Archive for March 2003

Dive #9: Channel near Bird Rock, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Place:Channel near Bird Rock Buddy:John McManus
Weather:Rain Type:Boat
Max. depth (m):30.2 Visibility (m):15
Time down:15:00 Dive time (mins):20
Average depth (m):0.0 Water temp. (C):0.0

Equipment: Same as Dive #8.

Notes: [nothing noted, though I do remember a large solitary spider crab standing on a rock, brandishing its claws ]

Accumulated time under water: 3 hrs 27 mins

Dive #8: Channel near Bird Rock, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Place:Channel near Bird Rock Buddy:John McManus
Weather:Foggy, rain Type:Boat
Max. depth (m):26.5 Visibility (m):15
Time down:10:00 Dive time (mins):24
Average depth (m):0.0 Water temp. (C):0.0

Equipment: Same as Dive #7.

Notes: [nothing noted]

Accumulated time under water: 3 hrs 7 mins

Dive #7: Yellow Rock, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Place:Yellow Rock Buddy:Jane Sanders
Weather:Sunny Type:Boat (Mariana)
Max. depth (m):22.4 Visibility (m):15
Time down:15:40 Dive time (mins):24
Average depth (m):0.0 Water temp. (C):0.0

Equipment: Same as Dive #6.

Notes: [nothing noted]

Accumulated time under water: 2 hrs 43 mins

Dive #6: Channel near Novice Rock, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Place:Channel near Novice Rock Buddy:Steve Power
Weather:Sunny Type:Boat (WHSAC)
Max. depth (m):20.0 Visibility (m):15
Time down:12:35 Dive time (mins):25
Average depth (m):0.0 Water temp. (C):0.0

Equipment: Same as Dive #5, 28 lb weight this time.

Notes: [nothing noted, though I think the 3rd Ocean Diver assessment was completed on this dive]

Accumulated time under water: 2 hrs 19 mins

Dive #5: Yellow Rock, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Place:Yellow Rock Buddy:Ciara Lynch
Weather:Raining Type:Boat (Solaster)
Max. depth (m):15.2 Visibility (m):10
Time down:13:15 Dive time (mins):25
Average depth (m):0.0 Water temp. (C):0.0

Equipment: Same as Dive #4, 28 lb weight this time.

Notes: Tried assessment involving alternate air source and controlled ascent (3rd Ocean Diver assessment), but did not complete because too little weight.

Accumulated time under water: 1 hr 54 mins

Dive #4: Bird Rock, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Place:Bird Rock Buddy:Will Fyans
Weather:Sunny Type:Boat (Mariana)
Max. depth (m):16.5 Visibility (m):10
Time down:14:30 Dive time (mins):20
Average depth (m):0.0 Water temp. (C):0.0

Equipment: Same as Dive #3, 31 lb weight this time.

Notes: Second assessment dive: Fin pivot (neutral buoyancy), mask replacement, partial and full mask clearing, inversion recovery, alternate air source use and provision, second stage retrieval and clearing.

Saw these anemones looking like little white hairs which retract into the sand when touched. [log book calls them ‘reids’ a name that I must have picked up from someone, but I can find no reference to them on the web]

Accumulated time under water: 1 hr 29 mins

Dive #3: Novice Rock, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Place:Novice Rock Buddy:John Hickey
Weather:Mild Type:Boat (Solaster)
Max. depth (m):10.0 Visibility (m):10
Time down:09:40 Dive time (mins):22
Average depth (m):0.0 Water temp. (C):0.0

Equipment: Same as Dive #2, 28 lb weight this time.

Notes: First proper assessment dive: mask replacement, mask clearing, second stage retrieval and clear.

Accumulated time under water: 1 hr 9 mins

Dive #2: Coral beach, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Place:Novice Rock Buddy:Conor Crowe
Weather:Sunny Type:Shore
Max. depth (m):4.0 Visibility (m):10
Time down:15:00 Dive time (mins):25
Average depth (m):0.0 Water temp. (C):0.0

Equipment: Same as Dive #1 but with 30 lb weight.

Notes: Did weight belt jettison [this must have been part of the assessment stuff- I don’t remember].

Accumulated time under water: 45 mins

Dive #1: Coral Beach, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Place:Coral Beach Buddy:Steve Parks
Weather:Sunny Type:Shore
Max. depth (m):5.0 Visibility (m):10
Time down:10:00 Dive time (mins):22
Average depth (m):0.0 Water temp. (C):0.0

Equipment: TCD Sub Aqua club reg, tank (12 l, steel) and BCD. Own 7-mm two-piece wetsuit, booties, fins, mask, snorkel, gloves, weight belt (28 lb).

Notes: First dive ever! I joined DUSAC, the Scuba Diving club at Trinity College Dublin, in October 2002. The first couple of months was spent doing lectures and pool sessions. Dive tables galore. This training for the first BSAC grade (Ocean Diver) culminated with a week in Mayo diving and doing assessments and drinking and having a great time.