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#1
06-July-2006, 02:41 PM
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Deeper in Dahab - a new Extreme Ironing World Record!
[Edit: I wrote this for ExtremeIroning.com. They seem to be inactive, so I'm sticking it here! I wouldn't normally try to explain to you lot what a snoopy loop is...]
After a successful week’s diving in Dahab, Egypt, I couldn’t think of a nicer way to round it all off than with a spot of Extreme Ironing. The Blue Hole has a history of this – Louise broke the Blue Hole cherry a few years back with a picturesque jaunt to 102m. It therefore seemed appropriate to retrace her pioneering steps and maybe take a few more in the process… “First, catch your iron…” Despite putting out feelers, it took a determined assault on the main supermarket in Dahab and some interesting fag packet diagrams before we got a hint of our quarry. For the record, an iron is “Makwa” and the board is a “tarabeeza” – I hope this eases the path to equipment for future ironists in Egypt. Well, we bought our Makwa, a lovely “bling” iron of the purest gold-plated variety (most appropriate as Dahab actually means “Gold” in Arabic). The tarabeeza was to be more tricky. Fortunately, the morning of the attempt found one waiting for us at Dr Ehab’s dive centre.  Sarah, the Team “Bond Girl”, adorned the board appropriately and we loaded the pickups taking us to the Blue Hole. Much scratching of heads from the local Bedouin as the board was loaded!  The attempt involved myself as Chief Ironist and video camera #1, Paul as backup Ironist and stills photographer, Ian as video camera #2 and the lovely Helen as Chief Ironist’s Handmaiden. Additionally, the shot-line recovery team would be in the water with us. With the 100m-rated camera strapped quick-release fashion to the board, we swam out to the shot line and prepared to descend. I was to be followed at intervals by the rest of the team to allow for different camera angles etc. Setting my timers, I dumped some gas and began my descent.  The Blue Hole starts as a steep-sided bowl in the coral. It then forms a funnel shape which leads out into the open sea, the coral forming an arch overhead. I free-fell down the shot line, watching the coral and seeing the light gradually fade as I descended the equivalent of a vertical football pitch. I paused briefly to attach a flashing strobe so I could find my way back, only to notice that the water pressure had forced the camera power switch into the Off position! Hoping the other guys would get some footage and leaving Paul to follow on, I aimed for the ledges I had visited on previous dives. Extreme Ironists take note! At depth, your “tarabeeza”, which is MDF, will have all the air squeezed out by the pressure. This renders you somewhat heavier than expected… Working harder than I would have liked at that depth, I aimed for my selected turn point and adopted what other Ironists may recognise as a good, tight parachutist’s position. Combining a precision turn point with a pin-point landing, I alighted like a sack of spuds (situation normal for my entire parachuting career) at 129m, just the right side of my intended 130m. Slipping the retaining snoopy loops (think big black rubber bands made from car inner tube) from the legs, I removed the camera (now a lump of inert metal) and commenced Ironing! An adept at the ninja art of T-shirt folding on land (Ninja T-shirt folding), I was surprised how difficult it was underwater. Clearly more practice needed…  I made my way back to the top ledge at 105m where the recovery team had begun their work. To be honest, I was ironed out by this stage, so I fixed the iron and board to the grapnel on the end of the rope, retrieved the shirt and began my ascent. I bumped into Nick of the recovery team and we leap-frogged as he made his ascent and began retrieving the line. To my delight, I managed to get the camera working again. Ian signed to me from above, and I responded, letting him know we’d been successful and pointing to the bottom when he asked about the iron. I knew he’d be disappointed not to get some mid-water ironing in, but he knew where it was if he wanted to go and get it… I took a nice long time coming up. A looooooooooooooooooong time. Depth and helium require a very sedate ascent in order to avoid the bends. I was joined soon by Helen, who kindly let me flood my suit with some of her gas. I could feel the warmth spread in my suit as I flushed out the chilly helium. I do like Helen a lot! Long deco hangs induce a form of stir-craziness in me. I interviewed Paul at length with my imaginary microphone. Helen and I passed the time playing I-Spy. Finally, I settled down to read “Around the World in 80 days”, page by soggy page. As I began to forget what dry land looked like, Sarah appeared as a twinsetted Fairy God-Mother and lead us back to the entry point in the coral where we could play with the fish until it was time to get out. Finally, I slowly returned to the surface, feeling the warm Egypt air on my face as the team de-kitted me. I turned and watched as the lines were retrieved by the Bedouin and smiled as the astonished men saw the ironing board as it surfaced. Another successful dive and ironing session. 129m (423ft) and a total dive time of 181 minutes.  The board, now signed, resides in the Coralia Club dive centre. It is available for use by any other visiting Ironist who requires equipment. The bling iron proved too much a temptation for someone and disappeared on the way back to the centre. We have a video clip of the proceedings here>>> www.southwestmafia.com/dahab06b.wmv Be warned, it is rather large! Many thanks to all involved. John The Team John Rudolf Paul Jackman Ian Hanness Helen Mutter  No camels were hurt during this attempt, although we were mighty tempted… Last edited by Mdemon : 06-July-2006 at 04:54 PM. 
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#2
06-July-2006, 07:19 PM
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Finally, you could contain the secret no longer. Well done John, it was a fun dive and no mention of your dash for freedom to avoid the hours of deco
 I watched John iron at a safe distance, i.e 120m, as I was not sure of his ability with an iron, especially such a Rolls Royce of specimens. I was surprised at his efficiency, and obviously the hours of training at home had paid off. John's expression of dissapointment when he realised that he only took one garment brought tears to the eyes. Congratulations, I much admire your efforts, especially having had the opportunity to dive with the ironing board and realise that it is a complete b@r$t@rd underwater. Paul
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Take only Brass. Leave only Sofnalime
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#3
06-July-2006, 07:39 PM
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WoW! You legend! As an extreme ironist wannabe i am mightly awed by your efforts. You're bringing out the competitive streak in me, damn i want the deepest record! But until I beat it, you get huge respect!
Is there a OC record??? hmmmm, what about deepest ironing in britain... i wonder... 
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"I'm a wreck... dive me..."
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#4
06-July-2006, 08:28 PM
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Quote:
Cheers Paul! The suspense had indeed been killing me...
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Helen Stress is what happens when your gut screams NO! and your mouth says "No problem", "Yes", "I'd be happy to", or "how lovely". Last edited by Mdemon : 07-July-2006 at 02:22 PM. Reason: Posted my Mdemon, who should have checked Helen had logged out first!!! :o)
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#5
06-July-2006, 11:34 PM
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LMAO!
We've made it onto ExtremeIroning.com! http://www.extremeironing.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid= 143&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 Last edited by Mdemon : 07-July-2006 at 12:02 AM.
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#6
07-July-2006, 10:58 AM
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Awesome!
The concept of mixing the most mundane act of domesticity with the excitement of DEEP diving fills me with an urge to experience this mad sport.
After all, the fact that you were at 130m 3500 miles from home is no reason to let standards slip old man. There's no excuse for a poorly turned out man in a wrinkled shirt. We're british for God's sake. Must press on,(groan) I have an idea in the planning stage and will keep you posted. But top job, keep the dream alive - and this thread.
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I'd love to..but it does look cold.. 
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#7
07-July-2006, 11:02 AM
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Quote:
 Let us know when your plans are complete... ...and I do think the Quarry is crying out as a venue for the next bout of Ironing!  Last edited by Mdemon : 07-July-2006 at 11:44 AM.
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#8
08-July-2006, 09:34 PM
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So did you fuzz out the name on the Iron because they wouldent sponser you?
 Your quite mad but well done all the same. ATB Makr Chase
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Diving CCR just to piss Doug off  Sucsess  The buggers now on CCR 
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#9
08-July-2006, 11:31 PM
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Nutter!!!
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Howard Part of the South East Mafia
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#10
09-July-2006, 08:16 AM
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Outstanding that man. Well done.
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Team Bunny, Depth before dishonour.
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#11
09-July-2006, 10:45 AM
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Quote:
 I seem to remember your suit leaked a bit from the inside  So where are Adam's pictures?
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Take only Brass. Leave only Sofnalime
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#14
09-July-2006, 03:51 PM
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Very well done. Although I am disappointed by the lack of a redundant iron. I think you were just lucky on this occasion.
Janos
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You can lead a horse to water but you can't climb a ladder with a large bell in both hands - Vic Reeves www.hellfins.com/shed
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#15
09-July-2006, 05:48 PM
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Quote:
Sometime you just have to cross your fingers and hope...
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#17
10-July-2006, 04:56 PM
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I imagine you're in hiding from the men in white coats. Good men have been locked away for less.
Very good effort, are you offering a new IANTD speciality perhaps?  More importantly, glad you came back in one piece!  Charlie ct@charliet.co.uk
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#18
10-July-2006, 07:08 PM
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You're a bloody arse John!
All that way, and you use a T shirt. Should have been a collar and tie job. British Tradition indeed. The standards are slipping. Hurumph Yours, D Aily-Torygraph.
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The Diving Encyclopaedia Exeter BSAC Royal National Lifeboat Institution UK Transplant Register
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#20
10-July-2006, 10:27 PM
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I have just shown this thread to Missus Janos and she thinks you're all bonkers. In her words: "Surely the it would just get all creased on the way back up?"
I think she is right. Janos
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You can lead a horse to water but you can't climb a ladder with a large bell in both hands - Vic Reeves www.hellfins.com/shed
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