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 at two thirty prompt. I arrived early, dumped my kit at the kiosk and parked up the other side of town – giving myself a short walk back to collect my nerves, all of them it seems…
Back to the Pier and I noticed a chap, suited up and sitting in a grey rib eating his sandwiches. It’s Chris. We shout our greetings and I’m introduced to Gary: our skipper for the afternoon and general boat cover. Once togged up, I wade out to join them on the rib, hand over my kit and clamber on (in a very un-ladylike fashion).
The last time I was on a rib was under very different conditions. For one, it was a white knuckle ride, and for the other I was terrified of deep water! We speed out and round Harrys Rock to the no-anchor zone at Studland. I enjoy every moment!
After a short briefing we kit up, with words from earlier scrolling through my mind:
Sit on the edge of the rib, heel of your hand on the reg and fingers on the mask, with your other hand hold down any dangly bits. Roll backwards. You will want to panic and flail around when you hit the water, but remain still, calm, breathe. You will go down and then your stab jacket (BCD) will bring you back up to the surface the right way up, easy.
I roll backwards and hit the surface. I watch and feel the water cloak around me as I plunge under. With Shep’s advice in mind, I wait, still – and moments later, the air in my BCD brings me back to the surface.
WOW! Do it again!
We descend to 2m. Everything is gargantuan! The grass is as tall as I’ve seen it, the wrasse are fully grown and the snakelocks are incredible. I draw a little; we fin and explore. I can hear a jet-ski, then another; there is a lot of activity on the surface today, but down here it’s easy to get lost in my own little world.
PARWICH.ORG 
Can’t believe this is the same person I went ;swimming with at Ashbourne Leisure Centre who wouldn’t put her face in the water! Fantastic achievement Esther, can’t wait to see the outcomes of your work.
Amanda
I KNOW!!!! CRAZY isn’t it! Who would have thought all this would be possible!
I will be showing the work in Dorset in the spring 2012 but am sure I can share it with everyone at the village hall before hand!
Esther