Algarve diving - a brief report

Alastair <AlastairScarlett@gmail.com> wrote:
> I thought I'd write a little note about the pleasant afternoon
> I spent with Tivoli Diving on the Algarve last week.

http://www.tivoli-diving.com/

> If anyone wants to help ID some of the fish in these
> pictures I'd be most grateful. :o)
> http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f4...arlett/Diving/

The ones in the first picture are called "Sargos" in Portuguese.

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...ry.php?id=1753
Diplodus sargus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The "thing" in the IMG_2310.jpg is called a "sea cucumber" or holuthuria.

The fish in IMG_2322.jpg is very usual in Portugal but I can't remember
its name.

> In summary, the dive school seemed to me to be very well run, with
> nice, friendly staff and I'll certainly go back, assuming my mates and
> I go back for another golf trip next year.

If you have the time, you might want to try Sagres, the west point of Algarve.
It is supposed to be the best spot in Algarve. There are several dive centres
there.

--
http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/

..pt is Portugal| `Whom the gods love die young'-Menander (342-292 BC)
Europe | Villeneuve 50-82, Toivonen 56-86, Senna 60-94

Alastair <AlastairScarlett@gmail.com> wrote:
> I thought I'd write a little note about the pleasant afternoon
> I spent with Tivoli Diving on the Algarve last week.

http://www.tivoli-diving.com/

> If anyone wants to help ID some of the fish in these
> pictures I'd be most grateful. :o)
> http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f4...arlett/Diving/

The ones in the first picture are called "Sargos" in Portuguese.

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...ry.php?id=1753
Diplodus sargus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The "thing" in the IMG_2310.jpg is called a "sea cucumber" or holuthuria.

The fish in IMG_2322.jpg is very usual in Portugal but I can't remember
its name.

> In summary, the dive school seemed to me to be very well run, with
> nice, friendly staff and I'll certainly go back, assuming my mates and
> I go back for another golf trip next year.

If you have the time, you might want to try Sagres, the west point of Algarve.
It is supposed to be the best spot in Algarve. There are several dive centres
there.

--
http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/

..pt is Portugal| `Whom the gods love die young'-Menander (342-292 BC)
Europe | Villeneuve 50-82, Toivonen 56-86, Senna 60-94

Alastair <AlastairScarlett@gmail.com> wrote:
> I thought I'd write a little note about the pleasant afternoon
> I spent with Tivoli Diving on the Algarve last week.

http://www.tivoli-diving.com/

> If anyone wants to help ID some of the fish in these
> pictures I'd be most grateful. :o)
> http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f4...arlett/Diving/

The ones in the first picture are called "Sargos" in Portuguese.

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...ry.php?id=1753
Diplodus sargus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The "thing" in the IMG_2310.jpg is called a "sea cucumber" or holuthuria.

The fish in IMG_2322.jpg is very usual in Portugal but I can't remember
its name.

> In summary, the dive school seemed to me to be very well run, with
> nice, friendly staff and I'll certainly go back, assuming my mates and
> I go back for another golf trip next year.

If you have the time, you might want to try Sagres, the west point of Algarve.
It is supposed to be the best spot in Algarve. There are several dive centres
there.

--
http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/

..pt is Portugal| `Whom the gods love die young'-Menander (342-292 BC)
Europe | Villeneuve 50-82, Toivonen 56-86, Senna 60-94

Alastair <AlastairScarlett@gmail.com> wrote:
> I thought I'd write a little note about the pleasant afternoon
> I spent with Tivoli Diving on the Algarve last week.

http://www.tivoli-diving.com/

> If anyone wants to help ID some of the fish in these
> pictures I'd be most grateful. :o)
> http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f4...arlett/Diving/

The ones in the first picture are called "Sargos" in Portuguese.

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...ry.php?id=1753
Diplodus sargus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The "thing" in the IMG_2310.jpg is called a "sea cucumber" or holuthuria.

The fish in IMG_2322.jpg is very usual in Portugal but I can't remember
its name.

> In summary, the dive school seemed to me to be very well run, with
> nice, friendly staff and I'll certainly go back, assuming my mates and
> I go back for another golf trip next year.

If you have the time, you might want to try Sagres, the west point of Algarve.
It is supposed to be the best spot in Algarve. There are several dive centres
there.

--
http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/

..pt is Portugal| `Whom the gods love die young'-Menander (342-292 BC)
Europe | Villeneuve 50-82, Toivonen 56-86, Senna 60-94

Alastair <AlastairScarlett@gmail.com> wrote:
> I thought I'd write a little note about the pleasant afternoon
> I spent with Tivoli Diving on the Algarve last week.

http://www.tivoli-diving.com/

> If anyone wants to help ID some of the fish in these
> pictures I'd be most grateful. :o)
> http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f4...arlett/Diving/

The ones in the first picture are called "Sargos" in Portuguese.

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...ry.php?id=1753
Diplodus sargus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The "thing" in the IMG_2310.jpg is called a "sea cucumber" or holuthuria.

The fish in IMG_2322.jpg is very usual in Portugal but I can't remember
its name.

> In summary, the dive school seemed to me to be very well run, with
> nice, friendly staff and I'll certainly go back, assuming my mates and
> I go back for another golf trip next year.

If you have the time, you might want to try Sagres, the west point of Algarve.
It is supposed to be the best spot in Algarve. There are several dive centres
there.

--
http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/

..pt is Portugal| `Whom the gods love die young'-Menander (342-292 BC)
Europe | Villeneuve 50-82, Toivonen 56-86, Senna 60-94

Hi All,

I guess it may not interest everyone, a there'll be no mention of
nitrox or deep wreck penetration, but I thought I'd write a little note
about the pleasant afternoon I spent with Tivoli Diving on the Algarve
last week.
Was in the Algarve for a long weekend of golf and had Thursday
afternoon spare so I wanted to fit in some diving. This was the only
active dive school I could find and they were about 30 mins from
Vilamoura.

Did a couple of shore dives, which might not sound too exciting but as
this was to be my first trip since completing my PADI Open Water last
year, I was happy to do anything. It was just me and two guides.
The dive plan for the first dive was to fin out about 35m offshore,
then dive down to the Virginia Rock, which involves a small swim
through. However, I must have got the wrong end of the stick as I
finned out too far and fast, and by the time I looked back the others
were about 20m behind me waving vigorously! By the time I'd finned back
to them I'd used up half my tank! So the first dive was only 22 mins in
6m. Still, there was reasonable viz - 8m, and fish and anemones to see.
Second dive went to plan and we made it to the Virginia Rock. Depth was
9m, viz was 8m again, temp was 15/16 degrees. The swim through wasn't
tight at all - I'd done a tighter one on one of my qualifying dives.
The highlight was seeing a good sized cuttlefish that was happy to hang
around for photos. Also saw an octopus although it was awfully well
camouflaged. If anyone wants to help ID some of the fish in these
pictures I'd be most grateful. :o)
http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f4...arlett/Diving/

In summary, the dive school seemed to me to be very well run, with
nice, friendly staff and I'll certainly go back, assuming my mates and
I go back for another golf trip next year. Pretty sure they do boat
trips as well, but for a spare afternoon, the shore dive was enough for
me.

Cheers
Alastair
(first time poster)

"Alastair" <AlastairScarlett@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1147339350.140139.196370@j33g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Hi All,
>
> I guess it may not interest everyone, a there'll be no mention of
> nitrox or deep wreck penetration, but I thought I'd write a little note
> about the pleasant afternoon I spent with Tivoli Diving on the Algarve
> last week.
> Was in the Algarve for a long weekend of golf and had Thursday
> afternoon spare so I wanted to fit in some diving. This was the only
> active dive school I could find and they were about 30 mins from
> Vilamoura.
>
> Did a couple of shore dives, which might not sound too exciting but as
> this was to be my first trip since completing my PADI Open Water last
> year, I was happy to do anything. It was just me and two guides.
> The dive plan for the first dive was to fin out about 35m offshore,
> then dive down to the Virginia Rock, which involves a small swim
> through. However, I must have got the wrong end of the stick as I
> finned out too far and fast, and by the time I looked back the others
> were about 20m behind me waving vigorously!

Let me think about this! You had TWO dive guides and you didn't follow
either of them??

Eddie

Eddie wrote:
> Let me think about this! You had TWO dive guides and you didn't follow
> either of them??
>

Err, no, I was in front of them. :o) Naively thinking they were just
behind me...
I know I made a big mistake there, but sometimes, the best way to learn
is to make mistakes. And there was no harm done.

On Thu, 11 May 2006 19:07:45 +0100, "Eddie" <ed@btinnternet.co.uk>
wrote:

... >
... >"Alastair" <AlastairScarlett@gmail.com> wrote in message
... >news:1147339350.140139.196370@j33g2000cwa.googleg roups.com...
... >> Hi All,
... >>
... >> I guess it may not interest everyone, a there'll be no mention of
... >> nitrox or deep wreck penetration, but I thought I'd write a little note
... >> about the pleasant afternoon I spent with Tivoli Diving on the Algarve
... >> last week.
... >> Was in the Algarve for a long weekend of golf and had Thursday
... >> afternoon spare so I wanted to fit in some diving. This was the only
... >> active dive school I could find and they were about 30 mins from
... >> Vilamoura.
... >>
... >> Did a couple of shore dives, which might not sound too exciting but as
... >> this was to be my first trip since completing my PADI Open Water last
... >> year, I was happy to do anything. It was just me and two guides.
... >> The dive plan for the first dive was to fin out about 35m offshore,
... >> then dive down to the Virginia Rock, which involves a small swim
... >> through. However, I must have got the wrong end of the stick as I
... >> finned out too far and fast, and by the time I looked back the others
... >> were about 20m behind me waving vigorously!
... >
... >Let me think about this! You had TWO dive guides and you didn't follow
... >either of them??
... >
... >Eddie
... >

Alistair ....I am half way through my PADDI course ... and from the
little I know, you seem to have forgotten

Learn by mistakes ! Lets hope they will be very very small ones you
make.
Nice pics though

Mike P

"Mike P" <mike@askme> wrote in message
news:0li9625u3llb1isp7scnpi2k600ehjeds0@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 11 May 2006 19:07:45 +0100, "Eddie" <ed@btinnternet.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
> .. >
> .. >"Alastair" <AlastairScarlett@gmail.com> wrote in message
> .. >news:1147339350.140139.196370@j33g2000cwa.googleg roups.com...
> .. >> Hi All,
> .. >>
> .. >> I guess it may not interest everyone, a there'll be no mention of
> .. >> nitrox or deep wreck penetration, but I thought I'd write a little
> note
> .. >> about the pleasant afternoon I spent with Tivoli Diving on the
> Algarve
> .. >> last week.
> .. >> Was in the Algarve for a long weekend of golf and had Thursday
> .. >> afternoon spare so I wanted to fit in some diving. This was the only
> .. >> active dive school I could find and they were about 30 mins from
> .. >> Vilamoura.
> .. >>
> .. >> Did a couple of shore dives, which might not sound too exciting but
> as
> .. >> this was to be my first trip since completing my PADI Open Water
> last
> .. >> year, I was happy to do anything. It was just me and two guides.
> .. >> The dive plan for the first dive was to fin out about 35m offshore,
> .. >> then dive down to the Virginia Rock, which involves a small swim
> .. >> through. However, I must have got the wrong end of the stick as I
> .. >> finned out too far and fast, and by the time I looked back the
> others
> .. >> were about 20m behind me waving vigorously!
> .. >
> .. >Let me think about this! You had TWO dive guides and you didn't follow
> .. >either of them??
> .. >
> .. >Eddie
> .. >
>
> Alistair ....I am half way through my PADDI course ... and from the
> little I know, you seem to have forgotten
>
> Learn by mistakes ! Lets hope they will be very very small ones you
> make.
> Nice pics though
>
> Mike P

Hang on a moment here guys. The dive guides were 100 million percent wrong
in this situation. One dive guide should be able to look after a diver so
two shouldn't have had a problem. When you have got a new ow diver with you,
you need to take extra special care.

My thoughts are that they might have been having their own dive and not
noticed that you went off ahead. But I guess that you paid them and the idea
was for them to guide the dive as in lead the way.

Just my opinion.

Keith