ET 2007 Dive Trip Report

Well this has to have been be the best ET for good weather which I have ever known, although having said that, getting sunburnt was not that much fun.

The trip started with a slight hitch when I received a text saying everyone was locked out of the Sports Centre, but apparently that was soon solved by Simon arriving with the keys and the Landy. The journey down was a mix according to different people and the amount of traffic people encountered – but then again it was a bright and sunny Bank Holiday. The record for arriving first went to Julie, the record for the shortest journey time to Steven and Melissa who due to Lissa’s speed demon driving actually managed to arrive 10 minutes before they set off.

Diving on the first day went quite well, and even better, the boat started nicely first time and was running well. Cylinders were filled, kit was sorted, (often by the ‘if it’s lying around I will appropriate it’ technique), divers suited up, and off the first waves went. In fact the only real issue with Day One was the early closing of the boat storage, but we spoke nicely to F&B and moored up with them for the night. We then decided to eat in the Hotel which was a complete disaster, as the average wait for food clocked in at about 75 minutes, which allowed far too much time for us to indulge in a liquid diet (shame).

Day Two started early with more lovely sunny weather and a decision to have a BBQ on the beach that night, so off I went to the Supermarket, and to pick up Karolina from the Station, while Lissa sorted everyone onto boats. Everyone got more sunburnt, had a great time, and lots more diving happened. Following a rapid ascent Julie went off to be potted, but called us later to let us know she was fine and heading back off to Oxford, which had been her plan anyway. We pulled the boat safely out of the water, and after quick showers etc., all piled into the Landy to go for our BBQ at Chessil Cove. The BBQ was orderly, and give or take the odd person deciding to go for a night-time swim, the eco-damage done by the twisted fire-starters further up the beach, and our harmless little beach fire being put out by the kill-joy firemen, it was completely uneventful. A short extra drinking session followed, before everyone packed in for an early night with much moaning about the 8.30 start for the Dive Centre briefing.

Day Three – Easter Sunday. Another glorious day in which the Trainees were shipped off to do extreme drag and spit up Chessil (practically vertical) Beach, while the Sporties headed off for a drift at Lulworth. The Trainees and their Instructors all seemed to enjoy themselves and the exploding pressure gauges so much, that at the end of an afternoon's boat diving we retired to Chessil once more to eat crème eggs and night/dusk dive. This was followed by a meal at the Cove pub and ……! !Not really sure actually, as I went to bed, but I am guessing it was wild, judging by the difficulty people had in making the 8am briefing the next day!

Day Four – Last day. Again fabulous weather, (is this getting boring yet?) and despite the early start all went well, lots more training happened, and give or take the odd SO5 and Theory Test, most of our Trainees finished the Course, so well done to them!! This was the day that it all fell together really nicely, boat waves went out on time, people seemed to get through masses of training, there were no scary ascents, and even the big pack-up and ship out exercise went well. So well that I nearly found myself the new owner of a very expensive umbilical torch, until Chris told Sam and I that salvage rights did not count in the Fathom and Blues car park

Special awards of the trip go to:

∂ Sean – most spectacular failure of an Ocean Diver Theory Test ever

∂ Simon – extreme night diving navigation – compasses are for wussies!

∂ Sam – most entertaining wicked thoughts of the trip (still got the torch?)

∂ Luke – SCUBA?? Who needs SCUBA kit?? I’ll use gills for my shore dive

∂ Melissa – most sarcastic Marshalling ever

∂ And probably plenty more who made the trip such fun, but who I can’t find anything on . . . . yet.

Joy