Sunday 27^th July, 7:15am, suns out and it looks like it’s going to be a good day but as we all know the weather can change dramatically as we head towards the West. I have to say being out at that time on a Sunday morning was something that was quite alien to me, but never the less I was there and ready to go. Gary our instructor picked up Scott and I and we headed off on our journey. This was going to be our first time at a dive site and possibly the first dive for me. The drive up was great I always forget how gorgeous the Scottish landscape is and so close to home too.

About 9:25am stopped at the picturesque village of Inverary for a quick toilet stop and for some of us to grab a light breakfast. Then we were off again heading to the destination of Loch Fyne. Twenty minutes later we were there, it was great to see a café and toilets on hand a great luxury, and even better the sun was still shining.

We looked on as Julie, and Gary the instructors, and Gary a trainee diver got all their kit assembled and ready for their first dive of the day. I stood watching them and looking at the water, I found it hard to comprehend that they were actually going in there.

They all checked their kit and got into their gear, once they were just about ready they went through the dive plan to make sure everyone was clear on what was happening. The water was pretty choppy out there and not to mention all the jelly fish swirling around and caught on the rocks. Not so keen on jelly fish I have to say! We then walked down with them to their entry point by this time they were feeling the heat, I never knew people could go that colour! They went in and soon disappeared and surfaced 40 minutes later.

During the break between dives they got me to try the gear on to see if it all fitted, at this point  I hadn’t decided if I was going to go in for the next dive or not but I felt this was a plan on their part. It felt strange putting all the gear on and possibly for real this time and you soon see why hyperthermia is such a worry as with the sun out it doesn’t take long for you to be well-done in those suits. “Well, you’ve got all the gear on you might as well go in?” Julie said, I did want to but at the same time I was so nervous, scared really of the unknown and in case I forgot all my training. Well I bit the bullet and decided to give it a go.

It was now 1pm, I had assembled my kit and it had all been checked. We headed down to the water, me this time in my dry suit, I was spoilt as Gary carried my kit down to the waters edge for me. I was having a hard enough time negotiating the rocks as it was and battling the nerves. Julie was dive leader so briefed us all on the dive plan, we planned to go to ten metres and be down for 25 minutes. Once we were all happy we kitted up and headed into the water.

Once in the water with my jacket fully inflated we did our final safety checks making sure we were happy that everything worked as it should do. I took an opportunity to see what it looked like down there, I looked under the water and all I could see was a mass of green and I couldn’t see my feet – oh dear I’m not going to like this I thought! Once everyone was happy we begun our descent, at first I couldn’t really see anything I could hardly make out Julie in front of me, but then all of a sudden it cleared and I could see brilliantly better than I thought I would be able to. And it’s so calm down there you have no idea what its doing at the surface. I held onto [instructor] Gary's hand most of the way, I thought that if I did anything wrong or he needed to change my direction he could do it quicker. I was amazed at what I saw, there were sea urchins everywhere, just like you can buy in the shops but living and all different sizes too, just sitting on the rocks everywhere you looked. Starfish, wow, I have never seen so many and there were tiny ones and ones that must have been a foot across just all around you. Julie even decided to have a little dance with one. (We also saw a few fish not very big ones but we were in the bay,) Gary also picked up a large crab to show me and then we watched it scuttle back off. The time flew by and before I knew it we were heading up back to the surface, the longest part was the three minute safety stop at three metres but even then there’s plenty to be looking at. We then surfaced and headed back in. That was no easy task let me tell you, negotiating the rocks and feeling exhausted while carrying all your gear. I was amazed how much it took out if you, you don’t think your doing a lot but you really feel it. It’s so different from doing it in the pool. I thought the visibility was great but Julie and Gary said that it wasn’t that good, so I can’t imagine what it must be like on a good day but I can’t wait to see it.

Once we made it back to the cars I was so relieved to be able to take the jacket off. It was so bizarre that I had just been in and under the water yet I didn’t have to dry off I could get changed straight but into my clothes and the only thing that was slightly damp was my hair. I was also amazed at how comfortable a temperature I was while under the water, I was never aware of the cold water and I wasn’t too warm, I was fine. But boy had I worked up a thirst and an appetite. We sorted and packed away all the gear and headed off to a café down the road and ordered some well earned food, Gary had managed to put a chip into Julies windscreen as she had followed us out the car park from the dive site, must have been a stray stone – expensive dive trip for someone!

As we headed back home it was hard to stay awake. I knew I would sleep well that night. I was so glad I did it but it feels so surreal, but does make you wonder how much more you can see out there. Most people have no idea about what there are missing and you don’t have to go off to exotic places Scotland has a lot to offer.

But one thing I would like to say is choosing the right diving club and having good instructors makes all the difference. Good training before hand I think is so important.  I never once was concerned for my safety and I had complete faith in Julie and Gary and I thank them for making me feel relaxed and as happy as possible so I could enjoy my first dive. Hopefully there will be many more.