:Gledder\’s diving blog…

I sold a drysuit on ebay for Al - the guy who came to pick it up is a new diver and has, wisely, booked his drysuit specialty for tomorrow.

Thing is, he asked me how you drive a drysuit. I hestiated in telling him because I know that he will be shown to fly the suit rather than the BCD - and I think this is daft.

Not only will he have to unlearn his current way of diving, but if he makes a move to twins in a year or so, he will then have to unlearn again. I don’t see why people are taught to use the suit for buoyancy - I just don’t buy the crap that it’s better for beginners to only have to control one source - it would be better to teach them right from day 1 - and make damn sure that they are weighted correctly too so they don’t have excess air floating around in the suit or wing.

Mutter mutter, grumble grumble - I’m only grouchy because I was taught this way and it gave me several months of grief until I learned not to fly the suit anymore. Don;t see why others have to suffer the same pain.

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So with the planed dive cancelled, a hardy (some would say foolish) band of YD divers headed for Vobster - determined to get a friday dive in after all - and thus defy the english weather.

Janos arrived at my house at 7:30 as I said I would lead him to the site. We had a journey from hell, a milk tanker and a tractor holidng us hostage for mile after mile at 20 miles per hour. Janos made me look like a cool, composed and slow driver as he dodsged in and out trying to overtake - in the end he gave the driver the finger

We got there to find Al and Chasey already building their kit. With no sign of the others we decised to head in for a dive as soon as we were ready - after Janos and Mark had tried back fining on the surface (both said they wanted to be shown how). There are the obligatory pictures kicking around - but not with me

Al lead us off for a fun pootle, with me bringing up the rear. Mark’s changes to his harness meant that he was able to complete shutdowns without any great hassle so we really did just chill and have fun - even though my brain refused to accpet Janos’ twins were OK that way up

On the way out we bumped into Howard (who lets face it is unmistakable in the water) and Digger. I was most concerned to see bubbles coming from Diger so went over to have a look - Janos took a picture of me hovering over Digs with the word STROKE displayed on his tanks so I’m definately open to blackmail here

Second dive was just me, Janos and Al - with Janos having another go at back finning - much progress there. He had said that he wanted to try an Ali stage so Al and I clipped three - or was it four off on to him for a laugh. I swam around with four on (Two 80s and 7 and a noseclipped 40) Hmmm… if I have to do this on a real dive Gavin is coming too.

Last dive was me, Al, Chasey and Howard on Chasey’s YBOD. I stayed at the back buddying Howard, who really seems to be getting to grips with the breather, and we had a comfortable dive although when I had to switch to one of the stages I called Al over to varify under our usual proceedures.

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One year ago this weekend I became a diver….

Wading down the slip way into Wraysbury, feeling the water at 11 degrees come into my wetsuit boots. My single 12 litre cylinder weighed a ton and I hoped that I wouldn’t slip over. I struggled to get my fins on - and broke a nail on the clips. Swimming out to the shot line to go down to the platform with my instructor I was feeling absolutely terrified.

Putting my head under the water, everything started to spin, I never expected it to be green, I could barely see my instructor yet he was holding the same line as me…welcome to UK diving … well puddle diving at least

It may sound hilarious to those of you who know Wraysbury, but as we swam round the edge of the container, I truly believed that there was really deep water surrounding us (quite what I thought was holding the container up I have no idea!)

When we got out, after the second dive, I had to get changed in the car park, from my wet suit. Baring my bum there, in November, just as it was getting dark I spotted that my instructor was toasty warm in his drysuit – and swore that if I was going to do this again I had to get one of those.

Quite what hit me during those first, green, cold, frightening dives I don’t know, but on the way home I thought I have to do it again.

I have done it a few times since then – quite a few over 300 as it happens.

It’s been one hell of a year.

The nails have gone and my manicurist has forgotten what I look like

I spent the winter diving almost exclusively in puddles (apart from a short trip to St Lucia) but then hit the sea in the spring. Southcoast from Weymouth and Portland, Plymouth, Selsea, Teignmouth, Babbacombe, Farnes, St Abbs, Pembrokeshire, etc. etc. etc. Interspersed with a few puddles of course I got a bit of warm water stuff in too, I went to the Maldives in August and Egypt in September where I did my longest and deepest dive to date.

I’ve made some of the best friends I’ve ever had.

I’ve done stupid things…. Diving solo at 45 meters on a single cylinder is stupid but have been fortunate to survive them to swear that I would never do the like again.

I’ve done courses which have pushed me to my absolute limit and found, with some degree of relief, that I can cope after all.

I’ve taken some stick on here sometimes for taking courses, or doing “drills and skills” but I have three children and diving is a dangerous activity. I don’t want a thread of condolances on YD - I want to get out and dive. I’m doing my utmost to make sure I can both enjoy my hobby and come home safe.

I’ve done fun things too, the best moments in diving, looking back, have been the unexpected moments which you treasure for days afterwards. A conger in the boilers of the Frognor is one particular memory, the Salsette is another, a great dive with great people which I hope to repeat again sometime soon. Cuttlefish at Babbacombe, the Aeolian Sky in awesome vis, the Elphinstone Arch - moments to treasure

My single 12 has been transformed into twins, with up to four stages (boy that’s hard work) Air has been replaced with nitrox or trimix.

The no deco rule has been replaced with DOTF. The computer which has been on my wrist since that first dip in Wraysbury is now permanently set in gauge mode.

I’ve taken a very prescribed path in diving which may have accelerated my progress as I haven’t had to find my own way but competence is built on hours in the water, experience and practice, not any specific kit configuration.

When I reach 6 metres now (the depth of my first dive) the dive is nearly over and I’m contemplating hot chocolate on the boat and normally longing for a wee

But, a simple dive to 6 metres can still be fun… especially when it is with friends.

So a few things I have learnt…

Little is ever as bad as you fear or as good as you hope. This includes you.

Stop, Think Breathe, is the best single piece of advice I have ever been given – in the same vein as “Take a minute out from your panic and relax” – not that great if you are OOA at the time but still relevant to most problems underwater

Don’t ever try to do too many new things in one go – that is where things break down. Learn one thing well, to the point that you can do it with little effort, and then proceed.

No-one is responsible for your safety underwater apart from you. Be safe and well trained, and then you can be there to help others. If you cock up – admit it or ask for help, we all have and we all will again.

Diver are, in the main, a hugely generous and fun bunch of people. I’ve been surprised so many times at the time people will take to give help and advice, it’s something that I am now fortunate to occasionally be able to pay back.

On forums like this, some people who have never met you will seek to criticise you for what you do or how you do it – whatever you do. Ignore it. It is the quiet advice from people you dive with which is the most valuable. Ignore that at your peril.

But, whether for you it’s twins or singles, warm or cold water, tech or rec, fish or wreck, bubbles or OC, snorkels or not, deep air or tri-mix, solo or team of three, bungies or not, wet or dry, above all, enjoy your diving.

So – I start my second year, tomorrow, in Vobster as Plymouth has been cancelled…. Nothing new there then

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Friday found me at Vobster with EllisN, Rob, Wilbo and GLOC (Gareth) from YD - who were all . interested in learning more about DIR.

First job of the day was get the Gavin in the water and sort the weighting out. Took a while but got it bang on eventually - a fact confirmed by Frank who nicked it for a quick spin later on :o)

I had a look at the boys harnesses and made sure they were fitted corr ectly. One undersuit was giving reaching problems which meant that the wearer had difficulty in reaching his valves - pretty sure it can be worked out though.

Wilbo seemed almost eager to leap on to the picnic table for the obligatory “let’s all look silly finning in mid air pose” His eagerness was explained when, after his turn, he grabbed a camera to take pictures of all the others.

and me… ;O)

In to the water I asked Rob and Gareth to buddy up and Neil and Wilbo. They held together OK and we swam to the platform. A few finning attempts here, plus an easy air share (I was OOA in each instance as I didn’t want any mishaps)

They did OK but there’s only so much you can do on a platform so I led them off for a swim - figuring that you can demonstrate frog kicking and light signals better on the move.

The vis was awesome - the best I have ever seen it. I led them to the top of the wheelhouse and demonstrated how we bag off. I them asked the to do it - it wasn’t pretty!

Surface interval and much chocolate followed and then dive two - in Rob’s newly delived wing and twin 12s. Another fun dive with more buoyancy and finning practice. We ran into a group of divers at the back of the plane and fearful of losing my little flock I signaled a change in direction. They picked up on the light signals immediately - good progress!

A fun day, finished off in the pub with Frank and Howard who had been working on Howard’s MOD 1 that day.

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I’ve obviously spent too much of the summer in the sea… Al and I pottered around the far side of the site where people don’t tend to go and the rock formations were often dramatic. I found myself looking in nooks and crannies trying to see lobsters, crabs or other life though… the only thing we saw on a 1 hour dive was a lonely trout which made me jump

Oh well, must get used to it with the weather set to get worse over the winter. Al and I decided to make the most of the unexpected quarry time to get used to diving two stages, switching, re stowing etc. Lowering four stages and a scooter into Vobster on a leash, I did smile when I remembered the maxim “only take what you need” but hey ho….training is best done in a safe environment - and this way when we are in the sea we can spend the time just diving.

We returned after the last dive to find that the Gavin had found a Silent Sub friend - it’s owner had spotted my leash and parked up. I don;t know - scooters are clearly like buses… you wait for ever then two etc. etc.

Two longish dives, with quite good vis in parts, and pleasant chat on the surface. Not quite what we had hoped for but fun nevertheless.

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