In late June 2007 I travelled to Cornwall with Ashford Dive Club for seven days diving based firstly in St Ives and then Falmouth. Throughout the week the weather was truly awful with strong winds, driving rain and chilly air temperatures. As a consequence the limited diving available was very disappointing. To add to Rick Stewart’s woes, he had the misfortune to share B&B rooms with me in St Ives and Falmouth and to be my dive buddy.

Our ADC group in St Ives consisted of Rick and I, Dee Smith, Paul Hymers, Sharon Meadows and Owen Hadley and club guest Graeme “Spotty” Hastings. I had expected to do around 20 to 25 dives during the week but as a result of the appalling weather, I had to settle for only 8 with just 1 dive in St Ives. This was to Seal Island near St Ives on San Pablo III. The less said about the dive the better but suffice to say that I was not impressed by the dive boat and the only seals I saw were in St Ives harbour.