Kate Middleton obtains advanced scuba diving qualification

Home Top

Doctor becomes second American named in African lion-killing investigation: Pittsburgh gynecologist who has posed with dead elephants, hippos, zebras and ostriches 'killed lion in illegal hunt'
Donald Trump accuses Obama of 'doing absolutely nothing for the black community' as he soars over GOP rivals again in the latest poll
CEO who set his firm's minimum wage to $70K hits hard times: Highly-paid top employees quit in disgust and his business-partner brother sues him over his own 'excessive' $1m salary
'I'm still deathly insecure about every part of me': Models reveal why they really HATE their job on confessions app... from men using them, to online bullies and strict diets
Bobbi Kristina's relatives cheer and chant her name as they gather at Pat Houston's home for celebration of life party after funeral
EXCLUSIVE - Bobby Brown breaks down: Father of Bobbi Kristina wells up as he leaves her reception after his screaming sister had to be 'escorted out of funeral' mid-service
Tragic last messages of Bobbi Kristina before her overdose death reveal Whitney Houston's daughter feared she'd die like her mother
Bobby Brown's wife hospitalized after Bobbi Kristina's chaotic funeral: New mom Alicia Etheridge has 'a seizure' after a feud and sister's claims that 'Whitney will haunt relatives from the grave'
Girl, 16, who was stabbed at Jerusalem Gay Pride march dies from her wounds
Expert who massively exaggerated Ebola outbreak and said 1.4million could be affected comes under fire
Fourth person dies in New York City Legionnaires outbreak as health official warns more people could be at risk
Obama to unveil unprecedented climate change plans to slash fossil fuel emissions
Property boom in Motor City? Detroit stone cottage that was sold at auction for $31,000 four years ago is now listed for at $260,000
Wild-eyed and dazed: The startling mug shot of the woman who brazenly tried to eat crack cocaine in front of drug agents when they arrested her
Olympic athletes hit by massive doping scandal with claims 55 gold medal winners had 'suspicious' test results
Firefighter and married father of two dies while fighting northern California wildfire
Baltimore suffers its highest murder rate for 43 years - three months after Freddie Gray's death
The baddest woman on the planet: UFC champion Ronda Rousey defends her title by knocking out opponent in just 34 seconds
Civil rights leaders clash with Confederate flag supporters at Georgia 'Heritage or Hate' rally in the shadow of huge sculpture glorifying Civil War leaders
Being unpopular with the opposite sex at school 'boosts your GPA': Researcher claims those who are ignored through their education end up smarter
EXCLUSIVE- 'You're gonna have so much more to be p****d about': Idaho huntress ignores a tide of criticism after Cecil the lion's death and boasts to the world from Africa about killing big game
Jericho is alive: Report that Cecil the lion's brother had also been killed by poacher is false
Animal psychic claims Cecil the lion has spoken to her and given instructions on how to deal with his death
Cecil the lion and other endangered animals are projected on to Empire State Building in stunning New York light display

The Duchess of Cambridge has gained her advanced diving qualification
She can now join her husband during shark dives on holiday in Mustique
To gain the qualification Kate was required to undertake five dives
This included dives to learn crucial underwater navigation skills

Published: 01:38 EST, 2 August 2015 | Updated: 06:26 EST, 2 August 2015

882

View
comments

The Duchess of Cambridge is now an advanced scuba diver after having successfully gained her open water qualification in Mustique.

A Kensington Palace official confirmed that Kate has built on her enjoyment for scuba diving by passing the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) advanced tests.

Now able to dive to a depth of 98ft, it means she can keep pace with her husband, who is also an experienced diver.

Scroll down for video

The Duchess of Cambridge has become an advanced scuba diver and can now dive to a depth of 98ft

Prince William is the third generation of the monarchy to head the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC)

His father, Prince Charles (pictured in Majorca in 1986), instilled a love of the water in his son from an early age

Prince William takes the plunge at the British Sub-Aqua Club

William is now the third generation of the monarchy, after his father and grandfather, to head the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC).

When he took on the role as president of the BSAC , the UK governing body, William said he hoped that little Prince George would follow him by taking up snorkelling and scuba diving.

The Duchess is thought to have gained the qualification from a diving school in Mustique, according to The Telegraph.

A spokesperson for the Duchess told the paper: 'Diving is something the Duchess very much enjoys, and the Duke of Cambridge, who is of course president of the BSAC, has said in the past that he is hopeful his children will become interested in the sport.'

There are five dives - including the must-do deep and underwater navigation dives - which have to be completed successfully in order to gain the advanced qualification.

The deep adventure dive is about the planning of dives, how to deal with the physiological effects and challenges of deeper scuba diving.

Deep sea divers run the risk of contracting decompression sickness. Commonly known as 'the bends', is it a potentially fatal condition caused by nitrogen bubbles in the blood, which are formed as the diver rises to the surface.

The underwater navigation elements aims to fine tune compass navigation skills and helps you better navigate using kick-cycles, visual landmarks and time.

Photography, buoyancy control, fish identification and exploring wrecks are also part of the course.

BSAC chairman Eugene Farrell told The Telegraph the organisation was 'thrilled that The Duchess of Cambridge shares her husband's interest in the underwater world and has further progressed her diver training'.