In the land-locked West Midlands, you'd hardly think there would be a demand for a scuba diving and snorkeling shop. We're pretty far from any vast bodies of water and the wildlife in the seas around England isn't exactly exotic. But sure enough here is Scuba Pursuits who sell shallow-water and deep-water diving gear and who run recreational, professional and technical diving courses.
I'm not after a diving course, but I need a new snorkel mask. I'm a bit weird in that I feel more confident when swimming in open water in a snorkel mask, and after swimming in the river Lug a few weeks ago I noticed that my mask had become a bit tired looking. I'm taken through the various masks that they have in stock. 'Did you want a purge valve on it?', asks the man. This is new to me. He explains that if water gets into the mask that the purge valve means you can breathe the water out of the mask by an exhalation through you nose. (He puts it a bit more graphically that that!) Water can seep in sometimes and its often a panicky and claustrophobic moment, so I'm taken with this device.
So, I'm £22 quid lighter, and I've got a mask, a new snorkel tube and a handy bag.
I've got no need for a diving course, but if you do then Scuba Pursuits training courses are held in swimming pools in Birmingham and Staffordshire. read more