Going scuba diving? Curb your enthusiasm!

Part of the fun of a dive trip lies in the build-up, says Yo-Han Cha, who can hardly contain himself at the best of times.

Any divers living on the South Coast of England will tell you that this autumn and winter’s weather hasn’t been conducive to diving. As I write, spring looks like it might be thinking about making an appearance; in fact, it has graciously allowed me a couple of weekend trips to Porthkerris, Cornwall for my first English sea dives of the year. It was nice to be able to go diving without taking any annual leave for a change. The diving I’ve managed this year has been most enjoyable, and it has served to whet my appetite for the season to come.

There are so many places to go diving in the UK that I’ve not been able to fit them all in this year! I’ve had to keep a careful eye on both my annual leave allowance and my girlfriend’s patience, and I think my dive trips for 2024 have maxed out the balances of both. But this year should be a lot of fun.  

I love the sense of build-up and anticipation of any dive trip. Even the admin is a pleasure; the process of arranging transportation and accommodation is tinged with excitement. And as the dive trip draws nearer, anticipation builds some more. Cylinders need to be filled; weather apps checked and checked again. Sometimes dive kit needs to be fixed from the previous trip, often at the last minute. Decisions need to be made on buying new kit… or can a spare be found? Ferry times are checked and if you’ve ever missed one, double checked. Ear plugs are handy if you’re sharing a room (especially with me). 

Should I change my camera setup before I set off, or shall I wait until I get there? When was the last time I checked my tyre pressures and do I need petrol? It’s all part of the build-up. 

I love the sense of build-up and anticipation of any dive trip

There is a triumphant moment just before a dive trip, when you shut down your work computer, leaving the out-of-office email to send out gloatingly insincere messages of apology – freedom beckons!  

If you’re running short of annual leave, you may choose to hit the road on Friday afternoon, hoping that the Bristol/ M25/ M6 rush hour traffic will be kind to you. It never is. Or you might be setting off at a more leisurely pace, which does happen to me occasionally. On my more relaxed departures I invariably forget something! 

Whether or not I’ve rocked up to my destination with all the things I need to go diving, it’s great to get there. Meeting up with old friends and making new ones. Hugs and handshakes accompany every greeting and depending on where we are, are usually followed up with offers of a cuppa or a pint.  

If there’s any energy left from the drive up, there’s fat to be chewed and “When’s ropes off?” is asked multiple times because no-one’s read the organiser’s email. All this before anyone’s even hit the water. It’s going to be a great summer and I’m so excited for it.

Article ‘Mounting anticipation’ by Yo-Han Cha first published in SCUBA magazine, Issue 147 July/August 2024.