2010.07.04 15:23:44

rnoonan

Summer in Portroe Quarry

Saturday morning was like any other morning to me as I prepared my gear for a dive in Portroe quarry. Little did I know that far away in a leafy suburb in Newport...a plan was being hatched...a plan unlike any other...Yes Mike Orth was planning, scheming, (and yes, even selective recruiting!) to be the man to find the missing bar.

Little did his two partners know as they awaited his arrival at 11am. Emer had being recruited earler for her archaeological backround (yes, nothing was being left to chance.) while I was the brawn for the operation (well it is obvious isn't it?). Mike arrived and told us his plan. It was discussed with Peter, who runs operations in the quarry.  All options as to the bars possible location were discussed including points of launch, trajectories, water behaviour, even the weight and colour of the bar. All that was missing was a powerpoint presentation, cigar smoke and flak jackets.

The plan was devised to do a sweep of the shallows. We kitted up. The plan was changed. A voice of dissent was heard to say " what happened to plan the dive and dive the f*****g plan?" but this voice of revolt was quickly quashed and he (oops!) was brought back into line.

As with any great mission there were technical problems. Once I got in the water my BCD refused to stop inflating due to a worn o-ring. I wished my buddies well and aborted my dive. Do I still get my cut of the reward monies remains to be seen!

On descent Mike quickly spotted the bar over Emers shoulder. He powered ahead and tied a SMB to it for later retrieval. However as he finned away, he recalled the well-known motto of the deep...Finders Keepers Losers Weepers. (or something like that) He knew there were foreign search and recovery personnel in the water (a few polish lads) and he was determined that they would not steal the glory. Finning back, he inflated the SMB and guided the priceless artefact...sorry bar to the surface.

On the surface Peter was anxiously awaiting developments. He hopped from foot to foot on the pontoon like an anxious mother awaiting her teenage daughter home after a night out with a dodgy boyfriend. Ah but his wait was worth it, as Mike brought the bar to the surface and handed it over to Pete. It's fair to say that Pete is still smiling, and maybe even Mike!

I have to say, a very entertaining dive. Every dive in the quarry will seem boring after this search and recovery mission. Maybe a few objects should be deliberately planted at the bottom for divers to go and seek out and retrieve?. It can only improve navigation skills, observational skills, and a bit of craic and banter as well.