Wet n’ Dry

I learnt to dive 7 years ago,

I loved the sport that I’d found.

So I bought a second hand dry suit,

so I could dive the whole year round.

I was wet and warm in the summer

In the winter, I was wet and cold.

Was this “rufty tufty diving”?

If so, I was getting too old!

So I bought a brand new dry suit

Crushed neoprene – black, nothing camp

Had another 5 years diving

And each time I ended up damp.

I had new valves, I had new cuffs

I taped all the seams inside.

But to stop the water seeping in,

Was like holding back the tide.

“The ‘dry’ in dry suit is a relative term”

An expert said unto me.

So with that in mind, I steeled myself

To be wet whenever I entered the sea.

But I succumbed at the NEC dive show.

Spent money – went into debt.

And I bought yet another new dry suit

This one blacker, to keep out the wet.

My first dive I felt quite hopeful

The second filled me with despair.

Water was finding it’s way in

And my cuffs were bubbling air.

Back to the shop for a modification

My confidence starting to wane

Would I ever experience a dry dive –

Would I even keep dry in the rain?

My suit was returned within 2 weeks

I was eager to give it a try.

So that weekend I jumped in at Stoney,

And blimey, I came out quite dry.

To top it, I put on some dry gloves.

Warm and dry from finger to toe.

Wet dives I’ll no longer encounter…

At least, I bloody hope so!

So now I’m a wuss of a diver

Glad of the standards I’ve set

Cocooned  in my neoprene dry suit

Will I be diving this winter – you bet!

AA Sec

St Abbs – May 2007

Acsac travelled up North in May

To the land of the haggis and kilt.

A pick-up truck, with a rib in tow

And two cars packed up to the hilt.

St Abbs was our dive destination

A luxury van for our overnight sleep.

The silence was just about perfect….

Except for a song about some bloody Sheep!!.

Six divers had made the long journey

Rob & Al, John & Jude, Matt & Kell.

All eager to get in the water

But it would depend on the wind and the swell.

Matt rose early and went on a recci.

Sent a text message we opened with dread.

It wasn’t a very long message

Just three words that said “stay in bed”.

The Saturday was totally blown out.

Half the group went to take in the views.

John & Jude travelled further to Edinburgh.

Where John spent a few bob on a tie and some shoes.

It was the night of the European Song Contest

The group surrounded the TV to cheer.

Rob & Al could stand it no longer

And escaped to the pub for a beer.

The weather on Sunday was better

With waves only a couple of feet high

This time we’d get out on the water

Despite storm clouds filling the sky.

Scuba Doo finally entered the ocean

And we swiftly set off to the site.

Were these cliffs really submerged in deep water…

Or was the GPS not set up quite right?

We all had a little discussion

And eventually we all did agree.

That the cliffs were not really beneath us

They were behind us, rising out of the sea.

Four very soon dropped in at Black Carrs

Just leaving the cox and his mate.

They waited for divers to surface….

And they didn’t have too long to wait!

Poor Jude had kicked one of her fins off

Her boot had filled up with air.

A line was thrown for assistance

And she was towed from the rocks with great care.

John’s blob was quickly to follow

And he surfaced a few yards away

Shortly joined by Matt and by Kellie

Who had enjoyed their first dive of the day.

Rob & Al rolled into the briny

As they had done so often before

Amazed by the good visibility

And the brittles stars on the sea floor.

The anemones were truly stupendous

Pastel colours of purple and pink

A large octopus gave them the eyeball

But luckily gave them no ink.

Whilst Rob & Al were enjoying their diving

 John and Kell were turning quite green

Kell managed to hold on to her breakfast

But John threw his up where the divers had been.

All aboard we set back to the harbour

A good run across a slight sea

Cylinders were changed for our next dive.

But Kell said “Next time you go without me!”

We had hot soup & rolls for our dinner

Sat outside in the cold and the rain

Then we climbed down the wall of the harbour

And set out to sea once again.

The sea had become rather lumpy

So to Petticowick Bay we did go

A threesome dropped into the water

And down to the bottom did go.

Rob & Al sat up top and watched bubbles

What would the three find down beneath

Good old Jude found a couple of Wolf fish

In a crevice displaying their teeth.

Matt suddenly had an idea

He sent up & tied off his SMB blob

Then he swam off and joined the two others

This confused the hell out of Alan & Rob.

All became clear on the surface

When in the boat and all doing fine.

In order to see the two Wolf fish

Rob & Al had to dive down Matt’s line.

So that’s what they did on their last dive

All had seen Wolf fish this time.

There was also a couple of Lumpsuckers

But for that fish there can be no rhyme.

Back to the campsite for showers

And then to the pub for food and for drink

Tomorrow there’d only be one dive

At least at that time we did think.

The sun shone as we drove down to Eyemouth

The boat packed, so we’d dive from the shore.

But once again the sea was against us

And that weekend we’d get wet no more.

 So we set off for home in the Midlands

The trip over and finished too soon.

But do not despair ACSAC divers.

We’re off to Lyme Regis in June.

                           AA Sec