Training at the Dive Studio 
(Sunday 6th December 2009 by Alan Harman)

FIVE adventurous souls attended the Dive Studio in Basildon. For those who don’t know, the Studio is an indoor, underwater film studio tank. It is six metres deep, approximately 8 metres square, and warm at 30 degrees. Various TV, film, video and magazine shots have been taken in these balmy waters. These intrepid divers, were giving up their Sunday to improve their dive skills.

We had couple Lynda Westall and Jim Ridings, putting their rebreathers through side slung cylinder exchanging. And they both developed new signals of displeasure, which are unprintable.

Monika used the opportunity to test out her new dry suit. Whizzing around, up and down, testing buoyancy skills, kit configuration and most of all, did she leak? Now, we all know that Monika isn’t wet, and so it proved!

Lorna Crump’s dislike (loathing), of removing her demand valve, under water, made her training easy! A controlled buoyant lift, on an out of gas buddy, “air sharing”. I can hear the murmurs of discontent now. “Air sharing is not a BSAC exercise”. 

Well just call me mean, but it taught Lorna, pictured above, and Monika a valuable lesson, always check your buddy's alternative gas supply is working! After rescuing yours truly and Monika, sharing one DV, Lorna has conquered her dislike of removing her mouthpiece.

We will be booking the Dive Studio again very soon in the New year, so look out for the memo, as this Studio is excellent for diver training.