Donations and Appreciations

25.11.2008

The Dive4Aid collection continues until the end of 2008 and donations keep coming in. The present balance of donations for research into treatment for multiple sclerosis and leukaemia is over 6.000 euros! We are truly satisfied with the reaction to our project and happy with the amount of donations. In advance it was impossible to determine how a project like this would gather wind in its sails.

Reflections a month after the journey

21.09.2008

SUCCESS AND FATIGUE

It is over a month since our return to Finland. Updating of the web pages has been delayed several times and for several reasons. There have been unexpected and long business trips, illness, etc., but the main reason has probably been a certain type of fatigue: the trip was a great experience, but everyone has had a post-return feeling of having given their all, and creating meaningful new text has not been all that easy. All of our free time had for long been spent with this project in one way or another, and on returning home this was easy to notice.

Back in Finland

22.08.2008

The last days in Menorca went by in a flash. The wind remained strong, and the time period when we were allowed to do records was over. So we relaxed for the last couple of days and evenings (and took care of the payments and paperwork necessary for the dives and national records).

The last chance for national records

13.08.2008

Today is the last day when we can still attempt official national records, but the weather has no mercy. Yesterday the wind was so strong that we had no access to deep water. In the evening the wind had died out completely, but during the night we could hear it getting stronger again. The wind had just turned around by 180 degrees. As Jyri already wrote, yesterday we escaped the wind to the north side of the island and did our dives at a popular SCUBA-diving spot where the main attraction is a set of “caves” that are very easy for divers. All these caves are short, open at both ends, and the exits are always visible almost as soon as you enter at one end. There were six freedivers in our group, and every time a diver entered a cave there were safety divers ready at both ends of the cave. In Finland freediving in even the easiest caves would be lunacy, but in these conditions it can be done safely with an experienced group. A beautiful place and amazing dives!

Fun diving

12.08.2008

Unfortunately we don't have any pictures/videos for last two days, but here's a short story. Weather has continued to be very windy and forecast says hard wind will continue for next two days. Jussi rested yesterday, but was again in the water today when we did cave dives in north part of the island. I made yesterday 75 meter sled dive (no-limits). We also visited yesterday with Dave in Menorca's "capital" Mahon.