The final dive

Last dive in Oldham diving pool before new centre opens. Photo Darren Robinson.

THE closure of Oldham Sports Centre today also marks the plug being pulled on the borough’s diving pool.

The new £15 million leisure centre — which opens tomorrow — boasts a 25-metre swimming pool, learner pool, 80-station fitness suite, dance and exercise studios, an eight-court sports hall and an indoor bowls hall.

But what it doesn’t have is a pool to match the five metre (16ft) depth of its predecessor.

This decision affected a number of groups, including Oldham Diving Club, three local sub-aqua clubs, young snorkellers and canoeists.

It led to a petition of 3,000 signatures — which included Olympic bronze medallist diver Tom Daley and his coach — being sent to Oldham Council campaigning to keep the aqua facilities in the town.

The closure has called time on Oldham Diving Club, which came into being in the 1980s following a split from the Northern Diving Club. Initially named Moonrakers Club it soon became Oldham Diving Club.

Now, the few remaining divers in the club have been invited to dive both at Bury and with Manchester Diving Club at the city’s Aquatic Centre.

Sophia Rawlings is the only club member competing nationally — joining the Eastern Counties team in some events.

The diving pool has also been used by deep sea diving clubs Probe Diving and Chadderton Sub Aqua Club.

Both clubs held their final session on Thursday last week and, although they will move to the new leisure centre and use the new 6ft deep pool for lessons, they will be limited.

Ged Kelly, of Chadderton Sub Aqua Club, which used the five metre pool for more than a decade, said: “It was a great turnout for the last dive. It is sad because we have been there so long and it’s a fantastic facility to have.

“Not having a diving pool locally will mean we will have to hold more sessions in outdoor open water. It’s not ideal but we were fortunate to have the diving pool for so long. You have to work with what you have got.”

Scott Lomas, of Probe Diving, says he has personally used the diving pool for over 30 years.

Scott added: “It won’t affect my life a great deal, I will still be able to hold my session at the new pool but when you are diving in a pool that’s six ft deep a lot of people are able to stand up which means it’s a less realistic experience.

“The pool is really handy so I guess we have just been lucky to have had it. It’s a shame more than anything because I’ve probably spent months of my life at the bottom of that pool.”