Vobster night Dive

[sailorbuoy]

OK so not really a trip to report - but a very nice evening nonetheless.

Met up with GLOC for a short night dive at Vobster. My first time in the water after completing Mark Powell's (excellent) advanced buoyancy course so lots to think about.

Water was pretty cold (6 degrees) and murky (hey, but it was night time anyway). Descended on the boat, meandered over to the wheelhouse then followed the newly laid line to the caravan... back home via the crushing works and aircraft fuselage... I for one was very glad that GLOC knew where he was going!

Every dive is a learning experience, here's my thoughts....

(1) Good quality lights make a helluva difference - both in situational awareness, buddy awareness and communication. Many thanks to Fiona for letting her beloved Halcyon 10w HID go to a new home - it's great!

(2) I was so focussed on trying to keep my trim nice and flat that i plain forgot to vent my DS on the ascent... big bubble to get rid of at 3m saw me thrashing about like a lunatic while GLOC looked on with some amusement.... next time i must remember to let the air out progressively!

(3) Don't leave your cylinder in the compressor shack and drive home.... i had that nagging I've forgotten something feeling about 5 miles out... pulled over opened the boot and stared for a while - then turned around and went back! Doh!

Many thanks to the team at Vobster for another great evening. And thanks also to GLOC for putting up with me.

Safe diving all

Richard

[GLOC]

No worries Rich.

It was the first time that I have been night diving in Vobster and I was also glad I knew where I was going!!

I found a couple of things too:

1. The auto-dump on the sleeve of my drysuit was auto-dumping the wrong way as we descended down the shotline so I thought I would see how good thinsulate 400g was! Very good is the answer! The only part which was cold was my left hand as the water ran down to the inside of my dryglove (sic!!)

2. I now have my weighting spot on with the SANTI 400

3. Vis wasn' great, only around 3-4m at best.

4. There is a secret pron stash in the caravan. Unfortunately the DVD player in the caravan didn't work, so we couldn't watch anything

Good to meet you Rich and see you in Wraysbury in a couple of weeks.

[drunkdiver]

I was at Vobster too last night. First time doing a night dive there. Definately need a bigger torch. Im glad I know my way round as nav would be very difficult in those conditions if you havent dived it plenty of times before.

Did a similar dive to you guys by the sounds of it + the tunnel. Really enjoyed myself. Not to busy either so very relaxing. Definately be there next month.

It has to be said that the staff at Vobster were top notch and very friendly. Havent been there for a while as usually at NDAC but it seems to have greatly improved.

I did see Gloc there (identified by the name on his tank). Was gonna come and say hello and introduce myself as I recognised the name from posts on here but I think you had gone by the time I got out.