Extreme Underwater Ironing

[Arfie]

On Saturday a large group of us took over the National Diving and Activity Centre in Chepstow to attempt to break the world record for the greatest number of divers simultaneously underwater ironing.

The current record was held by the aussies at 72 divers (in poncy warm water ) we had 128 divers in the water and 86 were confirmed, so we did it As I was about to jump in, it was -1C and the water was down as low as 5C in places, but I only got 7C.

Anyway, here is me doing the ironing.

And a bunch of us after we'd got out (I'm the one with the all black suit, yellow cylinder and facing away from the camera )

And a video featuring the lovely Lisa Rogers

Extreme Underwater Ironing Video

We have also raised over £8,000 so far for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and if you want to donate you can HERE

So, we:
Broke a world record
Beat the Aussies
Raised a shed load of cash

We've also appeared in many local papers, most ITV regional news programs are apparently going in the Telegraph and other national papers tomorrow and someone is on about sending the stuff to Reuters for it to get on worldwide TV

Oh and we plan to burn one of the wooden topped ironing boards and putting the ashes into an old smaller scuba cylinder

Arfie

 

[Truck]

awesome, will be readin it tommorow

 

[rdd1952]

All the hot irons should warm the water up a lot. Actually never heard of ironing your clothes before you dried them.

Congratulation!!!!!

 

[Piltdownpaul]

I hope you used rcd's on those irons!!!!

Good job you didnt do it at Stoney cove. That place is jinxed!

 

[Ace Of Spades]

That is so cold lol, So diving and ironing at -1C, I bet there was alot of shrunken................................... T shirts...../

Was you the guy she interviewed first?

 

[Arfie]

That is so cold lol, So diving and ironing at -1C, I bet there was alot of shrunken................................... T shirts...../

Was you the guy she interviewed first?

No, I think I skillfully avoided the TV camera, being shy and all. Though had I realised it was Lisa Rodgers .......

If you mean the guy they interviewed immediately after the dive, that is Monty Halls, who presents Great Ocean Adventures and a couple of other TV shows.

Arfie

 

[andywg]

Looks like it was a good bash.

I note you are wearing a drysuit, didn't fancy the semi for that?

Also, are those new gloves or are you still on the 3 fingers?

Finally, did you get all the creases out?

/side note blog - just booked up a load of dives for the start of the season, here's hoping the weather is not so crap this year!

 

[Arfie]

Looks like it was a good bash.

Fantastic really, to get 128 divers and ironing boards in the water along with 12 photographers and a few safety divers all at the same time was a truly spectacular feat for a bunch of amateurs. I'm sure there will be a rematch when the convicts react to the barbs being sent their way via their own forum You could join in!

I note you are wearing a drysuit, didn't fancy the semi for that?

Glad I had it to be honest, not for the thermal properties, but the weight of the iron and board was much more than expected and at the surface I needed more buoyancy than the BCD was comfortable with Closed the dump valve and used the suit as extra at the surface. That said, sitting still on the bottom for about 12 mins was cold, so I dumped all air in the BC and filled the suit up, possibly the warmest I've been in a drysuit. I have dived in colder water last year in the semi though.

Also, are those new gloves or are you still on the 3 fingers?

That was the first outing for the 3 finger mitts this winter. I'd dived a fortnight before in 5mm gloves and my hands were hurting after 30 mins. I'd only consider swapping them for drygloves.

Finally, did you get all the creases out?

Second most asked question, I expect more originallity than that from you

/side note blog - just booked up a load of dives for the start of the season, here's hoping the weather is not so crap this year!

Not booked owt yet, will wait until I have some money before I spend any of it Worked out this week tha all weekends away seem to work out £200-£300 Glad I don't dive trimix! I am going to Stoney for the YD freeze your nuts off gig in Feb though

Arfie

 

[andywg]

That was the first outing for the 3 finger mitts this winter. I'd dived a fortnight before in 5mm gloves and my hands were hurting after 30 mins. I'd only consider swapping them for drygloves.

I will be diving drygloves soon, not for coldness but because the eczema on my hands just doesn't want to shift and diving is hardly the best thing for it.

Second most asked question, I expect more originallity than that from you

The question was from Nina, not I. I was wondering at what it must have looked like with 128 extension leads going into the water.

Still, no doubt you kept a flat profile during any deco/safety stops...

Not booked owt yet, will wait until I have some money before I spend any of it Worked out this week tha all weekends away seem to work out £200-£300 Glad I don't dive trimix! I am going to Stoney for the YD freeze your nuts off gig in Feb though

Indeed, which is why I may well hold off doing any trimix until I have a box. Those in our club that do box trimix worked out an 80m dive is about £3 gas and £5 scrubber or something ridiculous like that against £50-£60 in gas on open circuit.

I have only booked up day trips so a jolly drive to the South Coast and jump on a boat and get out to see the sea. Nothing too fancy yet.

 

[ghent_3rd]

Beating the Aussies must be the most satisfying thing of that whole experience!!

 

[Attilauk]

fantastic! i wish i had known about it, i live just the other side of the bridge...

i've extreme ironed on top of a mountain before but never underwater, good skills

 

[Arfie]

Beating the Aussies must be the most satisfying thing of that whole experience!!

Not quite, it is a bonus, but raising almost £10,000 between us for the RNLI is by far the best bit

Arfie