Volunteer life: Sandra Castro, Nationwide Teacher

A diver, staunch membership committee member and a mentor, Sandra Castro talks about her volunteering journey. Interview by Kristina Pedder.

Sands Castro’s enthusiasm for diving, and every little thing related to the game, appears irrepressible. A BSAC First Class Diver and Nationwide Teacher from North Berwick in East Lothian, Scotland, Sands tells me she’s a member of not one however three branches within the Edinburgh space. Let’s shout out to all of them, I say: A giant good day to Lothian Divers, Divetech and South Queensferry.

As Membership Secretary at Lothian Divers, Sands writes the minutes of the conferences, however the entire committee, from Diving Officer to extraordinary members, contribute to the operating of the membership. She’s not a committee member for Divetech or South Queensferry; there she helps out with coaching and organises dive journeys. The three branches typically contact one another about areas on dive journeys or coaching programs, and most of the members additionally belong to a couple of of those branches. 

SKILLS TIP 

My tip is to ALWAYS do a buddy verify. This has saved me so many occasions when package has not been correctly connected (drysuit hoses) or has been left in my goody bag (torches, reels, SMBs.

“After I certified,” Sands says, “I by no means anticipated to nonetheless be diving 35 years later. I’ve made so many pals and been to so many superb locations within the UK and overseas that I’d by no means have travelled to if it hadn’t been for my interest.”

FAVOURITE KIT

I like my O’Three MSF 500 drysuit. I’ve had it for 15 years and it has by no means let me down.

So what introduced her to BSAC life? “I acquired into diving accidentally, in 1990,” she replies, laughing. “I took a PADI Open Water course with a boyfriend on the time; his sister ran a PADI Dive Centre in Cornwall.” 

On the time, Sands was learning for her PhD on the College of Kent at Canterbury (UKC) and the next yr, was a part of a gaggle that arrange the UKC BSAC department. The remainder (and her ongoing curiosity in supporting BSAC branches), as they are saying, is historical past. 

I needed to know what it was that gave her the bug for scuba. “I like so many issues about diving,” she replies. “I’m principally into scenic diving. Looking for, and discovering, critters throughout dives is a lot enjoyable.” Sands dives with a digital camera, only a fundamental point-and-shoot she says modestly, on most dives.  

“I additionally love the camaraderie of dive journeys. It’s enjoyable to plan after which perform dive journeys and spend the time out at sea.” Does she log all of them? “I ended logging my dives just a few years in the past, however I will need to have completed no less than 2,000,” she says. 

At work, Sands oversees and screens medical trials, working carefully with hospitals all through the UK. It seems that her favorite diving is nearer to dwelling. “Most of my diving is completed in Scotland,” she says. Residing on the east coast, means Eyemouth, St Abbs and North Berwick are in straightforward attain, however her actual love seems to be the superb diving alongside the west coast of Scotland, specifically within the Sound of Mull. “I like wall diving,” she says, “so Calve island, the John Preston Wall and the wall that the Rondo sits on are specific favourites. Most divers keep on the wreck of the Rondo and they’re actually lacking out.”

TEACHING TIP 

After I educate, I be certain to elucidate to the scholars why they want to have the ability to do a specific ability or know that info relative to diving. I imagine this helps them perceive and study higher. For instance, why can we educate in regards to the construction of the ears? To clarify why we have to clear our ears as we descend to keep away from a burst ear drum. 

Not that lengthy after discovering diving, Sands attended an Teacher Coaching Course (ITC), the precursor of at present’s Teacher Basis Course (IFC). “I can’t actually keep in mind if anybody specifically persuaded me to get into instructing. I did my ITC in 1995, after I was a member of the Cambridge Metropolis BSAC department and being concerned in instructing simply continued on from there. “After I began engaged on the Teacher Coaching Scheme (ITS) in 2000, I discovered I actually loved the position as an Teacher Coach and Assistant Teacher Coach coach. It offers me an enormous feeling of satisfaction engaged on these occasions.”

Lastly, I requested what Sands would say to a newly certified diver or snorkeller: “My recommendation is to get on the market and dive in as many various locations, at as many dive websites and with as many various buddies as you may. With every dive, you study one thing new and diving with completely different folks is a good way to observe and study.”

Article ‘’Solar, sea and Sands!’ by Kristina Pedder first printed in SCUBA journal, Challenge 155 Might 2025.