Back in the water for Mrs G Swanage and Fleur De Lys May 2, 2006
Posted by Mark Gilmour in : Dive Reports, UK diving , trackback We had planned at the beginning of the April to go for a splash at Vobster to ease Lisa back into the water after her sabbatical from diving. Her last dive previously had been at the break a cheekbone YD Stoney Gig last year.
As the day drew closely though the weather improved along with the vis we decided that Swanage was a better option and so we booked onto Mary Jo to dive Fleur de Lys in the afternoon after having spent the morning getting kit right under the pier.
We arrived at 9.15am and managed to squeeze a parking space on the pier.
We got ourselves sorted and went in with the tide in and lapping at the steps. It was a bit of a comedy moment going in as Lisa’s undersuit was not allowing her the movement she needed and ended up turtle in the water wedged on the step, quite a funny moment.
Anyway we swam around to underneath the pier and tried a weight check, she was a bit light so we swapped my weighbelt over from me to her. TBH, with full tanks I didn’t need the belt so all sorted we made our way along the pier, to the incredibly annoying sound of my computer beeping it’s merry heart out, apparently I managed 21.6m under the pier. Needless to say it is making it’s way back to Apeks today. 
After 40 minutes under the pier, we had spotted lots of huge spider crabs masquerading as rocks, Blennies galore, shrimp, decent sized lobby and a large brut of a fish that looks like he had seen a lot of action under the pier, sorry couldn’t identify it, even it I knew how, but he had half of his main fin missing and his tail fin had been attacked one or two times.
We made our way back and headed for the steps. The tide had receeded a little meaning a little walk to the steps.
After a quick bite to eat we headed over to the pier to join Mary Jo and head out to the Fleur De Lys.
We were kitted up and ready as we reached the shot and so were first ones in. Our plan was a couple of circuits of the wreck, drift off the stern and send up a bag, (first time for Lisa) and then drift along for a bit.
Onto the wreck and the vis was down to about 4m but as we made our way around the stern for the first time we were greeted by a large shoal of Bib, who just stayed put and allowed us to join in the middle of the shoal. It was fantastic. All in all the wreck was great for life, I am fairly sure we identified a large pollack that had taken up residence inside her aswell. After circling a couple of times we had been joined by the rest of the group on the boat and so we drifted off. Lisa sorted out to send up the SMB which she did admirably, although didn’t quite get the trigger release right on the reel and started ascending with it. (this is called the Gizmo-Konig maneoveur) She didn’t want to let go and so I swam up and wrenched it out of her hand and let it go. We had risen from 11m to 4m, Lisa then pointed behind me and the reel was bobbing about a metre of so behind me so I retrieved the reel and let out the line as we descended back down to 9m and did a nice slow and steady ascent. It took us 10minutes to get back to the surface but with an excellent ascent.
Lisa was a bit cheesed off about the deployment but when I explained I had done exactly the same in Scapa on the Konig being watched by at least two other buddy pairs I think she was happy.
Over all a fantastic day, which was exceptionally useful. Lots of things learned, and a few things to change, namely Lisa’s suit but hopefully thats in hand. Roll on Porthkerris.
BTW, diving does have an effect on Breastfeeding women, I think Heather enjoyed a milkshake inbetween dives………….
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[…] Other news is that Lisa is now back into diving. A couple of trips to Swanage and Porthkerris in April and May and she is now right back in the swing of things. We had a really fantastic weekend down in Devon, visiting with Mum and Dad who then looked after the children while Lisa and I went diving in Cornwall at Porthkerris off the Lizard. We went with a few friends from Yorkshire Divers […]