Day 17 – A Day of Two Halves

18 November

Today was a typical UK winter’s day, wet, grey, and miserable. We’d heard great things about Morecambe Area Divers (we love the MAD acronym!) so we decided to pay them a visit.

Stepping through the door of their unit felt like walking into another world. The space was warm and welcoming, decorated with painted wooden signs, beach chairs, and photos from countless overseas trips, many to Egypt. In the UK, they mainly teach and run courses at Capernwray, which we’ll be visiting later this week.

We met Charlie, an instructor who’s been with MAD for over three years and clearly loves what he does. As we chatted, he spoke about the satisfaction of teaching children and young people to dive and how their excitement and sense of discovery remind him why he became an instructor in the first place. Things that experienced divers take for granted feel magical to beginners, and that energy is infectious.

Charlie also told us about MAD’s dive trips and how popular and well-organised they are, but what impressed us most was hearing about their work with divers who have disabilities. One story stood out: a member who is paralysed from the chest down and missing one leg. Once in the water, you’d never know. He’s completely self- reliant, managing all his own kit and propelling himself with his upper body. Getting in and out of the water takes some planning, but with a specially designed entry system, he dives confidently and independently.

It was an inspiring reminder of what’s possible when people approach challenges with creativity and understanding. MAD have also run try dives for blind and partially sighted people, their first time experiencing the underwater world. The main challenge was communication underwater, as standard hand signals had to be adapted. For example, an “OK” signal became a double squeeze of the hand, and essential skills were taught on land before entering the water when communication was more straightforward. Charlie said it was overwhelming to see how much joy and confidence the divers gained from the experience.

MAD’s trips aren’t just for divers, either. On their last one, nine non-divers joined for yoga, paddleboarding, swimming, and snorkelling, all designed to introduce people to the water in an inclusive, friendly way.

We left MAD feeling uplifted and inspired. They’re far more than a dive club or shop. They’re a community, passionate about making diving accessible to everyone, breaking down barriers, and encouraging the next generation to explore the underwater world.

In the afternoon, we visited the Blue Planet Aquarium in Ellesmere Port. We’d hoped to try their “Dive with Sharks” experience, but the schedule didn’t fit our trip. Still, we were keen to see the exhibits, and it turned out to be a brilliant visit.

We were recognised by the dive leader, who knew that we had been in touch, and we had a great chat about their work. The highlight was, without a doubt, the sharks. In October, we’d swum with blue sharks in Cornwall, but today we saw many different types of sharks including zebra sharks, sand tiger sharks, and blacktip reef sharks, an incredible mix.

We happened to arrive at the shark tank just as a talk was beginning. The audience was mostly schoolchildren, completely mesmerised by what they were seeing. Two divers entered the tank while the staff explained the dive kit and simple hand signals. The children squealed with delight, and it reminded us how much wonder there is in what we sometimes take for granted. It also struck us that usually diving is a silent activity and to be surrounded by the sound of excited children in an underwater environment was wonderful. Seeing diving through a child’s eyes was a good reminder to keep that sense of awe alive.

At the end of the shark talk we chatted to the presenters, and it transpired that we had been corresponding with one of them by email and they were following our trip. They told us about the different personalities of the sharks including one that needs a bucket over his head at feeding time because he’s so greedy, and another that pretends to be a different species just to get fed twice!

We spent several hours exploring the aquarium, fascinated by every display.

It really was a day of two halves both completely different but united by the same passion for the underwater world. Whether it was the inclusivity and community spirit at MAD or the excitement and education at Blue Planet, both reminded us how powerful diving can be in connecting people to the ocean.

The morning at MAD showed us the best of the diving community, creative, inclusive, and full of heart. The afternoon at Blue Planet reminded us of the joy and curiosity that first drew us to the sea. Both experiences reinforced for us that diving is about far more than the dives themselves. It’s about people, the connections, the teaching, and the shared love of the underwater world.