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A
few of us oldies were sitting around on the terrace of Mount
Batten Centre taking in some sunshine and chatting after the
annual Splash In last year. One member mentioned the fact
that it had been his birthday a few weeks earlier. Now most
chaps at his age would be happy with new slippers, a cardigan
or maybe a new pipe and a tin of tobacco. Not so that buddy,
his request was a new drysuit! Bert you were really dapper
with that new red Poseidon suit, it was a pleasure to dive
with you looking so smart.
Our
conversation turned to the subject of the entries for the
contrived shots, this year there were only five submitted
and we thought back to the days when members really gave a
lot of thought and ideas on this subject. Not for them something
put together the week before the event, their planning started
way back months before, making models, taking them to the
pool, making adjustments and more pool work until they finally
perfected their chosen entry. We remembered Les Kemp who made
up a birthday cake for BSoUP's 25th anniversary, it had twenty-five
candles that all lit up and flashed underwater. It took him
ages to perfect this, but it paid off with f irst prize. Someone
else came along with a complete computer and props showing
a diver trying to fathom out the new dive tables introduced
by the BSAC that year.
I
made up a model of the Channel Tunnel section, one French,
one English just not lining up correctly with model trucks
and cranes etc. Again lots of thought and time on the subject.
We have seen a huge guilded birdcage with toy parrot inside
as a prop.
Of
course all these subjects must be topical at the time. Len
Deeley had one done for the Queen's Jubilee year, a diver
with the union jack etc all taken underwater.
Sometimes
all these carefully constructed subjects which have taken
hours to prepare go disastrously wrong as soon as you get
them underwater. I know from experience many of mine have
gone pear shaped on the day, but still it's the thoughts and
ideas that go into the preparation that counts and of course
you may be the winning entry, then its even more satisfying.
So over the dark cold winter months get on your 'ideas' cap
and put in a topical entry for the Splash In in 2004.
Being
of a "slightly" older age now on my drysuit I have
a "pee" zip fitted and it works well, it's a great
relief to be able to go over the side of the R.I.B. after
the dive, rather than wait until you reach shore again. So
I was thinking why not have a "pee" zip in my wet
suit for warm water diving ? no more soiling your suit.
I
had Cliff Hares of Solent Divers do the job for me, it works
a treat instant relief underwater with no problems. So if
you see me turn to one side in warm waters, do not be alarmed,
just avert your eyes as I seek relief.
Reproduced
from in
focus 78 (Sping 2004)
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