UKDIVING
Bob with his engraved plaque
quiet and tranquil among that magnificent engineering , three decks down inside the ship , with access through a torpedo hole in the hull . Eric : One that really stands out for me was diving to 50m in Norway . Paul : In 1982 I was involved with the excavation and raising of the Mary Rose . During one dive , I uncovered a wooden bowl and brought it to the surface . That bowl is now on display in the Mary Rose Museum .
What was your best underwater encounter ?
Eric : Seeing seahorses at Puerto Del Carmen . Paul : Either being within touching distance of two hammerhead sharks or encounters with playful seals . Both are beautiful , magnificent animals . Bob : During a club trip to the Isle of Man , we encountered Donald the dolphin , who was a semi-permanent resident . During our dive , he turned up and did loops between us and the surface . He then went to see another pair of divers and showed amorous intent !
Bob with his video kit
Any memorable stories ?
Bob : Screwing my gear together underwater , having dismantled it for a flight . Putting it together underwater takes up valuable bottom time ! Eric : The lens fell out of my mask during a dive , when I passed it to Paul to show him , he laughed so much that he nearly spat his regulator out . I retrieved my spare mask from my pocket , but because it had been there so long , I had to scrape the slime off before I could see through it . Paul : A trainee had a brand-new aluminium reel with the trigger within the handle . Having deployed his dSMB , the reel locked solid . Afterwards , we decided that the reel was unfit for purpose , so he bought another new reel , with a thumb trigger . After the second dive , the dSMB once again went to the surface flawlessly , but he applied so much pressure to the trigger that it snapped . I laughed so much , I had to hold my regulator in my mouth .
Any advice for new divers ?
Eric : Take everything at a steady pace . Never dive under pressure or beyond your personal limits .
Bob : Move on to a new skill , equipment or activity ( such as photography ) when you have mastered your current ones . Don ’ t just dive in quarries – the sea has so much more to offer . Paul : Think how your diving will develop . Are you a history buff – there are a huge number of wrecks for you to explore . Photography – a whole new environment awaits you . Naturalist – there are many projects connected to marine life and ecosystems .
What is it about diving that has kept you hooked ?
Paul : The amazing experiences that can happen on any dive ; the companionship of buddies and the joy of helping trainees to overcome their nerves . I get to see things the vast majority couldn ’ t imagine . Eric : Never knowing what you ’ re going to discover . I waited 40 years before seeing a seahorse . Being in a stunning environment and knowing that you ’ re doing it safely . Bob : Being able to dive fairly intact wrecks and video / photograph them , doing new things , like Cenote diving , playing with and occasionally making new gear . The camaraderie , going to fantastic places , never knowing what you ’ re going to see , the history and wildlife of wrecks .
What do you still want to do ?
Eric : I ’ d like to have more shark encounters . Paul : I ’ d love to dive under ‘ proper ’ ice , perhaps in Antarctica and between the European and American continental rift in Iceland . Bob : I want to go back to the Cenotes in Mexico to do some cave diving . �
Paul instructing at Capernwray
Eric relaxes at pool night
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