Diving in a three, when one of them is your child.

[Diving Dude]

l posted this a few years ago, so this is the 2007 re-write.

The title of the thread should read 'Diving in a three when one of them is your child diving a drysuit for the first time' but that's a bit long.

l'd done about 50 dives and decided to arrange a gig to Scapa, which meant that as well as the cost of the gig l had to buy three drysuits and three computers for my eldest daughter, my son and l. l didn't exactly explain all this to the High Dudess when l arranged the gig.

Drysuits turn up, l go up to Stoney with a mate and do three dives in my new suit and think, whats the fuss, this is easy, so the following week l go back up to Stoney with the same guy and my son of 14 yrs to try out his drysuit.

Like a prat l thought that it's a lot easier handling a drysuit deeper and there's three of us, so off we go down the road to 25 mtrs .

We poodle around for a couple of minutes and then my son grabs a rock as his feet start to rise. B*ll*cks l thought and at that moment my mates rig seemed to explode into bubbles (ok it didn't explode) so much so that l couldn't see him, all l saw was his hand coming out of the bubbles to grab my octopus and at that moment we realised what a useless piece of sh*te an oceanic slimline octopus really is. He can't get enough air out. In a millisecond l thought l can't surface with him whilst my son is hanging onto a rock at 25mtrs. he thought exactly the same and with a wave he started his ascent breathing on a free flowing reg.

My mate was ok, the Stoney staff and seen the bubbles and a boat was there to pick him up in minutes. When l surfaced he was being observed whilst on 02.

Lessons learned

The main one being learned by my son. Dad's are supposed to know everything, his didn't and was a feckin kn*b
Me.
Well 25 mtrs is a tad deep for a first drysuit dive and that anyone diving in a three if l'm with either my son or daughter is on their own if the sh*te hits the fan with two divers at once.
The following week my mate and l took Rebecca (my daughter) for her first drysuit dive and stayed on the 6 mtr shelf.

All of us.
We all then bought pony cylinders and had regs on them that were equal to our primarys.

l've got a few of these stories.

Thursdays will be- rescueing a diver whilst on my AOW course.

Fridays could be - penetrating a wreck in scapa.

[Jules]

I know what you mean Howard. I did one holiday when both the kids were diving with me. MAtt was buddied with a guy who just abandoned him and despite frequent "stay with your buddy" signs from the guide this frickin muppet just kept ignoring matt. So I signalled to the guide that Matt could join me and beth.

For the rest of my dive it was a constant loop of
10. Where's matt?
20. Where's Beth?
30. Goto 10

They are both fine underwater but mummy was a wee bit freaked by having to watch both of them and this is a woman who really does do threesomes at the best of times.

Yes, if you join me when i am buddying one of my kids you are diving solo and just tagging along.

Jules

[louigi]

we all do things in the exuberance of our first forays into a new game. Thinking we know how it's done. Still I put Amy into the safest pair of hands she could of known for her first Sea dives of Anglesey. and Dude I'd do it again.
But as for diving as a three yes when I was instructing I did it loads but thats a sinario of one pair and one solo. Dive as a three on a normal dive forget it I'll dive solo every time. And 25mtrs is defo out of order. luckily we live and learn thats why i'd trust you with any of my kids.

[Diving Dude]

The only time l've really welcomed having another diver with Becks and l was on our last trip to the Sound of Mull, where (like a muppet) l decided to take Becks to the bottom of the Rondo and Mal joined us. He started behind us then moved to beside us, so Becks was between us. l felt a lot better then. However when we got to the bottom , about 47m, l thought, stupid git, wtf are we doing here and started back up.

[louigi]

I realy dont like taking oli diving but I do like taking him diving but it scares the hell out of me. it's great when he goes of and dose his own thing then all I have to do is worry like mad. Now my Jim wants to start. but he's also up for doing the boat as well.

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by Diving Dude

The only time l've really welcomed having another diver with Becks and l was on our last trip to the Sound of Mull, where (like a muppet) l decided to take Becks to the bottom of the Rondo and Mal joined us. He started behind us then moved to beside us, so Becks was between us. l felt a lot better then. However when we got to the bottom , about 47m, l thought, stupid git, wtf are we doing here and started back up.

Dude - That almost came out like a compliment ...

On a serious note, it was about then I decided that Trimix was worth looking at.

Mal

[Diving Dude]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

Dude - That almost came out like a compliment ...

B*ll*cks, l feel an edit coming along.

Damn, it'll do no good, you have that broom cupboard full of tricks.

[Steve S]

Hi Mate,

As I've told you before I have nothing but admiration for any parent who dives with their kids, even though Becks is more mature than her Daddy

Don't worry about the Renfield compliment I'm sure you were narced down there

Safe diving,
Steve

[Diving Dude]

One of the funniest dives l've done was under Swanage pier with my daughter Rebecca and my son Mark. They were 16 and 14 respectively at the time. The vis was 10m + and there was stacks of life.

At the time they used to argue an awful lot (still do) but l thought they'd stop underwater, but no.

It was the frantic hand signals, streams of bubbles and hearing them shout at each other that was amusing. l just sat back and laughed.

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by Steve S

Don't worry about the Renfield compliment I'm sure you were narced down there

Safe diving,
Steve

Narced?!! I found a starfish with 17 legs and was so surprised I counted them twice to be sure....then realised that was a silly thing to be doing and went off to ascend with the Dude

He did all those silly deep stops meaning I had to wait for ages to clear my computer .... mmmm won't do that again

Mal