It was way back in the early 1960’s, over 50 years ago, when a group of young Waterford lads first headed out to Newtown Cove in Tramore, squeezed into homemade rubber suits, donned masks, snorkels, fins and air tanks, and jumped into the cold Irish sea, to experience the wonders and beauty of the undersea world that had been lying there for centuries but never visited and explored.

In those days, at a time when the sport of scuba-diving was in its infancy worldwide, these local adventurers were at the forefront of the sport in Ireland. During the same period, the legendary film-maker Jacques Cousteau was promoting his underwater adventures around the world through his award winning television documentary and book “The Silent World”, and the stage was set for scuba diving to grow from being a minority sport of a few adventurers to the international sport that is today enjoyed by millions of people of all ages around the world.

This year WHSAC celebrated 50 years diving in Waterford and the club is still growing and developing. They have acquired a clubhouse in Tramore which is being developed as funds become available. In addition, they plan to develop a Search and Recovery unit in 2015 and are sending a number of their members on a training course to develop their skills over the coming year.

They will be hosting a Snorkel and Scuba training course commencing in January 2015.