LIFEBOAT crews from Clacton took the plunge after being offered free training by a scuba firm.

Local company Marlin Scuba Diving gave the RNLI crewmen tuition in a bid to help save the lives of scuba divers who get into trouble.

A Clacton RNLI spokesman said: “Some of the crew took a trip to Colchester swimming pool to be taught the basics about diving, how to de-kit a diver in the water as well as rescuing an unconscious diver.

“The evening was a great success and extremely beneficial to the crew for when they get called out to divers on a shout.”