the water together. The youngest of our snorkel team, being ten and eight, happily finned along next to their grandad of 73, with myself and Bex along to represent for Generation X.
Due to a few days of strong onshore winds, the sands had been churned up by the surf and it was hard to appreciate the underwater landscape. However, as we ferreted around in the sand, we found the large and remarkably undamaged carapace of a spider crab. Then, still joined, the twin halves of a razor clam, alongside other signs of life. Sometimes we can discern the biodiversity from the clues left behind, even if we don’ t see the creatures themselves. The boys competed as to who could be the best snorkel-sleuth. Later than evening we pored over our collection of clues as we hung the wetsuits up to dry, solving the mysteries of which animals must inhabit this coastline.
Even Nanny joined in. Opting to stay on land, she operated as shore cover and photographer, while back on the beach Bex watched her dad and sons play in the surf together, snorkels flailing as they pitched about in the waves.
PHOTO: WENDY BIGGINS
“ It’ s like life goes full circle.”
“ Perhaps not,” I replied.“ I think it’ s more linear. I see this more as passing the baton to continue the story.”
As the boys – all three of them – stumbled ashore laughing, it was, despite the atrocious visibility, one of the best‘ dives’ of the year. Something all three generations could share.
There will come a time when I can no longer spend hours in deco in big swells, scooter kilometres underground at great depths or haul heavy dive kit through technical sections of dry caves. Even my climbing and skydiving, and the filming
The‘ boys’ trying and failing to use body boards as snorkelling platforms
projects I do for work will, eventually, be beyond my physical capabilities. But snorkelling will still be there; the last to go.
And, since all this life of adventure began with me snorkelling off the Northeast coast of Scotland aged six, perhaps things do go full circle after all. �
For more information on snorkelling with BSAC go to bsac. com / snorkelling Looking to introduce snokelling into your club? Find out more at bsac. com / snorkellinginstructor
The younger generation strike a pose Drying kit on the motor home
PHOTO: BECKI BIGGINS
Torbet and son, the not so old firm
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