South Bay Scuba scoop top BSAC award

South Bay Scuba has been announced as the latest recipient of BSAC’s Heinke Trophy, scooping the 2015 award.

The Scarborough-based club has become the 45th branch to win the Trophy,which is awarded each year to BSAC’s top club. The club will now receive £1,000 and will be presented with the Heinke Trophy at the BSAC Diving Conference in October.

Launched in 1958, the Heinke Trophy is presented to the club considered to have done the most to ‘further the interests of its members and BSAC’ and each year, the judges have to sift through an impressive selection of entries.

South Bay Scuba – which was set up in 2013 – is one of the youngest clubs to receive the award. Club treasurer Anne Morrison – who herself scooped the BSAC Volunteer of the Year award last year – said the Heinke award was a tribute to the collective effort which has brought the club so far in such a short time.

“We are over the moon to be selected as Heinke Trophy winners so early in the club’s history. As with all club projects, preparing the Heinke Trophy report was a real team effort which we all enjoyed so actually winning is the icing on the cake!”

Heinke Trophy adjudicator Phil Harrison said it was the freshness and energy of South Bay Scuba’s entry that made it stand out. “South Bay Scuba took a very open, positive and collaborative approach to both the branch’s development and their Heinke entry.”

The club was also commended for their approach towards diver training, purchase of a new hardboat and how they have integrated snorkelling into the club.

BSAC is now inviting applications for the 2016 Heinke Trophy.

Deadline to register is 30 November 2015. Final applications need to be submitted by 31st March 2016.

To enter your club, complete the online registration form here.