Hope this isn't too long and you all don't get bored before the end - but another excellent weekend over and done with and a few more yd'ers met
Since it was my birthday on the 23rd and for a change I wasn't working it, it was obviously going to be a diving weekend. I hadn't been out on any of the Portland subs last year, and Julian on Stormforce had the Sidon scheduled so all was arranged - he mentioned that he had some spaces left, so I mentioned that on the 'spaces available' board and up popped Mark ala Gizmo.
As the weekend got nearer, frantic met report watching ensued and just for a change the forecasts actually got better as the weekend approached. Thursday night, all the kit was bundled in the car, then Friday an easy run down the M3 getting into Portland just before last orders
Saturday morning dawned to the sounds of grumbling from one of my buddies, Neil. He was looking out of the window, and from the sound of it he wasn't impressed with the weather - I thought the wind had blow up or something, but looking out of the window it was thick fog - not a particularly good omen. Anyway, breakfast and several dozen cups of tea later we headed off down to Castletown to get kit sorted and meet Gizmo outside
Portland Oceaneering - a veritable diving Aladin's cave. If you're ever down in Portland, make sure you get in there and fondle some of his excellent shiny kit!!
Mark arrived about 8:30 and we start chatting away while getting kit ready, talking about our upcoming trip to Porthkerris and how YD'ers are getting everywhere - only to notice a Discovery parked on the other side of the carpark with a YD sticker on the back window. It was later revealed that the mystery owner was Gledders, down doing her fundy course.
Anyway, dive kit assembled, the fog wasn't clearing so we weren't getting too optimistic about getting out to the Sidon. Sure enough, when the skipper turns up he says that unless it clears we won't be able to do the Sidon - but do we want to do the M2 instead? Not entirely certain on the logic behind this, but happy to be offered the chance to get a lump of metal dived, we all say yes. 9:30 arrives and we all pile into Julian's huge rib and are soon roaring off toward the bill in thick fog. Well I say all, but there were only 6 of us in a rib that normally carries 12 so lots of space for everyone to get ready.
Finally, we make it out to the M2 and start getting ready - at this point Gizmo, realises that he's left his hood in the car and starts debating whether he's brave enough to dive without it when the problem's resolved when he turns on his tank only to hear some very strange noises coming from it. Sensibly at this point, Mark decides to bin the dive - a real pain when you've had to come all this way but given the situation, definitely the right one
After consoling him and convincing him the dive will probably be crap anyway, I drop over the side with the other peeps in our group, Neil and my other half Andrea. Eventually we get down the line to the sub, to find a pleasant 5m or so of vis and loads of fish everywhere! The M2 is still as impressive as ever, especially for Neil who is making his first dive on her. We have a good swim around, checking out the hangar, launch rails for the seaplane, bow hydroplanes etc and all too soon we're back at the conning tower with deco starting to rack up (only a couple of minutes though), so we bag off and start to head up.
After a nice slow ascent, its back on the rib (the only bad thing about Julian's rib is the lack of a ladder so its manhandle the twins back on board), and proceed to regale poor ol' Gizmo with the tales of 15m vis, 22 degrees water, mermaids, brimming treasure chests etc...
Back to base, tanks in for filling with air, divers in for filling with cheesy chips
and soon enough its time to head back out. Second dive is to be on the ledges around Portland Bill, entering under Pulpit Rock. This is one of my favourite non-wreck dives - always getting loads of life, big wrasse, starfish, crabs and lobbies there for those who can be bothered to check out the crevasses for them. Entering the water, Mark gallantly volunteered for SMB duty, and soon we were exploring the boulders, nooks and crannies and ledges in a gentle drift. Again a good 5m+ of vis, plenty of light and fish everywhere
At the end of the dive, back onto the rib and a slightly shorter trip back to Portland - time to say bye to Mark who had to head off home, and tanks in for filling for the following day.
Sunday, unfortunately, saw me working - finishing off an Open Water course for a brave student who'd managed to survive Stoney the weekend before but couldn't finish off all the dives due to getting too cold. She was amazed at the difference and really enjoyed her first sea dive on the wreck of the small dredger - hovers, cesa and mask skills completed then off for a nice 20min bimble around
Sunday afternoon, saw 2 guys finishing off their drysuit dive with a nice wander around the Countess.
Back on shore, time to pack up - and a quick chat with Gledders who was just off for her swim test on her fundy course, looking slightly damp after what looked like a drysuit leak - hope all went well with the course!!
So all in all, an excellent weekend - a real shame about Gizmo not making the M2, but the right choice made there. Some cracking dives, an excellent curry saturday night - and only a few weeks until my next YD meet down in Porthkerris