ScubaSmith

Now I've been told I "Burble" on too much in these write up's, please speak to Mick, Tamsbabe's other half for a meaning of burble. I guess he means I waffle on but then that's me and diving, I go on and on and on...... Mind you after our little dives we did on this bright and cheerful Tuesday morning one could change ones mind, 13 degrees and Semi-dry's really are not the best combination!! Roll on the arrival of the dry suit in a couple of weeks!!!

First dive was with Amy as Mick and Nina couldn't get down till 10ish. Suited up, usual buddy check, jump in and then hear the screams of "F###### hell it's freezing" from the delicate voice of Miss Ward repeated many times!! Once we had got sort of accustomed to the temperature we swim down the road along the chain and into the Stanegarth. This time both of us remembered our torches and tried a bit of torch photography (note to self - needs work!!) handed the camera over to Amy so now have first pictures of me and Stanegarth, like you really want to see pictures of me!! We headed over to the Land Rover, Amy still hasn't mastered the art of driving yet but saying that looking at her two modes of transport for the day not sure which one which one is standing the tests of time better!! (Only joking Amy!) By now air was dwindling so we headed up the rock face for a stop at 5m and then out to warm up!!

Dive 2 - Now Nina and Mick had arrived and had found the bacon butties (first visit to Stoney) I had the task of convincing 2 very 'Warm Water' divers that 13 degrees really wasn't that cold!!(Amy went off to do her 2nd dive with Dawn and Jim) After a lot of umming and arring they went a bought a couple of hoods and thought hell we're here we'll give it a go!! (mad fools!!! :-) So they kitted up and we all buddy checked and jumped in to yet more profanities of the water temperature!!
The Write up for Mick is (ie Burble free) - Jumped in swam right, down, left, up, along edge, under building got out, sa personell carrier, submarine and crayfish. It was cold. (hope that is more direct for you Mick !!:-)

For anyone else who wants a little read we planned on keeping this dive shallow and close to the shoreline as this was the first time both Mick and Nina had used their new kit in open water and the temperature was likely to be an issue! We took a gently swim along infront of the bus stop so Mick could get comfortable with his bouyancy and then headed to the Armoured personell carrier had a quick look round then went over the edge and down a couple of metres to 10m and then swam back up the road past the cockpit and along the edge to the nautilaus, a bit of exploration round there and then under the pub to track down a crayfish or two. I did have to play with the bricks just to build a bigger tower than someone else did (see Amy's last construction job!!) We decided then it was getting to cold to continue so had yet another practice with my SMB (managed a full inflation this time Keith!!) and we then tried to get out via the ramp, even to the end a smile was had watching us each roll around trying to get up that slope gracefully, NOT. Then it was a quick change into warm clothes and a debrief in the Pub!!

All in all a great couple of dives were had by us all, unanimous decision that 13 degrees really is to cold for wet suits!!!

Next Dive Tenerife Tuesday 21st November, first sea dive and warm water and doing my AOW

Piczo