A typical day on a COMMIE job

[Andy the Coastie]

( This is the photos and WHAT I DID this weekend for Stevie's Monday morning talk to his class. )

My dad had a phone call about going to work early in the morning on Saturday the 19th March, and i asked if i could go with him.
He woke me up at 04:00, it was very foggy outside as we drove down to our boat. We did the boat checks and left Dover at 04:45 heading for Ramsgate to pick up the dive team before going to the dive site which is 25 miles to the north east of Ramsgate.
At 6:30 we arrived in Ramsgate, where i was to excited and couldn't wait to see the divers turn up at 07:00, and dad made me make them a cup of tea as soon as they arrived. At 07:00 with all onboard we left Ramsgate for the dive site. Dad had to tell Paul ( the dive supervisor ) what the dive job was, Paul is a ex Royal navy diver that my dad knows very well, and lasted worked with him 7 years ago, so they were talking war stories a lot. Paul remembers me when i started learning to walk , and was on a boat with him.

Paul is here showing me how to operate the dive panel


When we got on the job, all anchors set, i helped kit up the diver, i was now known as the TAURUS DIVER TENDER , and had my photo taken to show i haven't got much longer to gow before i can fit in a proper drysuit.


Diver leaves the surface and after he calls on the comms, i took a photo as proof.


While we were on our dinner break waiting for the next tide at 15:00, my mate Vince ( who is funny ), was the next diver in. The others failed to find a tide data collecting frame , which is only a square meter base that only stands up 60 cms, Vince and I had a plan on how to find it. While wasting time , vince taught me how to tie a sheet bend & a double sheet bend, aswell as a bowline behind my back with my eyes shut. This was very hard.



With Vince kitted up, i pulled a line connected to the shotline for him to pull himself to.. Vince wanted me and only me to be his dive tender for the plan to work.



I over saw that Vince was kitted up to my standard , before he left the boat.


Dive tender to Vince at last. " Dad, how much wages am i on ? " .


JOB DONE, the team located the frame and a line is attached ready for a larger vessel nearby to life the 700 kg frame. We are all very pleased, as this is the 3 day, 6 dive to try and find it ........


Who says young kids sit indoors all weekend watching cartoons and being little buggers......
We then packed all the kit away and watched the other boat lift the frame , we then left the site to drop the divers back off in Ramsgate. Dad and I then drove back to Dover in thick fog, where we got back at midnight, and in all that time i only had 15 minutes sleep and one pot noodle and some chocolate.

[David]

Originally Posted by Andy the Commie

Editing photos ,,, won't be long


PLEASE NO POSTS , til you see what is on display

ok we wont post then :-)

[wreckweasel]

Typical commie alright, turns up, clocks on and buggers off for a cuppa!!

[Gavin Smith]

Originally Posted by wreckweasel

Typical commie alright, turns up, clocks on and buggers off for a cuppa!!

and a 40 min cuppa at that!

[And]

Hi

Great pics!

Was that guy in the red Otter suit asleep all day ? How did you get all that kit on and off him without moving him and waking him up?

Andy

[Dizzydiver]

Fantastic job description and photos. What a cracking lad you've got there!

[SoggyFox]

I wonder what he wants to be when he grows up?

top report, definitely better than cartoons and playstation.

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by SoggyFox

I wonder what he wants to be when he grows up?

A lumberjack?

Andy, you are a very cruel man. Pot Noodle for lunch

[Juz]

Way to go Stevie!!!
I want to hear all about it next weekend!

Juz

[Andy the Coastie]

Originally Posted by Juz

Way to go Stevie!!!
I want to hear all about it next weekend!

Juz

NOOOOOOOOOOO JUZ, please , i'm begging you , don't get him started ,,,,,,

BTW . His dive god scores are as

1.) Juz
2.) Vince
3.) Howard
4.) Digger
5.) Me