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Sunday It was my first dive from a rib today. Slightly apprehensive, but kind words from the skip across from Brownsea made my approach clear. Chris, a member of the local dive club, had arranged to meet me at Swanage Pier (this place still holds foreboding) at around two-ish, with the aim to head out [...]

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One hour and twenty minutes in my wetsuit, hood, gloves and boots, and I am cold. D is very cold. We made it to the far end of south beach and it was worth it. Blenny, dragonet, hermits, shore crabs of all sizes, wrasse, snakelock… and I even caught a glimpse of mullet grazing the [...]

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No sooner am I back in Dorset than I’m jumping in the sea with D. Studland, with borrowed kit (thanks Matt), a BCD from the dive centre, and away we go. The beach is packed! I’ve never seen it like this before. The number of boats moored have increased, too. We make our way to the [...]

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(To read all of Esther Tyson’s “Swimming Underwater” posts on one page, please click here.) The Grand Finale. Open Water 3 and Open Water 4, Swanage, Tanville Ledges! It’s 28ºC. I’m in a wet suit, hood, gloves and boots. I have 10kg of weights around my waist and 2kg of ankle weights. We are diving [...]

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Thursday 6.30pm It is one month to the evening since I began training to scuba dive! I’m back at the pool side with Eileen, and we are about to finish off confined water 4 and 5. I feel calm and collected…?! On the cards tonight is the hover; I imagine Tom Cruise at the end [...]

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Wednesday. Caught the Castello early this morning, then the chain ferry, and made my way to Studland. A short walk to the beach: lovely, calm and not many people! Damon and Jim pulled into the car park five minutes later. We walked down to the beach for a recce, as neither have dived Studland before, [...]

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Sunday afternoon. We had a group in over the weekend, so Vic and I took the landy down to the clock tower with all the bags and went to meet the boat. As the guys readied to leave, Shep (the skipper) spotted me and shouted over “Est, it’s a perfect time to snorkel!” Oh heck, [...]

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Wednesday evening. At Swanage pier, I have my second open water dive. Damon is my instructor for the evening and Jim is my buddy for the skills. I’m nervous as we approach the floating jetty, but as Damon pulls on his fin, the strap comes away. My mind is focused on his fixing it, and [...]

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Parwich artist Esther Tyson is working on a project to immortalise the seahorses of Dorset in art – but first of all, she has to learn to dive and swim under deep water. Esther’s project diary continues below… 6 days later. There’s a big grin on my face right now, but I’m already starting at [...]

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Click here to read all of Esther’s diary posts on one page. Friday, 5pm. Panic is irrational. Though kitting up when instructed, it was far too soon and sitting in a wet wet-suit for half an hour on a cold overcast evening wasn’t a good start. Already shivering, and the unexpected entry plan just about [...]

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Click here to read all of Esther’s diary posts on one page. Wednesday evening. 51 minutes is not bad for my first open water dive. I was (not literally!) holding my breath the whole time, waiting for the dive to be over. Is this good for a first dive? It’s not exactly the Red Sea [...]

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Click here to read all of Esther’s diary posts on one page. Dorset: day four. More Theory, and a very long day. I crammed the last section, and I was still late leaving. Review #5, an exam and a further written examination: done and passed. My brain is fried!  I’m staying at The Villa on [...]

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Click here to read all of Esther’s diary posts on one page. Dorset: day two. I found my way to the medical centre over in Parkstone with one minute to spare. Blood pressure, pulse, heart and lungs. The result: fit for diving, with no restrictions. The Doc examines guys that dive to a depth of [...]

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Parwich artist Esther Tyson is working on a project to immortalise the seahorses of Dorset in art – but first of all, she has to learn to swim underwater. Esther’s project diary continues below… Dorset: day one. I’m tired; it’s been a long day starting with a drive around Holton Heath Trading Estate looking for [...]

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Parwich artist Esther Tyson is working on a project to immortalise the seahorses of Dorset in art – but first of all, she has to learn to swim underwater. Esther’s project diary continues below… I have not been under water for six weeks, due to an inner ear infection. But now, rested, all is set! The [...]

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Parwich artist Esther Tyson is working on a project to immortalise the seahorses of Dorset in art – but first of all, she has to learn to swim underwater! Esther’s project diary continues below… Day Eleven. I’m back from London in time to grab my swim bag and walk to Matt’s. (Matt is a dive [...]

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Parwich artist Esther Tyson is working on a project to immortalise the seahorses of Dorset in art – but first of all, she has to learn to swim underwater! Esther’s project diary continues below… Day Seven. I couldn’t repeat the last session – my face is burning from all the failed attempts at holding my breath. I [...]

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Parwich artist Esther Tyson is working on a project to immortalise the seahorses of Dorset in art – but first of all, she has to learn to swim underwater! Esther’s project diary continues below… Day Five. I’ve moved from the pool at Sandybrook to the 25m pool in Ashbourne Leisure Centre. Every pool I’ve swum [...]

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