Scuba diving firm on ring road industrial estate celebrates 25 years in business |
But Christal Seas Scuba, on Whiffler Road, is celebrating a remarkable 25 years in business which have seen it become one of the UK's busiest dive centres.
Husband and wife Chris and Polly Wake set up the dive shop and teaching centre after falling in love with diving while on holiday in the Caribbean.
Chris and Polly Wake set up Christal Seas Scuba after falling in love with diving while on holiday in the Caribbean (Image: Supplied)
The couple were on a week-long beach holiday in the Dominican Republic when they tried diving for the first time.
"We started snorkelling just off the beach and loved it," Mrs Wake said. "Chris then said he might try diving and it just clicked with him. He instantly fell in love with it.
"He ended up basically not coming home from holiday, staying out there for four months and training up to a professional level.
"We flew home, he handed his notice at his job working in sales and advertising, and then flew back out the week later, living out there for four months."
Polly Wake, who owns Christal Seas Scuba alongside her husband Chris (Image: Denise Bradley)
Polly Wake, owner of Christal Seas Scuba (Image: Denise Bradley)
After spending three-and-a-half years living and diving in Bermuda, the Seychelles and Spain, the couple returned to the UK to set up Christal Seas Scuba in 2001.
From its current base on Whiffler Road, the firm offers full PADI open water diving courses in its 10 x 6.5 metre heated swimming pool.
Christal Seas Scuba employs 12 instructors and eight assistant dive masters, and also offers private pool hire, children's diving lessons, and mermaid classes.
Customers Colin Heaslip and Michele Lalor practice diving in the swimming pool at Christal Seas Scuba (Image: Denise Bradley)
Christal Seas Scuba, on Whiffler Road, Norwich (Image: Denise Bradley)
"They are pretty mermaid tails with beautiful colours which adults and children can wear in the pool," Mrs Wake said.
"It's very popular, particularly with kids, but also with adults. It's mainly ladies, though - we don't get many mermen."
Polly Wake, owner of Christal Seas Scuba, with her dogs, Skye and River (Image: Denise Bradley)
Polly Wake, owner of Christal Seas Scuba (Image: Denise Bradley)
As well as taking groups to dive off the north Norfolk coast, Christal Seas Scuba has partnered with a scuba diving travel agent to take people on holidays all over the world - including the Red Sea, Maldives and Indonesia.