Exotic or scary? Worcester News trainee reporter Lauren Murray takes a trip to the local swimming baths to try her hand at scuba.

Although the thought of going scuba diving is often exotic, it has always, well, petrified me.

Most people picture crystal clear water, colourful fish, the wonders of the wide open ocean, but I have a fear of total darkness and panic at the idea of relying on a limited amount of oxygen.

When Worcester Diving Club invited me to don my flippers and take a dip in a city swimming pool, I was determined to conquer my fear.

Lauren

Chairman and veteran diver Simon Yates explained that the two most important safety points are to breathe normally when you use the oxygen cylinder and remember to pop your ears, like you do when an aeroplane takes off, to re-adjust the air pressure the deeper you dive.

He said: “I could teach someone to dive in a few hours, but it takes weeks to learn how to dive safely.”

After the safety talk it was in the pool and on went the flippers, the mask and the oxygen cylinder that straps to your back like a rucksack.

I did not expect to be so nervous but we covered the basic signals, ‘OK, up, down, stop, and copy me’ and off we went.

Simon said: “This is the only alternative sport, that you can completely relax in.

“Relax while rock climbing and you fall off but with diving the more you relax the greater the experience.”

After two lengths and constant reassurance from Simon with the OK signal I was finding my feet, or my flippers at least.

Each time we went under the feeling of relaxation increased. I stopped thinking about the oxygen cylinder and just watched the underwater world go by.

An hour later, after attempting a couple of clumsy underwater somersaults, and a panic when I lost sight of Simon, I was interested to discover the trainee diver’s next step.

Simon explained: “After five or six weeks in the pool and with theory lessons to build up confidence, you can learn all the basic skills. We can train an absolute beginner up to instructor level.”

I found the experience great fun and I was amazed at how relaxing it was. The deep, dark waters I once imaged were now crystal clear. I can’t wait to don my diving suit again.