Summer/Autumn 2012 unknown sites bring delight Tim Slow

The dive boat

Unknown Sites is a part of the the early bird Advanced Diver course, a part The tides dictated early starts to get which many regard as the most two slacks at the lighthouse on both challenging and trickiest to get days so I opted for a later start on the signed off. It involves planning, first day to get a cracking wreck The managing and navigating to sites Alaunia on Saturday at slack in the unknown to the dive organiser lighthouse area and then a drift over over a weekend period. The Shoals. This was followed by a 6:15am start Last year, my first attempt at this in on Sunday taking us beyond Hastings Salcombe was blown out so when down the coast where the slack was in The harbour Steve Lawson said he was going the middle of the tidal range for a great to arrange an Eastbourne boat, I wreck, The Argonaut, then back for thought perhaps I could take it over slack on low tide for another liner and manage it as an Unknown Sites The Oceana. weekend. Besides, the old man was Added bonuses were the easy going to be a Grandad just after the access into Eastbourne, the excellent weekend, so I thought it only fair! new marina/harbour complex with So the boat ‘Dive125’ was booked free nearby parking, a loading jetty for Eastbourne and twelve of us duly right opposite and facilites for beer agreed to head off to the south coast afterwards in the marina complex. in the second week of August. Saturday’s diving was followed by a Thai meal in the evening which was Divers enjoy the air show wreck diving delights enjoyed by all. Not to mention that we The boat was advertised as Sports also chose the same weekend as the Diver (35m max) and after a quick chat Eastbourne Airshow. with the skipper it appeared that there are some great wrecks not too far out housemaids knee of Eastbourne in that exact range. Our Dive Officer – Mr Jewson – was There is a lighthouse (that looks like invigilating your poor luckless author an oil rig) about 7.5 Nm off shore with on the weekend: “where are we now”, some wrecks around it – I wonder “what is the depth likely to be”, “what why! Note this is not a lightship as the does that buoy mean”, “how far to charts indicate as the lightship was replaced in the 1970s. continues on page 2 Steph finds a handy place for a kip

www.bracknellscuba.org.uk deep unknown sites bring delight thoughts continued from front page Martin Hamilton

the wreck” and making him jump off due to conditions being borderline a soggy season through various other navigational impacting ingress onto the boat. and assorted hoops much to the I can’t talk about the fantastic diving amusement (but heartfelt and warming early doors we’ve had over the summer because support) from the fellow divers as Sunday is that early start, 6.15am. most was cancelled and although the well as the skipper and his missus. Even earlier if you have to be up to hosepipe ban was inconvenient for The presence of ‘housemaids knee’ add the finishing touches to the ruddy washing dive gear, just leaving it out in the rain for a day had a similar effect. was felt on my scuffed knees for passage plans and charts. But its a over a week afterwards as I resorted long chug to The Argonaut, a luxury Personally most of my diving has been under blue skies and calm waters to balancing maps on the seat and steam yacht sitting upright with 38m because I have been in NDAC and squatting on the floor with the boat in the scour holes but 25m to the top Wraysbury for my rebreather course, bouncing all over the place with of the deck. The vessel is famous for and had dives in Italy with Terry Ede – various instruments flying about. being used as a tour cruise ship and now a potential dive holiday location. The distance off shore also made being the first package tour to sink. The rebreather is my next stage in the spotting of transits difficult at the She sits mainly intact, a great dive diving allowing me to safely dive more wreck sites but the site was duly found enjoyed by all. adventurously. Not long ago I never and shotted for the first dive on The Full steam back to The Oceana gave wanted to go deeper than 40m or do Alaunia – a large Cunard liner. us a surface interval, and another more than 10 minutes deco. I have learnt to never say never and that using a A great dive to a maximum depth of liner – a bit smaller but still massive – rebreather is like learning to dive again. about 28m at the sea bed with the bow rumoured to still have some of the gold For our new divers, trust me I feel your forming a lattice work of girders and a and silver bars and many of the P&O pain, buoyancy, mask clears, which massive ten tonne anchor suspended artefacts still intact...but none found after 20 years of diving should be over the side – motionless in the by us. She is another great wreck with second nature to me. gloom that you had resist the urge to fabulous visibility up to 10 metres. This reminds me how fortunate we push – an effort that only results in the All in all, fantastic wreck diving with are as a club to have so many of our diver going backwards (something another chance for some penetration members giving up their time to training and keeping our club running. We have to do with Newton and some second and easy swim throughs. 30 or more qualified instructors, who law)...Jeff Reed could explain! regularly give up their time to help us Getting a bit lumpy as we headed back again next year with our diving. There is a financial cost back to shore to watch the airshow So Eastbourne then...they are all and often you guys sacrifice your own during the surface interval. Then plusses generally. Great diving – better diving to go to Wraysbury, or dive The heading back past the lighthouse than expected from those that hadn’t Countess when The Sky would be so much more tempting. I can’t name you to The Shoals for the second dive, a been before. I think it would be safe to all, but please take this as a personal hardy five divers had to be told it was say there are some cracking wrecks thanks for everything. within easy access, and the tidal At the upcoming AGM we elect a new patterns mean it is possible to get two committee, and we need volunteers. It great wrecks dives in a day albeit with can be hard, frustrating but rewarding an early start. work. This year our membership has The general view from the whole boat grown so we must be doing something was that Eastbourne should not remain right. Nic Hallett has nomination forms, so please come forward. an ‘Unknown Site’ for regular club dives. It’s easy to get to, less than two Finally in an attempt to take the dullness hours drive and great diving. We also out of the winter, our Social Secretary has organised a number of events, and had good weather and visibility – ideal we have a number of invited speakers. for club diving. Any more ideas please let me know. Next year then, likely that Lawson Safe diving and Slow or someone similar with be Surface interval booking Eastbourne again.

2 making strides our first sea dives Nick Kendrick-Thomas

At last! After almost a year we’re she returned to the boat for Ian Vine’s finally on our first sea dive. This help whilst we held on to the shot. In would not be happening for me the meantime Gill decided to take-up but for the sterling efforts of our or invent a new sport, scuba macrame, instructors, who gave up their time using the nearest bit of rope available, to cover missed lectures and lake the one attached to the marker buoy. dives that we were unable to attend. What a tangle! Good lesson for us To you all I offer my thanks. beginners on how easily things can happen. Erica returned and we were Not the best start to the weekend, car able to complete our CBL and towing accident on the way home, delay to exercise. Poor Erica, what a weight she setting off, have we got everything? had to pull. Back on board using the Yes thanks to pre-planning and a lift, – that was fun – I wonder how easy brilliant wife. The journey down was that would be in a choppy sea? thankfully uneventful and we arrived Gill delivers the dive briefing to Nick at our B&B at 10pm. Erica went to surface interval our room to study whilst I took a short The boat moved off astern, a quick constitutional – a medicinal visit to a rev of the engine, a lung full of diesel local hostelry was in order – a good fumes and the gentle swell...I was end to a frantic start. sorting my kit for the second dive head down, big mistake! Whoops there taking the plunge goes my hearty breakfast. Brian, the A good breakfast and off to the boat. skipper, was cooking up bacon and This is when we realised just how egg sandwiches, “Great timing Skip!” much kit you have to lug on to the We arrive at a sheltered bay where boat. Our Dive Manager, Gill Vine (she some of the group went snorkelling who must be obeyed), organised us all with seals. ensuring we stowed our gear tidily. Ten divers on the boat and It felt cramped training dives completed Nick and Erica kitted up and ready to dive to me. I was told that this was quite Everything checked and double spacious...mmmm! A gentle swell on checked and in we went. Ian first and the way out, the briefing was given by then me descending into a forest of Gill and all was set. kelp. Having extricated ourselves we Everyone else went on the first wave had a relaxed dive, plenty of rocks and whilst we waited for the first pair to sea life crabs, fish and three six foot return to the boat. We were then able long rubber coated fish with bubbles to make our entry into the world of escaping from their humped backs: diving. Gill first, then Erica and last not whales just three of our divers, of all me – one giant step and all my how strange we do appear. Back to the expectations were realised. Enough air surface, a hot cup of tea and a calm in my BC and I was floating, re-check sea back to Milford Haven. everything and down we went. What a Dinner that evening was at a local great feeling! pub, Great company, good food and Erica had a few problems with her a pint of fine ale. What better way to weight belt that needed sorting, so finish off your first days diving? Nick takes a giant stride

www.bracknell-scuba.org.ukwww.bracknellscuba.org.uk 3 a crafty dive in Crete Mike Lindsay

This should probably be entitled and wetsuit. Cost to include two dives ‘Wot I did on me holidays’. Carol £60.00 – good value. and I decided with six other people I only wanted to dive the ME109 to book an all-inclusive holiday in which is at 26m and regarded as a deco stop Stalia near Hersonissoss in Crete. deep dive. On production of my log book showing lots of ‘one dives’ they The Messerschmitt was shot down It was intended to be a gluttonous still considered me ‘dived up’. in the invasion of Crete in 1941 during booze-fuelled week and it worked out the landing of German parachute just as planned. However me being the three plus one makes four forces. The ME109 was hit by British sensible and responsible adult decided Met up with my dive guide, Andrich the gunfire from promontory of land near that I might need a day off. So what next day. We were to be a three but for Hersonissos and the pilot tried to else is there to do in Crete? Well I ain’t reasons I did not understand the other ditch the aircraft on the water, but alas into ruins as I just see a reflection of diver decided this deep dive was not the plane tipped and broke in three myself. So to the diving websites: reefs for him, so dive guides Paul and Victor pieces, flipped over and sunk upside and fish are OK if they’re exotic but I joined us. So we were four: three PADI down where it stands today. The was looking for something a bit more Dive Masters and little old BSAC me. three bladed propeller is stuck in the – well out of the ordinary. Trawling Now you can probably guess what sand the fuselage behind and some through YouTube I spotted a dive on a was going through my head. I’ve got distance behind that is the tail plane. Messerschmitt 109 not ten minutes out to dive this right or BSAC will be the The preservation of the aircraft is from Hersonissos. butt of the jokes in their local bar. And quite extraordinary, part of the machine we can’t have that can we? gun is intact, the crosses and swastika where’s the diving mate? insignias are still discernable even after Just after we arrived I espied two locating the wreck 70 years. If you push your thumb into divers doing rescue training in the Into a small hardboat and a scudding the retracted undercarriage there is still water. So, a swim over to the Dive ten minutes later we were at the dive air in the tyres. Debris from the aircraft Master to ask, “where’s your dive site. Very impressive the site was found is still scattered around and the guides centre mate?” His reply, “it’s just by just using transits. I peeked over gave me the VIP tour of wheels and behind you.” the side just to make sure you couldn’t ammunition boxes. So that evening...off to the Kreta see the wreck from the surface, but no Maris Dive Center, general inspection the sea was too murky for that. Paul up, click, up of my qualifications and medical fitness explained that they competed with the A final check of my air gauge, 80 bar to dive, kitted out with all I needed other local dive centre as how near it was time to ascend...though not from fins, BCD, regs, mask, cylinders they could drop the shot without hitting before my photo opportunity, hanging the plane. Anyone who hit the plane in the water, by the plane on the shot with the shot bought a case of beer! all the usual poses. A three minute safety stop at five metres (PADI rules), I down, down, down compromised and did mine at five and Down went the shot and then down a half. A swim to the aft of the boat, went us. We dropped off the shot at fins off into the boat and back to the about 20m and swam slowly to the dive centre. plane looming 15m away. Swam to Great bunch of guys, helpful, the wing and there perfectly placed attentive, a good sense of humour but was the shot a mere metre from the above all a very professional approach wingtip. So I gave Victor a round of to the skills of scuba diving. Thanks ME109 prop and nose applause and we were set for the dive. Andrich, Paul and Victor of Kreta Maris. backdrop: Undercarriage in wing LO

4 an unforgettable dive forgotton Ruth Beattie

This is the dive that for a while I relationship with heights and going up could not remember. It was the third in a helicopter was a horrendous idea I day of the Jubilee dive weekend have to credit the chopper guy with an the rescue chopper on Divetime out of Weymouth and almost mystical quality, since I appear Garry and I had just done a textbook to be really enjoying the experience as to pick me up and take me back to the perfect dive on the Elena R. I was winched into the helicopter and Eastney Hotel, where we later off to Poole Recompression chamber. watched the fireworks with Alan Vis was good, the wreck was only and Louise Ashbery. lightly covered with discarded fishing clarity returns stuff and even contained the odd I am now starting to make memories medical follow ups lobster. One in particular was adorned again and I do remember being Since then I have had lots of medical with barnacles and really did not want transferred to the waiting ambulance checks done: blood tests, blood to come out. Garry and I were diving for the short journey to the pressure, Bubble Echo-cardiogram on 32% Nitrox planning to spend about recompression chamber. One of the for PFO, MRI, ECG and ultrasound 30 minutes at about 30m and then ambulance people asked me what of my carotid arteries – all of which surface after a 5 minute safety stop, was happening that weekend – I said are happily just fine. According to which is exactly what we did. a diving weekend, then remembered perceived medical opinion isolated I was getting very cold on the dive it was also the Jubilee weekend – amnesia is a very rarely reported and then we had to wait awhile on the silly me! symptom of DCI, and not at all a surface to be picked up which was a I was met by very attentive staff at symptom of TIA. It will almost certainly bit hard because by then I really did the Chamber, checked over by the remain an unexplained (unearned) need the loo! Back on board, I quickly attending doctor and then interned bend, although I was very cold, and I de-kitted, got out of my dry suit and in the pot for 6 hours. I was given did rush around after the dive. rushed off to the loo. I do remember copious cups of tea and fed a pretty I have had a dive medical and been it now. good Dominos pizza. The only cleared to dive, which I am happy to problem was that for most of the time report I have now done in Wraysbury then it went blank I had my head in a plastic goldfish and Eastbourne. I cannot say I was The next bit I have been told about, bowl supplying me with O2. exactly relaxed jumping in, and they but still do not remember! Apparently By this time memories of the morning were very conservative dive profiles – at some point after this I realised and the dive itself had reappeared, but hey, it did feel great to be back in I could barely remember having which was re-assuring although it the water again! breakfast. Had we dived? How many was still unclear what had actually dives? Ooops something was really happened. I was given dive magazines thanks all round wrong. Told Garry who checked me for to read, which was a bit difficult I really cannot thank my fellow divers stroke symptoms and that I knew who because, as distressing as all of this and Divetime's skipper Paul Pike and where I was (how scary that must was, I realised quite quickly I still enough for support and reassurance have been for him ). wanted to dive and was wondering during this – I just cannot remember On to O2 and then the group if I ever would again. most of it! The helicopter winch guy, contacted the coastguard, talked The doctor when he discharged me the ambulance crew and in particular with the medic and chopper was suggested that I had most probably Doctor Roberts, Jim and Spencer at summoned. I have seen the video had a rare DCI but that a TIA (Transient Poole were great. I would not want to and still don’t remember too much of Ischaemic Attack or mini-stroke) had do any of this again but I do know I this. Bearing in mind I have a very bad to be considered too. Garry was able was cared for extremely well.

www.bracknell-scuba.org.ukwww.bracknellscuba.org.uk 5 storm-less in Stromness

Nic Hallett Stromness

Monty Hall’s Dive – The Ultimate solstice coming up fast, the bright, drink-diving Guide has at #9 Scapa Flow on the sunny days are a disorientating 20+ With everything assembled or stowed NW Scottish island of Orkney with hours long. we retire to The Flatty – the quayside “exceptional diving and, contrary to Saturday afternoon the first divers pub – for some dive planning. With the popular myth, the wrecks are not all arrive at the little harbour to find the DO’s words from the AGM about the deep and dark”. John L, an old converted tug boat impact of alcohol on diving incidents that seems more rust and Hammerite ringing in our ears, we calculate the It was a staging post for the Vikings, than actual metal but which has the required surface interval from a three a military base from the 19th century advantage of having wide clear decks, pint dive in the pub, diving on Stella and hardly surprising that after the low gunwales, a large heated hold Artois at 5% so that we can safely German surrender in 1918 it was used and plenty of space for 12 twinsets, enter the water at 11am the next day to intern their high seas battle fleet stages and a rebreather that looks like on a blood alcohol code of ‘A’. which was then scuppered by their something from Transformers – The We are able to accelerate the off- skeleton crew in the following June. Movie. Being a tug she is very slow alcoholing with a visit to the local Almost exactly 97 years later Bracknell but unbelievably stable and with an chippy which sells everything from BSAC organised an expedition to see onboard compressor and six J’s of patties and haggis through to curry what remained of those ships and the O2 will keep us in Nitrox all week. and red pudding…all with chips. Oh wealth of subsequent wrecks. Andy ‘Eddie Stobbart’ Hodgson and they also sell fish so we’ll be back arrives with his flat bed truck here a few times before we leave. not expecting the unexpected completely full of cylinders, gear The next four days are breathtakingly After one of the wettest summers on gulpers, sofnolime and kit and we perfect: bright sunshine, flat calm, record, twelve divers arrive by car, gather around like traders at a car an hour or so chug out to site whilst boat and plane at the grey stone boot sale. A ferry arrives with Bendy kitting up and no slack windows to town of Stromness, led by the intrepid and his missus, having left their worry about. Morning dives are up to Martin Forde (plus wife and two black car on the mainland, and a huge an hour at around 35m, a long surface Labradors) only to find unexpected wheeled ferry container full of more kit. interval either at anchor or visiting the blue skies and sunshine. Everything is hauled over the harbour fascinating museum on the island of It seems that the next five days will wall, a 4m drop to the deck of the dive Hoy, followed by afternoon dives that be summer for this often bleak North boat and surprisingly nothing gets are shorter and shallower. Sea island and, with the summer broken or dropped in the drink. By late afternoon we are back in

John L Steve and Nic Relaxing in the sunshine

6 Andy H arrives with goodies Ladder entry Sarah beside prop

The Flatty, we are on holiday after all, 15’s plus 7L stage and do a 60 minute a huge find which is so much more peaceful once dive penetrating into the wreck itself. On the Thursday we return to SMS Bendy’s obsession with the video Dresden for a final look and some jukebox has worn off. who needs a lift? scalloping and, following a clear Our favourite dives are the light The John L is about the last dive boat brief from our colleagues and a little cruisers, starting with the SMS Dresden in the area not to have a lift. One is guidance on site, Tim and I find the then the Karlsruhe, Brummer and promised before next season although missing guns…they are huge, how Coln. They lie on their sides making it I am not sure what they are going to could anyone miss them! By now fairly easy to spot the less interesting weld it to. However it did mean the the weather has returned to being keel from the more interesting return to ‘proper’ diving with a side ‘Scottish’ and half the boat decide decks: hawsers and winches are mounted ladder which some divers today is the last day of diving which still in excellent condition and the elegantly tripped up like mountain means re-planning according to the superstructure is sufficiently broken to goats whilst others…did not. BSAC mantra of ‘Plan The Drink And look inside. Zosia was usually more goat-like Drink The Plan’. however did an excellent job at Friday is a wonderful chance to see was it a gun or was it a myth? reminding us why you always exit the island, its Neolithic heritage and Rumour has it large guns are still in the water with mask on and reg in the stunning red sandstone Cathedral place, and most divers pretend to and why you never wait underneath in Kirkwall. The intrepid divers who have seen them, whilst Tim and I look an exiting diver. On one of the last instead went out in rain and strong around unsuccessfully. Whilst it is dives she sprung up the ladder only winds arrived back early having got as really quite dark the vis is up to 10m so to miss the final rung, hung in mid air far as kitting up but never getting in the with a ‘Light Cannon’ you’d think you’d for a moment with a look of confusion water so it seemed like an opportunity be able to find a proper cannon. on her face before giving in to the to commiserate in The Flatty. And The battleships have turned turtle inevitable pull of gravity and did an being the last night, we had decided and the SMS Krinprinz Wilhelm is elegant arse-first entry back into the that there is nothing like a wonderful no exception. The best view is to briny. I was worried about Sarah who curry to wrap up the trip…and we all dive underneath the superstructure always came out with wild staring eyes agreed that the Indian Feast delivered and look up or join Andy with his as if she was terrified – until I realised from Kirkwall was nothing like a rebreather and Bendy with his twin her mask has prescription lenses. wonderful curry!

The Italian chapel Divers up Newspeper clipping in museum

www.bracknell-scuba.org.ukwww.bracknellscuba.org.uk 7 lessons in sea survival Pete Custerson

As Sarah and I are mostly hard boat scene from Mary Poppin’s holdall. the effect of the buoyancy of the suit divers, I have often wondered what The morning session then ended with impacts the jacket’s ability to work. the safety equipment carried on a quick overview on the actions that The conclusion is that a standard the boats we use is like when used should be taken before abandoning, 100N life jacket does not have enough in anger. Newbury BSAC had the and the fact that this should be the buoyancy to counteract the air in your same thoughts and worked with the last resort. boots. This could have the potential RYA to put together a Sea Survival to put you face down if you were course aimed at divers. putting it into practice unconscious. The bigger capacity We then transferred to a nearby pool jackets were OK, but you might not The course was run at ‘Stormforce for practical sessions which were get them as 100N is the standard. If Coaching’ in Southampton. The last the best bit about the course. We you are using a wing as a buoyancy few spaces were advertised on the covered the raft again, deployed it aid without cylinders, it could work. A BSAC Southern facebook group, and and practiced wet and dry entry, and BCD would work nicely. we snapped them up. It started with a the process you need to follow to get brief history of the safety regulations away from the craft you are leaving. It its not flippin’ easy and then moved on to how to raise the wasn’t easy getting into the rafts and Then came a major section on righting alarm. Buoyancy aids, life jackets were was quite an eye opener. an upturned raft. This consists of discussed and demonstrated. Next came a session on survival finding the correct section of the raft without a raft, joining together from to avoid being hit by the CO2 cylinder, more than meets the eye small groups, then to make a large and climbing up and using your weight Life rafts were discussed in detail. The raft of people. This is all fine if you do to turn it over. boxes we see on top of hard boats we not need to get anywhere, so we also Sarah is so small, that it was very use contain more than just a raft. There practiced ‘the crocodile’ which allowed difficult for her, but she persevered is also an emergency pack containing us to use our arms to paddle in a and completed the task. For her it survival items such as paddles, sea given direction. Looks like the conger was technique rather than brute force. sickness tablets, a sea anchor, bailer in a swimming pool! The instructor was a strong bloke and puncture repair kit. Sarah and I practiced a lot of this and going forward Sarah hopes he Too many things to go through in with our dry suits on. I was keen to try demonstrates how it should be done this article but it was equivalent to a my drysuit with a life jacket to see if if you don’t have ‘bulk’ on your side.

classroom session turning the raft using the kit

8 the trouble

with bubbles Ruth Beattie

On 20 September we hosted Dr Oliver Firth from the London Diving Centre (LDC). About 60 club members and guests from Newbury and Basingstoke BSAC clubs gathered in the Forest Suite, to listen to a talk entitled ‘The Trouble with Bubbles’.

The pool session ended with As this suggests the subject was Decompression Sickness (DCS). Oliver began by scenarios, where we practiced all describing the background to ‘the bends’ by disabusing the origin of the name – it the skills we had learnt with added does not refer to the painful restriction to movement of joints but rather the Grecian complications and ‘weather’! Bends posture that women of the time had because of their corsets! In 1870 Feeling completely shattered we had 25% of the construction crew of the Brooklyn Bridge got bent but by 1890 it was lunch and returned to the classroom realised that if they came up slowly and had a ‘stop’ the incidence reduced to less to cover what should be packed in a than 2%. As the cause became understood researchers, such as Haldane, had by ‘grab bag’, the effects of hyperthermia/ early 1900s worked out the consequences, largely by experimenting on himself. hypothermia and possible rescue Oliver described how the body can absorb nitrogen in a supersaturated state scenarios. The day ended with a and produce its effects but how, in normal circumstances, the lungs eliminate the practical of using flares. It’s amazing bubbles. The consequences of trapped bubbles on the body include obstruction how many different types there are and and localised inflammation, producing symptoms including skin rashes, joint pains the differing methods of setting them and CNS problems. Some possible reasons behind a bend were discussed that off. Not quite as easy as it should be, we well remember from our training: increased body fat, repetitive dives, rapid and a huge potential for burns. ascents, missing stops, saw tooth profiles, cold, dehydration, and exertion before, during or after diving. In particular exercise was interesting because there is some highly recommended evidence that a short burst of strenuous exercise in the 24 hours preceding a dive I would strongly recommend the and mild exercise while on stops might be protective, presumably because of course be attended by anyone who increased circulatory flow, but afterwards it is definitely not a good idea. uses boats of any kind. While some of the BSAC training covers the material Oliver talked about treatment regimes used during re-compression and described here, there are definitely gaps in both the facilities at the LDC. The process essentially crushes the bubbles allowing knowledge and practical skills that this them to safely leave the body while using 100% oxygen to increase the transport course addresses. Added to this it’s a gradient. We were also invited to go along for a dry dive, which might be an fantastic day out! I think the following interesting off season experience – fancy being safely narked at 50m anyone? from the RYA sums it up nicely: “It is a He also talked about the experiences and consequences of some real cases of well-proven fact that, in the event of an DCS and their possible causes and treatment. Some were quite shallow, or diving emergency at sea, people with training within tables with no obvious provocations, however some had incidents or were are more likely to survive.” particularly rash while diving. While describing one individual he also referred to the higher incidence of PFOs present with neurological DCS in particular. The total incidence of DCS in divers is believed to be 0.1%.

What was worrying was the different ways the casualties were treated. Denial came not just from the divers themselves, but buddies, dive outfits, and medics who were at times reluctant to treat a diver presenting with symptoms as potential DCS. The take home message is that diving within tables may not totally protect a diver and that any symptoms not present before the dive but occurring up to 48 hours after deserves to be investigated as a potential bend and that a diver themselves may have to insist on treatment. A round of questions followed the talk, before our chairman, Martin Hamilton, thanked Oliver for his interesting talk. Pete lights a flare

www.bracknell-scuba.org.ukwww.bracknellscuba.org.uk 9 a call from the dark side rebreathers: myths, facts and reality

Andy Hodgson making the checks

Sadly, due to the number of ticked all the right technical boxes dived with me recently. I would also incidents and deaths involving became available and after a little mention that you cannot justify the rebreathers, particularly in the early negotiation I purchased an Inspiration purchase on cost savings, unless you days, the ‘Yellow Box of Death’ Vision with bail out valve, auto dill do a lot of tri-mix diving. However if has gained an unwelcome and valve, temp stick, only 40 hours use you do adventurous sports level diving inaccurate reputation. and a recent manufacturer service. and beyond, it won’t cost more than open circuit. Technology, experience and most myths versus fact Due to the haste of purchasing my importantly training have all improved A common statement from the unit, no consideration was given to significantly now. The BSAC introduced muggles is that rebreathers are for when and where I would train. The a number of courses, supporting the technical divers. For many, diving Red Sea is nice but expensive, and fact that rebreathers are safe, with a twinset, going beyond 30 metres unlikely with Christmas coming up proper training. Bracknell Sub Aqua and using deco gases is considered and SWMBO (wife) would justifiably Club can run courses, unsurprisingly technical. Anyone with a Dive probably cut something important off. spearheaded by technical instructor, Leader, Accelerated Decompression I spoke to Nick who was happy to Nick Jewson. Procedures or Sports Mixed Gas run the lectures over the winter, waiting qualification would certainly be until spring for open water. Being a next step in diving considered a technical diver by bit nerdy, I read the user manual and For me a rebreather was the next many other training agencies. course notes multiple times and, as challenge to keep the diving fire The entry level rebreather course all engineers do, I stripped my new burning. I’d been thinking about it for doesn’t go beyond the above bit of kit down then had to work out over a year, having been on dive boats mentioned training programmes, in how to put it back together again. It with rebreather divers who had longer fact it perfectly mirrors them. However, still worked and there were no bits left bottom times but were back on the it does make the diver more efficient over. Bonus. boat the same time as me. and flexible for any dive within the There are of course many other 40m range compared to an open training matters reasons to buy one: superior gas circuit diver. Having recently completed the management, extended dive durations, Yes, you do have to start all over Accelerated Deco, Advanced Diver reduced decompression obligations, again and there are a lot of technical and Sports Mixed Gas courses, less core temperature reduction, lighter and practical obligations. They are I found most of the course easy load on your back, the potential to expensive, but you don’t have to buy to follow and complimentary to reduce gas costs and for those who a new one, and second hand they what had been learnt before. wish to go deeper it can be physically compare to a twinset. Know your PPO2 is constantly and practically far less demanding No, it will not try to kill you at every drilled in, as managing the partial than open circuit. opportunity, provided you adhere to pressure of oxygen is fundamental Watching the internet forum sites the pre, during and post checks you to rebreather operation. Keeping for many months, I established what have been taught. It is not that difficult, this at the optimum level is how you equipment was available on the just very different. You don’t have to maximise bottom time and minimise second hand market and what to spend hours on the boat preparing decompression. Too low and you run expect for the money. Then a unit that before each dive. Ask anyone that has out of oxygen, and too high and you

106 Nick is ready and waiting Andy finishes kit up into NDAC get too much oxygen – both equally a saint) and I was told we could just and changing computer settings. bad for you! A safe bail out is also go for a dive but Nick couldn’t resist it. Unfortunately I was buddied with important as trained in the other Flashing laminated prompt cards every Bendy, diving open circuit and who courses mentioned. five minutes with ‘what if’ scenarios has a community order restricting him I had a pretty full dive calendar written on them. from being left alone, which resulted booked for the coming season but This time it all came together, I was in an extra 25 minutes of deco when wanted to use my box from the start. more confident and certainly more in I could have been back on the boat. I Like most training programmes, there control. It was all becoming second still only used 40bar of O2 from a three are a minimum number of dives and nature and dare I say it, enjoyable. litre cylinder, amazing. targets, and normally the course is The written exam is open book which Those who achieved similar run completed in buddy pairs, taking it in greatly reduces the pressure. Don’t times to me throughout the week turns to observe and demonstrate. I expect to find all the answers in the spent over £100 on gas fills. I spent was the only person doing the course course notes though, but if you have £18 on O2 and used about £20 worth so Frances buddied me and I had completed any of the technical SDC’s of Sofno Lime (the clever stuff that Nick’s 100% attention, lucky me! you will find it familiar. removes CO2). This was the most rewarding time to go diving challenge I have taken in over 25 years cool kit The first dive was in Wraysbury on of diving. The hardest part is forgetting In my opinion this is the ultimate Mothering Sunday, pushing my luck what you already know and starting all diving tool to be considered by anyone with Carol. It was cold, quiet and over again. diving twinsets already or thinking impossible to control my new toy. Oh of it. A good condition second hand dear, what have I done? Nick was silent partner? Inspiration Classic is a similar cost to asking me to do things I didn’t think They call it silent diving, that is unless twins and you could probably sell it on were possible, then he would turn off you have a buddy that can’t stop for what you paid for it. If you are really my gas, or he would inflate my diluent talking. It’s amazing how close you flush you can pay £10K on a new one valve, and then...Holy mother of… what can get to the marine life without them with all the extras but that really isn’t was he trying to do to me? being disturbed. My 20th non-training necessary at entry level. The following weekends were at dive while on the recent club trip to My kit is rated beyond 120 metres Vobster and NDAC which were even Scapa Flow and it was truly enjoyable. which is more than adequate. The colder. An hour at 6°C with Nick Apart from checking my instruments only drawback is the unavoidable doing his best to terminate my mortal every 30 seconds I was relaxed and desire that all dive blokes posses, an existence with my hands going numb comfortable, my buoyancy trim seems uncontrollable attraction to shiny new and brain freezing and I still couldn’t to be under control and the box of things. They are all so beautiful. control the thing. This really wasn’t tricks didn’t play up once. as expected. Imagine an unlimited collection many thanks For some strange reason it wasn’t of differing Nitrox mixes for multi level My special thanks go to Nick and very busy at either site so we managed diving and 100% O2 for deco, together Frances Jewson for generously to get two dives with good surface with a clear head, warm breath and giving up so much of their time for intervals. The last day was back at hugely reduced decompression no personal gain, like so many of NDAC on Easter Sunday (Carol you’re stops all without swapping gases the instructors in our club.

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e-news a new way to receive club news Gill Vine

Although we all look forward to nothing to produce and will mean that KEKES receiving the paper mouthpiece, news can reach you in a more timely Fruit & Walnut Cake it does take a lot of time to put manner. Combine this with various together, edit and design (at least online tools and you can read it on forty hours once we have received any device including your Kindle, articles). Printing is costly (around iPad or iPhone. The system we are Zosia’s £1.50 per 8 page copy) for such a investigating is called MailChimp and small number, and the design relies the e-letter will arrive in email format cookery corner on free design expertise which may with quick links to the articles on the not always be available. club website. Anyone who has dived on a boat To subscribe to the email newsletter, with Zosia will know how yummy As an experiment, Ruth and I have go to bracknellscuba.org.uk and click this cake tastes! So why not give decided to run an email based on the club newsletter sign up link. it a try! newsletter in parallel to this printed You can unsubscribe at any time. Your issue of mouthpiece. This means that email and personal information is not KEKES all the stories contained within are also shared with anyone outside the Club. FRUIT AND WALNUT CAKE available as articles in the ‘club news’ section of the website, and are also stop press 250g unsalted butter at room available as an email newsletter if you Following are snippets from some temperature wish to sign-up for it. late additions for which we had no 250g plain flour The value of mouthpiece to the room in this edition. The full articles 250g caster sugar membership is not disputed and are published on the website, and in 5 eggs separated there are no immediate plans to stop the email newsletter as there are no ½ teaspoon baking powder publication, but I would urge you to try space or time issues there – another 250g mixed raisins, halved dates the e-version out as a new means of good reason for giving the online and chopped walnuts communication. This will cost the Club version a try! 2 tablespoons dark rum

METHOD catch of the day divers boot camp Preheat oven to 180°C In a big bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until pale, light and fluffy. Gradually add egg yolks – put egg whites in separate bowl. Mix well between each addition and scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula from time to time. Add Looking at fish identification from a Last minute booking on liveaboard flour and baking powder. Mix well. different angle...at Billingsgate market! means a great deal for club members. Add raisins and rum. In separate bowl whisks egg whites until stiff. family liveaboard kit review Very carefully add egg whites into the mixture and fold it in with a spatula, do not over-mix. Pour mix into the loaf tin lined with baking paper. With a knife make a cut along the cake. Bake for just over an hour. Check if a cocktail stick comes out clean. Combining diving with a Slow thoughts on family holiday...is it feasible? Suunto D6 dive computers.

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