In At The Deep End... George Completes His Dive Leader Training.

This was my first attempt at marshalling and I would like to say how much I enjoyed it – however ………………..!

I though that working out the tides, writing the dive plans, working out buddy pairs etc was the hard part and was quite pleased when that was all done and typed up.  Then Derek phoned to tell me about Patrick and said that we would have to re-jig our plans.  I am pleased to say that he volunteered to do that for me for the dives that I was due to marshall on Sunday – I didn’t even have to beg.  So for all you doubters out there - he does have a heart after all!

Sunday continued the theme of ‘how can we make this more difficult for the new boy’ by producing fog!  Just to fool us, it was lovely and clear in the harbour, but this did not last long once we reached open sea.  However, thanks to the wonderful navigating skills of Gordon (ably assisted by the GPS) we found the area of Hat Rock without too much difficulty.  Pinpointing the actual dive site was more problematical.  We were not helped by the unfriendly skipper of a commercial fishing boat who thought he would make my life easier by telling us firstly that we had no place being out in the fog, secondly that we should not be diving in it and lastly threatening to put his nets out where we were diving. 

Of course, I knew exactly what to do when confronted by these problems.  I asked Derek to take over!  We decided the best course of action as far as the boat skipper was concerned was to thank him for his well intentioned advice, totally ignore him and dive anyway.

Although still fairly foggy on the dive site we attached lines to the shot so that we all came up on the shot at the end of the dive.  A safe dive was had by all (except Gordon who was coxing, but he did not begrudge our wonderful dive for one minute!).  I certainly learnt about the rights and wrongs of being first on a dive site and co-operation with fellow sea users that day.

I have not mentioned the trip back to Plymouth and the call from the coastguard wondering where Newbury Diver (or was that Kennet) had got to.  That tale is best told by those involved, but it all added to the fun time I was having!

Derek left me to marshall the afternoon dive on The Scylla on my own and I am pleased to say that went well without any hitches or interference from fishing boat skippers, fog or the coastguard.  I don’t want to hog tales of this trip so I won’t mention divers kitting up to find they only had 50 bar in their tank (or 100 bar – it depends which dive you are talking about) or people jumping onto the boat from the jetty – and missing it!  These things are best left unsaid – at least until Martin does his bit at the AGM!

All in all this was an interesting introduction to dive marshalling.  Derek has mentioned next August Bank Holiday and me doing the marshalling.  That’s a very kind offer, but I shall give my answer to Derek in person (and in private!)

George Rumbol

Membership Secretary

Dive Leader