A Positive Day Beneath the Surface
There’s something special about a dive trip that brings together good people, great conditions, and a shared sense of purpose—and this weekend delivered exactly that.
Gary, Alistair, Jo, Victoria, and Ray made the trip up from Dundee to meet Jen, who had already settled in for the night at the A-Frames in her mobile home (arguably the most comfortable pre-dive setup of the group!). Spirits were high from the outset, with a mix of experience levels and goals setting the tone for a varied and rewarding day underwater.
First Dives and First Impressions
Jo and Alistair were first to kit up and enter the water. For Jo, the priority was simple: a weight check and a relaxed bimble to ease into the day. Not long after, Jen and Gary followed as a buddy pair—an important moment as this marked Jen’s first dive with the club. It’s always great to welcome new divers, and even better when their first experience is a positive one.
Meanwhile, Victoria and I had a more skills-focused plan. We set out to work on compass navigation and DSMB deployment—key skills that underpin safe and confident diving, especially in conditions where natural references can’t always be relied upon.
Navigating the Unexpected
That point was driven home early on. The small lighthouse we’d planned to use as a visual reference on the opposite shore had disappeared from view, leaving us to rely on an approximate bearing. It wasn’t perfect—we drifted slightly off course on the outward leg—but with some careful navigation, we were able to correct on the return.
It was a great reminder that diving rarely goes exactly to plan, and adaptability is just as important as preparation.
Life Beneath the Surface
Despite the navigation challenge, the dive itself was full of life. The shoreline didn’t disappoint, with edible crabs, spider crabs, squat lobsters, and plenty of other marine activity keeping us entertained throughout. These kinds of dives—rich in small but fascinating encounters—are often the most rewarding.
A Second Round
After the first dive, Jo decided one was enough for the day, happy with what she’d achieved. The rest of us took a short surface interval before heading back in. Victoria and I opted to explore to the left this time, and once again, the area was teeming with life.
A Strong Start for New Divers
One of the standout aspects of the day was Jen’s experience. As a new diver with the club, first impressions matter—and thankfully, they couldn’t have been better. The club’s strong emphasis on safety and structured diving clearly made an impact, giving her the confidence to look ahead to more dives in the future.
Jo, too, came away inspired, signing up for the upcoming Ocean Diver weekend—a clear sign that the day had struck the right chord.
Wrapping Up
All in all, it was a day defined by positivity: solid diving, successful skills practice, abundant marine life, and two divers taking exciting next steps in their journey.
Days like this are what club diving is all about.
Ray.
