Shutdowns - I'm getting there!

[neilh]

Originally Posted by Buoyant Babe

Isn't is strange that ll us left-handers find the left post more difficult?

Not just lefties, the left is my hardest post too. I wonder if the valves are all different sizes....

The nice thing about pool practice Helen is you can gradually add things while you practice. Now you know you can reach you can try your drysuit with a t-shirt or something underneath and check your drysuit is fine. Then add your undersuit and away you go.

Gotta be better than doing that in Ellerton this time of year

EDIT: Oh, and strip and service your valves if necessary. It doesn't help if the things are a bugger to turn even if you can reach them!

[Steve S]

Originally Posted by Buoyant Babe

I was particularly excited when Bob my instructor loosened my harness, had a quick look and said "you'll get at least another twelve inches down there"

I'll put money on that not being the first time you've heard that particular Geordie foreplay line

Safe diving,
Steve

P.S. kudos with the shutdowns and good luck in the drysuit

[ShinyD]

Way to go BB

[Johnny Boy]

well done. i struggled to start with too. now i have a good stretch [fully kitted/undersuit/dry suit] before attempting, slacken harness, and i can reach easy. practise on every dive too.

[Buoyant Babe]

Second week in the pool and my Instructor Bob has an ear infection so he's dry side. This doesn't stop me and I go in with my 3mm suit on again to practice, practice, practice.

What was I so worried about? I did them no problem and in good time. I even took my stage in and practiced clipping and unclipping it a few times, and did the drill with the stage on too.

Of course, the acid test starts when I get in the water with full kit. Will I manage or will my suit still need a tweak from Seaskin? If I manage, will I be able to do them in 90 seconds? Time will tell, but I am increasingly confident I will manage and my shutdown demons are fast disappearing.

Unfortunately, Bob's ear infection may yet put the kybosh on our planned trip to Capers this Friday to try them out for real, but hey ho, I'll get in soon

Thanks everyone for your continued support and to anyone else in the same position, I urge you to take your kit to the pool and give it a go - work your way up to it it seems to be working for me

Hxxx

[Steve S]

Originally Posted by Buoyant Babe

Second week in the pool and my Instructor Bob has an ear infection so he's dry side. This doesn't stop me and I go in with my 3mm suit on again to practice, practice, practice.

What was I so worried about? I did them no problem and in good time. I even took my stage in and practiced clipping and unclipping it a few times, and did the drill with the stage on too.

Of course, the acid test starts when I get in the water with full kit. Will I manage or will my suit still need a tweak from Seaskin? If I manage, will I be able to do them in 90 seconds? Time will tell, but I am increasingly confident I will manage and my shutdown demons are fast disappearing.

Unfortunately, Bob's ear infection may yet put the kybosh on our planned trip to Capers this Friday to try them out for real, but hey ho, I'll get in soon

Thanks everyone for your continued support and to anyone else in the same position, I urge you to take your kit to the pool and give it a go - work your way up to it it seems to be working for me

Hxxx

Well done H, nothing worthwhile is ever easy although I still think the easier option would have been to have had your arms and spine lengthened so you could invert

Safe diving,
Steve

[Buoyant Babe]

Originally Posted by Steve S

Well done H, nothing worthwhile is ever easy although I still think the easier option would have been to have had your arms and spine lengthened so you could invert

Safe diving,
Steve

Strangely, even the left post was considerably easier. The six hours I spent in the gym this last week must have helped...

...although I do have a little blister forming on the middle finger of my left hand. Tactile knobs don't half hurt without gloves.



Perhaps I shouldn't have set myself up with that last bit

[Steve S]

Originally Posted by Buoyant Babe

Tactile knobs don't half hurt without gloves.

Don't grip so hard then

Safe diving,
Steve

[Sparky750]

Originally Posted by Buoyant Babe

...although I do have a little blister forming on the middle finger of my left hand.

Thats nothing to do with shut downs hon batteries gone again

[Moz]

Originally Posted by Sparky750

Thats nothing to do with shut downs hon batteries gone again

Oh yeah......shes left handed