On year on…
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
