Clyde 11-12th March 2006
March is around the time that BSAC 18s’ UK
diving season starts, usually with a trip to the
Clyde or Oban, this time the Clyde aboard the MV
Clutha skippered by Elaine.
The journey up was,
as usual, long and tedious, made all the more
hazardous by the fact that I was driving the car
containing Deco.
I was also playing
host to Dr Sid and we had planned to meet at my
house, put all the kit in my car and then set
off.
Sid turned up first,
kit transferred to my car amongst a cloud of
smoke smelling of “the chippy” from where I have
no idea.
Deco arrived doing
his regulation 23.75 miles per hour down my
road. I would come to learn the saying that “the
speed limit is the maximum not a
recommendation”.
Anyway we arrived at
the b&b in Largs 4 and a half hours later.
Sherpa Tensing led
the way to the attic bedroom where Sid, Deco and
I were to set up our base camp.
After a power hour
and shower it was off to the George in the
centre of Largs to meet the rest of the team.
Steve & Diane
Hepworth, Steve, Karen and Little Thomas Hill
and Cheeks were there and we settled in to wait
for the arrival of Mark and Gill Pickup who
finally arrived at about 22:00.
After the following
days dive was planned it was off to bed in
preparation for an early start.
Looking out of the
window the following morning it looked like an
excellent day to be diving.
Breakfast was at
07:45 and once completed we set off for the
marina at Inverkip to meet with Elaine and to
load our kit.
First dive was to be
on the Beagle.
I was buddied with
Gill and shortly after we left the surface to go
down the shot Gill indicated that she didn’t
have her computer, she indicated that she was OK
to continue.
We passed Steve Hill
who seemed to be having problems clearing his
ears who was buddied with Steve Hepworth.
After checking Gills
situation at 15m, where she indicated OK I
proceeded to the bottom of the shot at 32.5m.
On hitting the
bottom I found that Gill was not with me and
decided to wait and was a little concerned that
it was Steve Hepworth that came down next, not
Gill.
I assumed that Gill
had resurfaced with Steve Hill as Steve
indicated that we should continue the dive.
It was very, very
dark vis was less than half a meter and after a
very short paddle out we decided to return to
the shot and then the surface.
I could see that
Gill was upset and realized that she had found
the conditions a little intimidating especially
without her computer.
I also realized that
I had neglected my duties as a Buddy as I had
assumed that she was being taken care of by
Steve, who had surfaced with her.
I apologise to Gill
for continuing with the dive and not staying
close and also to Steve Hill who had overcome
his ear problem only to have to surface with
Gill.
It won’t happen
again.
We returned to
Inverkip for lunch and Deco made new friends
with a pair of swans.
They were so pleased
to be fed lunch by Deco, not part of Deco’s
lunch, but mine. He’s so kind.
Second dive was on
the Akka.
Very nice dive vis
was about 2m with no incidents.
On return to
Inverkip we loaded all the kit in to the
compressor room below decks and set off back to
the digs.
After a shower and a
tidy up Deco, Sid and I set off to find a few
essentials and to watch the Scotland Ireland
game in the pub.
A a couple of pints
were consumed then it was back to the B&B for a
power hour before supper which had been booked
for 8pm.
The meal at the
George was super and time was set to meet for
breakfast, an even earlier start at 07:30.
As I looked out the
window before retiring to bed the clouds looked
heavy and snow was forecast.
The alarm clock went
off at 07:00 and I looked out of the window to
check on the weather.
There was 6 inches
of snow, with more falling, no diving!!
Kit was retrieved
from the boat and we set off in very hazardous
conditions.
It amazes me that
people can’t, don’t or will not adapt their
driving to the conditions. There certainly are
some eejits out there.
After 8 hours
driving we all arrived home safely and even had
time for a couple of cheeky ones in the Red
Rooster with the Hepworths, Deco and Sid.
All in all, a good dive trip. |
