Back in the water at last… Stoney Cove February 27, 2006
Posted by Mark Gilmour in : Dive Reports, UK diving , trackbackSaturday 25th Feb
Last weekend was the Annual YD Winter Warmer Gig held at Stoney Cove. About 50 or 60 YDers descended on the inland dive site at various times throughout the day to “enjoy” the cold waters of quarry diving.
A full report of YDers antics is available over at Yorkshire -Divers.com but here is my day
The plan was originally that the whole family would go on done but with the weather getting colder we decided against that and just Scott came along with me. So after Lisa had been to the Gym that morning and I had picked the girls up from Ballet, it was off in the car. Scott wasn’t particularly happy at the thought of the 2.5 hr drive but stopping for some fuel and Bacon & Cheese Pastries for him cheered him up. We arrived at 1pm just as Helen rang saying “where are you? We want to do the raffle, we all freezing standing here waiting”… I had the Diving Daisy prizes with me so we walked on down to the bottom car park and the draw started. Helen had arranged a large raffle to support Chris Hall who is suffering with Motor Neueron Disease. A worthy cause and a lot of cash has been raised.
Once the raffle was over, Ally (Simon A’s better half) volunteered to watch Scott while I went in for a dive with Gary & Simon A. So a bit of fettling to get my kit together, new computer to try and also new backup torch. I kitted up and made my way down to the steps. It felt a little cumbersome dealing with things wearing my 5mm gloves, I much prefer my 3mm but the water temp was a cooling 5degs. Giant stride in and a quick check back up to Scott to say all is well. He shouted is it cold, I said back to him only on my face!!! W
aved at him and Gary and I descended. We waited a couple of minutes for Simon and then headed off to 6m shelf and down to the helicopter, over to the Stangarth back to the bus, up the wall to the Viscount, and then over to the APC. We got seperated as a 4 at the Stangarth as Simon’s buddy followed off after another pair thinking it was Gary & I. I saw what was happening and so Simon go after him as Gary and I had started heading off to the bus. We met up again at the wall heading up to the viscount.
Being back in the water felt great but it taught me a small lesson in muscle memory. By instinct I put my computers on my left arm as this is where I wear my watch, but through out the dive I was looking at my right arm. After about 20 minutes I realised why, I wear my dive computers on my right and my slate on my left.
After 30 minutes and pretty much the end of the tour we made our way back towards the slipway, I signalled to Gary that my fingers were cold and that was enough for me. So we made our way out. Scott met us at the slipway and Helen was there to snap a photo. A good dive.
After the dive we got packed up and headed to the bar to chat before heading off to the Mill on the Soar to watch the rugby and have something to eat. (That was Scott’s idea). Unfortunately the rugby didn’t go as planned but the banter and chat and food was excellent. Scott and I left the Mill at about 7.30 and headed home. He watched one of his films in the car and we got home about 10pm.
It was a real fun day and enjoyed having Scott along, I think he enjoyed it, he said he did.
Comments»
Nice report Mark,
shame I couldn’t make it this year, but I paid my dues to Helen… and I’ve won a mask!
Hopefully Scott will get ‘the diving bug’???
Well Done
Pete
sorry I was not there this year sounds like you had a blast
Thanks for the comments, It was a good day.
Pete- part of me is torn on that one, not sure if I do or don’t want him to start diving in a few years time……he already enjoys snorkelling so I suppose it will be natural progression
Mark
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