Diving Adventures at Gildenburgh Water – 24th & 25th August
- Karl
- Aug 25
- 3 min read
What a weekend! The Scuba Libre crew descended on Gildenburgh Water for two action-packed days of diving, training, and ticking off some big milestones.
Saturday – The Adventure Begins
Bright and early on Saturday morning, our eager team of Open Water students arrived ready to take on their qualifying dives. The atmosphere was buzzing—this was the big weekend where pool skills and theory would finally come together in open water!
We were also joined by Jay, who kicked off his PADI Sidemount course in preparation for future rebreather training, and our Divemaster trainees, who took on some hands-on workshops in the lake.
After check-in, we kicked things off with the all-important dive site briefing—listened to with extra attention by Ellie, one of our Divemaster trainees, who would be running a briefing for students the following day.
Then it was kit up, buddy check, and into the water! The Open Water students completed their first lake dive under the watchful eye of our instructor team—Ben, Pat, and Karl—with Ellie assisting. Despite the algae bloom reducing visibility (thanks, heatwave!), the group powered through brilliantly. As we like to say: if you can dive in Gildenburgh, you can dive anywhere!
After a quick air refill and surface interval, it was Jay’s turn for his first sidemount dive. As expected, it felt a little strange switching from backmount to sidemount, but Jay handled the skills with ease. By the end of the day, he’d earned his PADI Sidemount Diver certification—well done, Jay!
Meanwhile, our Open Water students smashed through dives 2 and 3, leaving just one final dive to go on Sunday. After a busy day of bubbles, everyone went home for some well-deserved rest.
Sunday – The Big Finish
Another early start, and you could already see the difference in our Open Water students—gearing up like true divers, confident and ready. After some compass practice on dry land, they hit the water for their certifying dive.
The highlight? Experiencing the thermocline—that magical moment when you drop into a layer of cooler water like stepping into another world, only to be welcomed back by the warmth on your ascent. Navigation skills complete, four dives signed off, and just like that… a new group of PADI Open Water Divers was born! 🎉
Rescue Diver Challenge
While the Open Water celebrations were underway, our Rescue Diver candidates got stuck into one of the most rewarding (and demanding) PADI courses out there. Briefed by Nathan, another of our Divemaster trainees, they tackled everything from shore-based responses to searching for and recovering a missing diver, finishing with first aid scenarios.
It’s a tough course, but also a student favourite—fun, challenging, and packed with valuable skills. Huge congratulations to our newly certified PADI Rescue Divers!
Divemaster Development
Meanwhile, our Divemaster trainees continued racking up scores and practical assessments, making big strides towards becoming professional-level divers. Their dedication and teamwork shone all weekend—they’re a real credit to themselves and to Scuba Libre.
A Weekend to Remember
By Sunday evening, we had brand new Open Water Divers, freshly certified Sidemount and Rescue Divers, and Divemaster candidates well on their way to success. It was a weekend of hard work, laughter, learning, and huge achievements.
To all our divers—thank you! You make weekends like this such a joy for the whole team.
If you’re ready to start your scuba adventure, or take the next step in your diving journey, we’ve got courses running from beginner all the way up to instructor level. Get in touch to book your spot.
🌊 Viva Scuba Libre! 🌊
Such a fun weekend, well done everyone.