Good, bad, good, bad news

I had some good news, then bad news, then good news, then bad news.

On Friday (1 May) I did my last major dive requirements, and then I also did my deepest dive. The recomended depth limits for divers vary depending on their training. For scuba divers the limit is 12m, for open water it’s 18m, for advanced divers it’s 30m, for experienced divers (eg with specialty or divemasters) it’s 40m. To dive deeper you should instead to “tec diving”.

My previous deepest dive was 35m at Blue Hole. One of the concerns of deep diving is getting nitrogen narcosis (like being stoned)… but 35m was no problem. I was planning on edging out my record slowly, but on Friday we went down to 51m! I was under the watchful eye of a tec diver and all was fine, but I did get a little “narked”. After that, I was in an excellent mood for the rest of the day. Good news #1.

But later that day I started to have a sore ear. The next day my ear was still sore and I was worried that it would stop me diving when I only needed one more dive. Bad news #1.

But, but… the doc gave me the OK and I got to go diving down south (where I hadn’t dived before), I did my final dives and finished my deep diver speciality and my divemaster course. Good news #2.

But, but, but… this morning I was supposed to get in two final dives at my favourite places (Canyon & Blue Hole). Instead I woke up sick and have spent the whole day in bed with a head & stomach ache. I missed turtles, going the wrong way down the canyon and a good day diving. Bad news #2.

All in all, the good has been better than the bad. I’m now a divemaster, so I’ve done what I came for. If I feel good enough, I will head off to Israel tomorrow. It will be strange leaving Dahab after five weeks as it’s become a home of good places & good people. But it’s time to go. We’re having a BBQ at Caleb’s place tonight, which is an appropriate “goodbye”. And then back on the road.