Dive shows are an essential part of diving.
They provide many opportunities to improve diving in many different ways and also to just have a good day out with friends.
At a dive show its possible to look at new kit, new places to dive, new ideas, to try things out, to listen to interesting people, to explore the world of diving and to meet up with old friends and make new friends.
When our chair suggested a club trip and offered to drive, nine of us signed up. The majority were collected in Sale and I was picked up at Knutsford service station (and dropped off at the same place).
The downward journey was relatively uneventful M6 – M6T – M42 (a little overshoot of one junction, the navigator was playing Pacman!) back on the M42 -A45 and a right turn into the NAEC at Stoneleigh.
After parking up we decided on our first port of call being the café for cake and coffee and a bit of planning before launching ourselves upon the event.
Having successfully made no decision on what we wanted to do we entered and all went our separate ways.
Every so often we would meet up and discuss potential trips we had investigated, what we had purchased and what was tempting. It had started off with a few basic pieces of kit, some thermals’ a dry bag, dive books and a pastie. It gradually escalated to dive suits, computers and a £4000 trip to St Helena.
Paul then committed himself to having a go in the caving system and apart from a temporarily trapped foot, successfully negotiated his way out the other side. A little flushed but successful nonetheless.
After a few hours we adjourned for lunch to discuss our findings and then went back for a last look round before heading home.
Nick got sucked into the Utila’s Wreck Hunters group and a trip to Honduras (Wreck Hunters Archaeology Course On Utila – And You Could Win A Spot! | Scuba Diver Mag). He was keen to get home to plan the excursion. After checking out videos of Honduras diving two weeks of archaeological diving and a 36 hour trip are being planned. Paula is investigating new dive computers and three of us have decided to go to Cyprus in Easter 2023 (Scuba Diving in Cyprus: technical diving (scubatechdivers.com))
A really enjoyable day out was had by all and many plans were made.
Thanks to Paula for driving John for navigating (ahem) and thanks to all for their company a great day out. Next years event is in the calendar 4th & 5th March, Paula book the minibus please!
