A GROUP of students from Darlington have swapped the classroom for the coastline to qualify as divers.

The four Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College students - Jack Madden, Kelly Snow, Isobel Watts and John Hassan - completed their Padi Open Water Divers' qualification in Northumberland.

Organised by principal tutor John Beilby, the students teamed up with the Battye About Diving Centre and undertook two days of theory, followed by two days of diving in the North Sea off Beadnell.

The theory course covered various aspects, such as how pressure affects the body, equipment, dive planning and sessions where skills such as mask clearing and removal, buoyancy and air sharing were learnt.

This led to the two days of diving where the students undertook four dives to practise and develop their skills.

It is the first time that students have been involved in diving and it is hoped that further courses will be organised.

Mr Beilby, an experienced diver, said: "From the outset, the students were really enthusiastic and worked hard to develop their knowledge and skills. The first day in the North Sea was particularly challenging due to poor visibility, but they conducted themselves really well putting into practice what they had learnt."