The Thoughts of a Trainee
On the 6th April 2001 I came for a try dive! I thought it would be fun to do and I could tell people I had tried a S.C.U.B.A. dive. I had been down an army death slide twice and done one abseil and enjoyed them so I phoned Grant and arranged to come along.
I had asked Alex to come and keep me company but he was too tired so I bravely came along on my own and into the middle of a committee meeting! Someone said, “sit down”. I felt like legging it but the floor was covered in kit bags so I thought I would wait till the meeting was over then go. However Grant came and told me to go and get ready. I still felt if I could have made a discreet exit I would have.
I was assigned to Wilson who kitted me up and off we went. I loved it. I’d never been under water and it was good watching other divers doing shared breathing. I thought ‘imagine being able to take your mouthpiece out under water’, never thinking for a minute I would ever be doing it myself. I was invited to the pub after which made me feel welcomed so I went along and quite a few members came and asked how I had enjoyed my dive and if I was I coming back.
The following week Lynsey took me for my swimming test (she thought)! I had no idea what a duck dive was far less do one and treading water and floating! Six weeks later and after tons of encouragement and praise from Adrian and Audrey I passed my swim test. A little girl called Morna aged 11yrs was at the pool and swam with me through my test encouraging me all the way.
Snorkelling didn’t prove any easier. Four weeks later after practising with Adrian, Deirdre, Helen, Jenny and Audrey I was signed off! Ian Allan by now had sussed that when I was several weeks into an assessment and about to give up that was when I usually got signed off.
Mask clearing also took four weeks! Lot of help from Terry!
I never gave up because everyone was so supportive and gave me lots of encouragement. I adopted the attitude that ‘it must be possible or they wouldn’t ask me to do it’, and that is what gave me the determination to keep going.
The trainees were invited to the Summer Solstice. That made me feel like part of the club so I went along and it was an experience! I’d never been camping before despite years of persuasion from my husband. Nor had I ever seen so much drink in one place except a pub!
A couple of weeks later I was doing what only a few weeks ago seemed unimaginable-clearing my d.v. No bother this time.
9th September. My first open water dive with Phil. The entry was all silt and as I had never been under water I thought it would be like that all the way. I couldn’t stay down and I didn’t get past the start! I was out the water! I felt I had let Phil down somehow.
John told me I needed more weight and got me re kitted and I went in with him. My ears popped I got suit squeeze and I clung on to his hand like a limpet. I was still determined not to give up. My next four dives were with Adrian and I held on to him too. I was beginning to fell a bit more at ease by now.
In November I met Ralph and Alan from East Kilbride who asked me to do some training with them. Alan even said he’d be happy to take me in for a dive. I think I was becoming ‘famous’ by now as the trainee who couldn’t swim. I did think it was good of them.
The rest of my pool training went pretty well and we started the lectures.
When the pool was shut three weeks over Christmas I had withdrawals. I missed the company.
In February I passed my written exam.
On the 15th March I did my rescue. I was feeling a bit down as my Mum had just died and Ian wouldn’t say if I had passed or not so I was ready to give up again. I told Campbell he could buy my regs and I was never coming back! Later in the pub, Ian went over a couple of points with me. He then announced to everyone that I had passed. I was so pleased. I can’t believe I have come this far. Grant told me I should be proud of myself, as I couldn’t swim this time last year.
Also Adrian asked me to demonstrate a duck dive to a new trainee and I was asked to give a word of encouragement to someone else who isn’t a good swimmer. So I have come full circle in a way.
My first no holding hands dive was on 26th May 2002 with Grant on his 400th dive, which he said he’d been happy to do with me. I have even climbed the steps and the rocks at Eyemouth! John said if I can do that I could do anything.
Someone told me recently he remembered the night I came for my try dive. He thought, “She will never do it” Well I am getting there slowly but surely. I have had a couple of scary moments in the water but haven’t panicked.
On December 29th 2002 at Conger Alley I finally got signed off as a sports diver. I managed to ‘rescue’ Adrian! The Diving Granny has made it at last! Twenty months and 31 open water dives later.
My first dive of 2003 I saw as a progression of my training. Using my compass to get back to where we started!
I think the past twenty months has been the best of my life. I have achieved something I never imagined I could which has been great for my confidence and my self esteem and I have met lots of great people and got a new social life too! So thanks to all who have persevered with me.
Sandie Gray
The diving granny!