Well done to all divers who took part in the Leading Diver event in Smerwick Harbour (West of Dingle) over the past weekend.  Twenty nine divers under the experienced eye of Jury President Nigel Kelleher, Inbhear Sceine Kerry Sub Aqua Club and Sub-JP, Timmy Carey from the Blackwater Club.
In the South West the Leading Diver Weekend is traditionally located in Smerwick Harbour (Cuan Ard na Caithne), this bay is in the lee of the “Three Sisters” and almost in the shadow of Mount Brandon (Barr an Ghearain)  it is sheltered from all but Nor’westerlies.

Matt Culloty (Blackwater) and Greg Jagielski (Daunt)

Saturday morning the divers awoke to wind and heavy rain, good testing Leading Diver conditions.  As RDO, I was hoping it would improve.  Undaunted our intrepid Leading Diver candidates got the show on the road so to speak and headed out into the bay in search of 40 meters to drop shot lines for the 40 Mtr dive.  I waited on the slip at Wine strand got coffee and Figrolls to keep my JP and SJP focused.  In due course, the four boats arrived back safely and brought the sun with them.

Graham Sherlock (UCC), Dermot Roche (Waterford)

After soup and sandwiches at the slip the newly sustained candidates summoned the troops for the twenty meter “simulated training” afternoon dive.  Once again the slip became quiet.  The JP and SJP took into the substantial paperwork that accumulates over this weekend.  All was going well and the day really improved to blue skies.  I acquired a deck chair – my work being done – love it!

L-R… Fintan O’Kelly (Naas), Lucas Witowski (Atlantis), Gar Spollen (Curragh), Graham Sherlock, Sean Kenny (Dalkey), Eleanor Cunningham (UCD).

Saturday night was finished off with dinner in the Smerwick Harbour Hotel.  Everyone who has been involved in Leading Diver events in Smerwick will know this hotel it’s synonymous with the event.
Batteries recharged the group awoke to a good Sunday morning, South Easterly breeze and a very light chop on the sea.  With the wind behind all boats headed out of the bay and around the corner for diving under the wonderful angled rock formations of the Three Sisters and Sybll Head to be seen in the distance.  The conditions were excellent.  I have been involved in many Leading Diver weekends and could count on one hand the amount of times we have managed to get out of the bay – so fantastic, everyone was delighted.

Nigel Kelleher – JP.

Once again the weekend was a success, a nice bunch of Leading Divers were certified and achieved the highest diving grade, they will go home to their clubs and hopefully take the next step to becoming instructors themselves.  At Leading Diver weekends everybody wins, new friends are made; lessons are learned, unsuccessful candidates often go home and come back better than ever the following year.  Successful candidates feel proud and satisfied with their achievements.

Thank you to all who helped make the event happen, the candidates, the examiners, the Jury coordinator the Tigh an Phóist Hostel, the Smerwick Harbour Hotel, the clubs who provided boats, (Daunt, Blackwater, UCC and Naas) and everyone else who took part in the weekend.  Well done one and all.

You know who you are. Well done one and all.