As Mid Herts members read these statements about the fantastic weekend organised by Dawn, they will begin to see that this was no ordinary dive, No other dive I have ever done could compare to this one. Let's look at the track to the site, if you could call it that. If you have ever been to Arlesey on a very wet morning and driven down the dirt track you would slip and slide all over the place... well this track was a lot worse with very narrow gates and sharp bends and bumps that could rip your exhaust off if you go too quick. On the return journey Trevor's car couldn't get enough grip to get through one off the gates, so all the heavy dive gear had to be off-loaded!

Once we had arrived at the car park you would begin to think that you had taken the wrong turn. We had come to do some diving and to do that we would need a lake and I couldn't see one... Dawn then began to point to the direction we would need to go, about 70 meters away from the car park was a small stream, which got larger as it entered a 150 METRE LONG TUNNEL!!!! which was very low and dark. We would need to carry all our kit through this tunnel to the end where it opened up into a cavern. As you go through the tunnel the water level gets higher, not a problem for most of us. However Trevor Miller (PAPA SMURF) claims that this was his first dive and that he would need extra surface time before his next one.

We could now see close up, the lake where we would dive, we were in a hole with vertical walls of slate that rose 150 meters above us and on the top you could see trees hanging on by their now exposed roots due to the slate that had fallen away. Once we rested, we would continue on which was now the shortest part of our haul.

So onto the final part of our journey, this wasn't going to be that easy. We now had to lower ourselves and all the kit down a 5 metre ladder made out of scaffold to the steep track that would lead (at last) to the beach area which was only about 4 meters wide and 5 meters long.

We created a "chain-gang" style line and passed the kit from one to the other.

All the kit was now at the waterside ready for our dives. Everything including, as Peter mentioned, the TOILET SEAT. This was a standard toilet seat with a see through plastic bag attached underneath and when assembled would much look the same as a commode. Paul (Rosey) had brought this one along and I know if needed, wouldn't have thought twice about using it! Remember we are on a small 4 meter by 5 meter long area where everyone will have a full view of any user, filling the see through bag! Let’s not forget that us divers are eco friendly and always take our rubbish home! So picture this, a bag of possibly Paul's S**T in a wet bag full of kit being taken back on the return journey, which would be harder after a day’s diving, and then once at the cars being squashed in the boot, well do I need say more?! Paul, please leave the seat at home in future.

Once rested we then began to kit up, Paul happily dropping his dry suit and standing with just his under pants on, unfortunately we were not alone! Across to the side of the lake was a cavern, and a young couple where sat enjoying the surroundings. That was until Paul exposed himself. When Paul realised he apologised and made himself decent. The young couple shouted out that it was OK and they didn't see anything Or was it they couldn't see anything, I can't remember now!

Dawn now started to deliver the safety brief, this covered absolutely everything - nothing was missed, (apart from the toilet seat). It was obvious that she had spent a lot of time in her preparation for this adventurous dive and all of us would have a part to play, from coordination to buddy rescue assistance, and AED and O2 preparation. Having the use of a sat phone and all the correct co-ordnance details for Helicopter evacuation.

Well onto the diving. Hodge close has caverns and tunnels and a max depth of 27meters, all of which were dived, It's a fantastic site but not for the faint hearted and I fully understand why Dawn only wanted Dive Leaders. All of us worked hard and as a well organised team. Nothing needed to be said as we all just got on and done what needed to be done, this is where experience showed. It’s fantastic that a bunch of people from all walks can get together and work as a highly professional team with one goal...TO GO DIVING

Thanks Dawn, a tremendous day out. You have certainly raised the bar and many thanks to my fellow divers:

Adrian
Paul
Chris Hazel
Peter
Dan
James
Trevor Miller

Keith

The 150m long tunnel to the ladder


Aerial view of tye quarry


The scaffold ladder


At 24 metres down, inside the 30 metre tunnel to the first chamber


The sign at the entrance to the tunnel towards chamber 2