The Diving Game - More stories than Enid Blyton

It is always important to remember that when a Club Member says that there is a story to be told, it should be told!! So our very own Sophie Parry will tell it!! 

Sophie Parry brief Bio

I am a chartered electrical engineer whose career started with a maritime twist, requiring occasional diving skills. In addition to my day job, I further developed my diving skills and obtained a diploma in underwater archaeology. I qualified as a BSAC Advanced Instructor and a First Class Diver with an HSE commercial endorsement. I also became interested in underwater photography and videography and won several international underwater photography awards. 

The last expedition I lead, in 2019, was to the Guadal Canal in the Solomon Islands. It was on this trip, after 30 years diving, I decided to retire - age and health being a major factor.

This lead to the more genteel and, some might say, civilised world of sailing. Although sailing culture can be very different I've discovered I have many transferable skills.

Synopsis

Expedition and research diving can take you to some remote parts of the world, where you need to be prepared to expect the unexpected ....

This talk samples 3 expeditions - it explains the objective and includes entertaining stories from the following contrasting locations -

Micronesia & Chuuk Lagoon - 48 hours and 4 different flights from the UK to get there. Chuuk (formerly Truk) is where Operation Hailstone took place - the scene of a 2 day WW2 battle between the US and Japan.

Curacao - Where I was allegedly part of the Venezuelan pharmaceutical industry!

 Norway - Environmental checks on a recently sunken cargo vessel, WW2 wreck surveys and a chance to sample some local history.

And to conclude the talk, an overview of some of the vessels I've used as diving platforms, from purpose-built research vessels to what can only be described as floating sheds!  

For any queries: jane.osborn.jo@gmail.com