BSAC TRAVEL CLUB - Trip Reports

TRAVEL CLUB

Dawn Dives Cyprus

by Dawn James-Dawson

There was definitely something lurking in the dark, deep waters. I tried to adjust my eyes through my mask, and there I saw it … a cold, evil figure. It caught sight of me and started to slowly move towards me, its awkward cumbersome body dragging along the bottom. Without any thought of safety for myself I ascended from the water … no time for a safety stop .. no time to signal to my buddy.. I had to escape the evil.

My buddy immediately followed me.

Regulator out of my mouth, gasping for air, eyes wide with terror, I said with extreme fear in my voice “Did you see that? In the darkness, there was something there”. My buddy smiled, took my hand and said “There’s nothing there. Let’s give it another go”.

I positioned my regulator back into my trembling mouth and cautiously descended putting all my trust in my buddy’s reassurance. I stared back into the darkness, squeezing Russ’ hand as tight as I could. Then my eyes started to adjust, there was no monster … no fear… only the deep end of the Mayfair Swimming Pool. I smiled … I have a feeling this is going to be a fun journey……I am going to look for Nemo!

I now found myself on a plane flying towards Cyprus escaping the coldness of British waters after completing the confined water sessions. I had been to Guildy on 2nd November 2003 and decided it was something I was definitely not going to do for my first open water. Purple swollen face, red nose and blue lips all squeezed into a tight rubber hood would do nothing for Cameron Diaz - so I had no hope! Nope, I wanted warm water and 100% waterproof mascara.

My first dive was at Sheep Dip, Larnaca (slightly warmer than Guildy) with Russ and Mark from Octopus Dive Centre. It was a rocky entry with surge but was fairly easy to tackle in my new wetsuit booties. The only difficult part was putting on my fins which was almost certainly hysterical to the on-looking eyes. The dive itself was breathtaking. Mark gave me a shell which seemed empty, however it turned out to be the home of a hermit crab which departed this life in a drawer back at the hotel. The sights were beautiful and there was quite a lot of marine life. I saw a cuttle fish (which was quite visually different from the one normally found in a bird cage) and a see-through jelly fish. After watching Finding Nemo I was not about to declare: “I shall call him Mr Squishy and he shall be mine”…

I was imitating diving with a DPV! My main memory of this dive was looking up at a most enormous rock which rose up in front of me from the bottom of the sea bed and broke through the surface like an iceburg. I felt like an astronaught in The Planet of The Apes movie discovering the Statue of Liberty on the beach! Breathtaking, and could have stayed there forever.

That very afternoon I commenced dives 2 and 3 of the open water at Larnaca Bay. I didn’t have a good start. Kitting up took place on the beach in front of a full restaurant and we then proceeded to walk into the sea. Anyone who knows Larnaca Bay would know that you walk, and walk and walk until you feel like you would reach Clacton! I felt like I was going on a hike in full kit! Eventually we reached a depth that we could descend. The viz was awful. It was sandy, cold and my vivid imagination kept taking me back to the Mayflower Swimming Pool! I performed my tasks and couldn’t wait to get out of there. Not much to say except other than, through the tears of frustration and fear, I saw two manky looking starfish - both of which contravened the Trades Description Act! Not recommended and definitely not to be repeated!

The last task dive! I was off to Dhekelia Jetty. It was a lovely hot day, and the entrance to the site was very easy. I completed all the task involved and performed a celebratory wobble - in full kit it was the most I could manage. Then it was time to look around and explore as a fully fledged diver!! It was an absolutely beautiful site.

My main memory was the jetty itself. We hovered and looked through the darkness to the other side. Shining down from the surface was the most intense light glowing in “stairs” which lit up all of the bottom composition and silhouetted the marine life. It was as if I had discovered heaven and I was so privileged to have witnessed it. I will always remember that moment - it was truly awesome. I think I cried….

The next day was “the big one”. I was about to dive the Zenobia. I had seen many fascinating photos about the ro-ro ferry which sank in 1980 and which is lying on its port side and I was really excited. Not being a very good travelling on the water I was so glad when I was kitted up and sitting on the edge of the boat. This was it … my very first backward roll off a boat.

Cough! Cough! My mask strap had slipped and my regulator slightly dislodged. Not a good start. I was already feeling slightly sea sick and now I had a belly full of sea water! Once I regained my breath I remembered Jenny telling me “If you feel anxious fully inflate your jacket and lie face down in the water taking deep breaths”.

I signalled to Russ that I needed a moment and followed her advice …the sight below me was amazing. The sheer size of the cold metal wreck filled my entire gaze. I was transfixed. Russ signalled that I really should descend before my entire air supply was used up on the surface. I slowly deflated my BCD and panicked!!

Where were the comforting tiled sides of the swimming pool? Where was the bottom? What the hell were all those large silver balls passing me (I later realised they were air bubbles and at that precise moment I was discharging quite a lot of them!) I definitely did not like this. I was definitely back to the Mayfair swimming pool.

Russ knew something was wrong and instantly held on to me. I was now inches from the starboard side of the boat at 16m (Matt!). I tried to hover above the wreck terrified that by kneeling on her I would somehow dislodged her from her resting place! Russ landed and signalled for me to do likewise. Someone once questioned if it was possible to cry underwater. I can honestly say hand on heart “yes it is”. I wanted to exit…

Oh, look a fish! My mind was now occupied by the little Wrasse that were now surrounding me wondering if I had any food for them. Russ handed me his torch and encouraged me to look into the port windows - a telephone, a blanket , a toilet, this was good… then it happened… my foot went through an port hole. I wanted out. Never again!

We ascended to the trapeze. I gripped the ascent line so tight I was surprised I didn’t pull the Octopus diving boat down to the Zenobia! I exited the water and was quiet for the entire journey back to shore. I was disappointed with the event but more than anything I was disappointed in me … I had tried so hard to get this far and I felt like I had failed both myself and Russ. By the time we had reached the marina I was determined to do the Zenobia again on the return journey - but this time there was going to be one BIG difference … This time I was taking fish food!

I truly believe that you learn throughout life by your mistakes. I was now pressing so hard on my mask and reg that they were in danger of being forever imbedded in my face. This time I was not swallowing sea water.

Here I was back on the edge of the Octopus dive boat about to do the Zenobia again, with a pocket full of bread and a determined gaze. Splash! My backward roll was a perfect 10/10 if I may say so myself! I descended the shot line staring into Russ’ eyes the entire way and gently lowered myself onto the Zenobia and proceeded to look for skinny fish!

That was the moment …. the moment when I started to look around. The wreck was breathtaking in both size and beauty. A life boat lay unused - there were no passengers aboard when she sank - the hand-rail, the stairs, wow! I can only imagine the adrenalin rush when you reach the canteen or the lorry deck. However, for the moment my limit was 18 m (Matt!). Russ signalled for me to fin along the wreck whilst he took photos on our digital camera. Oh no, I forgot my lipstick!

It was then time to open up my pocket of gastronomical delights to the fish that were swimming past ignoring me. Now everyone wanted to be my friend.. A bit like winning the lottery! After 3 minutes, lots of photos, several nibbled fingers and an experience that will stay with me forever, the bread had run out and my new friends had moved on. Time goes so quick and it was now time for us to ascend. This time the dive was fantastic and I had done it - I am really looking forward to the next time I visit her. Hopefully by then I will be more advanced so I can visit the canteen. I hope they sell bread for the fish!

Our last dive of the holiday and we went to Green Bay. Extremely easy entry with lots of people learning to dive. Of course I chuckled at their clumsiness, after all I was now a qualified diver! Green Bay also contravened the Trades Description Act as it was quite barren and hardly any marine life. Despite this though I thoroughly enjoyed the 62 minutes dive… yes 62 minutes!

I left Cyprus with such fondness, a lot of respect for what I had experienced and a head full of beautiful memories. I really can’t wait to return. I want to say a big thank you to everyone down the Billericay club who have made a PADI student feel really welcome and a massive thank you to Russ, my buddy and partner-in-crime, for introducing me to his passion. I am so excited and looking forward to my future underwater adventures for years to come …after all … I am still looking for Nemo…

Pictures by Russell Harriss

Billericay SAC

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