Stoney Cove Mid-Week

[Frankie Price]

With a few days holiday remaining (which I have to take before the end of the year) and wanting some diving I decided to scan the YD "Looking for Buddies" threads to see what was going on.
Spotted (Yipeediver) Leigh's thread and PM'd him.
With all arrangements made I met Leigh 8:30 this morning at Stoney.
We agreed we were just looking to have a relaxing couple of no deco dives on the 20m shelf with a few skills thrown in for good measure.
Both of us diving on twin twelves, Leigh on 40% nitrox and me on air we agreed to follow my computer for bottom time.
Dive plan was to enter water at the steps (bus stop is not currently in use) and head over the 5m shelf to the road, then down to 20m and follow the edge to the bus. From the bus over to Staigarth then Wessex with slow ascent to 5m shelf and back to steps.
So we kitted up and my first issue was my dry suit zip which after 5 years had decided to loose a tooth.(comes to us all eventually)
Managed to get zipped up OK (cheers Leigh) then rest of the kit went on with no issues.
We entered the water at the steps and following a quick buoyancy check descended with Leigh leading the way over to the road then across to the edge at 20m. Vis was about 3 - 5m and our torches were switched on. Water temp was 17deg.
Found the edge at 20m and took a left turn. As we followed the edge (at a nice easy pace) I was looking for the cairn of rocks to indicate the turn to the bus, but could not see it, however I got a signal from Leigh who was pointing at a small protruding rock upon which during a previous dive he had written the word Bus with an arrow pointing to our left. Makes navigation so much easier.
So left we went and there it was, the bus, so a quick swim past and Leigh was busy with a stone writing on the large round buoy weight beside the bus "Staingarth" to which I responded with th OK sign and off we went through the gloom and after a few fin kicks found the bow.
Up onto the deck then dropped in through the main hatch and we had a few minutes within the dingy barren interior of said wreck.
At this point I was aware of an increasing cold sensation on my right shoulder and arm but assumed it was due to a slight squeeze and carried on out of the hold and back onto the deck. Proceeded then over to the wessex, took a right turn and past the white van then slowly ascended the wall while practicing shut downs before arriving at 5m near the Block House.
Cool sensation had now extended to my right leg!
Traversed the 5m shelf and after 51minutes total dive time broke surface back at the steps.
As I got out of the water I felt a bit heavier and became aware of a sloshing sound coming from my right arm.
While de-kitting back at the car Leigh and I were joined by Zepp and Big T who were just in time to watch me identify the source of the cold sensation and sloshing sound. I pulled the right wrist seal of my 'dry' suit and deposited about two litres of water onto the deck accompanied by much piss taking from my assembled audience. Leigh confirmed he had seen a trail of bubbles emittimg from my zip during the dive which proved to be the source of the cool sensation and all of the water. Just to add to it I had Mak Powell and Garf conducting a pre-dive brief to a couple of students along side.
So surface interval during which there was a rare old thunder storm with pissing down rain and for me a change of kit into my semi-dry and rig up my BCD with 15 plus pony for the next dive.
Leigh still had back gas for about another 3 days on the 20m shelf.
After about an hour we started kitting up for the second dive and were accompanied by Zepp and his KISS.
Before I put my BCD on I reached into the car for my spare SMB and proceeded to shut the car door onto my finger, resulting in a fair amount of blood. Following a visit to the shop for some first aid attention we all agreed it was probably best if I didn't do the second dive, so left it to Leigh and Zepp.
Overall though, despite the rain, leaky zip and the finger it was a good day by Stoney standards and thanks to Leigh for a good steady first dive.
We finished the day in the company of Zepp and Big T in the pub.
Great way to spend a day.

[zepp]

Nice report. Hope your finger is better. Oh, and get that suit repaired
Good to meet up with you. I must not forget to thank our dive guide, Leigh

[DIVE BUDDHA]

thanx for your kind words frank and want to thank you as well as jason for giving me a wonderfull day at the cove !!! although at one stage i thought fire and brimstone would fall from the sky !!
(the thunder and lightning storm!!!)
its always a privelage to dive with new buddies from the forum and
hope that we can soon do that planned bimble up at capernwray too!!!
i hope your finger aint too sore today as it did look quite deep that wound !
thanx for the write up too and am glad that i gave you a chilled out dive !

best wishes always leigh