The first mention of the canoe society was through an advertisement in the McGarel in October 1979, encouraging students to join the newly formed club. In December 1979, the society had its first ever trip to the River Teifi, Llandyssul, Wales, where they competed in a white water race which was a 3 ½ mile course. Training for the society took place at 4pm on Wednesday afternoons at the Regent Street Pool. On Friday 16th May 1980, the society attended another trip to the River Wye in Herefordshire, which was ideal for beginners to canoeing to attend, due to the whitewater and because there was qualified instructors from the Riverside Canoe Club in Oxford.
In November 1980, the club focused on competing in slalom and wild water racing that took place on white water. The club also had opportunities of surfing and touring as well.
During this time, the society had also become affiliated with the British Canoe Union, Cardiff Canoe Club and Riversdale Canoe Club in Oxford. One member of the society at the time was a Trainee Inland Instructor, who was qualified to teach basic skills to novices.
The first mention of the Exploration Society was in October 1973 through an advertisement of a meeting for students who were interested in expeditions to attend a lecture and film session revolving around this. At this time, members of the society had attended an expedition around West Africa and the Sahara. They had completed a ten week 10, 630 mile tour to Nigeria in which, members were able to collect nearly 3000 insects during this expedition. Another trip was planned during the academic year of 1973/74, for students to join the expedition to West Ethiopia from 10th July- 21st September 1974.
At the end of the academic year of 1975/76, the society had attended trips to Spitsbergen and the Tana River in Kenya. The aim of the Tana River Expedition was to undertake an ecological collection and medical survey.
In May 1977, the society was attending an expedition to Spitsbergen again.