HEADS OF THE VALLEYS SUB AQUA CLUB

The history contained within theses pages are very much incomplete. If you were a member and have any tales, stories or even pictures you would like to share and have displayed within this web site then please get in touch and drop us an email. We would be very gratefull and interested to have your input and hear your stories.

The club was formed initially in 1966 by Eddie Boulter, who went on to become the manager of Brecon swimming pool and a very successful swimming coach and dive instructor. Sadly, Eddie died in March 2017 at the age of 80.

Along with Eddie, Bob Jenkins and Brian Druce were the original officers. Help was provided by John Powell, who was then manager of British Steel Cooperation at Ebbw Vale and went on to became the chairman for the sports council of Wales.

The club originally was part of the Ebbw Vale Swimming club and became a special Branch of the British Sub Aqua Club. The combined club was then known as Ebbw Vale Swimming & Sub Aqua Club, but it was decided from the very start that the club would become a branch of the governing body which was the British Sub Aqua Club (B.S.A.C.). It was only months later that the club achieved this and became a Branch of its own and was then known as Ebbw Vale Sub Aqua Club.

The first two aqualungs were donated to the club by Mr John Powell, who also found the club its first club house at the council yard in Beaufort where club members used to run their own bar selling cans and bottles. There was very little room and storage there but the club house was free of charge. Other aqualungs were donated by the R.A.F. at St Athens. The original back-packs were made by British Steel Cooperation by Eddie, and the wet suits, which were then only available in kit form, were put together by Eddie and his wife, were they had to be cut out and glued together, this was all done in the front room of his home in Ebbw Vale.

The club was taught by the Spartan Underwater Exploration Club from the Rhondda, who charged the club £100 for the initial course. This fee was donated by Ebbw Vale Swimming Club.

Air was originally provided by the fire service compressors at B.S.C.

The first boat was purchased for £150 from Caerphilly. It was a 16-ft catamaran without an engine. The engine which was a silver century was purchased with a help of a loan from Ebbw Vale Swimming Club. A 32-ft. clinker built boat with an inboard engine was purchased from Penarth. It was intended to use this for diving on the West Wales Coast but unfortunately on its maiden voyage it never went further than Nash Point, were it broke down Bob Walters quote “we had no flares, no radio, auxiliary engine shaft was too short to reach the water and toilet rolls were used as a distress signal”. The boat had to be rescued by the off-shore lifesaving club from Atlantic College and enthusiasm for this type of boat diminished.

The club fee’s in 1966 was £7.50 and this included membership of B.S.A.C.

Open water training was at Blean Cwm reservoir and Blue Lake. The first sea dive took place at Dale.

In 1968 a survey was carried out for Christ College Brecon. The dive project took place in Llwyn Cwm Slych in the Brecon Beacons. This cavern at one time was thought to be the source for Llangorse Lake. A land rover camped overnight at the site and for this they were nearly taken to court by the National Park. It was only the fact that previously unknown plants were found and given to Christ College that the court action was dropped.

In January 1969, the club assisted the Dyfed Powys Police Authority in an underwater search for a missing child who was from Brynmawr. The search started under the Llanfaes Bridge and continued for many days, divers involved were Mr Eddie Boulter, Bob Jenkins, 20yr old Nipper Jones, Miss Pamela Harris. The club had a letter of appreciation from Dyfed Powys Police. Mr Eddie Boulter was the club’s Diving Officer at this time.

The club progressed and in 1969 / 70 a small 8ft basic Avon boat was purchased plus a Seagull engine which had an 8:1 oil mix which made the engine very oily and Smokey. The boat was used for many years. Backpacks to hold the aqualung at this time were made by Andy Gilchrist (Instructor) at his home. These were constructed from plastic downpipes cut down one side warmed in his oven and then moulded to the persons back and fitted with the attachments.

Scuba kit then comprised of aqualung, regulator, mask fins snorkel homemade wetsuit and a weight belt, there were no life jackets or buoyancy compensators. Mr Bob Walters, (Instructor), it is said, was the first in the club to own a Fenzy ABLJ (Adjustable Buoyancy Life Jacket) which after his dive would share it with the other divers for them to use.

Most of the early diving took place in West Wales. Locals gave the divers much information and assistance. Most of the dive sites were usually found this way.

It was in 1971 that a diving holiday was arranged to Valentia island Ireland. It was apparently so good that they returned the following year and reports are that the diving and visibility in Ireland are first class.

The club progressed further with a purchase of a Zodiac boat and a 40hp Volvo Pentre engine.

In June 1972, the club was thanked and praised for the display that was given in Merthyr Game and Country Fair at Cyfarthfa Park. The club was featured in the Gwent Gazette.

At this time, the club were told that they had to leave the premises at the Council depot at the top of Beaufort. They had just started using a Bauer Compressor at Beaufort with a two-bottle bank. New premises were found at the Rhyd Hall Tredegar. There the bank could not be used until the trained members of the club arrived.

Lungs were filled in the car park of the Rhyd Hall from a portable compressor. No lectures were given at the Rhyd Hall but lectures were held at Aberfan Community Centre on Tuesday nights. The club  also had the use of Ebbw Vale swimming pool on Thursdays as is the case today.

Dive sites were all the bays around Pembroke and by this time included Fort Bovisand on the south coast. At this time equipment included three club aqualungs, two single hose valves, two twin hose valves and a box trailer.

Regulations then meant having to dive twelve times from an inflatable before being allowed a hard boat dive. Air and petrol were both free for club dives.

The first Mediterranean club dive was to Malta in 1974, a film of the trip was made and shown in the club house at a later date. During this time, a 45hp engine was purchased for the Zodiac and the club joined W.A.S.A.C. (The Welsh Association of Sub Aqua Clubs).

Around 1974 / 75 the club again decided to find new premises and thanks to Mr Bernard Lewis, (Instructor / D.O.), Trefil Hall was found. The hall then was then a community type hall having very little use. It was at Trefil that a six-bottle bank compressor system was fitted up, and it was there that the club would hold lectures, plan dives and socialise, with Mr Adrian Sullivan being responsible for running the bar selling cans and bottled beers which were very cheap but made a good profit which went into the club funds.

The hall went up for sale and the club put a bid in for it but they were beaten by the rugby club and the hall was then known as Trefil Rugby Club. The compressor system had to then be removed from the rugby club but the dive club remained at Trefil using it as their club House for many years as a base and to gather for lectures, dive planning and family social occasions.

At around this time it was decided to rename the club The Heads of the Valleys Sub Aqua Club, because members were joining from all towns around the valleys and it was decided to ask the sports council of Wales for a grant to purchase a new compressor and boat. The club was given a grant of £1800 and a Sea rider and Bauer Capitano compressor was purchased. Fund raising brought another £1800 in. This included a walk by two members from Brecon to Crickhowell carrying a twin set. Jumble sales and sponsored swims raised the remainder.

We were asked around this time to look in Dolygaer Reservoir for a missing rescue boat. An enjoyable Sunday was spent searching for the boat and it was eventually found.

A new engine was needed for the Sea Rider and the club decided on a 70hp electric start Mercury.

The dive sites had now changed to include the Gower with trips to Grassholme, Ilfracombe, Kimbridge on the south coast and now familiar Bovisand.

Thirty-two club members now gained Bronze medallions from courses that were given in the club. A second Malta trip was organised and enjoyed.

Air at this time cost 10p per cylinder for diving and pool training. Diving cost 20p for the day to cover petrol costs. By this time the club had increased in membership with many members having their own boats.

Aberfan pool was closed and only one night, a Thursday, became club night as is still the case today (2019)

A Chinook boat and engine was bought around this time and that brought  the then total to four boats.

January 1986

Instructor Mr Allan Oakley putting new students through their paces at one of the club’s pool training sessions.

 

February 1986

A planned and organised dive under the ice of Bryn Bach park took place. This was organised and supervised by Mr Alan Buffton who was at that time the Diving Officer. Several divers made the dive with many club members turning up to show their support. It was believed that the club were the first divers in Wales to dive under the ice.

The divers were:-

Mr Allan Oakley   (at 67 still actively Diving in 2017)

Mr Michael Fielding

Mr Huw Davies

Mr Howard Davies

Mr John Creadon

May 1988
Display given at Deighton Primary School Tredegar divers involved: - Mr Mike Fielding, Mr Stewart Davies, Mr Bernard Lewis, Mrs Alison Lewis. A kind letter of thanks and appreciation was received by the club sent by the then school secretary Mr Gwynne Lewis P.T.A.

1988 / 89

The first red sea trip was made visiting the shores of Eilat Israel, a group of divers explored the crystal-clear waters and colourful marine life of the red sea. Further trips were made in 1991 and again in 1993.

November 2008
Diving Officer at this time was Mr Richard Whitcombe. Reported in the AGM that the Humber would be out of service for the foreseeable future as it was in need of a new engine.

Membership at this time stood at approx. 49 with new trainees going through as well.

Mandatory direct debits were introduced into the club to pay club fees.

The club’s website went live thanks to Richard Whitcombe (Instructor).

Red Sea liveaboard organised by Chris James (Instructor) in October was a great success. The trip sailed from Hurghada and visited the Brother Islands.

November 2009
Christopher James (Open Water Instructor / Advanced Diver) appointed as the new Diving Officer.

April 2010
Dive charter to Weymouth which was enjoyed and it was planned to revisit soon. 12 divers completed the dive trip.

May 2010
Moved club house from Ebbw Vale leisure centre to Ebbw Vale Rugby for our social gatherings. Some the benefits were that we were granted the use of a room with a projector and screen to use for lectures and practical training, free of charge

Missing diver, Chris James our newly appointed D.O. surfaced from a dive got separated from his dive buddy and was lost at sea for over three and a half hours. After an extensive search involving the R.A.F. and the local coastguards, Chris was picked up safe and sound four miles out to sea and returned to dive the following week.

July 2010
Club decided to purchase a brand new 175hp engine to go onto the clubs Humber and get it back on the water after some years without it. The previous second engine which was bought second hand broke down many times. The engine was bought with club funds and also a £6000 loan off of an anonymous club member.

October 2010
Red Sea liveaboard trip organised by Chris James, 10 of our club members spending a week on a live aboard in the Red Sea. 18 dives were completed over 5 and half days.

It was in this year that Mr Allan Oakley became an Honorary life member to the Heads of the Valley’s.

February 2012
Nitrox course completed with six divers successful completing and passing the exams.

March 2012
VHF course completed in Swansea.

May 2012
The cowling off the 90hp Envinrude was pinched whilst the boat was being stored at the Yacht club. Total to replace the cowling was over £1300.

October 2012
Another Red Sea trip completed with 18 divers traveling to Hurghada completing 21 dives in five and a half days.

 

July 2013
Ebbw Vale Sports Centre closes and we have to leave a 33mt in length and 4mtr deep pool behind and look forward to relocating at the new facility in six weeks’ time.

November 2013
The new Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre is opened and the dive club relocates there on a Thursday night for the use of the pool for training and family social gatherings.  The pool is a lot smaller than the old one, 25mts in length and also a lot shallower at only 2mts at the deep end just half the depth of the original leisure centre pool.

November 2015

Our Bi-annual Red Sea Trip takes place diving from the liveaboard Snefro Pearl, the club filling the boat with 14 divers and this time sailing out of Sharm El Sheike visiting the northern wrecks and the straights of Tiran.

July 2017
Current equipment owned, serviced and ready to use within the club is a 6mt Humber R.I.B. with an Evinrude 175hp engine. Boat fitted with hydraulic steering, GPS, VHF, echo sounder, flares.

A 5.4mtr Sea Rider powered by an Evinrude 90hp engine, also fitted with cable steering, GPS, VHF, Echo sounder, flares

Two Oxygen kits

Cylinders, Stab Jackets, regulators with octopus fitted, masks, Finns, snorkels all for the use of members and trainee’s.

September 2017

Club celebrates 50years of being Heads of the Valley’s Sub Aqua Club.

Red Sea liveaboard trip organised aboard M/Y Cyclone visiting the Wrecks and Reefs of the Northern Red Sea.

November 2019

Yet another Red Sea Liveaboard trip completed this time aboard M/Y Hurricane this time visiting the reefs of the southern Red Sea..

March 2020

Pandemic hit the world. COVID-19 was born and the world went into lockdown. Ebbw Vale Leisure centre was closed for seven months and all diving activities stopped.

November 2020

Lockdown restrictions are lifted, the pool reopens and diver training is resumed with restrictions applied.