“Diver One, Receiving Loud and Clear”
Ronan, John and I, having worked the control panel didn’t go in the water yesterday. It’s our turn today.
I can barely contain myself, I am so excited. This is so cool!
Having learnt how to do it yesterday, it’s on my colleagues to get me dressed, connected and ready. The harness, weight system and emergency backpack are quite heavy, a little bit big on me. Gautier pulls the straps tighter on one end, Toto pulls on another end.I’m being pushed and pulled and strapped in and connected up.
The band mask is heavier than I thought and Toffy pulls is tight on my head. All hoses connected, ready for the equipment check.
Photographer: Helena, Camera: Smartphone
“Diver One, receiving loud and clear?” asks Toffy. “Loud and Clear!” I respond and we go through the kit step by step. “Opening Emergency Valve. Emergency Valve open.”
“Diver, approach pier!” “Approaching pier.” “Prepare! Ready? Water!”
I take a big step. The water is low today so the drop is a little higher than usual. A big splash and I hit the water. Down I go, yup, this is what it feels like not to have a BCD. I can’t help but laugh. The big harness and heavy band mask make feel a little bit like a robot.
I feel John’s hand under my arm and he quickly pulls me back up, Gautier is keeping tension on the umbilical.
We descend to the bottom and start making our way to the deadweight where I’ll have to complete my task. I notice that we’re a little far left of the main mooring chain as we leave the surface and once we hit the bottom, John notices too. With no visibility there’s no chance we’ll find it even if we’re only half a meter off. John starts navigating towards where he thinks the chain is and as I’m dependent on him to get me to site, I have little choice but to go where he takes me. I’m pretty sure we’re going the wrong way, but honestly I don’t really care. I’ve got my giant, heavy, metal mask, air coming from the surface and this is unbelievably fun. I really don’t mind spending a little more time in the water, trying to find our way.
“Hold on, John! I’m stuck”. Oh no! We moved underneath the mooring chain of one of the boats and my umbilical got wrapped around it. My peripheral vision is quite restricted in my “robot-head” and the zero-visibility doesn’t help the situation. I try to figure out which way to go around the chain and how to untangle myself. At least we can use this one to follow it down to the main chain.
This is tricky and I can’t seem to get it but I enjoy this equipment way too much to be freaked out by this. “Whatever” I think to myself “I’m loving this, I’ll just stay here a little longer then”.
Suddenly see the familiar grey silhouette of my old wet-suit, now Toto’s new wet-suit. TOTO!!! Thank f*#k!! I grab his arm. We both laugh a little as he untangles the mess we have managed to get ourselves into. Confident and sure of the way little Toto swiftly has us back on the main chain and at the work site. “Thank you, honey!” I squeeze his arm tight and look him in the eyes. He smiles at me and nods. We’ve been underwater together for a month now, he knows what I’m saying.
I get handed the flansh and start taking it apart. Carefully I hand all the bolts and nuts to John, who puts them away in their designated container. One, two, three four, this is easy and my “robot-outfit” is incredibly comfortable. The mask seals off my suit perfectly, I’m nice and warm and cosy. I can breathe through my nose (which to be honest, I mostly forget about) and I’ve got this flansh and zero-visibility thing down like a pro. I am having an absolute blast down here. This is amazing!
… MORE PICTURES AND VIDEO COMING SOON …
Done! “Damn it, I should have gone slower” I think to myself as I signal the “OK and return”. Now I have to get out of the water. It’s too soon, I don’t want to get out yet! Just five more minutes, please! I feel like a little kid, playing with new toys.
Back at the dock wall we ascend to the surface. John and Toto keep me afloat and Gautier keeps tension on the umbilical.
The water level is low and the first step of the ladder is about 10 cm above the surface. I reach a few steps higher, pull myself up and rest my knee on the first step. Ok, good to know that I can get out by myself this way. I won’t be nervous about it for the exam then.
As I climb up the ladder Helena and Toffy are taking pictures. I can’t wait to show them everyone!
As my colleagues take off the mask and harness, Toffy, Helena and Teresa start laughing. My facial expression must clearly convey that I absolutely love this.
A little consolation to the fact that I had to give up my “robot-suit” again is the fact that I now get to go play with a pneumatic hammer, chiselling away at the dock wall.
Photographer: Helena, Camera: Smartphone
Ouch! This is somewhat unpleasant. The pressure coming from the hammer is quite uncomfortable on my ears, but when I move my head further away, I can’t see a thing in this water. It takes me a bit, but I finally find a comfortable distance. This is fun “takatakatakataka”. Nestor said he drew a heart on the wall. No chance, I’ll find it. I try and draw a circle, but I’m pretty sure it’s more of a squiggly egg shape in the end. I don’t know, I can’t really see it.
Finally we get to play with all the cool toys and now the course is over? Can’t be!
Ready for the Final Exam?
In the afternoon Tato gives us a last quick run-down of what will be asked in the exam.
I can’t believe tomorrow is already the last day. These five weeks have passed way too quickly. Not to mention…. HOLY SH*T!!! Final exam is tomorrow!!! Somehow I thought I had more time, I guess this will be a long night tonight.