[gwilson]

Originally Posted by Hickdive

Don't give up on the UK yet...

Firstly, forget the Lochs. The Lochs are fine for training or for just keeping your hand in but they are not the be all and end all of west coast diving. I'm always slightly puzzled by people who cheerfully drive four hours to the lower reaches of Loch Fyne each week to experience conditions and sea life identical to what they would get at Finnart.

Secondly, forget what you are 'qualified' to do. Do you really believe that you, personally, need to do a PADI Deep Diver Speciality or similar before you can do the Kintyre? Some people probably do need that extra qualification but I've seen you dive and you are more than competent to do planned decompression dives to 30m or more. I know you've done your fundies and have been told that you mustn't ever use a computer for deco dives and that you must do Tech 1 and learn how to work it all out in your noggin as you go along before you can do planned stops but remember, tens of thousands of divers have been doing planned deco dives on computers safely for over twenty years. The GUE way is superior and I'm sure you should go for it but at what point does it actually hold you back from doing interesting dives that you are competent to do before you get that Tech qualification? Get yourself on the hardboats in the Clyde and Forth and get doing those wrecks in the 30-50m range and get doing stops so you get the best out of them. Forget what the little stickers in your logbook say, they are based on the lowest common denominator of divers, start believing in your own abilities instead and let yourself do the decent dives.

Or, thirdly, just sell your kit and use the money to go boarding instead. I'll give you £500 for the whole lot, I'll give you cash and even collect it (It isn't worth more than that, the colours are all wrong and the suit won't fit me, I'm doing you a favour, honest!)

I think you hit it on the head with the Lochs, they are repetative and i think our version of quarry diving, Id rather be on boat in the Clyde just need you to dodge yr wife and get out diving. So far as deco stops go im happy to do them and even have a card to satisfy life insurance. hahaha

£500 if you have that to spend im sure i saw a 2nd hand approx 2 year old Suunto D9 for sale on this very forum for nearly that much