Trip Report, Stoney Cove (honestly)

[recurve]

Went to Stoney today, with Nikki (swmbo), together with Ian@1904 and Mark-B. Now it might seem strange that somewhere as mundane as Stoney could possibly attract a trip report, but Nikki and I are newbies, and even Stoney is still fresh and exciting.

Met up with Mark and Ian in the car park (I think people were begining to wonder about Mark, when he asked them if they were Phil), and the dive was planned. Surface swim to the Staingarth, down the shot have a pootle, swim around a bit more, then come up.

Nice gentle swim out and wait a few minutes for others to come up the shot, then off we went. Nikki had a bit of a problem getting off the surface, and then troubles equalising, but we all got down safe. Not as much life here as there is on the shallower shelf, but I think I managed to scare a few fish, testing out my recently aquired light. Nikki made a lunge inside the 'garth, but was persuaded of the folly of the move by Ian.

We continued across towards the far side of the cove, turned left and started following the cliff home. The agreement was that we would come up at 70bar, and air hog that I am, I got down to that figure all too quickly, so Mark and I made a nice slow ascent, and continued to surface swim while trailing Nikki and Ians bubbles. I couldn't believe how much longer Nikki was able to stay down, her with a '10' and me on a '12'. Me, JEALOUS? You betcha!!!

When Ian and Nikki eventually surfaced, we swam back to the slipway, chatting about the dive as we went.

Nikki backed out of a second dive as she was cold, but Ian, Mark and myself went in again, but I'm not going to bore you.

Is there a point to this ramble? Yes, I was diving, I was meeting new friends thanks to YD (and no, I'm not just spouting the PADI line), I was diving with my wife and having a great time, we saw things, I learned things.

The place was almost irrelevant, though bizarre as it may seem, I quite like Stoney. For any other newbies who might read this, enjoy every chance you get to dive, and for the old stagers, remember that simple dives like this might just have been how you started, and look where it got you

My very great thanks to Ian and Mark, it was great to meet you, and your support on the dives was most welcome. I hope Nikki and I didn't leave you wishing you'd stayed at home.

[Ian@1904]

Glad you had a good time.

I am sure that you are enjoying the steep learning curve that occurs after starting to dive and that after today you now have a few more things to think about. I have been diving a few years and am still learning lots. Today proved that the Greenforce can become, ahem, tempermental. Light sabre is back in action.

As you might be aware I am planning to continue my instructor training fairly soon and escorting you was part of my learning curve.

Safe diving

Ian

[daz]

Great report.

Sometimes it's not the site that makes the dive but the company we keep on those dives.

Glad you enjoyed the dive and don't worry too much about the 10l, 12l air consumption situation, it's taken me a few years but I've almost caught up with my wife, and what the hell there are always bigger cylinders

Daz

[Mr T.]

[dry suit diver]

Originally Posted by daz

Great report.

Sometimes it's not the site that makes the dive but the company we keep on those dives.

Glad you enjoyed the dive and don't worry too much about the 10l, 12l air consumption situation, it's taken me a few years but I've almost caught up with my wife, and what the hell there are always bigger cylinders

Daz

and then thers twinsets.

Nothing wrong with stoney, even some divers with 1000s of dives still like diving it, I took her there last week and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Keep on Diving.

[MATTBIN]

I stil get a buzz out of Stoney

For me its the diving/company/chilling thing, place fairly irrelevant, as long as I see a bit of life I'm one happy bunny so dont be put off if others dont see why you enjoy Stoney.

Glad you had a good time, one slight worry though is you diving with that old housewife Ian, didnt try to get any trade secrets off your wife did he on how to clean an oven.

Rgds
Matt

[recurve]

Regret I would have to inform you that it is now I from whom that information would have to be extracted, as I send Nikki out to work, and am a full time carer at home myself

Suffice to say, Ians oven remains as it was.

[MATTBIN]

Foot and mouth again, gulp.

Matt

[Ian@1904]

Originally Posted by MATTBIN

I
Glad you had a good time, one slight worry though is you diving with that old housewife Ian, didnt try to get any trade secrets off your wife did he on how to clean an oven.

Bleedin cheek the oven looks great. Mind you it is so toxic we cannot use it for few months. One way to keep it clean I suppose.

Any ideas on how to increase the turbo boost on my vax 4000? Some carpet stains are just sooooo hard to remove. I know the Admins got all hot and bothered when we started vacuum cleaner discussions. So maybe we can have a household hints and tips section?

[MATTBIN]

Or maybe not!!!!

Matt