A RE-FORMED Scuba diving club said it was delighted with the attendance at its first open evening. About 20 people, aged between 18 and 40, attended the event at Meridian pool, which was organised by Royston-based club Herts Divers. The open evening was

A RE-FORMED Scuba diving club said it was "delighted" with the attendance at its first open evening.

About 20 people, aged between 18 and 40, attended the event at Meridian pool, which was organised by Royston-based club Herts Divers.

The open evening was held to give potential new members an insight into what scuba diving involves.

Tim Wells, 42, of Thackeray Close, Royston, is a member of the club's committee and has been diving for six years.

He said: "We were delighted with the turnout.

"We had a couple of people do a try dive in the pool and we also had some people who are already qualified divers turn up."

The club currently has 18 members and two qualified diving instructors, Trogon Sangan and Paul Norman.

Mr Wells said: "Although diving standards regulations state you can have up to eight pupils for each instructor, we never take more than four pupils for each, so people who learn with us will receive more individual tuition."

And although scuba diving might be more commonly associated with the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean or Oceania, Mr Wells insists that the UK is as good a place as any to go diving.

"The UK is the best place to learn to dive and it also has some of the best diving in the world around the coast.

"Perhaps we don't have the clearest waters in the world but some of the sights are fantastic."

As well as diving nights at Meridian pool, Herts Divers also organises diving trips throughout the UK and overseas and social events for members.

Full membership, which includes full use of the pool and discounted kit hire, costs £60 a year.

Associate membership is also available at a cost of £20 a year.

If you are interested in learning to dive or would like more information about the club, visit www.hertsdivers.co.uk