8,082 Bytes
It's all a bit more gloomy than the pool.
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10,300 Bytes
A poor attempt at a group photo.
Caroline, Steff, Lizzie.
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11,694 Bytes
"Smile for the camera."
Lizzie, John.
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8,959 Bytes
Heading for the light.
John.
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31,093 Bytes
The surface interval, with visitor. It was noticable that those in wet suits
were cold, those in dry suits weren't.
Pat, Steff, Paul, Phil, Caroline.
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8,259 Bytes
"No. Smile!"
An enthusiastic Lizzie.
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18,807 Bytes
"I can't see a thing here."
John.
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7,789 Bytes
The second ascent.
John.
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12,216 Bytes
Caroline.
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16,038 Bytes
John.
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14,573 Bytes
Joe.
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12,859 Bytes
Lizzie.
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12,096 Bytes
Steff. Not one of the trainees.
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11,158 Bytes
Another group shot.
Caroline, Steff, Lizzie, John. Maybe.
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8,944 Bytes
Paul.
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11,979 Bytes
Caroline, John, Joe.
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Diving is exciting. On my first open water dive at a brick quarry in
Peterborough, I was laughing uncontrollably at 10 metres depth (the depth of a
house). It was all so odd, being that far underwater, a bit of a psychological
matter. You are well prepared on the safety side by the British Sub Aqua Club
training course. That's not the issue. But no amount of scuba in a pool can
prepare you for that depth. It's ultimate adventure, a new world. We were
swimming with the fishes.
The training course takes about 6 weeks. Harrow Sub Aqua has six qualified
instructors, so the quality of training is excellent. Theory is followed by an
hour's pool session from 9-10pm on a Thursday night with a dive buddy and an
experienced club member. You have to get your own mask, snorkel and fins but
the club loans you all rest of the diving kit (for just £10) and shows you how
to use it. They'll teach you how to snorkel and after a few weeks you can learn
how to play octopush (underwater hockey). It builds lung capacity. Once you've
qualified as an Ocean Diver - which usually takes two to three months - you can
dive to 20 metres.
