Normalair’s clubhouse is the heart of the club. Situated on the East bank of Emmarentia Dam, opposite the Botanical Gardens, Johannesburg, it is easily the best spot for a sundowner, be it in spring with the beautiful blossoms of the botanical gardens, or watching the colours of the trees change in autumn.
It is a club filled with a rich history and lots of traditions. The first clubhouse was built in the early sixties and has grown from a little shack with a portable toilet, to a great pub with a pool table, DSTV, and a fireplace. We are proud of our compressor and equipment room that enables us to offer cylinder fills and gear rental to our members. Our prized possession, Bert’s Tub, an old lifeboat, has taken us on many sunset cruises around the dam.
One of the oldest traditions at Normalair is to dive in Emmarentia Dam as close to the winter solstice as possible, cleaning up the dam as an community service, and to win one of the many prizes offered for the interesting things found. In the past we have found everything from shopping trolleys, guns, ammunition and false teeth, to computers and even a shop dummy. A Spring day Fish Braai sets the tone for each diving season and is an event not to be missed on the club’s social calendar.
“Drink the club dry” is the last evening of the year that the club is open, and is taken seriously. Years ago thieves stole all our booze over December and we feel it is our duty to make sure they will leave empty handed if they try to do this again!