Five years ago I had a dream.... actually I didn't. I just wanted to be able to do some serious freedive training in the UK, and stop spending a fortune on weekends in Nice. Just as my bank balance was suffering from too many plane tickets, I heard about a possible new dive quarry on the edge of Wales.... and on the May Bank Holiday 2003, SaltFree was born.
I've been thinking on the drive home today (after Laura reminded me about the anniversary - thanks so much for the card, cake and most importantly for remembering!).. about how things have changed in the past 5 years we've been diving together.
5 years ago...
1. I could dive deeper than Dave King
2. We had a couple of old plastic canoes to lean on instead of our super-duper pontoon
3. Our line was marked with a yellow ribbon every 5m so we knew how deep we were (played havoc with lanyards, before the days of computers on everyone's wrists)..... and we only marked it to about 30m
4. It never, ever rained on the weekends we freedived
5. One of our key Angels was called "Fizzy Phil"
6. We were very limited in the amount of kit we could have - cos it all had to come back to my flat-share in Bristol, get washed in the bath and fit under my bed until the next time
7. We were known as the "NDC posse".. then "the green meanies" and finally, after a rather drunken sunny afternoon (still at the front of my memory) chez Harris..... Mark came up with the name "SaltFree!"
8. Liv was a scuba diver, took great photos of us, but NEVER EVER held her breath!
9. We used to always do two dive sessions in a day (when did we wimp out?)
10. B and Bs were for wusses and real freedivers camped and ate huge amounts at Bryn's barbies... (raising the question - have we got old?)
Just a few thoughts - I'd be really happy to hear other peoples' reminiscences.
Huge chinks of champagne glasses :fridayto those of you who've been with us from the start (I wanted to buy some in the bar last night but I'm broke and no-one looked like they were drinking)- and warm welcoming bear hugs to everyone who's so seamlessly become part of the posse along the way. I love you all!! (and no, I haven't been drinking!)
S
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I've been thinking on the drive home today (after Laura reminded me about the anniversary - thanks so much for the card, cake and most importantly for remembering!).. about how things have changed in the past 5 years we've been diving together.
5 years ago...
1. I could dive deeper than Dave King
2. We had a couple of old plastic canoes to lean on instead of our super-duper pontoon
3. Our line was marked with a yellow ribbon every 5m so we knew how deep we were (played havoc with lanyards, before the days of computers on everyone's wrists)..... and we only marked it to about 30m
4. It never, ever rained on the weekends we freedived
5. One of our key Angels was called "Fizzy Phil"
6. We were very limited in the amount of kit we could have - cos it all had to come back to my flat-share in Bristol, get washed in the bath and fit under my bed until the next time
7. We were known as the "NDC posse".. then "the green meanies" and finally, after a rather drunken sunny afternoon (still at the front of my memory) chez Harris..... Mark came up with the name "SaltFree!"
8. Liv was a scuba diver, took great photos of us, but NEVER EVER held her breath!
9. We used to always do two dive sessions in a day (when did we wimp out?)
10. B and Bs were for wusses and real freedivers camped and ate huge amounts at Bryn's barbies... (raising the question - have we got old?)
Just a few thoughts - I'd be really happy to hear other peoples' reminiscences.
Huge chinks of champagne glasses :fridayto those of you who've been with us from the start (I wanted to buy some in the bar last night but I'm broke and no-one looked like they were drinking)- and warm welcoming bear hugs to everyone who's so seamlessly become part of the posse along the way. I love you all!! (and no, I haven't been drinking!)
S
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