Wow – ich habe jetzt seit fast einem Jahr nicht mehr getaucht, und somit war das erst mein achter Tauchgang seitdem ich mit dem Tauchen angefangen habe. Ich habe den Tauchgang gestern wirklich genossen, obwohl die Sicht durch Schwebeteilchen blockiert war (Sichtweite um die 2m). Oberhalb von sechs metern hatten wir größtenteils 20-23° Celsius. Wir haben sogar ein paar kleinere Fische und zwei Hechte stehen sehen. Gerade durch den doch recht warmen Sommer und die warmen Wassertemparaturen, ist die Unterwasserflora doch sehr üppig, um nicht zu sagen wuchernd, gewesen. Ich hoffe, und werde natuerlich mein Bestes versuchen, zukünftig wieder häufiger zum Tauchen zu kommen.Wow – haven’t dived for almost a year now and so it was the eigth dive at all since I’ve started diving. I really enjoyed our dive yesterday, although the sight was blocked by suspended particles (range of sight around 6,5 ft). For the most part, above ~20ft, we had a temperature of 20-23° celsius. We also had the chance to see some smaller fishes as well as two pikes. I guess, mainly because of the warm summer and so warm water temparatures, the subaqueous flora was kinda copius, not to say: it sprawled everywhere. I really hope, and of course I will try my best, to get more often into water again.

Better late than never: from 6th to 10th august I’ve been on Kos/Greece, doing some vacation. Throughout this vacation, I also had the chance to dive there. Well, I would like to warn you in the very beginning that this report might be a bit more enthusiastic than it really was in the end, but this was my first: dive in the ocean, boat dive, drop-in by zodiac and without the equipment that I’m used to. Due to some mis-planning, I could only do one dive, as I had to fly by next day morning.

As far as I could find out, there are three diving schools/shops/centers where you can hire for diving. One of it, is a dive boat (you will find it in the harbour of Kos-City) which is owned by Liamis Dive Center. First, some words about the crew: they are really great in every way; they are always kind and helpful, explaining a lot of things (the boat is mainly used for teaching) and the most remarkable thing was: there are for nearly every european language native speakers on board (incl. german, english, dutch, finnish, several eastern europe languages, greek, italian, spanish and so on). As I chartered for the dive, the crew was somehow surprised, about the qualification (in the end we have been 2 OWD, 1 aOWD and 1 rescue). The rest of the passengers have been dive-trainees, skin-divers or sunbathers.

Our dive lead us to the so called ‘Poseidon Island’ (don’t check the maps, you won’t find it there. The year before they had a dive master who was kinda creative and as the island didn’t had a name so far — it’s just some rock in the ocean — he called it ‘Poseidon Island’). After get dressed and our briefing (thanks to Saraa, our finnish dive master and guide), we have been ready for the dive. The captain put us into the zodiac and shipped us to the drop-in spot. It was a kinda strange feeling to through yourself back for getting into the water, but I guess I did pretty well. The dive itself took 45 minutes and lead us down to 60 feets. Sadly we didn’t saw the promised octupussy, but many fishes and stuff like that. So for someone who never dive in the ocean, it was just: beautiful and awesome. Although we had around 24 degrees, I have to confess that I freezed pretty much in the end (was just a 5mm suit, usually I’m diving a 7mm). Nevertheless, it was a great dive.

As mentioned I couldn’t do the second dive (it was on the other side of the island), so I snorkeld a bit, talked to the instructors and dive masters (some of them have teached/dived all over the world, so very good to get some tips and tricks from more expierenced divers) and took some sun bathing.

Finally I would like to greet and thanks the whole LDC crew for the great dive. I always felt pretty comfortable on the boat and secure throughout the whole dive. Furthermore greetings and thanks to the dive partners.

Yesterday I had my sixth open-water dive (the second after I got my brevet) at the Brechtsee by Rheinsheim (nearby Germersheim) together with the dive group of the company I am working for. Suprisingly for those, who already dived there, they forwarded the entry area and built a stone stair (for getting in it was perfect, but for getting out of the water it was kinda hard to climb half a meter per step).

Myself have not been at this lake before, but I need to say that I have been pleased by the lake. We had more or less good sight (ca. 19-26 ft), but the temperature below 19 feet have been more than just lousy (not to mention the temperatures in 40 feet depth — my face nearly freezed). Altogether we have been in the water for more than one hour and we had the chance to see a lot of fishes (6 pikes, and an uncounted amount of carps and perches).

All in all it is a really beautiful and interesting lake and you should definitively take a shot to dive it. The only thing I could have been abstain from was the mosquito battle after getting out of the water. I think I have not been pricked all over that much for ages. But it cannot be anything perfect.

Actually already a week old, but on 24/25 May I completed my Open Water Diver course. The course have been exhausting sometimes, but it was really a great time. Now, I will try to get some more experience and invest a bit into my own equipment and then I’m going to reach the Advanced Open Water Diver status.