Hi Sherry,

You wrote:
>
> Hi Gang,
>    Well the swells were too high to do our deep dive so no advance certification again this week. We are going to the Poor Knights next Saturday so maybe, just maybe we will be advance divers after that. Who knows at this point. Well we decided to do the lake again and it was coooold;-). We went in at the warmest part of the day; some friends were already down there teaching classes.

Sorry to hear about another postponed cert dive, but the important thing
is that you still got to dive. :-)


>   As we were descending I developed a headache across my forehead. Like an ice cream headache. I thought as it was getting so intense that I can handle this, I really didn't want to abort the dive we haven't had a dive for 2 weeks and I was sure looking forward to diving. I was hoping that it would go away, as I became numb, yes it went away, I think the water was 12c so any exposed flesh was instantly seared;-).

I think that's called freezer burn.  Careful or they may have to
amputate that pretty head of yours.  :-)


> I know I am nuts but what can I say I was desperate for a dive.

I couldn't help but noticed during my visit to see you guys that Tim,
while driving the wet streets of Auckland, kept sizing up the rain
puddles as potential dive sites.  :-)  Now that's desperate!  <BWG>
...aahhhhh yes, another totally hooked diver.


> We saw a few perch we decided to see where the black cloud in the lake was, usually at 18 meters. We went 18, then 20 and then 25 no cloud just getting darker. The cloud is usually a bunch of debree where you can't see 1 meter in front of you.

After seeing the size of the eels in the tank at the Auckland museum, I
look forward to an encounter with them in the wild.  They are huge!  How
often do you see them during your lake dives?


> When we went to 25 we decided to stop since we haven't been down that far before and we haven't went down with an instructor. I am a very conservative diver, my husband would have gone down further but its 64 meters and I am not strong enough swimmer to go get him if he
> gets Narcosis. So I signaled enough and he followed.

...just like a good buddy would.


> We had a great dive even though it was so cold at that time. I can't wait until next week. Didn't see much but I was with my best buddy and nothing can compare with that kind of company.
> Cheers
> Sherry

Thanks again for a wonderful time and letting me share in your birthday
celebration.  It was a pleasure meeting you and Tim in person.  I'm in
love with New Zealand and envy you living there.  I look forward to a
return trip to swap stories, share another good meal, and (when it's
warmer :-)) enjoy some great diving.

Best regards,
Russ

BTW, I'll send you the pix I took of us together...