Portland, even the name sends shivers up the spine........!!!!
Bandit took 5 hours to drive there, couldnt come quick enough, once he arrived his buddy Rob the lobster hunter gave him the bad news, all boat dives along the dreaded shambles has been blown out. Bandit looked at the twinkle in Robs eyes, all dives along Chesil were on............YES cried Bandit.
The next day, blue skies, flat calm waters awaited our heroes as they unpacked their dive kit, Bandits wife sat in the heat looking after the gear and read a book, enjoying the peace and tranquility.
Soon it was time to strectch those muscles and to don the equipment, once all buddy checks were completed, they strode manfully over the pebbles and down the steep embankments to reach the sea. In they went and down to 5 metres, once there, their natural instincts and bouyancy took over, 10 to 15 metres viz, 10 degrees, what bliss.
Soon all the fish and crabs came out to see our heroes, pipe fish, Pollack, dog fish, Gar fish, small molluscs, crabs, sand eels and many more, too many to mention. In and out of the rocks and wrecks, the wrecks all unrecognisable as time and storms have worked there magic on there distruction. The sand appeared at 13 metres, on our heroes went, enjoying the hundreds of sand eels packing in around them, skimming here and there, what fun Bandit was having, all too soon at 16 metres it was time to change course and head back, all of a sudden Rob the Lob stopped, he pointed, Bandit moved forward, a huge cuttle fish appeared from the sandy bottom like a space ship, it hovered for a few seconds then moved off, a shoal of wrasse then appeared from behind the rocks and seaweed to nose at our two heroes, big grins got wider as the dive came to an end.
Deco stop completed and our two intrepid divers walked manfully out of the water, people sunbathing stopped and gawped as the hot sun sparkled off Bandits wet manly torso, what a sight for all to see, manfully he staggered up the moving incline under the weight of his gear, purposfully heading towards the top of the beach, he slipped,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,!!!!! a gasp went up from the onlookers, Bandit regained his balance under the weight of his gear, regaining his balance and composure so neatly, everyone cheered and clapped, what strength they all cried, Bandit just grinned, the sun glinted off his teeth as he smiled back.
Once at the top of the beach, Bandits wife smiled back, Rob slapped his thigh and said 'what a dive' Bandit agreed. Once dekitted and coffee's were drunk, Bandit just leaned back and surveyed the beach and the flat calm sea, waiting in anticipation of the next dive.
That too was another great dive.
Portland as usual came up trumps, great diving, great weather and fantastic surroundings, roll on the next adventure my friends....................................
