Club member Laine reports her first dive Dolphins SAC – and what an experience it was! 😃
"We met at 4pm to catch high tide at 5.40pm. Paul C buddied up with Mal, while Paul L and I paired with Bernard. This was a special dive for me: not only was it my first with the club since completing my Open Water in Cyprus back in July, but it was also my very first cold-water dive.
With all my gear new to me, I was keen to see how everything felt – from testing my buoyancy with an 8mm wetsuit to checking whether it would keep me warm enough. I’ll admit I started off a little anxious and struggled with buoyancy at the surface, but as soon as I slipped under the water, the nerves disappeared.
The dive itself was beautiful. Visibility was around 3–4 metres, and we spotted plenty of crabs and starfish along the way. I even tried out frog kick for the first time and focused on improving my buoyancy. Although my air didn’t last as long as I’d have liked, I thoroughly enjoyed the time I had exploring and observing the marine life.
The best part? My 8mm wetsuit kept me perfectly warm – a big relief! Bernard was the most relaxed and supportive buddy I could have asked for, making the whole experience fun and reassuring.
All in all, it was a fantastic first cold-water dive and a wonderful introduction to diving with Dolphins SAC. I’m already counting down the days until my next one!"