KIRSTYANDREWS
Dive and drive
Kirsty Andrews joins the ranks of campervan owners , and embarks on a tour of remote UK dive sites
In the past year I joined quite a crowd of other people , as it turned out , who ’ d had the same great idea : to hop on the campervan bandwagon . A bit of a 2021 move , you might say : the year everyone holidayed at home . For me though this was a decision a long time coming ; I had long admired the wheels of various dive buddies , from gnarly old rust buckets to lovingly bespoke self-built projects to the latest in off-the-shelf , all mod cons stylish travel . Suffice to say , my own choice lies somewhere in the middle of these . As someone who spends an inordinate amount of time pinging from one bit of UK coastline to another , it seemed to make sense .
What is the perfect diving vehicle ? Vans certainly have their loyal supporters , but they ’ re not without drawbacks : previously I ’ d flung kit in my roomy estate car boot in a carefree manner , but now there ’ s a meticulous jenga-like process to fit
“ Now it seems I have no problem filling an entire vehicle by myself .”
everything in , a new-found consideration of weight limits ; the constant battle to keep salt water at bay is never more real . The fuel consumption is a little eye watering , and with that comes a degree of guilt : would that I could find an electric or hybrid vehicle that meets my needs so simply , but for now that is not an option .
Another important attribute in a dive vehicle in my view is the ability to kit up from the boot comfortably or at least without causing lower back injury . Offering some form of shelter , should the weather forecast start throwing spanners , is beneficial .
I do think back with fondness at student trips earlier in my diving journey , when we would all pile in the back of impracticably tiny motors , wedged shoulder to shoulder , and someone would draw the short straw in taking charge of the ramshackle kit van . Is this the perfect efficient diving driving solution ? Kit lists only seem to expand in my experience , and where once a single cylinder sufficed , now there are two , and a spare drysuit ( just in case ), undersuit ( ditto ), tools and assorted spare hoses ( I ’ m very prepared these days ) and , horror of horrors , large amounts of underwater photography equipment . Now it seems I have no problem filling an entire vehicle by myself . Although it ’ s not as fun : I can squeeze in a buddy ( just ) as long as they don ’ t insist on taking quite as many spares as me .
What my new ride does allow is the absolute dream of parking up by the side of a Loch and waking to gambolling otters and breakfasting seabirds as I make my morning coffee and contemplate strolling into the water below . After the dive I can escape the inevitable deluge and plan the next stop on my tour of UK waters . Several months in , I ’ ve already had some fantastic such moments but the opportunities for new adventure keep piling in . Next stop ... perhaps a portable compressor , and then there will be no stopping me . �
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