DARING DIVERS

Life as always started at Portland (?). Awkwards became simple, although the Chief OA said otherwise after climbing, fully laden, up a 25 ft ladder and being asked whether he would like to jump in again and do another search. The budding ‘Crabbes’ finished their workup one dark and windy night with a bottom search (I’m told that divers have these all the time). The Chief OA was being used as a jablex float at the time - something to do with comparative densities and volumes - when the tide swept the team away. Away went the safety boat - or would have done had the engine worked. All’s not well that ends well, however, and just when our gallant team were thinking of getting a run ashore in Weymouth the boat arrived like an avenging angel and almost succeeded in drowning them.

The Far East provided warm water, a good view and sharks. Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines all passed uneventfully – diving wise that is. Port Philip Bay, Melbourne, possessed sumptuous scallop beds, which were duly and religiously plundered. The team also sampled the Aussie diving gear known as the ‘Hookah’. The diver gets a direct (air!) supply from the pump, usually a very convenient method. No provision however is made for the diver who catches his foot in a giant clam and loses pres­sure on the pump all at the same time.

There followed Kenya (whispering palms and coral sands - we only just made it to the deep blue waters). Beira (notable for the large amount of sharks and sudden lack of divers), and Simons Town (minutes, minutes, minutes!) of Cape fame. The latter visit we were taken on a cray­fish hunt by the South African divers: six diminutive creatures later (but pleased as punch) we were informed that they were out of season and illegal to catch - ah well, they tasted alright!

Gibraltar proved a very good run (consequently excruciating diving). Then to England, Home and (?) Beauty; thoughts of the calm summer skies and pale, warm, opalescent waters of Gib in autumn followed by polar bears (divers have funny tastes) and flaxen-haired mermaids in Stockholm.

To finish with, a sobering thought: on commissioning, there were 3 diving officers and 10 divers. One diving officer joined and 2 divers were trained and qualified during the commis­sion. On arrival in U.K. in July 1968 there were one diving officer and 8 divers left. It doesn’t say much for our standard of diving does it.