Ok, so I have a very fertile imagination. But it was an imagination which was being well and truly hijacked by Portland and all its offerings. Focusing on anything for longer than it takes to signal “OK” was proving a mean feat. The state of disarray in my usually tidy home was evidence to this! I could think of nothing but the trip we were about to embark upon.
A few hours later we were finally on our way and our Portland Dive Trip was becoming a reality. After a late arrival and a brief of the next day’s proceedings by the lovely Caz, we all headed for the comfort of our static caravans, where the full view of the sea through the window was only spotted the next morning, along with several “oohs” and “aahs” and nods of approval!
A few hours later we were finally on our way and our Portland Dive Trip was becoming a reality. After a late arrival and a brief of the next day’s proceedings by the lovely Caz, we all headed for the comfort of our static caravans, where the full view of the sea through the window was only spotted the next morning, along with several “oohs” and “aahs” and nods of approval!
The end of a quick wash, breakfast and brief (particularly concerning the inclement weather) marked the beginning of our first dive day. Portland Marina here we come! Parading our Oh-So-Fashionable under suits to all of Portland Harbour (especially James’ “special” suit), tasks were delegated and duly carried out. The RIB was launched, conditions were discussed (again), kit was set up and the first wave was ready to go!
The Countess of Erne was a great dive! Visibility could have been better at around 2m but there was some life to be seen. For those of us who didn’t dive with our eyes closed (Calum and Joel!), we saw a shoal of Pollock within touching distance, a Tompot Blenny and too many very little fish I still need to learn the names of! All this, along with a significant amount of “squidge” to keep us amused, made for a great dive. The wreck itself was awesome, with its huge bulk quietly waiting to be explored. Too soon, it was time to ascend and tackle the challenge of getting back into the RIB as gracefully as possible. Graceful simply didn’t happen.
Later that afternoon, as the wind speed increased and the waters became ever more unfriendly to us diver-types, the last dive of the day finished on a rather more exciting note than the previous, with the last divers needing a tow to make for an area further from the harbour wall and a safer pickup point. Needless to say, that boat entry was a very far cry from glamorous. Think beaching whales and death throes and your mental picture is complete.
As the wind was, by this point, “Blowing a Hooley” (a technical term, I am led to believe), the sad decision was made to blow off the remainder of the second wave for the afternoon. It simply was not safe enough. Back at the caravan site, we consoled ourselves with a massive Chinese takeaway, a bottle of something wet and the mandatory briefing. We waited with baited breath for the next day’s weather to present itself.
And present itself it did! With more “Hooleys A-Blowin’” it looked increasingly doubtful that we’d be diving that day. However, with optimism in our hearts and determination on our minds we set off for the Marina. The RIB set off for The Dredger not long after. And soon returned.
It was official; and with 2 of the more experienced divers literally testing the waters, it was clear that no diving would be done that day. The same decision was however, not taken by a local dive school, who chose to take their trainees out anyway… only to put them in a very real position of danger. With trainees popping up out of the water all over the place like Bop and Pops, with only 2 SMB’s between the group of 12, no buddy pairing evident and one trainee dangerously close to the harbour wall, their safe return to the RIB was questionable, to say the least. But with skipper Steve to the rescue, (someone hand him a cape) the stray trainees were plucked from the waters and returned to the relative safety of their dive school RIB.
Although there was a certain air of disappointment at calling off the dives while de-rigging and packing up, it was with a somewhat philosophical attitude that we all accepted that we were not masters of the weather and that such is the life of the diver. As we would no doubt experience some of the most incredible and rewarding diving in our diving careers, we would also have to learn to deal with the disappointments that come from powers outside of our control flexing their muscles.
Disappointment, however, is no match for Retail Therapy. Off to the local Underwater Explorers we go. AKA “Underwater Expensive” (Thanks James), followed by a visit to O’Three. With James and Trina now fully kitted out and James no longer sporting the “special” suit, we’re all calling it a very, very good weekend.
Thank you to Caz for all the organisation. Also thank you to Steve, Paula, Tony and Wayne – our instructors/mentors/buddies for the weekend.
When’s the next one??
Tanya
Later that afternoon, as the wind speed increased and the waters became ever more unfriendly to us diver-types, the last dive of the day finished on a rather more exciting note than the previous, with the last divers needing a tow to make for an area further from the harbour wall and a safer pickup point. Needless to say, that boat entry was a very far cry from glamorous. Think beaching whales and death throes and your mental picture is complete.
As the wind was, by this point, “Blowing a Hooley” (a technical term, I am led to believe), the sad decision was made to blow off the remainder of the second wave for the afternoon. It simply was not safe enough. Back at the caravan site, we consoled ourselves with a massive Chinese takeaway, a bottle of something wet and the mandatory briefing. We waited with baited breath for the next day’s weather to present itself.
And present itself it did! With more “Hooleys A-Blowin’” it looked increasingly doubtful that we’d be diving that day. However, with optimism in our hearts and determination on our minds we set off for the Marina. The RIB set off for The Dredger not long after. And soon returned.
It was official; and with 2 of the more experienced divers literally testing the waters, it was clear that no diving would be done that day. The same decision was however, not taken by a local dive school, who chose to take their trainees out anyway… only to put them in a very real position of danger. With trainees popping up out of the water all over the place like Bop and Pops, with only 2 SMB’s between the group of 12, no buddy pairing evident and one trainee dangerously close to the harbour wall, their safe return to the RIB was questionable, to say the least. But with skipper Steve to the rescue, (someone hand him a cape) the stray trainees were plucked from the waters and returned to the relative safety of their dive school RIB.
Although there was a certain air of disappointment at calling off the dives while de-rigging and packing up, it was with a somewhat philosophical attitude that we all accepted that we were not masters of the weather and that such is the life of the diver. As we would no doubt experience some of the most incredible and rewarding diving in our diving careers, we would also have to learn to deal with the disappointments that come from powers outside of our control flexing their muscles.
Disappointment, however, is no match for Retail Therapy. Off to the local Underwater Explorers we go. AKA “Underwater Expensive” (Thanks James), followed by a visit to O’Three. With James and Trina now fully kitted out and James no longer sporting the “special” suit, we’re all calling it a very, very good weekend.
Thank you to Caz for all the organisation. Also thank you to Steve, Paula, Tony and Wayne – our instructors/mentors/buddies for the weekend.
When’s the next one??
Tanya
