Twin tanks - paraplegic scuba diving

I went to the Solomon Islands with John Black from Maroubra in Sydney and dived the USS Aaron Ward in Tulaghi. It was warm and clear in the water, even on the bottom in 75 metres.

I was diving on air using twin 88's which I put on in the water. I didn't use a deco meter instead I used a set if tables based on Dr Buhlman's formulas. The other members of the trip dived a second wreck each day in 50 metres which I thought was a bit risky so I sat out the second dive.

While I was there a lady in our group got a spinal bend and had to be airlifted out.

Watch the attached videos and you will see John's terrific vision of the wreck and also a video of me swimming around the deco lines on top of the shipwreck. On my first dive my weight belt fell of at 10 metres so I continued to the bottom and put on the belt - it was easy to find because of the clarity. I had meant to go to only 50 metres to acclimatise - sounds were echoing in my ears as I started to get very powerful narcosis.

John also penetrated the wreck right into the laundry. This was very brave because the internal structure collapse when you bump them creating clouds of red water that obscure everything

Bubble Ring

This was my best bubble ring ever and just as Alan was overhead. I dont know why sometimes bubbles just work.

Amazing technique

Just saw this impressive climbing technique on youtube. Fantastic skill and ingenuity.

SS Kelloe and Duet

This is me diving on the Kello - a happy fiasco - the Kello is in 50metres of water about 2 miles from my house.

You can see more info about the Kello at this site

http://www.michaelmcfadyenscuba.info/viewpage.php?page_id=67

Malabar Headland Abseil

Each year we abseil of the headland and swim back to the boat ramp at Malabar. The rock at the bottom is called Yellow Rock and is really beautiful.

Bondi Swim

I live near Bondi and love to swim there especially in the surf. I can spend a couple of hours in the water - I like to go out in the rip and then catch a wave from out the back and then let the rip take me back out again.

Because the sand is very hard to cross I get in where it is the easiest and then swim to where the best waves are.

Sometimes people get worried I will drown - especially because the wheelchair is sitting on the beach. Once they called the ambulance and had all the rescue boats out looking for me. I didn't know they were looking for me - I was right next to them looking for the drowned swimmer!

Anyway check this out

Duckenfield

Back in 1987 Alan & I went searching for the wreck of the Duckenfield off Long Reef Sydney. We found it and then kept it a secret for a year when in conjunctionwith the Dept of Planning we announced its location to the public at a big do at UNSW.

You can read all about the wreck here - Duckenfield