Bristol Channel Divers
Swanage
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Bristol Channel Divers |
We changed the first dive back to the mussel beds that we had been going to
do before. This is because we, skipper and I, decided that Peveril was not very
good for that day The mussel beds were ok to do this time because we were doing
them early in the day when the tide is going the other way to what we would
have been doing on first plan starting shallow and going deeper up to 25m) We
were dropped in at about 15m (closer to the cliffs) and skipper advised us to
stay at this level - go east, which looking at the dive log most managed to
do, give or take a bit.
When you first get in the water the current is quite slow (normal) so you have
time to sort out your SMB. Skipper wanted SMBs up almost immediately, blow them
up before going in, do it on surface or when down. We decided on inflating on
board which we did (skipper blew them all up for us). After skipper told me,
I then gave the brief to the others. John and Paul had a good talk on Paul's
nitrox/air and what to do in the case of emergency, which they did.
I talked about people on a drift: if you are not holding the reel and in charge
of the SMB then either hold on to the connection clip (that you may connect
your SMB to you BCD when not in use) or holding hands, not as daft as it sounds,
or holding onto bit of buddy's BC just so that you can be in contact as much
as possible and not spend your dive trying to keep together. Also it is good
if you want to draw your buddy's attention to something you have seen just as
much as if you have a prob. etc. Everyone did this! Paul had brought a buddy
line and he and John got attached, everyone else held SMB reel clips.
I don't think anyone other than myself and Nikki had done a drift dive before,
so this got their adrenalin going! Paul had done a drift dive abroad but not
in the UK.
It was reckoned that the current was about 2 knots. Kris and Skipper decided
this on watching our SMBs move across the sea. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their
drift dive.
The Second dive - The Fleur de Lys. A boat just out in Swanage Bay. This had
hardly any current on it at all. All went with same buddy pairs. The viz was
not very good but there was loads of fishes etc., to look at if you go close
enough. I have dived this wreck before on clearer viz and it is a wooden hulled
boat and where the boards are coming apart all sorts of creatures live. It still
has its engine etc. Also Martin, the skipper, told us there are John Dorys there
and a large lobster which loves a fight and the lobster has always won so far!
There is also a conger. Neither of the latter we saw.
Everyone seemed to enjoy this as well. I think the fact we had such lovely weather
helped too.
We had a 3 hour break between dives when we all had some lunch, most of us had
brought stuff but there is a cafe etc., so everyone was ok.
Kris was really good to have on board as a none diver. He helped everyone that
wanted it (most of us) with kit etc., he took down the air in readings and times
of going in for the log. On the second dive he did air in and out etc. On the
first dive he couldn't do air out etc., because he was driving the boat back
to harbour whilst the skipper gave us all hot drinks included in the dive price,
so I took those. On the second dive the skipper brought along another guy who
steered whilst we were given hot drinks. Nikki checked the log and did the second
sheet.
Although I think Kris was really envious of us diving, he was very very helpful
and made the day good. He helped with off and on loading of kit etc. In fact
he jumped in to help at every opportunity.
We dived with Martin Jones of Swanage Boat Charters.
Carol Dale
Respect Our Wrecks!
