When I
first started diving I was told by an instructor that th majority of people who
invest the time and the money to learn to dive never get beyond 100 dives. I
was alsways going to get a least that far purely on the basis of getting my
monies worth out of my kit. However
three years later it was time for dive 200.
We moored
in the south lagoon of
Tiran Island for our night dive and were to dive the
large pinnacle the boat as moored to.
I donned my
special shorts. We danced, kitted up and I lead my honour guard out into the
water off the back of the boat. The stride entry was perfect, though as I hit
the water I realised one of my Seawing Novas had broken. This was an ominous
beginning. I threw it back on to the boat and was handed a replacement for the
dive.
As we
dropped to around 10m we practically landed on top of a large free swimming
Moray Eel that was ultimately to accompany us for the most of the dive. We swam
through the dark to the pinnacle where most of the group headed round in a
clockwise direction while the Zookeeper and I went clockwise as per our dive
guides onboard instructions. Not that it made a difference, but I did like the
moment when we went from being on our own to swimming towards the larger troop.
It was all very James-Bond-underwater-fight-scene-esque.
I never
took pictures, but I did shoot some video. It made me realise I really need a
proper videolight.
When I got
back aboard I discovered that one of the wee guys that helps you to kit up had
given me Smooth Criminals fins instead of my own. He'd broken one earlier in
the week. So that was £100 saved. Perhaps I can put that towards a video light
to celebrate my 200th dive. :)
