Having successfully completed a MSc in “Audit Management and Consultancy” during 2009. I had set myself a reward of a diving holiday – but somewhere I hadn’t been or would likely to again. Thailand, Montserrat or Grenada quickly became the options, after much soul-searching I selected Grenada. I then discovered Regaldive included Grenada in their destinations so I gave them a ring.
Flights, 12 days, diving, accommodation and transfers came in at just over £2,000 including the 5% BSAC member’s discount (that’s my membership covered for 2 years). My only stipulation was NOT to use British Airways – cabin crew had announced possible industrial action and the last thing I wanted was flight disruptions. Nobody told the “Eyjafjallajokull” volcano in Iceland and for a week before my flight the UK (and most of continental Europe) airspace was closed. On Tuesday 20th April 2010 there was a possibility that flights would resume the following day. I took a
gamble and drove from West Scotland to London Gatwick. On route, checking the Interweb, I learned that Monarch would start flying again at 1pm on the 21st. Then I checked Monarch’s site again (for no real reason) and discovered all there flights from 7am would be going at scheduled. A quick search for airport parking and off I set to find Airparks and check-in.
Flight MON369 took off about 3 hours late, as the plane hadn’t been used for a week. I was on my way to Grenada (with about 150 empty seats on the plane).
Ten and a half hours later SUNNY Grenada.
Having settled into my studio at the “Blue Horizons Garden Resort” and tried the pool I got a call from “Aquanauts Grenada” advising me that transportation would pick me up at 08:30 the next day. And did I want Nitrox their normal diving gas.
During the next two weeks I dived 16 different sites including the wrecks “Bianca C”, “Shakem” and the “Bucaneer”, and reefs like “Lighthouse Reef”, “Shark Reef”, “Flamingo Bay” and “Dragon Bay” where the
statue garden is located . On one occasion I was the only paying passenger, but the boat still went out.
Water quality, i.e. visibility, started around 30+m, but deteriorated each day until on my last day we just about had 10m. However, water temperature remained 28/29’C throughout and at all depths, max 45m. I used a 3mm shortie and didn’t get cold once, others used full wet-suits. It became a bit of light-hearted competition to see if I could surface with more gas than the guide – I only managed it twice, but never 
with Peter (who dived a Rebreather). The other guides were Paul, Larry, Buck, Buddsy and Jane. The boats were well equipped, roomy and ‘Diversitea’ (www.diversitea.com) was passed around after each dive.
All the normal critters were seen during my trip including turtles, sharks, rays and for my single polyp fleshy corals.
Over the two weeks I accumulated 24 hours and one minute underwater on 25 dives, including a night dive
on the wreck “Veronica”. Its worth having a torch on every dive, not just night dives, to see under ledges and into holes. In the low visibility I activated my strob.
Edward Haynes
