Marfa Tower (near Cirkewwa)

Went for a swim with Andrew, Astrid and Aimee.

Very nice there with the ledge to jump off into the sea.  Seems my ears have cleared up and I am able to dive to nice depths.   :)

The sea can be quite rough there with all the Sunday boaters chopping up the waters.  It's quite surprising how choppy the water gets just because of distant boat activity.

Feeling Bleugh in the August heat!

Malcolm who commented on my previous post, mentioned the issue with my equalising of the Right side ear could be attributed to a cold/flu.   He could very well be right!

If it continues buy some common nasal spray (vicks sinex) and sniff copious amounts. Then after a few minutes try descending...if you can equalise properly then you know the cause!
Pro scuba divers claim that the first symptom of a cold appears 4-6 days before the normal symptoms appear.

Felt not great recently, headaches, tickly cough, generally bunged up.  In Malta, the symptoms I show or the regularity of a cold is less then back in the cold wet Isle of Man.... I shall explain:

Isle of Man

Day 1 - Onset - Feel rough and cannot explain why, by tthe end of the day it is confirmed that I have cold syptoms

Day 2 - Wake up feeling bunged up, tissues do not help the constant flowing of mucus

Day 3 - Exactly the same as day 2

Day 4 - Wake up feeling less bunged up and no lethargy.

All I need to do is avoid the bus or seminars at any cost!  Or if I have to get on a bus or attend a seminar, I pack throat lozenges and a drink... Trying to fight back a tickly cough may be an art, but I am sure the red turning purple face is not healthy.  If you go for a good cough it is usually to clear your throat of any excess mucus... But to do it on a bus or around people who are silent, well, y'know...everyone thinks you have returned the black death!  Maybe they think you dug your way out of a lead coffin...

Malta (summer)

Day 1 - Feel weird

Day 2 - Feel weird, funny throat

Day 3 - Feel tired

Day 4 - Feel bleugh

Day 5 - Feel ok

Malta (season change)

Day 1 - Feel weird

Day 2 - Feel weird, funny throat

Day 3 - Tonsils go funny, sore throat, lethargic

Day 4 - Feel bleugh, lethargic, sore throat, chough

Day 5 - Feel bleugh, lethargic, sore throat, chough

Day 6 - If I do not feel fine I will see the Dr.  The real colds/flu during season change are alot nastier

To kick any of my cold/flu symptoms even the lethargy I take Paracetamol and an orange or kiwi fruit.  Forget all these magical remedies, of course unless a 'Doctor' prescribes or advises you to.  By the way, the above information is not advice - these are only my thoughts and 'what I do'.  Speak to a doctor or chemist for advice.

Here is 'my' money saving part!

I DO NOT buy all of these crazy remedies offered by big names which have the power to do 10 things, especially those that promise levitation possibilities... ahem.. ok.. simple Paracetamol. 

Isle of Man/UK - Anadin

Malta - Panadol

I take 2 of these before bed and my sleep is good for about 6hrs.  I take 1 every 4 hours.  Why do I only take one at each interval?  So my body does not build a tolerance to a higher dose.

Please seek the advice from a chemist or doctor.  The above is not advice, it is rambling about what 'I do' when 'I get a cold'.

Information on Paracetamol can be found here:


http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/painkillers-paracetamol/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Sea Shepherd's 'Steve Irwin' released!

The Sea Shepherd's 'Steve Irwin' has been released after $735m was raised to pay the £520,000 bond:

Due to the generosity of our supporters around the world, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has raised over $735,000 to save the flagship Steve Irwin—less than two weeks after the launch of our SOS! - Save Our Ship fundraising campaign! Thank you to everyone who helped make it possible for us to fund a bond to release the vessel from detainment! Together, we will continue to make a difference.

http://www.seashepherd.org/get-involved/crewing-at-sea.html

Equalising Issue and Camera Question (?)

I havent been diving much.  Began Wing Tsun classes on a Tuesday and Thursday at the WT Academy in Mosta.  Very nice group and with the training I could not move properly for 2 days, it felt like I had been riding motocross or riding a horse... Im sure the classes will help me focus on diving too.

Recently, I have had issues with my right ear equalising...  The past two dives  I have not been able to equalise my right side ear properly.  

Normally, my ears will make the following sound - ZZZZzzzzzzclick.   But, recently my right side will now make the sound ZZZZZzzzzzzzz for to long and that is it, without that comforting 'click'.  I want to keep going but I do not, it does not feel comfortable.

Above water it feels fine, just seems to be under the water.  During my next dive, I will try equalising above the water before I begin the decent.  You should always be equalising as you descend too, the pressure changes are more dramatic the closer you are to the surface.

The method of equalising is use is Frenzel, very effective and I feel very much in control - much more so than the pinch and blow method.  See the 'equalising safely' page for more details!

QUESTION:

May I ask you lovely readers this question, please do comment:

If you was made aware that an extreme sports camera is unable to be repaired for even a basic breakage and probably common breakage (i.e. lens cracking),  

WOULD YOU BUY THE CAMERA?

There be rough yet warm seas!

Went for a random swim today with Aimee.  The sea was surprisingly warm amid the choppy blowy waters.

Having since began Wing Tsun, I will most likely be only getting out at the weekends.

I had a few deeper dives where I spotted a group of tiny fishes all wondering what this human was doing, going up, down, up, down and up.  Visibility was quite ok surprisingly.

I feel very drowsy while writing this blog, ate half a Maltese loaf with tomato soup!  Right, im stopping... my eyes are closing...ZZZZZzzzz

Tried!

Tried to go diving today.... the waters are too choppy and they look very mucky  :(

Will go for a dive on Sunday hopefully.

Sea Shepherd needs your help!

http://www.seashepherd.org/

Who is the Sea Shepherd?

Sea Shepherd's Mission Statement

Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization. Our mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.

Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations.