Thursday at Stoney mini-gig

[recurve]

Well for the third week running we have managed to put together a mini-YD gig at Stoney.

Today’s victims were myself, Ian, Dom, Rob and Gareth. As ever, there is really nothing like having a plan, and in the finest traditions, we had nothing like a plan. Gareth had brought along his two new camera housings (one video, one still). He has yet to convince anyone that the brand new video one wasn’t a spaghetti jar, and the still one was just…..well…..interesting, with various homemade joints bonded together with what could only be kindly described as ‘crap’. Both of these housings were ceremoniously dunked off the bus stop and declared water tight (yeh, right).

We split ourselves into a two and a three, with Ian, Dom and myself forming the ‘team’. Ian was a bit uptight about this arrangement, because he felt that we were slipping a little too close to the dark side for his liking. We fell into this set up just ‘cos we were the three that were ready first and I needed to get into the water as I was getting a bit too warm stood around in the ‘semi’.

For the sake of Ian’s sanity we did a completely random descent in as non DIR stylee as we could muster, with me doing my usual thing and stopping only when I hit the bottom. Buoyancy, pahhhh, vastly over rated if you ask me!

Ian had suggested we went out to the ‘Garth’ to see if we could see anything exciting (as it’s not been ‘porned’ recently, there was fat chance of that), then bear slightly left until we hit the cliff then follow it back home. Suffice to say a) the ‘Garth’ provided no excitement, and b) Ian’s nav. was disrupted by the rip tide that swept us well wide of our mark and we arrived at the white van, leaving us a fairly short swim back via the Wessex and home to the slipway.

Back at the cars we find out that the video housing gave up the ghost at about 7m and video now won’t turn on

I need to get a fill ‘cos as usual I’m gulping the air, and there is no way yet that I am going to get two dives out of my twinset. Ian and Dom are both breathing like sparrows, and I’m looking forward to the day when I get somewhere close to their air consumption.

Nackers surprised us by turning up, but didn’t surprise us too much as he had NO intention of getting wet. He was in fact on a customer service mission for Rob, it involved something very black!

Back in for our second dive, we had a trip to the APC as Dom hadn’t been to see it before. The two good sized pike lurking near the weeds refused to come into camera range, but they did look quite menacing. Then a bit deeper and a good furtle about, upsetting any fish and crayfish we could find to shine our lights at. Nothing much more of note except to thank Ian and Dom for hanging in there to give me my first 1 hour dive. Result!

I have a sneaking feeling I may be paying Nackers a visit, as I think the Jetfins I fondled are about the same weight as my heavily (pun) modified Avanti X 3’s.

Thanks everyone, great day as ever, only a bit chilly, honest and a load more names to faces.

Cheers

[Ian@1904]

A fine day out narred by my fantastic navigation skills erring too much left was a tad annoying, but there is always next time.
Recent dry suit repairs kep me dry. Always a result. Thanks karen
Mot sure about Phils attempts at underwater rounders (baseball for American visitors ) with the large pipe. Not to be outdone I fund some bigger pipe, and thoroughly trashed the viz in that area-oops.
Bit worried about Dom, breathes rather well, vgc buoyancy, lots of frog kicking, and relaxed in point 3. Dark side obviously beckons I will stick some bungy on his kit next time, and all will be well.
Met Phil "wanna buy some kit" today. Resisted the urge to buy kit by using the mantra - feel the force, it is green, feel the force, it is green. Nearly had a free torch off Phil leaving that torch dangerously close to my boot was tempting.

[divingniknaks]

Originally Posted by Ian@1904

Nearly had a free torch off Phil leaving that torch dangerously close to my boot was tempting.

{panto mode on]
Ohhhhhhh noooooooooo you didn't
[panto mode off]
I knew where it was all the time mate It was strategically placed to cure of this lure of green

Was nice to put a face to a name though. We'll get you in the end

Phil, we will welcome you with open wallet *cough* Arms I meant arms mate. Call round any time you feel like it.

Gareth, Sorry to hear about the housing mate.

Cheers

[GLOC]

Phill, Thanks, as they say, sh*t happens. I was really hoping to get some video and stills of Rob and I on the 'Garth but it didn't happen. Just hope the camcorder dries out okay otherwise it will be shopping for a new camera before Xmas day. I am also very glad that I didn't take the S2 in the housing as that would have been rather traumatic. What pisses me off is that both housings didn't have any leaks for the dunk-testing that I did to 6m. Oh well, we live and learn.

I will have another go with the video housing in the dunk pool before I take it to Tenerife in January, Mike has said he should be able to get me some good video of some friendly turtles that I can show the kids...

However, I did have a bit of good news. An investment company that was supposed to be looking after me has informed me that they haven't and they will be giving me all the money I paid to them since 1991 plus interest which means I will be looking for a proper housing for my S2 in the next few days...

Today was pretty good for Rob and I. Had several good swim-throughs of the 'Garth and then some drill practicing in the shallows. I can now do the shutdowns, donations and mask removal and replacement whilst maintaining level. Woohoo. Just need to get some practicing launching the blobs.

Good to met some more YD'ers and obviously good to see Phill peddling his wares....although there was nearly a typo there with warts...

Take care and Merry Xmas...

[dlegros]

Nice to meet everyone.

I can't see that Ian needed to have any concerns about a diving triad - I think our team "dynamic" put paid to that

The Freestyle descent and a few "where is he... over there now!" moments as we re-arranged ourselves around him on a fairly constant basis :snigger:

My air was OK on dive 1 - 12.8lpm, but I deffo felt the cold more on dive 2 and it shot up to 16.6lpm.

It was a surprise to see Phill (GLOC can confirm that as the cry of "There's Nackers" went up, I tried to stuff my wallet into my left drysuit boot!). We did, however, sort out his next marketing campaign - be very cautious if you a load of Salvos hanging from lines in Stoney

You can relax about the kit Ian - there's a loop of bungee in my left BCD pocket

Great to see everyone and put faces to names.

Dom

[ScubaSue]

Classic trip report guys - I can't believe Stoney brought you all so much joy

Must make it down there myself one day