Had a great evening on Saturday. After a log book session and a much needed pint I got a hot shower in before heading out with the club for a curry. Have a great evening and attempt the "Stoney Cove Virgin Circuit"..... once around the children's playground out the back of the pub without touching the floor (not a chance, even when I changed from heels to trainers).... before falling into bed at around 10.45pm shattered!
Sunday dawned frosty and a shiveringly 4 degrees air temp! Yowser! But I don't know if it's the good night's sleep, but I get to Stoney all optimistic and geared up about the final dive of the open water course.
The water is unbelievably even colder than Saturday, but I'm determined to do the dive as well as I can and do the two outstanding skills from the day before. CESA is first (getting to surface on one breath of air) and Duncan does it first time. I take three goes. Hey ho, you can't win 'em all! Then we went down to the platform under the bus stop for the full mask removal (which I have been dreading)! Deep breath...... a few gasps..... more breaths.....and I've done it!
I could hardly contain myself and punched the air (well water) above my head in delight. Everyone else is clapping and giving me big okay signs and I feel relieved and chuffed in equal measures. Nothing about diving could ever possibly be this bad again.
At surface Vinnie is just about to congratulate us when he remembers I haven't done the weight removal at surface! I took my gloves off to make it easier and within seconds they are freezing. A bit of cramp (me and Vinnie) but then it's done. In a matter of seconds I've rolled over and redone the belt all by myself! Easy!!
And that's it. I'm an Open Water Diver. The feeling is incredible :-)
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