A 15-YEAR-OLD student who lives near Wiveliscombe has found an unusual way of conquering dyslexia – by taking up scuba diving.

Nathan Harrison’s hobby has not only helped kick-start his reading but he has also now achieved the top Master Scuba Diver rating.

Nathan is in Year 10 at Queen’s College, Taunton, and his father, Jonathan Harrison, said: “Nathan tried a taster diving session at Queen’s and loved it.

“We couldn’t ever get him to read but he knew he had to read the background information and that started him off.

“He then joined the Scuba Scene club in Taunton and hasn’t looked back. He read the course manual and has gone from strength to strength.”

Nathan and his family regularly get up at 6am on a Sunday to travel to Shepton Mallet so that he can dive in an old quarry lake.

And, on his first sea dive off Lundy Island, he even made friends with an inquisitive seal.“This is the highest award for pleasure diving before moving on to professional diving,” added Mr Harrison. “This will involve teaching people to dive but Nathan can’t do that until he is 18. We are delighted for him – he has worked so hard.”

Mr Harrison also praised the staff at Queen’s College for helping Nathan to overcome his dyslexia.

“They have been wonderful and he would now like to become a school ambassador for the condition. We are very proud of him.”

¦ The Professional Association of Diving Instructors says on its website: “The Master Scuba Diver rating places you in an elite group of respected divers who have earned this rating through both significant experience and scuba training.

“Fewer than two per cent of divers ever achieve this rating. When you flash your Master Scuba Diver card, people know that you’ve spent time underwater in a variety of environments and had your share of dive adventures.”