Diving Adventures Scotland

19/09/2023

Isn’t it difficult getting a Gp appointment these days. Just remember that if you’re needing. Diving medical, or, HSE medical that there are details for those on a previous post on this page.

Whilst on the subject of Gp’s.

Ive had a telephone consultation with my regular Gp, who think I may have torn a ligament in my rotator cuff. I’m away for further investigations in next two weeks. Hopefully it’s not a tear and more a strain.

Certain arm movements are causing extreme burst of pain that radiates from the shoulder down the arm which lasts a very short while, which has caused me to get it looked into.

Until the all clear is given, and, pain free with full Range Of motion, I’ll be restricting my diving activities to fun diving. I can’t see scope for taking new students out training within the next 4 weeks, or, taking students out whilst movement is slightly compromised as it is at the minute.

Stay safe peeps

Chris

11/09/2023

Despite the Thunderstorm warnings yesterday from the Met office, I decided to head West for a couple of fun dives to Twin Piers with my good buddy Stuart Moffat, and, our shore support/catering manager Kimberly.

These pesky Thunderstorm warning have proved quite a bit disruption to our planning this year having us cancel plans last minute when the forecast was made “with none of them materialising”! so, we ignored yesterdays forecast and had a rumble free couple of dives with loads of life to see during the dives.

Those of you familiar with the Twin Piers dive site will remember the huge boulder that’s about 8/10m deep (I use this boulder as a reference point) for heading back to the Piers after the dives over. Well, there was a huge Conger eel tucked underneath on the deeper side of the boulder with big staring eyes that Stuarty found. Also spotted - a few flat fish, couple of big wrasse, few edible crabs, plenty Dragonets, one solitary Lobster and plenty Plumose Anenomes in full bloom.

There’s a Firework Anenome that I have spotted on previous dives at approx 18m deep on the way to the boat wreck, however, we made it to the boat wreck but missed the Anenome.

The tide yesterday morning at 10am was starting to ebb, therefore visability was a mere 2m at best. All the silt was getting pulled with the tide.

With only mobile phones yesterday we didn’t manage to get underwater pictures, however, Kimberly went that extra mile and cleaned up a lot of rubbish that I took home and binned properly, what a cool thing to do whilst your managing a dive team 👍

Will be heading out somewhere again this coming weekend for more fun dives and will report back on how we get on.

Take care peeps.

Chris

27/08/2023

An early start yesterday for some Fun diving out West.

A meet at my place for some early breakfast for Stuart and Kimberly then off we headed. We arrived at Loch Long and met up with Instructor Ian (many of you will have met him in the earlier days of DAS).

Ian was instrumental helping DAS get off the ground from the beginning.

We also met up with Jamie, our newest AOW diver. Jamie was out with the team for some fun diving having just completed his AOW the weekend previous. Jamies courses and his own ability has gotten him into a very comfortable way of diving, he’s looking very comfortable in the water.

WHAT DID WE SEE?

You might remember that last weekend I mentioned that Jamie spotted a Barrel Jellyfish. Well, yesterday, Jamie spotted a very small flat fish, a few Langoustines, and a large Pollack.

I found a sleepy Dog Fish lazing around and posing for some pictures. Pictures I took yesterday are pretty shocking, I’m no photographer as you will see below, but, you gotta be there to capture the moments.

WHAT ABOUT STUART AND IAN?

These guys buddied up and jumped in the water before Jamie and I. Kimberly kept a close eye on us providing shore support.

Unfortunately they missed all the A Frames on there first dive, however, still had a pleasant 22M dip and saw loads of critters.

A wee half time team talk during surface interval giving clues on how I navigate the frames and hey presto, Dive two they managed to locate 3 of them 😎.

Our maximum depths yesterday was 23M with visability reduced to about 2m at that depth. Visability was approx 4-6M down to approx 12m depths. We were diving on the ebb tide, and, a tug boats had just pulled a big Orange Ship alongside the Blue one that’s been docked at Finnart for what seems like years.

The water was a bit oily on the surface with that kinda sheen you get when oil meets water, and, underwater in the shallows there was a noticeable substance that wasn’t a halo/thermocline, most likely a byproduct from bilge tanks being emptied, or, from the seabed getting agitated from big propellor movement from the orange ship and the tugs.

One of the tug boats put on a nice water display firing jets of water many meters in the air and across the Loch.

A nice day out for us all and a very pleasant way for me to spend a birthday with great friends.

Stay safe - Plan The Dives and Dive The Plans 👌

Chris

Oh - One more thing.

Stuart lost his right glove close to the shore line at the start of dive two.

If anyone finds a Waterproof G1 5mm Neoprene Right Hand Glove when diving the site, I know an owner who would love to be reunited with it. There’s a picture of the left glove below 👍

20/08/2023

Photo was ripped from Google 😎

This is what Jamie spotted today whilst finishing off his Advanced Open Water course out at BP Finnart “A Frames”.

The Barrel Jelly fish was spotted by Jamie shortly after we completed the safety stop after a deep dive at approx 2m depth. The one we saw was hovering above the sea bed, perhaps asleep? However, it remained in position long enough for me to borrow a camera off one of the instructors and snap a few pics. Why is it everything happens when your camera is not with you? An Octopus was also spotted and Beryl the seal was out to play too.

Well done to Jamie passing his course, he’s a natural underwater, and, thanks for sharing your super find.

13/08/2023

Let meet Charlie and Brian who have both made remarkable achievements over the past 3 weekends.

Both doing separate courses, having waited an age to take part. Liaising diary’s has been a bit of a challenge up until recently.

Charlie took part in the Padi Open Water Course on a 1:1 tuition. We can accommodate 1:1 tuition for students, it is a tad more expensive though than our standard rates.

Equally, Brian took part in the Padi Drysuit Speciality Course, again it was a 1:1 course.

Both had a fantastic experience with both diving in cold water for the first time, and, Charlie diving for the first time.

Jumping back to Brian for a minute.

Having completed his Open Water Course in Greece about a year ago, he had been taught well. It was evident during his Drysuit course that you could tell this. He’s less than 10 Open Water dives under his belt, yet, his Drysuit buoyancy skills were on a level of (Instructor Demonstration) quality. He really listens to the briefings and nailed everything pretty much perfectly. It was a real pleasure meeting and diving with Brian and I’m sure we will see each other again in the not to distan future.

Congrats Brian you totally rocked it 🤙🏼😎

What about Charlie?

Well, Charlie made super progress of the duration of his course. He started of the hard way by jumping straight into the Drysuit and colder water, rather, than the gentle introduction that the pool has to offer, so, in at the deep end right from the off.

The start was a bit tricky for Charlie, however, that’s to be expected when your trying something new for the first time that’s taking you outside your comfort zone. By the end of the course, Charlie was diving like it was 2nd nature having masters the Drysuit along his journey.

Charlie, well done buddy on your remarkable achievement in gaining your Padi Open Water Diver qualification. You certainly earned it.

What’s also quite appealing to both Brian and Charlie. They both have the skills and knowledge to dive the colder waters the northern hemisphere has to offer.

Now that cool 😎

As always peeps, Stay Safe! Plan the Dive and Dive the Plan 😉

Chris

30/07/2023

Diving Medicals…

A question I get asked about quite often.

We’ve received some news from Dr Sarah Zacheshigriva that I would like to share with you all. It’s wonderful news.

Hi Chris
I'm just writing to you with an update. Dr Graham Russell has now retired both from being a GP and doing the diver medicals. The UKDMC have made me his replacement. So, I can now do the HSE medicals and the recreational medicals. Spread the word! I'll be doing these in my free time between doing the NHS work, so good to let people know to try and arrange these in advance, as short notice may not always be possible.
See you soon and safe diving!
Sarah

Isn’t that fantastic news 😎

Sarah’s website and booking system can be found at the below link.

http://www.scottishmedicals.co.uk/

We wish Dr Russell a happy retirement whilst thanking Sarah for filling his boots. The costs for non HSE medicals remain the same at £50 for a 30 minute consultation. HSE medical prices are visible on Sarah’s website.

Scottish Medicals, based in Central Scotland, provides fitness to work medicals for divers by a HSE Approved Medical Examiner of Divers (AMED). All working divers require a valid certificate of fitness to dive, as per the Diving at Work Regulations 1997.

23/07/2023

A positive day out at Prestonhill with Sam and Rachel for Rachel’s Dry Suit Course.

Rachel is a member of (Edinburgh Univerity Sub Aqua Club) where I have many friends and pleasant memories of exploration dives under great guidance.

Rachel chose the same path as Sam for her Padi Drysuit Speciality Course with ourselves, and, I have to say it was a true joy going through the skills and drills.

That is the best Drysuit Dives I’ve done mentioned Rachel when we finished.

With plenty dives under her belt, the transition to Drysuit was always going to be that little bit easier considering the number of warm water dives Rachel has accumulated. The kid was a natural, an “A” plus student, the kinda student that helps you relax a little during training (you instantly know they got this) from the first moment you see them in the water.

Sam joined us as support and guidance, whilst catching some nice underwater pictures, I’ll post when received.

Nice skills today Rachel, the Drysuit is tough to master, however, you made it look easy. Just remember our debrief, it’s gonna get so much more easier the more you dive. It well become 2nd nature 😎

Huge thanks to both for making a dive day really memorable.

Remember peeps.

Plan The Dive And Dive The Plan.

Stay Safe

Chris

09/07/2023

A wee afternoon out over in Inverkeithing with Jamie, Pamela, Stuart and Kim.

A beautiful afternoon for practicing Drysuit skills, Peak Performance Buoyancy and Search and Recovery skills.

Thanks again to Kim for shore support and taking photies 👍.

We will be heading West one day next weekend for a Deep/Navigation dive for Jamie.

Stay safe peeps.

02/07/2023

Was a blustery day out for Pamela and Paul’s Drysuit Speciality course.

Despite the high winds, the weather stayed sunny with only the briefest period of rain.

We opted for Prestonhill today vs the coasts given the high winds. Both Paul and Pamela completed there Open Water certification along with their daughter Sienna last year, both then completed there AOW whilst on holiday.

Having been bitten by the diving bug, they purchased all there own equipment and now fully self sufficient to go diving.

Time to hone those Drysuit skills.

Which is why Prestonhill was favoured over the coasts, you see…

Both Pamela and Paul had never dived in there new suits before, having just received them earlier in the week. Getting there weighting right was key before starting skills. With new undersuits as well, it’s fundemantally important getting the weight checks spot on. With that in mind, it’s highly likely at some point you will face a buoyant assent during training as we navigate from deeper to shallower waters. Getting that air out the suit quick enough as you shallow is a fine art, also, getting the air out trapped by the thermals.

Both had a buoyant moment at different times which is a great thing in a controlled environment, it gives you experience of analysing what happened and how you can notice when positive buoyancy is starting to take control, and, how to correct it as you learn to master the Drysuit. We have all experienced this at some point for sure, I know I have.

The more you dive Drysuit, the easier it gets, it’s a challenge that will help you understand and master the techniques.

Huge congratulations to Paul and Pamela completing there PADI Drysuit Speciality today.

Thanks to Stuart M for being stand by diver, and, Kim for shore support.

Stay safe peeps.

Plan the dive and dive the plan…

18/06/2023

A nice wee day out at BP Finnart today for a couple of dives with my good Friend Stuart and, new AOW diver Pamela.

Stuart’s been busy working abroad during the pandemic “ironically on ships”, yet, never found time to dive. So a nice wee 20m 40 minute dive was a great way to get back into things.

You’ll remember Pamela, Paul and Sienna who completed there Padi Open Water Course with us late last year. They all disappeared to Mauritius shortly afterwards where Pamela and Paul completed their AOW course and Sienna enjoyed some fantastic diving.

Pamela joined us today for a fun dive out at Finnart. There was a group from Leeds on site doing training dives and decided to call it a day after finding current. One of the divers reported current running at 6 knots on the ebb after slack beyond 20M depth. Pamela and I decided to keep the dive under 10m and found no current. We had a nice wee dive, learned a lot, and, will be back shortly with Pamela and Paul when there new Drysuits arrive late this month.

Remember peeps, plan the dive and dive the plan.

And…

No laughing at my new glasses 🤣🤣🤣

Stay safe

12/05/2023

With the winter break that was planned this year getting extended further than anticipated, we are emerging from hibernation.

It’s been quite a frustrating start to the year through illness, website getting hacked blah blah - I won’t bore you with the details 😉. There was a point when I thought, it’s all too much and worried about loosing my mojo.

However, we are back on track with dates going in the website for the remainder of this year next week.

Some of the team are heading West tomorrow for some training for ourselves before we start getting ready again to welcome along students.

We have pool dates in place for the rest of the year.

There has been an increase in our costs for services like pools, fuel, air fills etc etc. so expect our prices to rise this year to reflect our costs. Don’t worry, your still gonna get top notch service and tuition at extremely reasonable rates.

Will get a dive report posted tomorrow.

Stay safe peeps and have a fantastic weekend.

Chris