What an awesome dive... Viz was 15+ mtrs - CLEAR AS YOU GET!
What a great bunch of blokes down at
Diveline in Frankston. Gave me the confidence to get wet again after all these years, and with my disabilities I wasn't sure how I'd cope...
Anyone considering giving scuba diving a go, I'd happily recommend Paul down at Diveline, and I'll even come down and go for the dive with you! You can do a "Discover Diving" gig for $150 or 200 for 2 people which includes ALL your gear for the dive...
Got in to the store early, power was out in most of Franga due do NFI.. So I sat down to my refresher exam, and did pretty well, although blew a couple of questions on the ****in dive tables, but Paul sat down and went through them with me until I could explain them to him showing I understood.. No shortcuts down there
Now for the nasty pasty... Puttin on a wetty, and it was easy, the suit was a 1 piece, but I still think I like 2 piece.
Next was BCD and Tank etc together, tank tests, and we were ready to go.
Down to the Pier, and the long walk to the end..
I was rooted by the time we got there and was happy to jump in!
Jumped in, and Paul just wanted to settle me to make sure I was comfortable - so did I! Took me 5 mins to settle, then down we went and then sort out the weight so I could be neutral, and away we went!
We ran through some basics like mask clearing, losing the reg, etc. All good
As I said, no shortcuts, and I didn't ask for any special treatment.
We cruised under the pier, never seen so many starfish in my life - 1000s, I mean 100's... and different types too. Plenty of puffer fish, out to the pots and plenty of life out there, saw a couple of crikey killers - only small though, found a fishing rod, complete with reel line the lot, heaps of sinkers etc. Paul was really good at finding the small things, like a really juvenile sea moth, an extremely well hidden blue ring occy on an old pillar, and then on th way back under the pier, 2 massive clouds of small fish..
Had a ball, oh and a chunder as we got back to shore as it was fairly rough
Packed up, I got a real good report from Paul on my diving, and he's happy to go out again sarvo if I want LOL
back to shop, wash up, sign off on the dive, and then back home. Now for a nana nap, cause that took it out of me.
Bottom time was just under 70minutes, and my air use was outstanding, I came back with ~80 - went in with 230.... It was one thing I thought I'd go through faster.
Just need to get a better fitting wetty.
