During the last couple of weeks I’ve completed my four obligatory open water dives – all shore dives off the waterfront on Plymouth Hoe over two evenings. On the first night realisation dawned that diving is a far from glamorous hobby. With all the equipment lined up on the pavement alongside the road above the steps down to the entry point, the next obvious step was to get changed. My first question: “Is there any etiquette to this or do you literally just...?” That’s right, you just strip! No holds barred, the dry clothes come off and the wetsuit goes on (or rather you look a bit of a tit as you wiggle your way into it occasionally jumping in the air to aid the pulling up millimetre by painful millimetre). If you’ve prepared in advance you will of course make sure you’re already wearing your swimming togs before getting yourself into this precarious situation!
The result...
Yes, seal was my first thought too.
Full kit on, down the steps (so much easier to say than do with 10kg weights and a 12l tank on your back), final checks complete (this was where one of the instructors reminded me it helps to turn your air on – mental note made) and it was into the sea off the rocks in a not so graceful roll sideways into the water from a crouching position (make like you’re going skiing and someone just hung a large weight off your right arm).
In the water we discovered I was overweighted (if someone
hadn’t been holding onto me during these checks I would have sunk) but we
figured with extra inflation I’d survive (turn of phrase – I was perfectly
safe). Actually, that was probably a bad decision, as I spent most the dive
being propped up by one of the instructors as I kept rolling to the side, but
you live and learn! Despite the dodgy choice of equipment (my BCD – the inflatable
jacket – was also too big but I blame myself for that as I know what size I am
and should’ve checked I’d been given the right one) and the lack of visibility
(I couldn’t figure out who was who), I made it through all the skills tests
without too much drama and got back onto dry land (with help – your legs feel
like lead weights after getting out of the water) feeling like I’d accomplished
something, though not feeling as exhilarated as I’d hoped because of the extra
effort involved in righting the kit malfunctions. Having said that, it was my
first ever sea dive and not something I’ll forget in a hurry!
The second night on the water (or underwater) was a
different experience altogether. I made sure I had all of the right kit (down
to the extra small fins which no one could figure out why I needed as I’m an
average size 5 usually) and I knew what to expect. I loved it from start to
finish! I made it through all the skills tests...eventually! I had a slight
problem with remembering to start kicking to propel myself to the surface during
a controlled emergency swimming ascent but I got there with gentle
encouragement. The best part by far was having a bimble (I have it on good
authority that’s a highly technical scuba term) along the sea floor. The
seaweed (or kelp) in itself was interesting with the odd sea snail (yes, I’m
making names up now) attached, but my first ‘proper’ find was a crab, or part
thereof. Okay, so he wasn’t a whole live crab, I’d found a claw of a previously
departed and sorely missed crustacean (I don’t know, but I suspect his friends
may have written something along those lines in his eulogy) which caused a bit
of amusement when my instructor picked it up and started mock attacking me with
it. It really is hard to laugh underwater! My best discoveries of the dive were
some little fishies. They really were very little fishies but I was enthralled
by them. Who knows what they thought of me peering at them through what must
have looked like a giant window but they were very cute. A bit too quick for me
to chase though! I also saw a tiny starfish, which I didn’t realise was a
starfish until I was told later (it looked like a tiny white octopus to me)!
It’s all very well describing all of these discoveries, what
I need is photos! Evidence to aid the descriptions. My PADI book says that I
should have an aim and mine is definitely to take the underwater photography
speciality at some point. It certainly won’t be my only aim and I want to make
myself more comfortable with ‘normal’ scuba diving first, but I will get there.
In the meantime, I may have to hijack images from any budding photographers who
happen to be on the same dives as me, but there’s nothing like being able to
put your name to a photo. Now, if someone wins the lottery and would like to
help me out with the costs I’d be much obliged!
If you found yourself playing out the reverse of the getting
undressed and into your wetsuit scenario in your mind earlier, I’ll help you
out. Back on the side of the road (people walking by, cars driving past)
imagine a group of people peeling themselves out of wetsuits/drysuits and then
cautiously attempting to remove wet undergarments and replace with dry ones
under a towel whilst trying to avoid the possibility of being arrested for
indecent exposure... there’ll be plenty more occasions to hone that skill, I’m
sure!
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