At the National Watersports Festival, Dive Rutland used dryrobes for those participating in the try dives, a) to keep warm under b) get changed under and c) to just "hang out" in.  

DRYROBE® were kind enough to donate those that we used and since then we have used on a number of occasions.  The last serious use was in Pembrokeshire as part of our Junior Open Water dives... the students on exiting the water were wrapped up in the dry robes to get them warm.  But unfortunately we were so focused on ensuring they got warm that no-one took any pictures of the three of them...

 So its uses are far and wide, here are a few of our suggestions.

Sports: Obviously surfing as that is where it all started then there is diving, kitesurfing, motocross, mountain biking, open water swimming, outdoor obstacle races, sailing, standup paddle boarding, surfing, surf lifesaving, triathlons, windsurfing
Camping - ever put a tent up in poor conditions? well next time wear your dryrobe®
Sideline support - whilst supporting your loved one playing the sport of their choice i.e. Rugby... how many times has it been rainy, cold or generally miserable but you are there... well wear a dryrobe® and you will be warm and dry.
Walking the dog

​and much, much more. So whatever use you decide to put your dryrobe® to, it will keep you warm and dry and guess what we are your local stockist, so what are you waiting for - come and get one

​Number 5 BCD here (Aka “Jonny 5”)! Wow what an amazing week I have had.

Back in June I heard one of the club members talking about how she was going to Fuerteventura in September and I was determined I was going to go! 

She used to use number 7 all the time, but when she lost a little weight my luck was in! I couldn't believe it when she picked me back in August. Since then I’ve always made sure I have given her the best buoyancy I possibly can and she actively hunts me down now when she comes to pool practice nights. So when she confirmed she was going to Fuerteventura on a club trip I couldn't contain my excitement. I have been counting down the days till I got to enjoy some sunshine and see a whole new world. No other Aqualung BCD from the Dive Rutland container had ever been abroad, I felt so honoured to be the first :-)

Dive Rutland hire out kit to members for any of the trips, so when she came to collect me the day before the holiday she also collected Reggie regulators and a wetsuit amongst other little bits. 

I went home with her, and next thing I knew I was packed in her suitcase. A few hours later and my first aeroplane ride and I was in a luggage hall surrounded by people speaking Spanish. A little scary, but I was excited to dive somewhere other than Stoney cove!

The next day I was taken to the Deep Blue Diving Centre. Wow, the sun was shining bright and there was so many other BCDs there. Its a busy place, but everyone was so friendly. She told me we would dive at 1315 but when we got there the owner Rolle told her to get ready for an extra dive at 1100, so it was straight into the sea! Whoop! Wow Wow Wow is all I can say… we saw so many fish together, colourful ones and big ones.

The next dive in the afternoon however was a little more eventful. We rolled in off the bouncy RIB boat together and into the salty sea. It was rough, with big crashing waves. I was feeling a little queasy but knew I had to look after her. Besides we had fish and stingrays to find and watch. I loved the scenery and we had an amazing dive together. Fortunately I found my sea legs quick as she was very very sea sick when she surfaced. I was worried she would not want to get back in again after this, but Rach P (owner of my new best mate “Scuba smurf” BCD) managed to help her with magic tablets & the Dive centre gave her special chewing gum so we could continue our adventures together. 

Yesterdays training at Stoney was a little special.  First of all it was exceptionally quiet as you can see from the pictures taken yesterday at 7:20

It was Wreck Speciality​ day, nothing particularly special about that, I hear you all think... well today was a little special.  First of all this was the final speciality required by Sam Adcock for his Master Scuba Diver.  One that he had always wanted to do but had to wait until he was fifteen to complete, so he could have completed another 'easier' speciality before today, but choose to wait... on top of that we also completed his fifth dive during the course.​​

​Sam, joined us in our Seal team and has progressed through Junior Open Water and all the way to Master Scuba Diver (well once a little paperwork has been completed!).  He has also introduced in recent times to Haribo Strawberries and Party Rings (do you remember those?)

​So a very special day indeed... one I was very proud to be part of...  Well done Sam....

Day 5
The mornings guide was Rob for a 10 min rib ride out to Tesoro Negro...again thanks to Rolle for his magic gum!
Deeper dive site covered in black coral. Massive Scorpion fish lives here!

The afternoon dive guide was Henrick and we hopped back on the Rib for another 10 min ride to el mirador.  A rugged deep gorge with a deep drop off, ideal for the Barracuda that greeted us as soon as we dropped over the edge. 
Lots of interesting overhangs, pretty topography and lots of nooks and crannys to explore, found a tiny white and purple nudibranch.  Huge grouper found hiding under a overhang.  Also seen were bleny, fireworms, amber jacks, glass eye fish, parrot fish and a flounder. 
Unfortunately for us it seemed we were on the wrong boat....they apparently saw a massive turtle at Barranco....but no photo.... So in our world of no picture it not count - Danny sorry it doesn't count?!​

Day 6
Today's guide- Henrick 
Dive 1- Aiming to dive El Tazar but the current decided otherwise and took us to the next site along, Tesoro Negro.
Same site as yesterday but the current was against us! 

Dive 2- El Muellito
The whole group took the 10 min rib ride out. Reefs dropped off to 40m.
Big nudibranch & a group of grumpy grouper that came flying round a corner and there was a moment of anticipation to see why or what they were rushing for/from!  But alas, nothing.... seemed no reason at all - it is a little like that car journey where you slow down for ages, thinking an accident ahead and then all of a sudden you are driving back at a normal speed! 
The boat ride back was the soggiest trip yet! Waves crashing over us all as we bounced back to the dive centre.

Dive 3- night dive
The two Rachel's went with guides Danny and Shannon to see Mole by night.  The first ever night dive for one of them!  The visibility was amazing despite the darkness. The octopus came out hunting and we managed to find it, he came sooooo close at one point we thought he was going to land on the go pro or ink at us!
Massive sea hares were everywhere, and there was a cute little yellow nudibranch... Although Danny didn't share his Atlantic Ray with the rest of us!

So that brings us to the end of our dive trip here in Fuerteventura and leaves us to say thanks to every one at Deep Blue Diving, its been great fun... and see you again soon.

From back left to right- Ollie, Henrick, Frank,Mandy, Shannon, Rach, rob, Katie, volker, Sophie. 
​Front- Rach, Danny, Rolle 

Day 3 - Second Dive Day
9am meet for the morning Dive to Barranco, with our guide Danny.
A couple of us took a short boat ride of about 2 mins from the dive centre to a lovely little site with overhangs and columns. We saw stingray, swarms of bream, moray eels amongst everything else the other members of the group decided to stay local and work on their buoyancy skills.

Dive 2
The two Rachel's went for a 'unguided' dive around the house reef Mole...(was that wise Rachel after all do you actually know what a compass is?)  a little like stoney on a bad day until you get around the corner where it opens up to be lovely and clear... we were on a mission to find that seahorse!

​After an hour No seahorses were found but nonetheless we found an octopus and got accepted into a school of baby barracuda! 

Day 4
Dive 1- With Rob our guide for today, our first dive was at Anfiteatro- Trumpet fish, stingrays (including one that got annoyed with Rach P for shining the torch towards him when he was having a nap) and Moray eels.
​

Dive 2: Barranco: As the previous day we returned to this site to see what else it had to offer (also building up how far was safe to venture on the boat-big thanks to the deep blue dive crew for looking after the green gilled of the group and esp to Rolle for his magic chewing gum

We found a rather large nudibranch!

But...he did share his house with a very angry moray... always remember to pay more attention to your buddy and not turn away after the 1st signal! Although buddy needs to give danger (moray) before nice (nudibranch) signals!
After watching some go-pro footage back... we found we have the 'Swedish chef' in our group!  For those that do not know the 'Swedish Chef', click here

For the part of the group that stayed local....found the elusive seahorse!!  Much to the dismay of the rest of the group! 

Day 1 - Travel Day
So everyone met up at East Midlands Airport, ready for a weeks diving in Fuerteventura.  All checked in and through security with no issues - usually at this point we get stopped because the person(s) on X-ray do not recognise the shapes of Regulators, so as a trial we opened them up and hey presto, we were not stopped.  Yay!

The extra posh body scanning machine well that was a different story as one of the group managed to 'break' theirs and before you say anything it was not Rach P!!!!
After a good flight, met by Ollie from Deep Blue Diving for the short transfer and check in to our hotel for the week, the Barcelo Castillo Beach Resort

Day 2
Today consisted of two dives... the first on the House Reef - Mole (no not the furry type).  This was a nice little shake down dive to break everyone in gently with the possibility of ....seahorses.... yeah right.... still to be found but none the less a nice little dive with the fishes and a large school of baby barracuda

Dive 2 - Antifeatro, now this was a little more interesting!  A rather choppy trip out on the rib to the dive site but we did see a turtle on the surface.  Rolled in and everyone gathered at the bottom of the line.  Lots to see - Moral eel, mackerel, nice little swim through the chimney... stalked by bream... trumpet fish found ... a lovely site.
The boarding back onto the boat wasn't quite so smooth for some and the trip back well... what goes on tour stays on tour... and up to the individuals to tell you if they want you to know... but apparently the boat had to be well cleaned....