I have dived in many places and under conditions, which have ranged from truly wonderful to best-forgotten nightmares but diving has always been and always will be my passion.

Best Ever Dive: The first dive I did with my wife after she completed her Open Water Course. It took me more than 30 years to talk her into trying diving. Now she loves it. (What would I know?)

Worst Ever Dive: A large duck pond & a search for a weapon in the water layer that remained below one metre of duck poop. There have been many others but are not for print. Come in and swap stories with me.

Favourite piece of dive equipment: My first ever dive knife. It weighs about 1 Kilo and would give Crocodile Dundee a run. It does not dive anymore but brings back happy memories. Now I have a complete set of new gear. (The diver with the most toys wins)

Why I love diving: If you need my reasons to dive you haven’t dived enough. Just get out there, get wet and enjoy yourself. You will be a better diver and the more you do the better it all becomes.