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<\/a><\/p>\nClub trainee diver, Melissa Bracey, came up with the plan for the event while other members quickly agreed to join in with the fundraising fun event.<\/p>\n
Melissa, 18, a child care student at Leicester College, wanted to organise a Children in Need fundraising event and says although she had heard of tea parties organised in some pretty strange places she\u2019d never heard of one underwater before.<\/p>\n She said: \u201cI only recently joined Roundhill Sub Aqua Club and really enjoy it. I am currently working toward qualifying as a BSAC Ocean Diver and thought we could organise something in the pool we use for training that would be a bit different.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were invited by the BBC to a party at Leicester to explain on air what we did. Sixteen club members went.<\/p>\n \u201cSome of the divers wore costumes and I made Pudsey Bear eye bandages which we wore over our facemasks. It was a real fun event and, although we haven\u2019t got a total yet we know it\u2019s more than \u00a31,000 which we have raised for what is a very worthy cause.\u201d<\/p>\n She added; \u201cPersonally I raised more than \u00a3100 through family and friends sponsoring me and I know other club members have done really well too so we will be able to hand over a really good cheque.\u201d<\/p>\n BSAC is the national governing body for UK scuba diving and has family-friendly and sociable clubs, like Roundhill, all across the country and abroad. This year is the diamond jubilee of the organisation which was founded in 1953.<\/p>\n BSAC Chief Executive, Mary Tetley, said: \u201cOur clubs are great at raising money for charity and always come up with the most unique ways of doing it. Roundhill\u2019s underwater tea party is no exception and is a terrific idea of Melissa\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have raised a fantastic amount of money and should be really proud of their Children in Need efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n Roundhill Sub Aqua Club Diving Officer, Carole Gilbert, says club members have really got behind the event.<\/p>\n She said: \u201cMelissa, who is one of the club trainee divers, has done really well to come up with a good fundraising idea that all club members can take part in.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was loads of fun. We had a table cloth laid out on the bottom of the pool and had cup and saucers and plates for cakes. It did get a bit messy and some of the table manners on show were a bit disappointing!\u201d<\/p>\n Carole says Roundhill Sub Aqua Club is a really friendly club with 27 active members.<\/p>\n She said: \u201cWe would love to have more members and welcome anyone along who wants to have a try-dive in the pool. Our youngest member is 16 and our oldest 68 so there is a really good mix and members come from all walks of life, we have paramedics, office workers and financial advisers, amongst others.<\/p>\n \u201cWe meet every Thursday at 8pm. One week in the pool for training and the next in a classroom for lectures and theory lessons. We dive all year round using Stoney Cove Dive Centre a great deal as it is on our doorstep.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, we have our own rib and get down to the south coast as often as we can while seven club members have just returned from a dive trip to Scapa Flow.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also organise a few foreign dive trips to places like the Red Sea when we can so there is always plenty going on. And the club has a really active social side too.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d encourage anyone interested in diving, whether as a complete novice or any qualified divers who are looking for a club in the area, to get in touch. We\u2019d love to hear from you!\u201d<\/p>\n To learn more about Roundhill Sub Aqua Club visit www.roundhillsac.org.uk<\/a> and to learn more about the British Sub Aqua Club visit www.bsac.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n