What was
supposed to be my final advanced dive, the deep dive to 30 metres, actually
turned into my first dive without an instructor in the group. I've done fun
dives before, but it just happens that usually there's an instructor buddying
me or in the group. The boat had been cancelled so instead I made a group of
four with others still wanting to get a dive in and headed to the Waterfront
for a shore dive. The sun was shining splendidly and it was actually pleasantly
warm getting ready. We entered off the small beach on the Hoe; to date I've
only rolled in off the side or gone down the steps but low tide made beach
access the easy option. Having said that, when you put your fins on you then
have the walk, or waddle, backwards into the water so ‘easy’ may not be the
best choice of word. I unceremoniously made my way in (aka stumbled) and
settled (fell) into the sea.
We spent a little while paddling while one of our compatriots attempted to sort his fins out. He wasn't having much luck so we gave him a hand in the water. We didn't have much luck either! His fins were far too small! Fortunately there were students with us training that day so there were spare fins around and we soon set off. I was navigating, my buddy was holding the SMB and the boys were following behind. I have to say it's not the easiest of things multi-tasking underwater (no jokes please)! The vis wasn't that good so keeping track of the guys and keeping on course was interesting. I also had a habit of darting off a bit quickly so I need to work on that!
Along the way we saw sand gobies, a brittle star, spiny star fish and purple anemones. I also collected a couple of aluminium cans which I pocketed to dispose of later. If I'd had a bag with me I could've turned it into a recycling dive with the amount of rubbish that ends up near the sea wall.
I'd managed to navigate out in a straight line for a while before turning 120 degrees (I was working on a triangular pattern) and we'd got relatively close towards the sea wall before myself and my buddy realised we'd lost the boys. Standard practice is to look around for a minute then surface, which is what we did. We soon saw their SMB and went to join them. As we were only a few metres from the bottom we had plenty of air to continue the dive, but just a few minutes later they'd strayed again! Turns out they'd stopped to take photos!
We spent a little while paddling while one of our compatriots attempted to sort his fins out. He wasn't having much luck so we gave him a hand in the water. We didn't have much luck either! His fins were far too small! Fortunately there were students with us training that day so there were spare fins around and we soon set off. I was navigating, my buddy was holding the SMB and the boys were following behind. I have to say it's not the easiest of things multi-tasking underwater (no jokes please)! The vis wasn't that good so keeping track of the guys and keeping on course was interesting. I also had a habit of darting off a bit quickly so I need to work on that!
Along the way we saw sand gobies, a brittle star, spiny star fish and purple anemones. I also collected a couple of aluminium cans which I pocketed to dispose of later. If I'd had a bag with me I could've turned it into a recycling dive with the amount of rubbish that ends up near the sea wall.
I'd managed to navigate out in a straight line for a while before turning 120 degrees (I was working on a triangular pattern) and we'd got relatively close towards the sea wall before myself and my buddy realised we'd lost the boys. Standard practice is to look around for a minute then surface, which is what we did. We soon saw their SMB and went to join them. As we were only a few metres from the bottom we had plenty of air to continue the dive, but just a few minutes later they'd strayed again! Turns out they'd stopped to take photos!
 |
| One of the snaps taken on the dive when the boys' disappeared! |
This time
the rest of the group were getting a little cold and we were almost back to
shore by that point so they went in and I joined another diver to carry on for
a bit longer. We saw a female ballan wrasse fish on this stint. On researching
ballan wrasse after the dive, I discovered that they are all born female and
only a small proportion turn male after eight years. Obviously they're aware
that females are the superior species!
I was holding the SMB this time round. When you're holding it you're meant to keep it at a reasonable distance from your body so you don't get tangled up in it. Hmm. I forgot that! There was suddenly something pulling on my fin and I ended up head down, feet up. I really thought someone was above me pulling me up. Then I realised I'd got caught up in the reel line! I managed to flag my buddy down who helped me untangle myself and we continued for a bit before surfacing.
I was holding the SMB this time round. When you're holding it you're meant to keep it at a reasonable distance from your body so you don't get tangled up in it. Hmm. I forgot that! There was suddenly something pulling on my fin and I ended up head down, feet up. I really thought someone was above me pulling me up. Then I realised I'd got caught up in the reel line! I managed to flag my buddy down who helped me untangle myself and we continued for a bit before surfacing.
 |
| The correct way to hold an SMB, away from your body. NB. The teacup is not essential for correct SMB positioning. |
As neither
of us had been paying much attention to a compass we ended up a bit far from
shore so we took a bearing and descended again. Not for long! The low tide
meant we were barely in two metres of water and kept popping back up to the
surface. So we gave up on that idea and had a gentle paddle back in. It was
quite an interesting vantage point to watch a huge warship head into the
dockyard! I felt like a tiny fish myself!
We made it back in and out the water eventually. You'd think getting out on the beach would be far easier than climbing up large steps but the water got a lot shallower as we got in and I didn't realise that I was being pushed in towards shore. I ended up beaching myself on a rock! Having been dragged up once by my buddy I then had to be helped out the water by two of the guys who had gone in earlier as I couldn’t steady myself enough to get up! I wonder if my exits will ever start to look like I know what I'm doing?
We made it back in and out the water eventually. You'd think getting out on the beach would be far easier than climbing up large steps but the water got a lot shallower as we got in and I didn't realise that I was being pushed in towards shore. I ended up beaching myself on a rock! Having been dragged up once by my buddy I then had to be helped out the water by two of the guys who had gone in earlier as I couldn’t steady myself enough to get up! I wonder if my exits will ever start to look like I know what I'm doing?
Location:
The Elk – Type: Wreck – Max Depth: 30m – Length: 28 mins – Surface: Overcast
Here we go!
I'd finally got to the last dive on the advanced course. There aren't many skills
involved on this one. The main thing is to make sure you can get down to 30
metres and still have your wits about you! As you descend further, the nitrogen
in the air you’re breathing compresses more and you can be at risk of
developing nitrogen narcosis. Basically, it means that you feel drunk
underwater, so you get disorientated and could do something stupid. I've heard
tales of people reaching for their BCD inflators with the intention of getting
to the surface as soon as possible and being pounced on by their
instructor/buddy while they get themselves under control; not something you want
to be doing that far down! If it does occur, it can often be rectified by
ascending a few metres, and it doesn’t necessarily mean it will happen again at
the same depth.
We were heading to the Elk; an old trawler south of Plymouth’s breakwater used as a fishing boat which sank after hitting a mine in 1940. As we descended I was getting a few more ear problems than normal so it took a few minutes longer than usual, but I had expected it as I'd been ill the week before and still had a stuffy head. It wasn't bad enough to cancel the dive and I knew if I took it slowly I'd probably be okay. Fortunately I was right on this occasion. It's definitely not worth pushing it if you're in real pain though; the idea is you either manage to equalise or call it a day before that point and I know people who have had to do that.
After what seemed like ages, though in reality was probably only a few minutes, we hit the bottom. Instead of seeing a wreck, we'd ended up on the sandy bottom which was fortunate as I landed feet first, not quite realising we'd got there! You consume more air the deeper you go and it becomes harder to take breaths through the regulator. I knew I was breathing too quickly as I started to feel a little fuzzy. Fortunately the good thing was I realised I was doing it so I was able to correct myself quite quickly and start breathing at a more normal pace by taking a few slow, deep breaths with the support of my instructor who realised I was getting a little stressed. My surroundings were still a bit hazy but I knew I'd start to feel better soon so I plodded on.
We stopped on the sandy bottom to do the skills test; make five. The instructor holds up a certain number of fingers and you have to hold the amount up that makes the number up to five. I was fine on the first two doing it quite quickly. On the third he held up five fingers. It took me a minute to figure out how to make nought underwater (make a fist)! I thought he was trying to catch me out!
That done, we did a quick light test. The trainee divemaster shone a torch on something to show me the difference in colour once illuminated. I have to add that was after his torch was untangled from his BCD! Who says practise makes perfect? We continued to try to find the Elk. My instructor seemed quite happy with where he was going so I was happy to follow.
The deeper you get the less time you can stay down before you reach your no decompression limit so time was running short. I'm glad to say we did find the Elk and what a sight it was! It's only a small wreck but its deck is caved in and as such it's like a giant fish bowl! The critters are more than happy to have you swimming above them and continue on their path rather than darting out of the way. We were the only three diving the wreck at that point so I was told that had a lot to do with it. If you'd had a dozen divers down there they may have been more inclined to hide! We only had a few minutes on it but it definitely left me with a desire to get back onto it again soon. We surfaced with no drama, headed back to the centre and did the obligatory end of course photo for the certification. A few days later I was told that a somewhat embarrassed instructor, once I had left, had admitted that I'd come up having used less air than he had. The more experienced you are the less air you should use as you're more in control of your breathing so hearing this amused me! So there you have it, I'm now a qualified advanced open water diver. Wahoo!
A week later I tried to dive the Elk again, acting on the desire I'd had after the last time. Tried is the operative word though. We made it down 30 metres in somewhat rough conditions following another boat's shot line. No wreck in site! After a bit of a paddle along the bottom we called it a day and came up. So the Elk is still on the list to do properly! I was glad I had a chance to do another deep dive though. This time I was in control of my breathing the whole time and felt incredibly comfortable at that depth. I can't wait to do some more exploring.
We were heading to the Elk; an old trawler south of Plymouth’s breakwater used as a fishing boat which sank after hitting a mine in 1940. As we descended I was getting a few more ear problems than normal so it took a few minutes longer than usual, but I had expected it as I'd been ill the week before and still had a stuffy head. It wasn't bad enough to cancel the dive and I knew if I took it slowly I'd probably be okay. Fortunately I was right on this occasion. It's definitely not worth pushing it if you're in real pain though; the idea is you either manage to equalise or call it a day before that point and I know people who have had to do that.
After what seemed like ages, though in reality was probably only a few minutes, we hit the bottom. Instead of seeing a wreck, we'd ended up on the sandy bottom which was fortunate as I landed feet first, not quite realising we'd got there! You consume more air the deeper you go and it becomes harder to take breaths through the regulator. I knew I was breathing too quickly as I started to feel a little fuzzy. Fortunately the good thing was I realised I was doing it so I was able to correct myself quite quickly and start breathing at a more normal pace by taking a few slow, deep breaths with the support of my instructor who realised I was getting a little stressed. My surroundings were still a bit hazy but I knew I'd start to feel better soon so I plodded on.
We stopped on the sandy bottom to do the skills test; make five. The instructor holds up a certain number of fingers and you have to hold the amount up that makes the number up to five. I was fine on the first two doing it quite quickly. On the third he held up five fingers. It took me a minute to figure out how to make nought underwater (make a fist)! I thought he was trying to catch me out!
That done, we did a quick light test. The trainee divemaster shone a torch on something to show me the difference in colour once illuminated. I have to add that was after his torch was untangled from his BCD! Who says practise makes perfect? We continued to try to find the Elk. My instructor seemed quite happy with where he was going so I was happy to follow.
The deeper you get the less time you can stay down before you reach your no decompression limit so time was running short. I'm glad to say we did find the Elk and what a sight it was! It's only a small wreck but its deck is caved in and as such it's like a giant fish bowl! The critters are more than happy to have you swimming above them and continue on their path rather than darting out of the way. We were the only three diving the wreck at that point so I was told that had a lot to do with it. If you'd had a dozen divers down there they may have been more inclined to hide! We only had a few minutes on it but it definitely left me with a desire to get back onto it again soon. We surfaced with no drama, headed back to the centre and did the obligatory end of course photo for the certification. A few days later I was told that a somewhat embarrassed instructor, once I had left, had admitted that I'd come up having used less air than he had. The more experienced you are the less air you should use as you're more in control of your breathing so hearing this amused me! So there you have it, I'm now a qualified advanced open water diver. Wahoo!
A week later I tried to dive the Elk again, acting on the desire I'd had after the last time. Tried is the operative word though. We made it down 30 metres in somewhat rough conditions following another boat's shot line. No wreck in site! After a bit of a paddle along the bottom we called it a day and came up. So the Elk is still on the list to do properly! I was glad I had a chance to do another deep dive though. This time I was in control of my breathing the whole time and felt incredibly comfortable at that depth. I can't wait to do some more exploring.
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