The Committee, 2008

Peter Houlton

Peter Houlton. Chairman

Apart from watching Hans and Lottie Haas, I first heard of diving as a sport from a school biology teacher who was also a fellow member of Belfast Naturalist's Field Club (at the time I had a passion for biology including marine biology - an interest to this day). I didnt have a chance to take up the sport until my mid twenties (in the late 1970s) when I joined BSAC 675 United Birmingham Hospitals Special Branch.


Although I progressed to nearly completing my third class diver qualification a job move to London made me drop out until the late 1990s when I joined Harlow Branch and started my training again from scratch. Job changes meant I came to Hull Branch some six years ago. I am currently a Dive Leader, Advanced Nitrox Diver and Nitrox Blender and intend to qualify as Advanced Diver in the next few months.


I have dived in England, Scotland, Wales, France, Spain and (inevitably) the Red Sea and hope to revisit these places and add others to the list in future. A particular ambition is to do some diving in Ireland. I no longer dive particularly for my marine biology interest more for "being there", the freedom of three dimensional movement and the feeling of well being I get whilst diving.

Andy Dowsland

Andy Dowsland. Diving Officer

I launched into diving in The University of Edinburgh club (EUSAC) back in 1992 and clearly remember my first dive in Loch long in November in a semi-dry. This led to many memorable trips, mainly to the west coast of Scotland and I've been hooked ever since. Whilst in Edinburgh I was on the committee as equipment officer.

Since then work and further study has taken me around the country and I've also dived in various places in the world. I have been a member of three other BSAC clubs; Pickering (North Yorkshire), Southampton and Bristol. This has given me a wealth of experience in diving and how different clubs function. To date I have done over 700 dives, am an Advanced Diver, Open Water Instructor, Boat handling instructor, Trimix and Inspiration Rebreather Diver. In 2007 I qualified as a BSAC Sports Mixed Gas Instructor, one of the first few in the country.


As far as diving goes I do anything fun and interesting from teaching, playing about in the shallows to technical deep trimix on exciting recently found wrecks. I enjoy instructing and am keen to develop members skills with our team of instructors, which can only strengthen the club and provide interest at all levels.


One of my aims as Diving Officer has been to integrate rebreather diving into the club. An increasing number of members are taking up the challenge of rebreather diving to gain it's great advantages. To this end we now offer rebreather trydives in the club. Also we will see a dedicated rebreather section on the website and in the future I will be aiming towards instructor level.

Trevor Jones

Trevor Jones. Vice Chairman.

In the fifties I became a keen Snorkeller mainly in the North sea and inland rivers. This was without a wet suit just wearing woolen garments to keep warm. I later progressed to a homemade aqualung. The contraption was comprised of a demand valve made from a Calor Gas valve and pressure cylinder from a War Department surplus store.


My time in the Armed forces in the 1960's took me to Singapore and Hong Kong where the free use of diving equipment and the wonderful dive sites there really got me into diving.


It was in the 1970's when I joined the BSAC, Hull Branch and I have enjoyed an active membership ever since.  Over the years I have been the Diving Officer for four years and training officer for ten. Since 1981 I have run Hull Snorkel Cub and this is part of the reason why I was awarded the M.B.E. in 1998.


I've dived many different UK and international sites but always enjoy the Flamborough area. It really takes some beating for a local site.


Alex Wood

Alex Wood. Secretary.









Johno Palmer

Johno Palmer. Treasurer.









Brian Smith

Brian Smith. Compressor Officer.

I joined Hull BSAC. in 1979. I have achieved OWI/Nitrox Instructor level and my goal is to get to Trimix Instructor. I am an Advanced diver with Trimix certification. I have stood for many years as Compressor officer and, although I handed the job over to Simon Moir during my time as Diving Officer, I am again back in the role and happy to be there.


The club has changed much over the years going from dives off Flamborough head week after week to diving wrecks & scenic dives all over the world at greatly varying depths. I am pleased to be part of that.


Trimix diving is now my greatest passion in life, I have often asked myself why I need to do it?  The simple answer is because it feels good. I am not a particularly religious person, but the deeper I go the more I feel at peace and the more I feel a presence of something greater than man. If I could live in the sea all the time I would, but unfortunately I need to come out to fill my tanks.


John Fuller

John Fuller. Projects Officer.









Alistair Chadburn

Alistair Chadburn Conservation Officer.









Gavin Jones

Gavin Jones. Equipment Officer.









Craig Plant

Craig Plant. Records Officer.










Tony Hodge

Tony Hodge. Open Water Training Officer.

On 1st of March 1993 I exited a very cold Stoney Cove and completed my PADI Open Water qualification. The following month I was off to Egypt to dive in the Red Sea with my brother who was working in Cairo at the time.


16 months later, whilst on holiday in Cornwall my brother and I hired some dive equipment from Porthkerris Diving. We had just completed a 'weight-check' dive and were staggering through the slight surf and up the pebble beach. WOW- total euphoria and Cuttlefish as well!!!


This dive totally exceeded our expectations and for me was the life enhancing experience that introduced me to the delights of UK diving. . I wish to share the thrill of the sport with others and hence take on the role of Open water Training Officer.


I believe that every dive is a good dive; even when it is zero viz or things go horribly wrong. All these events add to your experience and you should never stop learning.


I am an Advanced Diver and Open Water Instructor and can be contacted on 01482 898949 or on e-mail hodget@bp.com

Simon Moir

Simon Moir. Boat Officer.