St Abbs Winning Weekend

Congratulations to all, some good shots, shame about the weather this year, first year in about ten we have had rough seas on both days.
Looking forward to next year, the 25th anniversary time for me to enter again.
Now i'm published, (yep little old me has a photo in a leaflet about life in the rock pools) Ill have to enter as a pro, thats the rules...

Nice to see everyone having a good time, and hopefully see some more smiling faces their next year

Congratulation to Doc a cracking picture
Sam and John also did really well considering the condition.
Posting a link to my Flickr account so you can all see them.

Flickr

Comment more than welcome.

Thank you to all That voted for my images

Can't wait for next year.
Here are the 3 I entered

Well where do I start!!

A fantastic weekend, I enjoyed every minute of it even though I only managed one dive!! I am still finding the bruises!

Apart from a short dive in the sea at Farnes last year this was what I consider my first proper sea dive. It was a challenge getting in and an even greater challenge getting out. I have to say a massive thank you to Bernd for being an excellent buddy and looking after me through all my buoyancy issues. I still have trouble with air in my boots but I am coping with it better each time. The highlight for me was seeing my first Lobster! A simple thing and something that many of you will take for granted but still exciting for me. The funniest bit was Bernd making me practice fin pivots when we found a bit of clear sand!!!!

Then I came to the getting out part!! The force of the waves jammed me up into a tight spot in the corner and I just hadn't the strength to fight it. It then became a team effort to get me out and I can't say a big enough thank you to Smudge, Squirrel and Bernd for doing it. As I have complete trust in these wonderful guys it wasn't too bad, I got clear precise instructions and the biggest compliment was that I didn't panic and got there in the end. I said I didn't have time for panic as I was too busy swearing!!!

I didn't get to dive again but no matter as I just enjoyed being there.

Well done to everyone who entered the competition and especially to those who won prizes. I hope I am in a position to enter next year, just need to keep diving and put in plenty of practice.

It was good to spend some time with all my friends and I hope more of us can do the same next year, it was brill staying in the caravan considering the rain we had so would really like to do that again, thanks to John for organising that for us all (even though he got roped into it!!)

So that is my dive report, unfortunately no pictures to go with it, but I am sure there will be plenty from the others!!

My second Splash in I didn't enter last year and I only got my camera on Tuesday so wasn't even sure I was going to enter this year. Bit pleased I did.

I Must thank Skies and Dobs for being mu buddies. We had two really good dives. The second a boat dive I'm rather choppy conditions was a little more challenging bit good pictures all round.

Thanks smudge and squirrel for the setup of the projector etc. a vital part of the splashin competition

Congratulations guys for your prize wins. Ed and I will have to try harder next year although we will still be beginners.

Looking forward to the next trip out.

Thanks to all for this lovely weekend, especially to all of the great buddies I had (Julee, Doc, John). Congratulations to all winners and beginners. The group foto looks almost like an Otter ad. ;-)
John, your atmospheric pic was lovely. Pete, I thought your portrait is even funnier than your funny one. Smudge, thanks for everything, especially saving my dive with your spare second stage.
Hope to dive with you all lot soon.
Bernd

Congratulations to you prize winners

Well, what a great weekend!!

Had a great time with family pro-scuba - been a while since I had seen most people and was lovely to catch up again - especially the lovely Dobs fellow who provided me with a valuable lesson in environmentalism

The diving was great - but sadly a touch rough for much shore diving (1x shore dive and 2x boat dives for me) - never seen so many lobsters though - must have been 1 every 2 meters on our 1st boat dive! Great dives with Ed and Will though and my first dive with Mr Bent was a great finish to the weekend (although did stay wet for a giggle in the surf with a Squirrel a Moose and a Smudge).

The photo comp was a great laugh with three (yes three) prizes going to the Kaye family alone and 5 for team pro-scuba in total. Some lovely shots - hopefully we can get all the shots posted over the coming days (will try and upload mine tomorrow).

Lastly, thanks to a few folks. Big thanks for Mr Smudge and Mr Squirrel for sorting all the tech for the photo comp (LOTS of work for those 2 boys) and also to Mr Smudge and Mr Squirrel for spending most of the rest of their weekend helping others with their diving, keeping us safe and working really hard so others could enjoy themselves - really appreciated it guys. Was nice to see you with big smiles on your faces in the surf but for the most part you seemed to be working (thanks for transporting me around as well). Thanks also to Will & Pauline for transporting my forgotten kit home for me and thanks to all of you for being such lovely company this bank holiday

This was my 3rd prize shot.



And this my entry in the portrait shot (not really close to the standard of the winning shots).

Very well done to all those who entered the water let alone the competition.

Ange and myself spent Saturday in Edinburgh catching the last of the free fringe street performances including one brilliant brass jazz band on Greenacres. Truly amazing.

Dive day was planned for diving but come the time the shore dive possibilities proved to be too rough for safety. Having not budgeted for boats, we passed.

Next year, hopefully, I'll enter the competition.

Many thanks to Skies for organising the caravans and thanks to all on site for providing much entertainment in the pub.

Well done to all that entered the comp and congrats to the all especially the winners - next year perhaps............

Big thanks to Squirrel and Smudge for the advice and comedy and to Emms who will, no doubt, have some fun and embarrasing pics for facebook. Also a big thanks to Archie who allowed me to be friends again.

Hopefully, next year will be a bigger and better 'family' weekend for all.

THANKS

We rode giants.....







And we ate cakes!

Sounds like you all had an excellent weekend at St ASbbs with some brilliant results in the photo competition.

Well done to Doc, Sammy, Pies and Pete for your placings. I've tried and better tried to down load some photos but I've failed and better failed !! I will have another go tomorrow as its getting late now..

When are we going to see all the prize winning photos ?

Can anyone give me the link for the instructions on how to download photos ??

Please...........

Rob - if you go to Forum Help & Logistics on the Friends of ProScuba Home page, at the bottom there is a topic entitled 'Uploading photos' which contains a step by step account by smudge how to upload your photos. Hope this helps

Doh, how did I do that ?? Not St Abbs.. Scotland all the same. !!!

You thought about an examiner PR story Pappa?

already sent... you know me and publicity!

A couple of winning shots, first Sammy's, then mine






And some others....

All right, I didnt take part at the splash, but nevertheless I want to show you some of the beauty of St. Abbs.

while the first serie was dominated by the color red, the following is a study of the color white.

Bent, you could have won!!!

Thanks, I appreciate your praise. At least I have now a picture for my christmas cards.

Merry Xmas Bent!

I too would like to pass on my thanks to all that attended the Splash In.



A special thank you must go to Mr Smudge and Mr Squirrel who were literally everywhere for everyone all of the time. These guys worked constantly for everyone elses enjoyment without a pause to themselves. Without their help it simply would not have been as successful.



Everyone provided great company and made for a really good weekend. Count me in for next year!!!



Skies (the lovely chap) has already volunteered to arrange everything again, so lets please support him in making it another success.......







I have attached my two photos from the comp. I didn't win anything other than the experience. But looking on the bright side there is less amateur competition next year...