8 Divers find themselves

The date is the 5th November and 8 rather nervous potential Search and Recovery Divers arrive at Cromhall Quarry. The weather is being kind so far and the predicted rain has stayed away – lets hope this is the case all day.

We arrive and check in – meet the owners of Cromhall who explain that during the winter months – the quarry can flood – but at the present the water levels are very low due to the dry Winter in 2010 and the good summer we have just had (did I miss this but I guess they meant no rain?)

We decide to set up base over by the Beach entry as the thought of carrying all the kit for the course down to the pontoon was not something we relished. Out came the various Gazebo’s and ground sheets to help protect the kit for the predicted rain.

Collin welcomed everyone to the course and explained that this was going to be a full on and task loaded course – stretching the very limits of the multi tasking abilities of the teams.

The first task was going to be Knot tying, coupled with lift bag into and then Circular search patterns with DSMB deployment. The aim was to find Excalibur Swords – that had laid undiscovered for Centuries.

 

All teams proudly showing that they found Excalibur. To say that the search teams faces as they found them were a picture is an understatement. All protocol went out the window when they saw the missing object.

All teams found their Excalibur’s – so well done for Dive 1

It was then out for a well earned lunch break and off back round to the entrance to fill tanks

Dive 2 was designed to take the divers to the next level with Bowline knots, expanding Square search patterns from a DSMB Datum, whilst towing a DSMB. This time the object was the Watering Can of Life and needed lifting to the surface using the newly learnt Lift Bag skills.

 

 

Ahh we have found it!

Now time to attach and deploy the lift bag – harder than you

2 of the 4 teams had run away ascents!!!

  Ahh  must remember to wind in the DSMB at the same time.

It was also celebration time for Lucy and Craig – as they achieved their Hundred dive over the weekend. Well done to both

                            

The hand signs work if you are them or view in a mirror – it was late on Saturday

The celebrations started as soon as we got to the hotel and carried on during the group meal – which was finished off with an element of style – with almost all having fabulous made Irish Coffees – thanks to Debbie the Bar Person/Server.

 

 

No weekend is complete without the normal silly photos and not wanting to be left out Course Director Collin – is ready for Bed even before the diving has started. He was not allowed to travel to the hotel looking like this – although he really wanted to….

 

And yes – Collin did actually go in the water – 5 times over the weekend and clocked nearly 5 hours of cold water time.

 

 

 

Sunday the weather was superb – with clear blue skies and no wind.

Today was the big one for the students – with multi tasking being taken to the enth degree.

The dive plan was as follows:

Lift the Barrel of Death from the quarry base up onto the Container and then return safely to the quarry floor, then move over to the cones and start a Jackstay search – this involved tying the search rope using a tow half hitch knot – then attaching a DSMB to the first cone. Then lining out and moving the second cone to create the reference line – then tie off another Two half hitch and finally attach a further DSMB. Next start the search and move across the quarry floor in a diagonal and straight grid pattern. Once 6 sections had been completed – time to bring the two cones together whilst controlling the 2 DSMB – then back to the Barrel of Death and a final lift to the search and recover.

 

 

  

Having learnt all that is needed – time to put into practise with a lost item.

The 4 Dive teams were given a scenario as follows:

Lord and Lady Rowe on their Gin Palace had been cruising across the quarry and whilst chatting had knocked their prize picnic hamper over the side – Lord Rowe was convinced it was in one area of the quarry whilst Lady Rowe swore that it was on the other side – over the team of almost qualified Search and Recovery Divers

                

     What do you call a group of Search and Recovery Divers – A Confusion!!!!!

                

Quick if we watch Lord Rowe – we might be able to work out which quadrant he hide the price….

   OK teams lets go searching….   

 

                

 

Had to be the Course Director sunbathing in Cromhall !!!!!

 

            

To celebrate the success of completing the course – all divers were awarded ‘I found myself’ T-shirts

Well done to all – the Excalibur’s made a re-appearance.

 

Boys will be boys with the swords hey.

 

 

 

 

 

So congratulations to Mark T, Steve S, Simon N, Stephen W, Katherine W, Tim W, Lucy C and Criag C on completing their course.

Also a huge thank you to Tina and Mark for assisting and helping to make this one of the most enjoyable weekends this year.