Its a shame my first post on this topic on this site is about how I haven’t been able to do it for such a long time. With covid, even travelling within the same country has gotten harder in terms of expense (and going abroad has another problem of changing travel rules).

I have to do it soon though. I got the bug 6 years ago (that long already) and my divemaster in 2019, the year before covid hit. My backplate and wing that I sourced from ebay just before covid has yet to be used, and my drysuit latex seals probably need to be replaced at this point. My hands are shaking, and I need to be underwater in order to feel alive (which sounds mad, but speak to another diver and they will probably feel the same). Cycling is nice and all, but its only a brief respite.

When and where can I go? I’m going to rule out south east asia for at least another year (my parents still need a two week hotel quarantine when they return to Hong Kong). Egypt’s Red Sea is also still too risky (poorer countries sadly still have very low rates of vaccination). That leaves the most likely and easiest, good old UK diving. That also gives me a chance to properly take my gear out of storage and give them a proper shakeout. My regs will need servicing and I will need to test the BCD.

I just came back from Orkney actually but not for diving. Most things up there are shockingly expensive (due to desparate English wanting to go anywhere on vacation) so I don’t want to go back up there. Maybe Cornwall in late Autumn or early Winter when tourists give that place a chance to recover? I have a drysuit so it shouldn’t be too cold, plus I enjoyed myself there when I went a couple of years ago.

I’m determined to add another post to this proclaiming my great success.