trip report : stroke experience day

[Garf]

A few weeks ago, I pm'd a few people and said "I'm really interested in learning how you incompetent strokes manage to defy the laws of probability and survive even putting your kit on int hr shallowest of water.". Truth be told, I had been genuinely interested in Doing it Strokey for quite some time, and wondered how much of the crap on the internet was real, and how much was just web bullshit.

The stroke community in the UK is very helpful, and it wasn't long before someone responded. Scubee pm'd me and said she was a complete stroke, and could be happy to spend a day in Wraysbury, with the intentions of removing some of the misconceptions surrounding strokery, and its perception on the internet, hearing from a a real stroke what stroke diving is all about, watching some stroke skills and drills, and generally experiencing first hand what it is like to dive with strokes. Naturally, after calling my insurance company and paying a phenomenal excess ( I now have deep, foreign and stroke cover), I leapt at the chance and replied, suggesing we meet today.

There's a lot of nonsene on the web about strokes, so I was keen to see what DIS was all about. We met up and sat down. We discussed how DIS divers plan dives, calculate gas requirements and reserves, and what the ethos of DIS is all about.

I don't want to go too much into the details of the day, as the skills and configuration are best explained by a trained stroke, or experienced DIS diver, to ensure standards are not accidentally created or maintained, but rest assured I now have a firm grasp of strokery and the commitment it details, and am able to say with confidence that I can understand why some people do it. I'm not sure I'll ever become a complete stroke, but there's definitely aspect of the stroke configuration that appeal to me, and I suspect I'll cherry pick the least shit bits and adopt them to my own configuration.

Anyway, a fun day was had by all.

[Digger]

Has Scubee got an Inspo now?

You can't be an Advanced Recreational Stroke Experience co-ordinator without one.

You've obviously been lured in by someone who is DIS but not an ARSE co-ordinator. This subtle sounding difference makes about as much difference as DIR to GUE. Totally different beasts, honest.

I hope you didn't pay for the experience, as you can only get HSE cover for ARSE if it's conducted by an ARSE co-ordinator with appropriate yellow box.

Digs.

[GLOC]

Nice one Garf. Just had a PM from Scubee, who said you were pants in the water and that she kicked your ass when it came to trim and bouyancy control. She didn't know what all the fuss was about and she is going back stroking

[Paul Oliver]

To see real Master Strokes you need to come out with us on a spidgeing trip, try and keep that trim with a hammer, crowbar and all the chisels and wedges hanging off of you

Then watch us send our air reserve third to the surface in a lifting bag and get tangled up in our own line

[Garf]

Originally Posted by Paul Oliver

To see real Master Strokes you need to come out with us on a spidgeing trip, try and keep that trim with a hammer, crowbar and all the chisels and wedges hanging off of you

Then watch us send our air reserve third to the surface in a lifting bag and get tangled up in our own line

That sounds like Stroke1. I'm ligtht years away form that. I need to get strokimentals done first.

[Mark Chase]

Your not the first DIR diver to do the Stroke Try Dive

Bob Cooper and Andy Carrol did the Advanced strokery day at Stony Cove with AndyP and I






Advanced strokery really needs a CCR in order to do away with any of that silly gas planing crap

The two main dive planning tools are:

1: Stay down till your cold

2: Stay down till the deco commitment becomes ridiculous.

For the second advanced dive planning system you realy need a VR3 or other TTS type dive computer.

I am sorry to say Andy Carrol only got a provisional pass as his trim was really far to flat to be considered a true stroke and Bob was thrown off the course for backward finning whilst using a CCR.

Advanced Strokery is a modern evolving system. Nothing stands still, at present the kit configuration team are working on mounting and deployment of the MP3 player. We have narrowed it down to 26 possible configurations which we believe should keep most divers happy. As usual we don't mind if our divers don't bother with any of our ideas just so long as the instructor gets paid.

We believe this attitude to students is bolstering the diving industry as the Muppet's with more money than sense then go of and do another course that teaches them exactly the same thing all over again but because the course had a different title they believe they have learned something new.

Carfulley planned and manipulated with clever propaganda a student can re do all his training paying out £1000 of pounds in the process and dispite being taught nothing new they still beleive they have learned something.

Which always gives us a good giggle

ATB

Mark

[hebails]

Originally Posted by Garf

That sounds like Stroke1. I'm ligtht years away form that. I need to get strokimentals done first.

Surely it's time for a Stroke or DIS sub forum?
Let's not upset those with a closed mind who are anti-stroke. Please think of the children

[Laurie]

If there are anymore Discover DIS days I am sure I would be able to help out, just let me know where & when. I have managed to survive a fair number of dives without any serious incidents (apart from the time I forgot to wear a snorkel and had to use my reg on the surface, SCARY !) despite not having any technical training, diving with a handheld torch and not owning a wing or spool. I feel because of the amazing "stroke" of luck that I am still here to post this, I would make an ideal member of the Discover DIS team.

If we are really serious about these days I think there should be a few rules laid down regards:
kit - every diver must have a snorkel and split fins
config - anyway you fancy on the day
smoking - no throwing dog ends in the water
fitness - be able to carry 4 portions of cheesy chips and 2 coffees the length of the car park
minimum qualification - bubble maker

If there is anything I have missed please feel free to add.

[purple vonny]

I'm running an advanced muppetry and hormone appreciation course at Swanage tomorrow. Anyone is welcome.

I would be happy to snigger at you, nag you, strap a Suunto Stinger on your wrist, and allow you to photograph and study my lovely kit.



If you argue with me, I will gently persuade you that you are wrong by means of a swift kick.

[Garf]

I tried Scubee's "Dog Knob Red" force fins today.

I was stunned. They were INCREDIBLY effective at stopping me form back kicking. Also, it was INCREDIBLY simple to kick up all the silt. I couldn't believe it, it was like a light bulb going off, all this time I've wasted being concerned about kicking up the bottom, and these things make it bloody simple!