Is swimming around under water enough?.

[puddlediver]

I like floating about, the sense of weightlessness. After 12 years of diving I have recently got into taking piccies which adds to the enjoyment/or frustration dependant upon results. Not particularly fussed on wrecks, even like puddles but more photo opportunities in the salty stuff.

Am doing far more diving abroad than I ever did, suppose that's what happens when you're getting older - wetsuit/less lead/warm/light.

Cheers

Lyv

[davebarber]

Originally Posted by Lazlo

After all, it's not like there's anything left to take now is it? At least, not within "normal" recreational depths.

Indeed, if "spidging" was the only reason to dive, the sport would more or less dead within a year.

.

Your not moving in the right circles. I could take you to a row of portholes in 16m.
Don't believe its all at a monster depth. They have to go that deep because they are looking in the wrong place.

[Lazlo]

Originally Posted by davebarber

Your not moving in the right circles. I could take you to a row of portholes in 16m.

I suspect that if you're prepared to take random people off the internet to this site, then it wouldn't have a row of portholes for much longer... Thanks for the offer anyway .

Originally Posted by davebarber

Don't believe its all at a monster depth. They have to go that deep because they are looking in the wrong place.

So it's some sort of secret dive site then? And this advances the sport of diving how?

Either it's a benefit to the dive community, in which case it's not a secret, and it gets stripped within days, or it IS a secret, in which case it's of no benefit to any but a lucky and/or dedicated few. Either way the end result is no benefit to the dive community.

[davebarber]

Originally Posted by Lazlo

I suspect that if you're prepared to take random people off the internet to this site, then it wouldn't have a row of portholes for much longer... Thanks for the offer anyway .



So it's some sort of secret dive site then? And this advances the sport of diving how?

Either it's a benefit to the dive community, in which case it's not a secret, and it gets stripped within days, or it IS a secret, in which case it's of no benefit to any but a lucky and/or dedicated few. Either way the end result is no benefit to the dive community.

OK I'll keep em all myself.

[GaryC]

Originally Posted by davebarber

OK I'll keep em all myself.

But what will you do with them??

I still dont understand why folk want to keep this stuff.

I also dont understand why someone would sit in one place with a hack saw/and chiesel, rather than actually look round the wreck.

[davebarber]

Originally Posted by GaryC

But what will you do with them??

I still dont understand why folk want to keep this stuff.

I also dont understand why someone would sit in one place with a hack saw/and chiesel, rather than actually look round the wreck.

There mine, all mine HEE HEE HEE!!!!

[ray]

[quote=GaryC;938105
I also dont understand why someone would sit in one place with a hack saw/and chiesel, rather than actually look round the wreck.[/quote]

A bit like diving with someone taking photos of starfish! .

[Richie]

Marine Zoology was the original driver and now after nearly 41 years it still is. But given wrecks often have a lot of life they sort of fit together. Wether an engine was triple expansion Mk 9 fashioned with love by old Hamish never floated my boat. I've been through the chisel and saw bit - thankfuly most tat has now disappeared from the garage - a lot of effort for little return.
Basically I like being underwater which is why I'll "enjoy" a muddy puddle in February.

[Foggy]

NO swimming around underwater is NOT enough!

I always like to return to the surface safely and unbent as well!

As for the rest, well I just look mostly...ok ok sometimes I touch as well...

Cheers, Paul

Diving since 1982

[Hickdive]

Out of the dozen or so people who I started basic training with in 1985, only four finished the course and I'm the last one still diving*. I don't know if that qualifies me to comment, but I will anyway.

I can't remember who did it but there was a survey carried out some time ago that established that the average diving 'career' lasted around three years. These divers are the 'mayflies', as I call them. YD being the largest UK-based forum sees lots of these folk, some of them post, most of them don't. Have a look at the YD member list and you'll see literally dozens of people that you've never heard of. The ones that post typically rush from one course to another and never actually dive for the fun of it so they never actually find what their 'groove' in diving is, or even if they have one, before they burn out.

Sometimes, if I've been dry for too long, just being underwater is enough but most of the time I prefer to dive wrecks. Some wreck are just superbly scenic and are brilliant artificial reefs, others have dramatic history either in life or their sinking or sometimes both. Other wrecks have become relatively familiar and swimming round them brings back happy memories of other dives and buddies. Some, in the past, have yielded interesting relics.

If I'm not diving a wreck the topography has to be pretty special or there has to be a good chance of catching something good to eat to hold my interest, although I have found that taking a mp3 player and using that to add to the ambience can either make the whole thing a really relaxing experience or a thrilling sequence of aerobatic (aquabatic?) manoeuvres just enjoying the freedom of 'flying' through the water, even on dull 'scenic' dives.

I've just bought a second-hand camera because I've decided I want to record what I see underwater, that'll open up new horizons. I keep telling myself that this year is the year I'll get my trimix ticket, when I eventually do (probably NOT this year though) that'll open up a heap of wrecks that are new to me.

So there's always something new and exciting or comfortable and familiar for me in diving. My next goals, in order, are 500 hours logged underwater in open water, 1000 dives and 25 years diving. If I can reach all three of those I'll be happy; until the next diving challenge comes along.

* incidentally one of my instructors from then is still diving and recently won a trip to the Red Sea in 'Dive' magazines knowledge quiz at one of the dive shows. Respect is due to that man, I think.