Divers dressed as Father Christmas and reindeer took to the waters of The Lake for Scuba Santas, an event raising hundreds of pounds for charity.
Organised by InDepth Dive Club, the festive dive saw participants braving the chilly waters for a good cause, enjoying mince pies, bacon rolls, and a successful raffle.
The event supported two important charities: Headway – Gloucestershire, which provides support and services to people with brain injuries, and DDRC (Diving Diseases Research Centre), a recompression chamber in Plymouth that supports divers suffering from decompression sickness.
The choice of charities holds particular significance for InDepth Dive Club’s Diving Officer James Neal who suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage 11 years ago and was told he would never dive again.
“It was fantastic to see so many divers getting into the festive spirit and supporting these vital charities,” said James Neal. “The weather was brilliant, the dive site was buzzing, and everyone had a lot of fun.
“We cooked and gave away 4 kilograms of bacon and 80 mince pies, ensuring everyone on site enjoyed a morning treat. Chocolate was a close second to the ever-popular bacon butties!”
The raffle proved a major success, raising several hundred pounds for the charities. Given that InDepth Dive Club decided to relaunch this event late in the year, initially as a club dive, the turnout and generosity of those on-site made it a very successful day. Divers from multiple dive centres and clubs joined the fun, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
The Lake, located just outside the Stroud District in Cromhall is renowned for its crystal-clear waters filtered through limestone and provided a stunning backdrop for this unique event.
A popular destination for open-water swimming, diving, and paddle boarding, The Lake offers something for everyone, with expert coaching and instruction available for beginners.
Paul Breen, Outdoor Activities Manager at The Lake, commented, “We were delighted to host the Scuba Santas event. It’s a fantastic initiative that combines festive fun with raising money for worthwhile causes.
“The Lake provides an ideal environment for open water activities, and it was great to see so many people enjoying it on our final weekend of the year!”
The success of this year’s event has already led to the announcement of Scuba Santas 2025, scheduled for December 13th, 2025.
“We’re so grateful to everyone who helped organise the event and especially to the companies that generously donated prizes for the raffle,” added James Neal. “We’re already looking forward to making next year’s Scuba Santas even bigger and better!”
