Dorset

Diving in Dorset... Day 1

Supposed to dive the Countess of Erne, started to feel queasy with the old motion sea sickness as we approached the dive site on the rib. Did my descent and felt horrendous... Had to ascend and forfeit the dive feeling completely grot! Gutted!

Got back to the dive centre and my stomach not a happy one at all.

Had our surface stop and still not good.

Had a long chat with N dive instructor from the club and decided to try again tomorrow, beginning to think it's something I've eaten too. Also a bit of nerves have kicked in with it being the first time I've dived in a dry suit in salt water. At the moment I haven't my own suit I keep having to borrow one and they've never been right... Boots too big leading to trapped air in the suit, latex seals too tight, suit flooding from seal not tight enough etc... So in all I've not yet had a positive experience in a dry suit. Although I've been able to successfully complete all my skills. I know all the niggly stuff will be eased with practice and my own kit.

Also N and I came up with trying having my sea sick pills the night before... Must remember to take them.

After I bid the rest a good dive I left to go back to the hotel for a shower and change.

Showered and changed, I started to feel a bit better, happy I'd made the right decision but a little disappointed and frustrated with the whole thing. Heading back to the centre to see the rest on their return I nipped in to O Three the drysuit and wetsuit guys. I've been looking at their suits on the net and wanted to see one in the flesh... After observing a young girl late teens early twenties go through the process of trying a suit and being mightily impressed with the service she got, I decided to try one on. I wasn't intending to buy a drysuit this weekend but the minute I put it on, I knew it was the suit for me and the whole neoprene v membrane drysuit debate was settled! So the next thing was I found myself finalising all the adjustments cuff dump being added and shoulder dump being sealed, little bit of length taken out of the legs, boot size chosen... The debit card then got a pasting with a deposit! In 4 weeks time I'm going to be the proud owner of my first drysuit! It felt right and I felt confident in it, all the feelings I'm missing at the moment.

So back with the rib diving guys I listened to their exploits from the dive... Good drift dive, awful visibility!

Back to the hotel and got ready for going out for the nights meal.

Good night had!

Sea sick pills taken!

Tomorrow a better day?

* (Happy 64th Birthday Dad, 3rd one without you, miss you more than words can say xx)