Sixty years of Waterford Harbour Sub Aqua Club
Eoin O'Regan presented certificates to founding members of the Waterford Harbour Sub Aqua Club, Gerry Stokes, John Aylward and Thomas Junior O'Neill. All Photos: Joe Evans
Waterford Harbour Sub Aqua Club recently celebrated its 60th year in operation.
Founded by Gerry Stokes and John Aylward in 1964, the club is one of the oldest of its kind in the country and was first established to introduce the underwater world to locals in the South East.
“John was interested in the water, and he came across an acquaintance in Dunmore one day who had been diving. He got talking to him and became friendly, and the idea came from there,” founding member Gerry Stokes said.
John added, “I learned how to swim when I was 16, then I went off and learned how to snorkel. I got books on it to get an idea of what I should and shouldn’t be doing.
“I was the only one diving at the time. Gerry was in the army in America, and while there he sent me a packet that contained a speargun and an LP record with instructions as to how to dive.
"When Gerry came back from America he brought more gear with him and the two of us went diving together.
“People started to see us doing it, so one thing led to another and we set up the club together. We had a small crowd who got involved and it just developed from there.”
Gerry said, “Gradually people started to join and it gathered momentum. It was something new and people wanted to have a go at it. We were pioneers at the time. To get it started in the mid-60s and to have it going still and going strong is quite an achievement.”
Sixty years down the line, the club remains at the epicentre of Ireland's diving scene, with the principal aim being the promotion of the sport to as many people as possible in a safe atmosphere.
The group also have dedicated members who are trained in Search and Recovery.
