Being a half 'human bean' and half 'has been'.

[Finless]

Well, Sat 16th I managed it! Woobloodyhoo! My first dive since last Sept and an end to my longest no diving period since the last one.

As some may know I have been trying to get together a "proper diver's" SSBP, one piece harness etc etc which is not yet ready. I had been wanting to go and play in a pond to finish the fettling but my dry suit was delayed whilst away having new seals fitted and ...........well, things just did not work out how I wanted.

In order to get the dive in on Sat I had to go back to using my previous kit set up which meant buying, cutting (etc) a 1 mtr threaded bar to mount the twinset back on my old wing (having shortened the original studs for the new backplate). Then one of my regs wouldn't stop leaking air and had to be changed for one of my old ones. Oh, then the first stage started leaking and I had to change it for one of my old ones + change all the bloody hoses over (those of you who know me also know my philosophy on diving is "can never have too many hoses") - what a nightmare.

The planned dive, off Inspiration from Eastbourne, was on the Oceana. Due to circumstance there were only 4 of us on the RHIB and what a bloody beautiful day it was to go diving. Conditions were flat calm, a neap low tide and the Sun was shining - marvellous. There was a BIG SMILE on the Finless chops.

Me and my buddy Colin (known to YD as Colinicky) were on opposite sides of the boat so I got dropped in first and went straight down to 6 mtrs to wait for him. He duly arrived, did a bubble check on me to make sure none of my hose alterations were leaking. Max depth was 23 mtrs so it was ideal for a check out dive. Vis was OK at up to 3 mtrs but it was very dark. Naturally we lost each other after about 5 mins when Colin decided to give his full attention to something and I merrily carried onwards.

As pre agreed I had a quick circle round to see if I could see him and then carried on with my dive when I didn't find him. Had a pleasant 10 mins pottering around on the sand at the edge of the wreck trying to find an old unbroken bottle. In the end I settled on some scallops. Then went back onto the wreck. Then got quite apprehesive in the low vis about swimming into a bit of the wreck. I also think I am magnetic. There was no detectable current at all but I still keep getting pulled in towards the wreck - a very strange feeling.

I ended up cutting short the dive after 40 mins due to very cold hands (and the fact I'd been wanting a pee since 6mtrs on the way down). I had felt a little anxious throughout the dive, had quite a bad bad neck ache after about 5 minutes (I think wrong trim) and was bloody cold. It was a real effort to get back up on the RHIB (tubes are quite high) and I was thinking to myself that maybe I was past it and ought to take up golf or something.

Today I have already made enquiries about my next dive this coming weekend and have deferred any decision about diving retirement until after another 500 dives or so (or until I am as ugly enough to become a YBODer).

[Ali_Mc]

Nice to get wet again!? mmmm Cold Hands, I was in right pain with my hands after a few dives of late - A wonderful Lass lent me some 3mm gloves (my own are just abrasion protection) and the difference was amazing! Definitely on my shopping list (along with a dry suit - a weeks semi-dry diving during April in Scotland sorts out your purchasing priorities pretty sharpish!)

Glad to hear it went well for you and that you are postponing the retirement for a while

All the best,
Ali

[dave archer]

Finless, nice one fella (and yes, the "old" in that sentence is silent )

Ali, if you're planning dry-suit diving I'd seriosuly consider going to 5mm rather than 3mm gloves, much warmer IMO. Unless you're double rock 'ard of course

Dave.

[vulcan]

Originally Posted by Finless

I ended up cutting short the dive after 40 mins due to very cold hands

I gave up with cold hands a couple of years ago and went for dry gloves when the water got below 10C. My (diving) partner has a 2 week window in the summer when she gives up the dry gloves for 3mm and then goes back to dry goves!! She really feels the cold..

[Digger]

Originally Posted by Ali_Mc

mmmm Cold Hands, I was in right pain with my hands after a few dives of late - A wonderful Lass lent me some 3mm gloves (my own are just abrasion protection) and the difference was amazing! Definitely on my shopping list (along with a dry suit - a weeks semi-dry diving during April in Scotland sorts out your purchasing priorities pretty sharpish!)

Ali

Ali, your version of cold is warped, I had a lot of respect for Iestyn getting in Dover at Easter in a semi a couple of seasons ago, but to do an entire week in 7 deg is bordering on hard as nails. This was borne out by me getting beaten up on the last night at your fair hand. I was cold in 5mm 3 finger mitts!

Nice report Finnie, I've been thinking about golf a lot recently, they seem to have all the same obsessions with shiny, new and different, and a lot less stressful I'm sure.

[Diving Dude]

Originally Posted by Finless

......... (or until I am as ugly enough to become a YBODer).

FFS Clueless, if this is the only reason stopping you, let me tell you, you probally qualified when you were born. l mean look at Throbin Evans........ugly or what????

Back to the report, l've not yet done the Oceana, it's another on my list and four of you on Inspiration?? loads of room.

[Paul Oliver]

Yeah sounds like a good one, i need to do 'er as well.

Nice report M8, but what do you mean "When you are ugly enough" i struggled to understand that one I think you need to take the FFM off when you look in the mirror.

Hmmm, not that you need it :-

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Finless again.

[Finless]

Originally Posted by Paul Oliver

Yeah sounds like a good one, i need to do 'er as well.

Nice report M8, but what do you mean "When you are ugly enough" i struggled to understand that one I think you need to take the FFM off when you look in the mirror.

Hmmm, not that you need it :-

It's a 32 mtr dive on a high tide. Reknowned for scallops. Sadly, I've only dived it in bad vis. The other two guys on the boat last weekend have already told Markus they want to do it again.

It's nothing to do with jealousy or really wanting one but it stands to reason that if I can't have one then all YBODers must be ugly - I can't see any fault with the logic .

My FFM looks SO GOOD that the real me without the FFM is bound to be a disappointment - a very slight one, admittedly, but a disappointment nonetheless. Also the FFM covers up the bald patch so it looks like I have a full head of long hair when I'm wearing it .

[tom]

Originally Posted by Finless

Also the FFM covers up the bald patch

Bryan, the bit of the head without any hair on it is called the FACE. It's meant to look like that. There isn't meant to be any hair on it. You really don't need to try to hide it behind a full face mask.

Hope that helps,
Tom

[Finless]

Originally Posted by tom

Bryan, the bit of the head without any hair on it is called the FACE. It's meant to look like that. There isn't meant to be any hair on it. You really don't need to try to hide it behind a full face mask.

Hope that helps,
Tom

Oh shit! My face is spreading over the top of my head .