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It all started as an accident. We were between dives and looking for a "bit of a snack". Chips seemed filling, tasty and suitably unhealthy food for divers so off we went to the chip shop. Some discussion about endangered species ensued - and in among the orders and counter orders we ended up with a mystery extra pot. We opened it. Tentatively. "Curry Sauce!" Says one. "I haven't had that in years!" says another. "I remember that" says the last. We dipped some chips. They were good! Thickly coated in a savoury, slightly spicy, goo you probably remember from way-back-when. Word spread and for the rest of the trip there was always at least one diver with a chips and sauce on the go - usually surrounded by a few mates in case they couldn't finish them. We got plenty of diving in too. Both the RIB and hard boat were operating off the pier so there were normally about thirty Hellfins milling about having just got back from somewhere or on their way to somewhere else. I have no idea how it all held together but I do know we owe huge thanks to Nicky, Tricky, Sally and everyone else who Marshalled or provided shore cover - thanks guys! In fact Swange Pier was a huge hub of diving activity. Wandering about (chips in hand natch) I bumped into friends from as far afield as Ealing and York. Strange magnetic attraction? Nah. Lousy weather. You can pretty much guarantee a dive under the pier - it's just you can't guarantee you'll see anything not actually touching your mask. I don't have any proper dive records as my computer flooded (I knew if I stood up my head would break the surface, but it decided I was at 47.6m and if I didn't hang about I would only have to do ten minutes deco). I've got these records though: Most people in a single caravan at one time: Nicky and Ian's on the first night with a total of 32. Most dives under the pier in a six hour period: Me, (four dives) and what fun they were - especially the decompression one! Smallest thing found under the pier: a piece of purple algae with a tiny colony of bryzoans - way to go Ellie! Biggest thing found under the pier: A bike. There's a bonus prize for actually trying to ride it! (currently unclaimed) Most mystery leaks in a dry suit: Oops! Me again, three leaks* Most portions of chips and curry sauce consumed: Well, let's face it, all of us! And finally, the special award for "squeakiest bedsprings" goes to... well, that would be telling. e-mail me for the gossip. *Actually the third leak wasn't a mystery. I saw the fisherman cast the line with the hook that got me. I Would have gone and given him a slap. But he was with his dad. Who was big. With Tattoos. |