Derek’s Dive Domain

These took place on 14th April, but I am only just getting around to catching up with my writing and getting logged on here.  I met up with Chas49 and Calski (To use their YD names) at Stoney in the morning, the plan being to just plop into the water and do some general plodding around.  This was one of Calski’s first dives in the UK after his recent introduction, so we decided as a three to just stick to the first ledge for the first dive and take it really easy.

Not really a lot to say about this dive,  we were in for 35 minutes, in water at 7 degrees C, which was surprisingly warm for the time of year (so I thought anyway).  We had a good bimble around and then came up for an extended surface interval involving bacon butties etc.

I faffed about with the pony, but couldn’t come up with a way of mounting it that didn’t get in the way of other bits of kit, so decided not to use it on this occasion.  Charles mounted his side slung, with an ingenius home made system costing about £1.48

The second dive had to take place without Callum, as we didn’t know that he had to leave early… wish he’s told us, we would have gotten back in the water quicker!  Hopefully next time mate !

The second dive, down to the Stanegarth, was my 50th logged dive, so a reason a “celebrate”.   50 dives isn’t a lot to some, but after my extended gap from diving, it felt like a thousandth dive might to some.  I really was quite pleased to make the milestone, as it was something that I never imagined I might make, only two years ago.

We went down the road, planning to double back for the bus, but we missed it completely, so buggered off to the stanegarth instead.  Did the quick tour around the Stanegarth and then came back up the wall by the Wessex, before pootling about on the ledge for a few minutes.  Total dive time 29 minutes, max depth 22.5 metres (down the roadway).