TORBET ON THE TUBE
All the thrill of the chill
PHOTO : DAAN VERHOEVEN
Andy Torbet remains an advocate of snorkelling through the winter , and here offers his up-to-date advice on cool tubing
Almost six years ago I penned a column for SCUBA containing some tips and consideration to keep the avid snorkeller diving through winter . I thought it was about time to revisit the subject , as I ’ m sure BSAC has attracted many new members in that time . Indeed , those who have been in the club as long as I , and having partaken of large amounts of nitrogen , oxygen , helium and real ale in that time , may struggle to remember what I wrote half a decade ago . Or where they parked the car .
The main message is one of encouragement , in the face of some obvious disadvantages to winter snorkelling . The elephant ( seal ) in the room is that it can get decidedly cold , in and out of the water . Nothing tests one ’ s commitment than leaving icy waters to strip off in a blizzard . Trust me , I ’ ve done exactly that . However , there are also plenty of reasons when it ’ s better to hiber-not [ once again , the English language winces – Editor ] and get wet .
I ’ ve found snorkelling wreck sites can be more rewarding in winter . The kelp , which can smother the features of a ship or submarine in a thick layer of camouflage , dies back in winter and this means you can see more of the wreck itself .
In fact , our shallow wrecks may be more visible for more reasons than kelp shedding its fronds . Algal blooms don ’ t happen in winter , dry , cold spells mean little to no run-off , and freshwater rivers and lakes can become crystal clear . Night dives become logistically easier as the nights draw in . No longer do we need to postpone our entry time to midnight to experience the alternative landscape and inhabitants that a night dive offers . It ’ s even possible , with an early rise , to fit a ‘ night dive ’ in before work and the late sunrise .
Of course , there are some basic considerations for winter snorkelling that may be less pressing in the warmer months . The most obvious is the cold , both topside and sub-surface . If you don ’ t want to buy a thicker wetsuit you can always level up your existing suit with a shorty that ’ ll fit over the top .
Gazing up at a stormy surface
Warming up with a cuppa
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