DIR Explorers - View Single Post - VQPP (Vobster Quarry Pit Project) in Action

GLOC · February 25th, 2006, 08:54 AM

Yesterday I went down to Vobster Quay following the regression of a cold I had had during the week and met up with Wilbo, Gledders, Al, Bob Cooper, Mark Chase, Iani (YD) and Andy P (YD) - everyone except Wilbo and I were supposed to be on a dive to the Salsette which was blown out due to weather. Again it showed what strange people UK divers are as most people arrived at the inland dive site in the middle of mild snow storm!

I will let Gledders et al fill in the details of their dives in their replies, including pictures as the only one I have is my Smart car feeling somewhat inadeqaute amongst all the four wheel drives, although at least I didn't manage to lock my keys in my car and have to call out the Audi rescue services...

Arrow in case you missed it!!

The main aim of the day for Wilbo and I was to practice some skills prior to our Fundies course in a fortnight's time with Andy K. It was also to provide a shakedown for my new Pro Explorer drysuit from Ian Clayton at Protec.

First dive wasn't too good, both Wilbo and I were too light, which meant we were both fighting against positive bouyancy. However, it did give me some idea of what the suit was like. Fortunately, so even with zero air in the suit, I am quite a warm person, and with only a set of FE arctics and a couple of thin thermal tops and didn't feel the cold at all with zero air in the suit.

Second dive Mark Chase came in with us, initially the idea was that he was going to go through some DIR-F skills too, but he realised that he was still wearing his undersuit and therefore couldn't reach his valves. He picked up his shiny new toy from Travel Dive and filmed us, or tried to, as the camera was set to record to the memory card rather than the tape so we only got the first part of the drills!!

After not much persuasion I decided to join Gledders, Al, Bob and Mark on a quick scooter trip around to the 6m platform with Al towing me for a third dive. The problem was I had very little gas in my tins, so I borrowed Wilbos as he wasn't getting in. This had two effects - firstly, having the kit all configured the same way meant that there weren't any issues regarding trim and so I could just use the set without worry and the second, was his valves were much tighter than mine (which he knew about and is sorting).

The towing was an interesting experience, I had to sit 6 inches from Al's arse and keep tucked in while scootering along, the 6m platform was much closer than I remembered :D but I am not sure it is £2500 closer

I must say that even being towed, I can see where some task loading can come in for the driver; clearing ears, air in wing and suit, light positioning and team awareness - all good fun...

We got to the platform and I watched Al and Clare go through some drills while trying to maintain some semblance of order wrt my bouyancy and was signalled a couple of times to come down the 50cm I had drifted up! However, when I told them 2 to descend as they had drifted up, I was told where to go - they were halfway through a planned ascent and were switching to O2, ooops.

Shutdowns were next and although on the previous dive with Mark and Wilbo I could do the shutdowns with my own rig, the left post on Wilbo's tins was so tight open, I could not move it and even Al struggled, so I aborted the drill as I wasn't going anywhere. Some more drills were completed before scootering back.

While we were doing the drills, Mark and Bob were having a good scooter around the area. Memorable points for me were watching Bob trying to get as close under us as possible while we hovering over the platform - good effort Bob, looked like a right laugh.

Finishing the dive, Wilbo, Al and I emptied the Quay of all the kit that was used today by Bob, Al and Gledders - just like a scene from the WKPP video, stages & scooters lying everywhere. Hopefully Gledders won't mind me posting a picture from somewhere else of the scene.

The VQPP...!

With regard to the Protec Pro Explorer suit, I am pretty impressed with the service from Ian Clayton. The suit feels nice and provides excellent mobility, the seals are just right, the price was very good (£708 all in and delivered within 12 days). However, the fit is not quite as tight as I was expecting, especially in the legs. Hopefully I can make a more informed comment following a couple of dives tomorrow at Vobster, but I will speaking to Ian first thing monday morning to see what can be done about the fit.

From a skills point of view it was a pretty succesful day, I observed how drills should been done and got more practice in. It was good to meet some people who post on here regularily and put a face to a name. From the suit point of view, I now know how to use a auto-dump (my Nexus had cuff dump only) and it fits pretty well, other than the legs having slightly too much air in them.

A grand day out was had by all as Wallace would say and thanks everyone for their time.

February 25th, 2006, 08:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
GLOC(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fleet, Hants Posts: 2,068	VQPP (Vobster Quarry Pit Project) in Action Yesterday I went down to Vobster Quay following the regression of a cold I had had during the week and met up with Wilbo, Gledders, Al, Bob Cooper, Mark Chase, Iani (YD) and Andy P (YD) - everyone except Wilbo and I were supposed to be on a dive to the Salsette which was blown out due to weather. Again it showed what strange people UK divers are as most people arrived at the inland dive site in the middle of mild snow storm! I will let Gledders et al fill in the details of their dives in their replies, including pictures as the only one I have is my Smart car feeling somewhat inadeqaute amongst all the four wheel drives, although at least I didn't manage to lock my keys in my car and have to call out the Audi rescue services... Arrow in case you missed it!! The main aim of the day for Wilbo and I was to practice some skills prior to our Fundies course in a fortnight's time with Andy K. It was also to provide a shakedown for my new Pro Explorer drysuit from Ian Clayton at Protec. First dive wasn't too good, both Wilbo and I were too light, which meant we were both fighting against positive bouyancy. However, it did give me some idea of what the suit was like. Fortunately, so even with zero air in the suit, I am quite a warm person, and with only a set of FE arctics and a couple of thin thermal tops and didn't feel the cold at all with zero air in the suit. Second dive Mark Chase came in with us, initially the idea was that he was going to go through some DIR-F skills too, but he realised that he was still wearing his undersuit and therefore couldn't reach his valves. He picked up his shiny new toy from Travel Dive and filmed us, or tried to, as the camera was set to record to the memory card rather than the tape so we only got the first part of the drills!! After not much persuasion I decided to join Gledders, Al, Bob and Mark on a quick scooter trip around to the 6m platform with Al towing me for a third dive. The problem was I had very little gas in my tins, so I borrowed Wilbos as he wasn't getting in. This had two effects - firstly, having the kit all configured the same way meant that there weren't any issues regarding trim and so I could just use the set without worry and the second, was his valves were much tighter than mine (which he knew about and is sorting). The towing was an interesting experience, I had to sit 6 inches from Al's arse and keep tucked in while scootering along, the 6m platform was much closer than I remembered :D but I am not sure it is £2500 closer I must say that even being towed, I can see where some task loading can come in for the driver; clearing ears, air in wing and suit, light positioning and team awareness - all good fun... We got to the platform and I watched Al and Clare go through some drills while trying to maintain some semblance of order wrt my bouyancy and was signalled a couple of times to come down the 50cm I had drifted up! However, when I told them 2 to descend as they had drifted up, I was told where to go - they were halfway through a planned ascent and were switching to O2, ooops. Shutdowns were next and although on the previous dive with Mark and Wilbo I could do the shutdowns with my own rig, the left post on Wilbo's tins was so tight open, I could not move it and even Al struggled, so I aborted the drill as I wasn't going anywhere. Some more drills were completed before scootering back. While we were doing the drills, Mark and Bob were having a good scooter around the area. Memorable points for me were watching Bob trying to get as close under us as possible while we hovering over the platform - good effort Bob, looked like a right laugh. Finishing the dive, Wilbo, Al and I emptied the Quay of all the kit that was used today by Bob, Al and Gledders - just like a scene from the WKPP video, stages & scooters lying everywhere. Hopefully Gledders won't mind me posting a picture from somewhere else of the scene. The VQPP...! With regard to the Protec Pro Explorer suit, I am pretty impressed with the service from Ian Clayton. The suit feels nice and provides excellent mobility, the seals are just right, the price was very good (£708 all in and delivered within 12 days). However, the fit is not quite as tight as I was expecting, especially in the legs. Hopefully I can make a more informed comment following a couple of dives tomorrow at Vobster, but I will speaking to Ian first thing monday morning to see what can be done about the fit. From a skills point of view it was a pretty succesful day, I observed how drills should been done and got more practice in. It was good to meet some people who post on here regularily and put a face to a name. From the suit point of view, I now know how to use a auto-dump (my Nexus had cuff dump only) and it fits pretty well, other than the legs having slightly too much air in them. A grand day out was had by all as Wallace would say and thanks everyone for their time.