cant remember what day but its the penultimate day of the course :)

Today I woke up feeling a bit rough! had the runs for 24 hours and was dehydrated and feeling weak, but Nando was back so off went to Taj Mahal (not to India) It was bloody roasting and I started to feel even worse, but after a bit more kit fettling, moving weights around etc etc I had to get in the water to cool down!!

Normal procedure of bubble check, gear match, sequence of divers, air, depth, distance, duration and review!! then Safety drill when we get under the water, stow hoses and off we go with me in front. Primary tie off with the reel then secondary tie off then a third then tie into the 'gold' line. Now we are actually at the start of the cave!! check buoyancy, trim, make sure buddies are ok then we're off, nice and slowly follow the line checking your buoyancy and trim at all times, check that your doing frog kick correctly without dropping your thighs................ oh yeh check gauges, change regs, check on your Buddies............... look around and enjoy the cave :). Try and remember what Nando said about the drill, get to the 2 cave arrows facing back and forward go a few more feet and check gauges, yep reached sixths ok signal to buddies that we are turning.................. turn!! dont blind buddies, hover motionless at right angles to the line reach behind you and get pocket, open pocket and take out note book OMG...... write down how much air you have in both gauges.........dont move!!!.........write down depth and time.........dont move put notes away, put pocket back on rear D ring and signal that you're ready turn and start following the line to daylight its only 15 minutes away :)

OMG Nando is signalling he has a problem, mmmmm must be out of air, swap regs and get ready to donate my long hose, yep hes out of air, ok get into position and we get out of the cave as swiftly as possible sharing air BUT you cant use more air than you came in on or YOUR DEAD (only a drill but possible) We get back to the reel, I have to untie it and reel it up to the safety stop, then its stay still get notes out write up air pressures, time etc etc, finish safety stop carry on with the reel and finally its over and I have to debrief the dive before Jason gets a say then Nando. First dive over :)

Second dive exactly the same routine but a different entrance and this time we do the same but our lights dont work so its all in the PITCH Black!!!!

Both dives were Ok, I have improved no end since the start but will still need loads more practice.

Back to the dive centre and an hour of theory, all the hazards of cave diving, I am tired out but its interesting and I stay awake :) Nando gave me 10 mins to ring Mandy which was nice, I've become a huge fan of Skype!

Of to bed really early now as I've got a big day tomorrow, lost diver drills and the dreaded lost line drill ............... then more theory and finally the exam and I will hopefully have 3 days to do some cave diving for fun :))))