Canada meets UK in Somerset

*Clare Gledhill* · September 15th, 2008, 02:43 PM

Leigh U (Wooferbitch to his hordes of You Tube fans) was over visiting family in the UK and asked whether we could meet up for a dive.

Midweek and appalling weather meant that a sea dive was a little hard to arrange so we decided to go to the mecca of UK DIR diving - Vobster Quay in Somerset. To make the day slightly more interesting for Leigh, John Grogan and Andy Kerslake came too on their prototype rebreathers. Interesting that is in the "will we have to do a double body recovery?" way

A slight miscommunication over start time (John giving me the time he intended to leave London rather than get to Vobster) found me sitting at the site for four hours before they arrived. Just about enough time to get my own unit prepared and then fend off the usual 'my buddy hasn't arrived would you dive with me requests'. I found that putting the RB80 fully on view scared off any more approaches from lone divers.

Tim shows me the various improvements that they have made to the site, and explains the other plans that they have. The work that staff have done is very evident but there is no more friendly site in the UK, determined to do what they can to assist every diver get the most from their visit.

Eventually, the happy band arrived having driven via Leigh's home town in Canada I guess. Leigh leapt out of the truck video camera in hand

switched on and started to interview the ducks (I kid you not).

There was just about enough of the day left to go diving

. John had brought all that Leigh needed - apart from a wing. We suggested that he used his suit for buoyancy but he didn't feel this would enable him to look fabulous enough for the vobster mirror so I dug deep in the student box in my truck and found an explorer for him to use.

Dive 1. We agree to pair up but go round in a loose four. I found out quite quickly that the idea of a loose four is open to some interpretation - mine would be to keep the pairs together and follow the same route. However another view was clearly held by some that day - being in the same body of water is enough. We did manage about 30 seconds as a four apparently but then Leigh and I went off to see the sights.

I'll leave Leigh as the visitor to fill in the details of the dive if he wishes, but he was a good buddy and I had a fun and relaxed time - just as it should be but further confirmation of how a standard training regime makes for thousands of comfortable buddies you've never met before. I worried at one point that he may be getting cold then remembered that he was from Canada and our toasty 10 - 14 degrees was almost certainly tropical to him.

We surfaced after 40 or so minutes and jumped out, looking for bubbles (well light fizzing at least) from John and Andy. Twenty minutes or so later they emerged and explained that they had slight issues at the start which meant that they chose to surface to get comfortable and started again.

We did the usual talk rubbish on the surface for a bit and then jumped in again - this time staying as a four. A few surface mods had made AKs RB much more comfortable and he had reverted to his usual laid back style in the water. JAG never shifted from his - I'm sure that man's heart rate barely shifts above 40 whatever occurs

My wing inflate o ring decides to extrude right at the end of the dive whilst we are already on ascent so I disconnect it. Get to the surface and realise that I don't fancy coming off the loop to orally inflate so Leigh reconnects the hose for me. Then tells me that he often has to dive with inflators disconnected as the cold they encounter leads to freeflows of everything at once quite often

A couple of nice dives.

***Fiona*** · September 15th, 2008, 03:10 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Clare Gledhill)

Dive 1. We agree to pair up but go round in a loose four. I found out quite quickly that the idea of a loose four is open to some interpretation - mine would be to keep the pairs together and follow the same route. However another view was clearly held by some that day - being in the same body of water is enough.

Not unusual if my memory of the previous week is anything to go by

Blimey Canada to Vobster via London and I though my journey was long enough

what no manifold !!! · September 15th, 2008, 04:22 PM

There was just about enough of the day left to go diving

. John had brought all that Leigh needed - apart from a wing. We suggested that he used his suit for buoyancy but he didn't feel this would enable him to look fabulous enough for the vobster mirror so I dug deep in the student box in my truck and found an explorer for him to use.

I thought you had a spare Evolve hanging around could he not borrow it.

Leigh u · September 15th, 2008, 05:13 PM

yes it was a cracking day out in the wilds of the Southwest.

highlights included :

hefting 3 large dive bags on the train and standing all the way to Clapham Junction to meet John, all the while just waiting for someone to snatch a bag so I could have an excuse to show them that I still have a little bit of "London" left in me.

3 of us jammed into the VW Transporter, hoping no one would grope my leg.

Passing Stonehendge and wondering how friggin far is Vobster and how far did these druids have to go for a swim ?

Waking Clare up from a 4 hour nap, and saving her from diving with a gentleman in a bright purple wetsuit.

Telling the team if I needed gas..I would simply bite into the RB loop and really test the counter lung.

Getting some Speckled Hen..and not needing antibiotics

Thanks to the entire gang for setting this up..it was a welcome break from visiting family throughout the country.I had a couple of great dives..seeing all of the training mesh as we had a pretty effortless time.

thanks !!

**neilh** · September 15th, 2008, 05:16 PM

When's the video going to be available?

Steve Blanchard · September 15th, 2008, 09:16 PM

Sounds like you guys had quite an adventure

cmalinowski · September 15th, 2008, 09:39 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Clare Gledhill)

...Then tells me that he often has to dive with inflators disconnected as the cold they encounter leads to freeflows of everything at once quite often

Goofy canuks. And I was kicking around going up there this winter for a dive visit with them. Might have to rethink that and just do the fall outing... although this is fall up there I guess

Chris

Dun · September 16th, 2008, 05:07 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by cmalinowski)

Goofy canuks. And I was kicking around going up there this winter for a dive visit with them. Might have to rethink that and just do the fall outing... although this is fall up there I guess

Chris

D00d... we're expecting you!

Dun · September 16th, 2008, 05:16 AM

Three heavy gear bags, and you didn't bring a wing? Lol.. :D

Glad you had a good time!

*JGrogan* · September 16th, 2008, 08:56 AM

No, but he did have a can of Red Bull!

(In the UK, their advertising tag line is 'Red Bull gives you wings')

Quote: (Originally Posted by Dun)

Three heavy gear bags, and you didn't bring a wing? Lol.. :D

Glad you had a good time!

September 15th, 2008, 02:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Clare Gledhill(Offline) GUE Instructor Site Admin Pacman Champion! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 1,541	Canada meets UK in Somerset Leigh U (Wooferbitch to his hordes of You Tube fans) was over visiting family in the UK and asked whether we could meet up for a dive. Midweek and appalling weather meant that a sea dive was a little hard to arrange so we decided to go to the mecca of UK DIR diving - Vobster Quay in Somerset. To make the day slightly more interesting for Leigh, John Grogan and Andy Kerslake came too on their prototype rebreathers. Interesting that is in the "will we have to do a double body recovery?" way A slight miscommunication over start time (John giving me the time he intended to leave London rather than get to Vobster) found me sitting at the site for four hours before they arrived. Just about enough time to get my own unit prepared and then fend off the usual 'my buddy hasn't arrived would you dive with me requests'. I found that putting the RB80 fully on view scared off any more approaches from lone divers. Tim shows me the various improvements that they have made to the site, and explains the other plans that they have. The work that staff have done is very evident but there is no more friendly site in the UK, determined to do what they can to assist every diver get the most from their visit. Eventually, the happy band arrived having driven via Leigh's home town in Canada I guess. Leigh leapt out of the truck video camera in hand switched on and started to interview the ducks (I kid you not). There was just about enough of the day left to go diving . John had brought all that Leigh needed - apart from a wing. We suggested that he used his suit for buoyancy but he didn't feel this would enable him to look fabulous enough for the vobster mirror so I dug deep in the student box in my truck and found an explorer for him to use. Dive 1. We agree to pair up but go round in a loose four. I found out quite quickly that the idea of a loose four is open to some interpretation - mine would be to keep the pairs together and follow the same route. However another view was clearly held by some that day - being in the same body of water is enough. We did manage about 30 seconds as a four apparently but then Leigh and I went off to see the sights. I'll leave Leigh as the visitor to fill in the details of the dive if he wishes, but he was a good buddy and I had a fun and relaxed time - just as it should be but further confirmation of how a standard training regime makes for thousands of comfortable buddies you've never met before. I worried at one point that he may be getting cold then remembered that he was from Canada and our toasty 10 - 14 degrees was almost certainly tropical to him. We surfaced after 40 or so minutes and jumped out, looking for bubbles (well light fizzing at least) from John and Andy. Twenty minutes or so later they emerged and explained that they had slight issues at the start which meant that they chose to surface to get comfortable and started again. We did the usual talk rubbish on the surface for a bit and then jumped in again - this time staying as a four. A few surface mods had made AKs RB much more comfortable and he had reverted to his usual laid back style in the water. JAG never shifted from his - I'm sure that man's heart rate barely shifts above 40 whatever occurs My wing inflate o ring decides to extrude right at the end of the dive whilst we are already on ascent so I disconnect it. Get to the surface and realise that I don't fancy coming off the loop to orally inflate so Leigh reconnects the hose for me. Then tells me that he often has to dive with inflators disconnected as the cold they encounter leads to freeflows of everything at once quite often A couple of nice dives. __________________ Clare . "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions....Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great." Interested in DIR dive training? Always happy to chat/answer questions so get in touch via PM or visit www.dirdiver.co.uk Last edited by Clare Gledhill; September 15th, 2008 at 03:15 PM.

September 15th, 2008, 03:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
*Fiona* (Online) Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Up North Posts: 1,206	Quote: (Originally Posted by Clare Gledhill) Dive 1. We agree to pair up but go round in a loose four. I found out quite quickly that the idea of a loose four is open to some interpretation - mine would be to keep the pairs together and follow the same route. However another view was clearly held by some that day - being in the same body of water is enough. Not unusual if my memory of the previous week is anything to go by Blimey Canada to Vobster via London and I though my journey was long enough __________________ Fiona Resistance was Futile Move Along YD GUE Member

September 15th, 2008, 05:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
Leigh u(Offline) We Go Down Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ottawa Canada Posts: 227	yes it was a cracking day out in the wilds of the Southwest. highlights included : hefting 3 large dive bags on the train and standing all the way to Clapham Junction to meet John, all the while just waiting for someone to snatch a bag so I could have an excuse to show them that I still have a little bit of "London" left in me. 3 of us jammed into the VW Transporter, hoping no one would grope my leg. Passing Stonehendge and wondering how friggin far is Vobster and how far did these druids have to go for a swim ? Waking Clare up from a 4 hour nap, and saving her from diving with a gentleman in a bright purple wetsuit. Telling the team if I needed gas..I would simply bite into the RB loop and really test the counter lung. Getting some Speckled Hen..and not needing antibiotics Thanks to the entire gang for setting this up..it was a welcome break from visiting family throughout the country.I had a couple of great dives..seeing all of the training mesh as we had a pretty effortless time. thanks !! __________________ http://youtube.com/wegodown

September 15th, 2008, 09:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
Steve Blanchard(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 61	Sounds like you guys had quite an adventure __________________ www.youtube.com/wegodown

September 16th, 2008, 05:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
Dun(Offline) Giddyup Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 176	Quote: (Originally Posted by cmalinowski) Goofy canuks. And I was kicking around going up there this winter for a dive visit with them. Might have to rethink that and just do the fall outing... although this is fall up there I guess Chris D00d... we're expecting you! __________________ Chantelle We Go Down http://www.youtube.com/wegodown MY BLOGGY THING

September 15th, 2008, 04:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
what no manifold !!!(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: 110 metres under the northsea Posts: 19	There was just about enough of the day left to go diving . John had brought all that Leigh needed - apart from a wing. We suggested that he used his suit for buoyancy but he didn't feel this would enable him to look fabulous enough for the vobster mirror so I dug deep in the student box in my truck and found an explorer for him to use. I thought you had a spare Evolve hanging around could he not borrow it.

September 15th, 2008, 05:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
neilh(Offline) Haemoglobin on the bus... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Barnsley, UK Posts: 1,900	When's the video going to be available?

September 15th, 2008, 09:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
cmalinowski(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Columbia, MD--USA Posts: 175	Quote: (Originally Posted by Clare Gledhill) ...Then tells me that he often has to dive with inflators disconnected as the cold they encounter leads to freeflows of everything at once quite often Goofy canuks. And I was kicking around going up there this winter for a dive visit with them. Might have to rethink that and just do the fall outing... although this is fall up there I guess Chris

September 16th, 2008, 05:16 AM	#9 (permalink)
Dun(Offline) Giddyup Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 176	Three heavy gear bags, and you didn't bring a wing? Lol.. :D Glad you had a good time! __________________ Chantelle We Go Down http://www.youtube.com/wegodown MY BLOGGY THING

September 16th, 2008, 08:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
JGrogan(Offline) GUE Join Date: May 2006 Location: London Posts: 439	No, but he did have a can of Red Bull! (In the UK, their advertising tag line is 'Red Bull gives you wings') Quote: (Originally Posted by Dun) Three heavy gear bags, and you didn't bring a wing? Lol.. :D Glad you had a good time!