Seven brave divers started on the dangerous and perilous journey to Portland, alas.............only one made it, Bandit!!!!!!!! Proudly he stood looking out to sea, triumphant at beating all the odds stacked against him.
Scimitar was berthed at the quayside, kit loaded, kettle whistling the tune of tea. As she glided into open water, sun glinting off the calm blue sea, Bandit stood feet firmly apart, hands on hips a tear in his eye and remembered the six who never made it. He looked at Rob who was watching him, Bandit said 'look at what they are missing' Rob just slapped his thigh in that manly buddy gesture and replied ' more diving space for us then', and with that Bandit laughed so much he nearly fell overboard.
Down they went on the shot line into the calm still clear depths, the captain had put them on the nose of the wreck the James Fennel, lobsters and spider crabs mixed with the wrasse, Bandit and Rob in and out of the broken ship like seals searching for food. Visibilty a good 5 to 8 metres, off the wreck they settled into a drift, deployed the SMB and finned around looking at the wild life. All too soon the dive was ended, 38 minutes in 10 degrees warmth, up they went with a 3 minute stop, hoisted up on the lift Bandit smiled and remembered the ribs where effort had to be used to get into the boat.
Once all on board the captain tried to pull the shot line in, it was stuck, 4 times he tried in vain to pull it in, Suddenly, Bandit jumped up and announced, 'I have been expertly trained in search and recovery, I will go back down to recover the shot weight and line!' Rob stated that he will assist Bandit in this foolhardy and dangerous quest.
Kitting up Bandit turned and looked at the other divers, all looking at him in admiration, Rob turned and slapping his thigh said 'Bandit, its time to rock and roll'. Strapping his knife to his leg Bandit smiled and jumped into the water quickly followed by Rob, they swam to the shot line and descended in unison, once on the bottom they did a quick check of the shot line and discovered the rope had entangled a huge rock. Bandit deftly untangled it whilst rob lifted the weight onto a flat rock, Rob tied it back together and slapping each other on the back they ascended, three minute stop and back on the surface the boat had been circling and the other divers watching for any signs. Once back on the boat the cheers went up as the shot line was neatly wrapped up on deck, a special hot chocolate was given to both Rob and Bandit for a job well done......
After two more dives which went off with no more problems, Bandit and Rob descended on the Cove with their women to have a few pints and to discuss the next day's diving, they decided they would go in off Chesil beach and hunt Lobby the Lobster.
What a lovely day it was, Sun shining on a flat calm sea, visibility up to 8 metres, a perfect drift dive was had by Bandit and Rob and Lobby lobster was in the pot at the end of the day, a perfect weekend was thoroughly enjoyed by me........Bandit.
Great story, you wiley old Bandit. How did you manage to dump all the others? I arranged a nice quiet holiday with my good lady in Sharm starting on 14 April. I kept it quiet so I could get some good dives in with some decent buddies. It wasn't meant to be. I must have inadvertently mentioned it to someone in the club. Before I knew it someone had blown my cover, and two of our club members promptly booked themselves in from 15 April and got themselves on the same dive boat as me. Then, another one decided to join in and now there are 4 of us. I'm not one for naming names but a clue is they are Kirk, Jim and Andy. Watch this space for when we get back. I'd also booked a few days diving in Scotland at the beginning of May, while my wife visits the family in London. Now I find there are about 20 club members going to the same place at the same time. What can I say?
Hope you all realise that the Red Sea is deeper than 10mtrs and doesn't have any training plaforms, so Andy may have to buddy with someone who usually dives deeper and for longer than 10mins !!!!!!!!
Unlucky Trigs old son, to get rid of the others I just mentioned that Portland is REAL MANLY diving. More than 10 meters and 10 minutes in the real sea not red!!
Apart from Vet who had a cold, he has done Portland before so I can understand why he called the weekend off, the others....................? Who knows, draw your own conclusions................
10 metres and 10 minutes eh? Got back from Sharm about 5 or 6 hours ago. Had 8 great dives with Andy, Jim and Kirk. Even managed 30 metres and 60 minutes several times. Really wonderful, with great buddies for company. And not a slapped thigh in sight.
The last time I saw the three musketeers they were staggering out of the Camel bar , heading for their rooms, while Mary and I were still chucking peanut shells at the Russians down below.
30mtrs in 60 mins - it's not easy shuffling along with the old zimmer from one watering hole to the next, those peanut shells get right under the frame, but I dare say the reason it took you so long was trying to avoid spilling the catheter bag !
Proudly he stood looking out to sea, triumphant at beating all the odds stacked against him.
