Weather tried to postpone the diving, with storms and gale force winds during the preceding week. With winds predicted as N-NW 4-5 decreasing 2-3, we took a chance! At Ferrybridge, the fleet and the harbour looked flat calm, with flags hanging limply.
With no more trailer parking available, Joe managed to convince a security guard at the Castle, and parked the trailer and car for free, well done Joe!
Once kitted we were away from the slip around 9.30, the weather had obviously now chopped up with white horses across the harbour.
First pairs in were Emrys + Chris and Joe + Paul, all enjoyed a fair drift from Balaclava Bay toward grove point, seeing a variety of life including cuttle and dogfish. By the time Tracey + Tim and Ian + I got in the current had strengthened and all 'enjoyed!' a very rapid drift, lots of life including large wrasse and lobsters, but no time to look at anything.
Ian and I had to jettison our SMB as it wrapped itself around a pot line; luckily it belonged to Paul, (and was retrieved later). On his return, Tim used a novel approach to warm himself, shunning his usual technique; he brought a flask of warm water to pour into his suit!
Lunch and then back out for a bimble around Balaclava bay, lots of other boats in and around 'sheltering', the weather improved steadily and all enjoyed a shallow scenic dive seeing lots of life in the balmy 18°c water including lobsters, John Dory, Blennies and Cuttlefish. Tracey and Joe enjoyed it so much they decided to follow a circular dive plan!
Back to Castletown and away by 4.45! Thanks to Joe for towing, to Chris for the muffins and to Tim and Tracey for help back at the boat shed.
Marshal - Tom Flemons
It was a dark start on Sunday arriving at West Bay for 8.30 am, although the early birds managed to slot in a bacon butty before we commenced. With BWM ready, kit on and launched (with a little red paint to add a bit of colour!). We set off to the first site of St Dunstan giving ourselves plenty of time to find it, as we had a few different coordinates and a small window for slack. After finding nothing but a flat bottom (a girls dream!) we headed to plan B, which was a new site marked on the GPS as Trial 1. After sending a shot down the first pair, Fran and Steve, went in to find a small ledge with lots of fish they even saw two conger eels. Tim and I were thrilled to see one that was hiding under the ledge, although we nearly missed it, as we were scallop hunting. When Ken and Peter surfaced, having seen no conger eels but loads of scallop, they had come across a larger ledge so coordinates were taken for another future dive.
We headed back in for lunch to stock up with energy, mainly chips, for the second dive. The second dive was once again back, to the same area marked on the GPS as Trail 2. A shot was put down and the same pairs went in. Although it was pretty flat they were a few brittle stars, crabs and loads of scallops so again our goody bags were filled.
All in all a good days diving and a few more new sites to check out. We renamed Trial 1 Conger Ledges and Trial 2 Scallop Ledges. On each dive Ken and Pete came across bigger ledges that would be worth investigating in the future.
It was a bit disappointing that the café that had homemade blackberry pie was closed, but we made up for it by having an ice cream at Nunney Catch petrol station. It was then all back to the boat yard to rinse the boats and then off home for a bath and a beer.
Tracey
Good early start at Kimmeridge, and we were on-site ready for the first dive on the Sea Caves right on time. The one knot 'slack' was especially helpful, and enabled the first trio (Ken, Emrys and Stuart MacG) to see part of the site before they were carried away. Next up / down were Tracey and Chris R, whose dive was aborted before leaving the surface once Chris's voluminous new neck seal / halter neck dive suit was found to leak after all. Lucky Tracey then tried to join Fran and my dive, which was handy since I turned around at the bottom and came straight back up the shot line with severe toothache (but at least I now knows what the temporary in 'temporary filling' means). I pretended I had earache though, because I thought it too difficult to try and explain toothache at 17m!! So Tracey got to dive after all, well at least for a few minutes, until for some reason they both decided to quickly return to the surface, with some nice beeping for accompaniment. Perhaps they thought the sun had come out and didn't want to miss it.
Well, that was the morning, nice early start, early to lunch, leisurely break (to allow for the early risers) and off we went again. Tracey decided to sit out the second dive (bunged up, not sure which end), and Chris R was determined to make another set of clothes wet (is there a name for that fetish?), so it was decided that the Chris R and Fran would do a shallow one after the boys had been down. The trio had a nice dive on Macro Ground with the current now reduced a little, and even saw some baby cuttlefish. By this time Chris R had got rather chilly so unfortunately this meant that Fran missed out on her second dive!
Still,at least we were all home nice and early, and Ken (thanks for towing again) had lots of help washing the boat down and putting it away (for a change). Thanks too to Tracey for the delicious sweets (both of them were nice). And one of our four year plus members now knows where the boat lives!!! I'm off to the dentist, and presumably Tracey's off to relieve the pressure.
Paul
With a last minute change of campsite, we set off to Tenby for a relaxing dive weekend on the Pembrokeshire coast. Unfortunately we had not planned for the Saundersfoot parking attendants that add a new meaning to the phrase "Welcome to Wales". Undeterred we set off to dive Drift Rock near Caldey Island, here there was a large ledge and gully at approximately 15 metres dropping to 30 metres. A good drift dive up and onto the ledges starting at bout 30 metres with lots of life to be found. With our first dive complete we headed back to Tenby to refill cylinders at the local dive shop, which turned out to be less straightforward than normal. So we headed back to Saundersfoot to collect our second cylinders, only to find that we could not get back into the Harbour due to low tides. Eventually after a long walk we set off once more, this time seeking assistance from the dive shop, which was limited. Whilst turning the RIB around at Tenby beach a local charter managed to ram the A frame as he returned with his passengers from a Seal trip and simply walked off. With low tides we were forced to leave the RIB at Tenby bay over night. On Sunday morning with the tide in, Tony made the 600m fin to recover the RIB to set off for the day's dive. Unfortunately the weather was failing, leaving limited options for suitable dive sites, so it was a quick splash off the back of Caldey Island. With a relatively average dive completed and the prospect of recovering the RIB at 23:00 the RIB was left at Saundersfoot Harbour for the evening. With everyone returning to the camp site ready for a good drink and meal. Monday morning was spent sorting out the clamped boat trailer and visiting the many "pound" shops that Saundersfoot has to offer, whilst waiting for the tide to return before we could head home.
more to come from John.......
Site 1 was the Brittle Star beds to the west of West Tennants Reef. Acres of the liitle beggars on a fairly flat bottom. Quite a lot of other life. Not a top class site but certainly worth one visit. Tony & Peter also found a lobster on a route march across the shingle. Posed for a couple of snaps. Wind and sea conditions excellent, both boats went well. Site 2 was Tesco Ledges. We put all buddy pairs down at different points above and below the given marks but everyone reported a very satisfactory dive and want to go back. Plenty of marine life and a varied rocky bottom with sand if you go too far South. Boats went well again and we were back in harbour and loaded by 18:00. Final departure delayed until 18:40 due to a problem over fish & chips. Thanks to everyone who came back to the farm to help with the boats. Makes life a lot easier for the tower (and perhaps makes others appreciate what is involved for these unsung heroes). Good day all round. Peter Fielding Marshal
Two brilliant drift dives from Peveril Ledges through to Durlston Head and Ballard Cliff to Old Harry Rocks. By 8.30am everybody had arrived at Swanage, BWM was launched And we were off. Ken, Tim and Phil were in the water first. Tim's mouthpiece disintegrated; scary on a regular dive! (an interval trip to the local dive shop secured a replacement). Paul and I went in second and got caught straight away in the drift, overtaking the other three; I had never done a drift dive before, so it was really exciting for me. My other moment of glory was throwing up over the side. The second dive was over a Slipperlimpet graveyard, miles of it, but nonetheless was a great dive, not least because I had the scary experience of finding myself vertical, head downwards and viewing the undersea world from a different perspective. John had a great time diving with Tony and has now got used to the BSAC protocol of ascending at 15m/min rather than PADI at 18m/min. K, T & P saw a pair of Skates; Paul and I saw a Ballen Wrasse and Tony and John saw each other. Post dive drinks were in the Three Horseshoes at Chapmanslade, where John revealed a liking for hot dates and curries!!! Ask John which was the hottest.
more to come from Tony.......
Despite the disruption of the power boat grand prix both boats were in the water by 08:30, as planned! Then Jaffa decided to self destruct! Courageously Ken, Emerys, Rich and Chris selflessly missed the morning dive and got Jaffa back up and running by lunchtime. BWM with a full contingent of eight went out to Hillsea point, all enjoyed fair vis, lots of life and great scenery. Back for lunch and a chance for Tom and Rich to trawl Plymouth's chandlers for spares, breaking all nautical rules in relation to entry into the marina! The afternoon saw both boats make it out for a very pleasant dive on the James Egan Lane. Back to the campsite for more tinkering with Jaffa.
Other events included: Ken's half tent, jump starting vehicles became a recurring theme as did drunken brummies and late night taxies! but I think all had a good time? Thanks to all for their work to get Jaffa back together.
Pictures may appear from Paul and perhaps Tim later,
Tom
Baygitano... more to come from Tony!
It was an early start for today's dive arriving at Kimmeridge for 8.30 am. We split the group of 11 into the two boats, enabling some training to take place and also a shallower dive for the first dive of the season in Jaffa and for the deeper dive in BWM. For the first dive BWM set off to Lulworth Ledges but due to the swell, we returned to dive at Worbarrow Bay with Jaffa, where the vis was 3 to 4 metres. There were plenty of scallops for the taking and Matt and myself even managed to see a ray although Ken was a little annoyed that we didn't show him - well he will play with those crabs! The second dive was on the Black Hawk which we managed to put a shot on the bow section. We saw plenty of fish (sorry not good with names) and even a dead conger, which Ken thought would be good to inflate and shoot to the surface. Luckily for the conger, or rather the surface cover, it wouldn't work (I would like to add I took no part in this and did try and tell him no by wagging my finger but you know Ken he took no notice). Just a few things to report; Scott lost a fin - so if anyone has a spare he may be interest in doing a deal. Tom broke something off one of the engines on Jaffa - more work for Peter. Joe had sweets he didn't share - just because we were on another boat, a bit unfair I think! And finally Ken managed to get down the slip in one fell swoop, HURRAY!!! Apart from that, a very pleasant days diving and thanks to you all for making it! Tracey
Breaking with tradition we set off on a Saturday, down to West Bay to enjoy the new facilities. All arrived safely and on time with a bright hot sunny day ahead. With only one boat this week and twelve keen divers we shuttled divers to near by sites. The first wave went out to High ground, and managed to find and stay on the reef. Returning back to West Bay for a quick change around and then back out to Saw Tooth Ledges for a slightly deeper dive. Although there seemed to quite a bit of algae bloom within the first 7 metres the visibility was not too bad. Both second waves returned to the High ground reef, and had another chance to see the life to the reef wall. In addition to the dives both Scot and Tim completed their rescue training off the beach. So with the boats safely recovered we all headed back for a pint to finish another successful day. Check out a few pictures taken during the days diving.. Only blip on the day was Fran and Emerys breaking down on the return journey, missing out on a beer....
First trip of the season to West Bay, gave the opportunity to make use of its new harbour facilities. The dive sites today were Saw Tooth Ledges and Rams reef. Apart from the extra dives needed to recover the weight belts (see diving with Ken pictures) all had a good days diving.
For change the weather was kind and a great dive was had on the Black Hawk in the morning with vizibility of 7 to 8 metres. So much so that we returned in there afternoon to try the same site once more. Although the vizibility had dropped by the afternoon.
The weather looked promising as Tom and I drove down, only to be greeted by thick fog coming into Weymouth. By the time all the gang turned up it was clearing enough for Tom and myself to start the day with the training dives in Balaclava bay. Outside of the harbour wall the sun came out! Having only one boat and ten divers we spent all day going to and fro with groups of divers, some training , others on first dives of the year, but as everyone gave a hand and agreed a 15 minute lunch break we finished about normal time. I jollied the day along by leaving half my kit behind for the second dive and had to nick bits from the other people on the boat,none of which fitted! We left the boat overnight at Castletown for £5 (an idea for the future maybe) to be picked up by the equally keen but less elite monday divers! Thanks to all who towed,trained,fuelled,coxed etc or just turned up! IAN L.
A nice early start and an easy drive to the coast,broken only by Ken seeing if his car would take the boat to the coast on it's own! Handbrakes are funny things! The weather was fairly kind and the sea bloody freezing! I took Tim in for his first sea dives with the club,Tracey put up with Tony for the day and Joe,Ken and Paul W did a three stick.Apart from being a tad chilly the first dive was O.K. Ken decided against a second dive after getting a large quantity of Portland harbour water in his suit! Second dive was on the dredger, after we'd had a bit of fun fixing Tim's leaking regulator at 6m we had a pleasant dive.The other four did likewise. So a nice easy start to the season, the sun came out, Tony's face went red,then flaked, all in 10 minutes. We all got home fairly early after sorting the boat at the farm,and we got a bit of training done! Good start! IAN L.