Stoney cove, 15th December

[msdkeith]

I saw a plea for a dive buddy from a new rebreather diver and replied that I'd be up for a Friday if that was OK.
I rocked up at the gates at crack of dawn as is my wont and took my usual position in the car park once Stoney opened up. Some old friends were also there, diving fools all!!
Alex turned up at about 9.20, he has recently treated himself to a shiny new Inspo with all the parsley....it would be easy to hate such a person!! We sized each other up and decided that diving together might be feasible, even enjoyable. While in the kitting up stage we were introduced to sexydivebuddy and her friend (good to put a face to a YD handle). The friend was mildly disconsolate at losing her twinset regs but perked up when deluged with offers of spare kit, also a suggestion to check out the Stoney kit lending facility. As usual Stoney behaved magnificently, lent her a set of Extremes.
Alex suggested a dive plan that I found eminently suitable, I wanted to check out a new umbilical torch and the tug is an ideal site. We went in off the quay, did the usual checks and headed into the 20M zone. Picking up the chain led us straight to the tug which we entered through the forward hatch under the cockpit. Alex fancied the rearmost exit point but with the bulk of the Inspo and a side slung 11L it was a bit tight so we went out through the booby hatch. My umbilical was worth the wonga, lit up the hold like daytime, roll on Scapa.

We bimbled back towards the exit point with Alex taking the opportunity to practice various CCR drills, hovering at different ascent depths and playing with the electrical (many interesting beeps) stuff that distinguishes CCR from the idiot-proof simplicity of the Drager. With 45 minutes on my Gecko we emerged by the slipway for tea and sandwiches.

Dive 2 was planned as a direct run to the tug then on to the far wall to follow it back round past the pike hangouts, Alex reckoned on a 50 minute dive time. All went well till midway across the 20M zone when I could hear suspicious gurgles in my loop which always bothers me. I signalled Alex but we hadn't arranged a sign for 'I think my loop is f*cked'. However, with a 5L bailout I was happy to carry on and the gurgles never got worse. (It turned out there was a teaspoon of water in the scrubber box....hardly a drama)

We hit the wall and followed it slowly round at about 12-15M with Alex again doing periodic drills. We had spotted a nice pike early on in the dive but they appeared to be hiding when we passed their normal haunts. We got back to the vicinity of the Nautilus and drifted past before turning to exit via the slip with 55 minutes logged.

Two excellent dives with a top dive buddy, I will look forward to diving with Alex again in future. The copious supplies of hot green tea and sandwiches were a bonus!! Alex is a meticulous diver and takes it seriously which is always reassuring. His Inspo is in good hands.

It was also good to bump into Freeflow as well as sexydb and chums.

A good day out, even the weather was kind. Stoney rocks!

msdkeith

[Odin]

Good write up.
You lucky bugger getting a dive in - I'm On Call this weekend, nearest I'll get to a dive is sticking my head underwater in the bath.

I understand what you mean about the simplicity of the Drager. But think youself lucky it was fresh water not Sea water in the scrubber - I managed a flood on mine at Exmouth and spat the mouthpiece out pretty quick!

I now have a Classic yellow box!
Paul

[DIVE BUDDHA]

sounds like u all had a great down the cove friday !
as for me i cant wait for a dive tommorow !
asi will be around both new and old friends alike!
lets hope stoney aint too busy lol!!

o well heres hopeing lol!!!

[Alex]

Hi Keith

It was nice to met you, thanks for the day! It was intersting to see Dräger in action... The pike was good, too.
See you soon
Alex

[Freeflow]

Hi Keith,

The bubbling sound again? A teaspoon of water in the scrubbers water trap isn't unusual, and in cold water condensation is a factor as well.

If the bubbling was on exhalation it may just be an excess of snot in the exhale one way valve. Another thing to check is that the mouthpiece valve is open all the way, I had an entertainign time when it wasn't and I was getting gob fulls of cold water.

Classic loop flood problems will be the continual operating of the bypass valve, the OPV operating on every exhalation and a rapid increase in gas use due to the above. Gurgling is more likely to be water in the wing if the above symptoms aren't present.

Try using your suit for buoyancy instead of the wing, and using the pull dump on the right shoulder rather than the deflator on the end of the hose.

Good write up.

David.

[David Burke]

good to here that you all had a good day

safe diving
dave