Skegby man Dennis Tammadge has been appointed chairman of the Sub-Aqua Association (SAA).

Founded in 1976, the SAA represents independent scuba diving clubs throughout the UK.

Dennis took up the sport in 2003 after snorkelling whole on holiday.

He has been an active member of Mansfield and District (ScubaMAD), working through his diving qualifications over the past 14 years.

Dennis qualified as a regional instructor for the SAA in 2014 and became vice-chairman of the association in 2015.

He said he was looking forward to working with the SAA to promote safe scuba diving to new and existing members.

ScubaMAD has a club house in Mansfield where it holds lectures, as part of the qualification process, and social events.

Members meet every fortnight at Ashfield School, Kirkby, to train in the pool.

The ScubaMAD team regularly dive in the UK and organise club trips overseas.

Last year many members went to Bonaire, a small island in the Caribbean, where they dived with squid, octopus, sea horses and many other fish.

Regular training sessions are held in freshwater lakes in the UK.

ScubaMAD is running a Let’s Snorkel event on Thursday, 1st June. The aim of the evening is to provide an introduction to basic snorkelling skills.

It is open to adults and children (age 10 years and over) and the sessions will provide absolute beginners with the opportunity to try snorkelling for the first time or help existing snorkellers to develop their skills further.

A charge of £5, for those aged 12 and over, is payable and spaces for the evening are limited. The evening will also provide the perfect opportunity to discuss the world of scuba diving with members of ScubaMAD.

Pictured is outgoing SAA chairman Colin Bryan (left) being presented with a token of appreciation by incoming chairman Dennis Tammadge.