Help fill Swanage diving time-capsule

Divers Down of Swanage Pier in Dorset, said to be Britain’s longest-established dive-school, is marking its 60 years in business alongside the 40-year-old club that grew out of it, Isle of Purbeck SAC (BSAC Branch 1058).

The school and club are celebrating their combined 100 years of diving history by launching a project called “Their Memories Are Our History”.

The aim is to assemble an archive of photographs along with the recollections of early UK sports divers, to be preserved in a “time capsule” on Swanage Pier.

Divers Down, set up by Bob and Dennis Wright in 1958, “was instrumental in establishing Swanage Pier as the home of British diving,” says its current co-owner Pat Collins. “It would be really fantastic if we could collect 100 photos to put into the archive.”

“Our club grew out of Divers Down and we’re lucky to have some of our original members involved with the club,” said IPSAC Chairman Chris Dunkerley.

“Sadly, in the past two years we’ve lost two of the early members and, not only did we lose two friends, we also lost their knowledge and experiences. This project will help redress this and keep alive the history of the early days of British diving.”

Anyone who can contribute photographs or memories of diving at Swanage Pier will be credited in the archive.

Email Divers Down at [email protected] or IPSAC at [email protected], or share your contribution on a dedicated Facebook page here .