I met up with a very old friend last week - haven't seen each other for years, but whenever we meet up it's like it was only yesterday.
Apart from catching up generally on what we'd both achieved / failed at / missed / had / seen and forgotten about in recent times (delete as applicable), we talked about holidays past that we'd taken together.
My friend is a very keen diver, and whilst I never had the experience he possessed, we enjoyed a couple of fantastic diving trips in our youth. I haven't been diving myself in a dog's age, but thought again that I'd like to give it another go.
For good refresher courses that are fairly local, Friend recommended the London School of Diving - who just happen to be thebestof Richmond Business Members - who run everything from beginner's to refresher courses, qualifications for instructors.
Based near Kew Bridge in Chiswick, W4, the London School of Diving apparently has excellent facilities on-site, including a heated training pool, modern classrooms and handy coffee lounge.
There is a London School of Diving Club and children's courses to wear them out, and the school also offer corporate events with a difference. In fact, I've just seen that they organise regular diving holidays overseas as well, which is even better.
So if you thought diving as a hobby was a pipe dream for far off seas, think again - it is possible to dive in London and still stay warm!
Have a look at the London School of Diving on thebestof Richmond, and see what they have to offer.
Article by Silas Van Der Bas
Silas Van Der Bas is a freelance writer and photographer with The Little White Studio.
