First Impressions of a Trainee Diver

Nervous at the prospect of immersing myself in cold water for the first time, I picked up Alan, my Buddy for the day, and we set off on a Dry but overcast and changeable day for my first Open Water Dive.

In due course, after negotiating the road works, we chose to take the scenic route via the next junction and back again. It turned out to be a very popular choice and we commend it to the club, as the scenery was so stunning in that particular shade of Grey, we were early anyway, and we didn't really have that much else to do other than sit in the "Capernwray Queue". Anyway, we arrived on site not long after 9, negotiated the gate and signing in process, and left the required amount of wallet ballast with the Caperwray authorities.

Dressed, prepared, and not knowing if I was properly weighted, carrying everything we needed, and full of apprehension, we waddled to the waters edge. Alan outlined the dive plan, which was to be a short training dive on the 6m shelf, sort of an acclimatisation dive.

My thoughts at the time were:- Does the suit leak at deeper than pool depth? Will I be warm enough? What am I going to see? WILL I be able to see? And what will I do if I get into difficulties? Is it going to be like those Jacque Cousteau programmes I used to watch as a kid? What am I going to be expected to do? Did I say goodbye to my Family… Just in case.

After Buddy checking, it was time to take the plunge. We entered the water, and I dreaded the squeeze as the water rose to waist level. We donned our fins, and sank to the bottom for buoyancy checks, okayed each other, and prepared to surface.

Within seconds of being underwater, I was astounded - I could see, the suit hadn't leaked, I was warm enough, I hadn't had any squeeze, and I was happy enough that I hadn't had an accident yet - and the Fish! We had entered the water as about the fourth or fifth pair, and as such, the Fish had still not had enough to eat. Already, they were swarming around us in the vain hopes of a bit of bread. Despite being warned by Steve Slade, I had forgotten to bring any, but they didn't know that!

In ten short seconds, I was hooked. We surfaced, Alan checked I was okay, and then we settled again to the bottom, finning slowly out into the training area, towards the two metre table, putting into practice, what I had been taught in the pool. And it was excellent!

The water was clear, and the sun came out in spells, lighting the area and improving vis greatly. After a quick look around the 2m table, (does Alan show everyone the fresh water mussels on the underside of the table?) we moved on, passing the 6m table, "Lord Lucan" and "Shergar" on the way, and on out to the "Dreamer", and a slow return the same way.

After a quick change we moved smartly along to the Café for a bite to eat and a coffee, at which point Alan sprung the Tables on me - could I work out Surface Codes, surface interval and max duration of next dive. Happily, I had it all sorted out in under an hour, and with only minimal help from Alan. (I recommend any trainee to do this BEFORE the Ocean Diver theory exam - it really is a massive help!)

We prepared again, for a second foray, and this time Alan had some drills in store for me, including partial and full mask clearing (which was GREAT fun in 50 water!!), some AAS give and receive work, some CBL, and a particularly nasty faulty drysuit inflation problem.

Sights taken in this time were the 2m table (where Alan showed me the Mussels again), and on to the wall by the plaque to Ralph Abbott (no relation), then a smart turn around and descent to 8 metres for a swim past the jetty and out towards the Cessna (which was too deep for me to see on this dive anyway, being at 12 metres).

Vis was markedly poorer this time, and I learned much from other trainees. Especial thanks to the guy who was over-weighted - It cannot be pleasant bouncing off the bottom like that all the time, and the lady on the surface, who taught me that a little air in the Stab will prevent the downwash and vis problems created by finning to stay afloat. In a way I am glad we didn't manage to make a third drive - I imagine it would have been as clear as a good Pea and Ham soup by late afternoon!

My overall impressions? I am extremely happy to have taken up the sport. Having had the opportunity to train with BSAC, and especially with the gang at 0601 Bury, I would not recommend any other way to learn. Capernwray was fun, and I look forward to making many more visits this year - perhaps even challenging Alan and Keith for the Cup. For someone who has just learned that there is another dimension, there is plenty to see out there, and plenty of skills to practice and hone, ready for the true Open Water of the Sea (St Abbs here I come!). I am looking forward to gaining my Ocean Diver Qualification, and progressing later this year on to Sports Diver, and then beyond. It was a fantastic experience, and I can't wait to repeat it.

Thanks also to BSAC, who, according to an Australian Cousin of my wife's (reportedly the Second highest qualified Diver in Australia), reports BSAC as the "best, most professional and most respected Diving organisation in the world."

Thanks to Pete and Keith for training me in the Pool, Steve for talking my wife out of a Fiver, Alan for the Capernwray trip, Paul and the club for the loan of Equipment, and everyone else either for the Lectures they presented, or for just being friendly and supportive.

For those amongst you who are Statistically challenged….

 Dive 1 Dive 2
Time in10.2212.51
Time to 6m10.5313.27
Dive Duration31 mins36 mins
Air in210 Bar210 Bar
Air out120 Bar70 Bar
Air Use90 bar140 Bar
Surface CodeCF
Max depth (Alan's Computer)7.3m10.7m
NotesPaul's Membrane suit and 24 lbs. Try adding 2 lbs next time. Remember to take bread for Fish. Paul's suit OK I guess - offer him £20 for it.Membrane suit and 26 lbs. Take the 2lb back off next time. Save some bread from the Bacon Butty for the Fish. Plenty warm and dry. Up Paul's offer to £30.
Average Air Use (Alan's record)Not recorded21 L/min