Divers from Worsley Sub Aqua Club are taking part in a dive marathon to mark their club’s 40th anniversary.

Members of the club are planning to tackle a daunting 40 dives, each lasting at least 40 minutes, at 40 different locations within 40 days.

It is all part of their celebrations to mark the four decades since Worsley SAC was formed.

Club Chairman, Rick Hague, said members wanted to mark the club’s 40th anniversary on September 27th in the best way they could – by diving.

He said: “We are starting in August which means we get the Bank Holiday which will make things a bit easier. We intend to have our 40th dive in Anglesey and finish with a beach barbecue. It promises to be a real challenge but lots of fun too. We will be diving all around the UK but never diving on the same wreck or reef twice.”

He added: “As we are doing 40 dives all lasting at least 40 minutes, at 40 different locations over 40 days we’d love to boost the club membership by attracting 40 new divers to the sport. That would really be another 40 reasons to celebrate!”

The number 40 is also the lucky number of married club members Lindsey and Gary Fell. In September, the same month as the club was initially set up, Lindsey, 57, is due to celebrate 40 years since she took up diving.

And it was a Worsley SAC dive trip to the Azores to celebrate his 40th birthday that led to Gary, 46, setting up his own dive business on the Portuguese volcanic islands.

Gary Fell added: “Worsley Sub Aqua Club changed my life 100%. That’s where I met Lindsey and it was on a club dive trip to the Azores, arranged to celebrate my 40th birthday, that led me set up my own dive business there.

“I used to be a fibre optics manager, so that’s proved a massive change of direction really.

“Basically we all went out on a club trip and everyone came home except me. I stayed out there and set up my business. Now, I spend five or six months of the year out in the Azores running dive trips. I absolutely love it!”

Worsley SAC share a club house with Monton Bowling Club and use the local authority-run pool at Irlam for their Wednesday evening club nights which start at 8.30pm.

To find out more about Worsley Sub Aqua Club call +44 (0)7936 017064 or visit their Facebook page here.