<18.11.2005>
I'm back. We've been diving quite actively but due to the sad "my
new camera is f*cked -episode" I haven't updated this page since June.
Situation is now ok and I'll shoot tons of pics at 57m level, where we haven't
been very often so far. I must admit that it pissed me off big time
leaving my
empty camera housing at home while I've been been diving in the rock under Lohja town
and could have shoot some cool new cave pics. Well, the first shooting session
after the brake did go as planned either when basically everything possible went
wrong. The camera died (well, went to error 99 mode, whatever that is), I
managed to store my light cord under my stage cylinder, not to mention of the
further scramble. Anyway, now I have some new pics. The 57m level is a new world
to me, it
will take a while for us dicovering it. The today's pics are a bit dark because
my 2nd strobe (flooded) is being repaired. I think I'm slowly getting the
idea how to shoot some good ones. I'll charge my camera battery and get
back in there!
<12.7.2005>
Holy cow, it's hot! Haven't gone much diving lately, except some
occasional evening trips to the local wrecks. Putting the diving suit
on in this heat is such a pain that I think I'll wait for a little
cooler weathers. Wearing a 7mm wet suit would be an option in shallower
waters, but unfortunately all our interesting dive sites are well below
20 meters, and one cannot survive there for more than 10 mins. Even
though I have been to some nice wrecks lately I do not have any new
photo material because my new Canon was flooded. My friends took it to
an archaelogical camp to chart some ancient wrecks, but accidentally
one of the clamps had obviously left unclipped. Well, shit just happens
to anyone. Fortunately the camera was insured for such incidents, so I
guess, I'll have a brand new one soon. Have a nice summer, everyone!
<5.4.2005>
I've upgraded my camera equipment and I'm sure it shows. I've used the my new
Canon 20D with an Ikelite housing since the Cyprus trip. After I showed the
today's pics to my wife it was not really a problem convince her of the necessity
of the new camera gear even if I'd just spent a price of a nice used car on an
uw scooter. Well, now she's after a new car. Sorry, but we cannot afford one at
the moment. Life's a bitch and then you dive!
<5.3.2005>
The scooters arrived!! I cannot describe the joy of driving my own scooter for
the first time. I was so thrilled that while the gas consumption is usually
supposed to decrease, mine propably increased at first. Well, maybe not. For the
next some 20 dives we'll not intend to penetrate in the caves, but practise our
scootering skills in the open pool area instead. Actually it is an overhead
environment too, as there is a solid ice cover in winter time, so we'll have to
be very careful and follow the cave rules.
<17.1.2005>
Santa didn't bring me a scooter, so it looks like I have to buy one myself.
Actually we have decided to order a whole bunch of them with my diving
buddies within a couple of weeks, we just haven't made our minds between Gavin
and Submerge yet. My subjective choise would be SS but due to the quite
long delivery times we might choose to go with Gavin. The visibility in the open
pool area at Ojamo is getting better towards the spring, which makes us
brilliant practicing conditions. It will take a lot of scootering practice in
open water before entering the caves with them. Damn, I'm impatient. I want a
scooter NOW!
