The sun lifted slowly, bright pink against the mist rising from the moist cold air. Birds huddled together on the branches of the frozen trees, our two brave divers stared out onto the freezing waters, Bandit pointed suddenly to a shape hovering over the water, I'm sure thats Best Buddy said Bandit, Vet stared at the shimmering shape in the mist, could be, could be he murmured, this must be the place then stated Bandit.
They kitted up slowly as the cold was starting to creep into their joints, the ice was covering evrything, including their kit. The excitement was growing, Vet and Bandit checked and double checked the kit, making sure nothing was freezing, at minus 3 they had to be sure.
They donned their expensive shiney kit, winked at each other in that manly way and made their way down towards the frozen water. Bandit stopped at the edge, Vet said be careful Bandit, Bandit took one tentative step onto the ice, it creeked under his weight,,,,,,,,,,Suddenly..........with an almighty crack the ice gave way, it started to break up with each step.
Bandit waded manfully through the ice, Vet following on laughing and slapping his thigh egging him on, once bouyant and on the surface, Vet gave the signal and down went our two brave divers into the icey depths, 15 metre viz, temp 5 to 6 degrees at 20 mtrs. Two huge Sturgeon appeared beneath them and then disappeared like ghosts, Vet and Bandit bimbled around the quarry for over 30 minutes and surfaced into bright sunshine, Capernwrey had never looked so good.
The two amigo's strode out of the water, the sun glinting off their manly wet torso's, they watched as the other divers who had just arrived waded tentativley into the cold water, they turned looked at each other and laughed as they de-kitted by the car, both ready to face another ice dive at Capernwrey after a warm cup of coffee..........
Now that you have done a bit of cold water diving in confined water perhaps you would like to partake in a bit of open water diving. Cannot promise ice to break as the waves will take care of that. We did wink at one another whilst entering the moving water on Sunday, though not both of us manfully (I am not as tough as Gill). On Sunday after next we will be heading off to The Straits of Menai again for some real diving in the sea. It will require minimal navigational ability (this must be an important factor to those with MSD qualifications) other than getting to the site. Depth will be 15 metres ish so even us DMs should be able to cope. Go on, give it a go, get your shiny kit salty!
I have been known to get my kit salty... but that's another story!!!
May well join you, but might just be in Portland doing some real open water diving, as well as crawling back up the beach (Lobster and scallops in catch bag..) and a couple of wreck dives, weather permitting or pub if swell too much, as I have to go to Gloucester and South on the 6th anyway.
