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Dive Reports
Current season 2009
February
Sunday 14th February - Non Dive Report
Happy to report that all Canterbury Divers returned safe from today's clay pigeon shooting trip at Martin Gorse Wood, near Dover.
For several members it was their first time at shooting anything more powerful than a cap gun, but it didn't show, and instead of getting a refund for all the missed clays, as was had expected, we actually got some encouraging remarks from the instructors. I even heard a comment of 'nice shooting' for a couple of Canterbury members, of which more later.
The day began with an early 9am meet (not bad for Valentines Day) in the snow covered carpark of the venue, which actually was a rather lovely picture postcard scene; even better if you had 4x4 capacity (hopefully Paul O is able to read this if he did get his vehicle back up the track). In time honoured diving fashion though we could not get started straight away as the draw of the canteen and the bacon butties lured as in until Chris Read, one of the instructors, managed to prise us away, with still steaming mugs.
After some initial instruction in the practise area, which involved H&S and the correct use of the guns, we were split into two groups and luckily the Abbats (who had brought their old poaching rifles) were separated. Jon B was first up in his group and promptly missed with the first shot but after that there appeared to be more hits than misses from everyone, except perhaps in the overhead clay category. Terry 'from the hips Greenan' even managed to bag a clay while contesting that the stock worked better when placed nearer the chest line.
On average scores seemed to hover around the 16 hits out of 30 shots mark, except for 3 folks. The first, John 'why use one barrel on each clay when you have two' Abbat had about 50 shots so we must discount but Paul and Terry showed there x military training with scores in the mid twenties, had 9 out of 10 scores in some disciplines and both headed their respective groups. Good to know that all our tax payers money was not completely wasted in training these two. Next time a handicap will be placed on anyone who has worn a uniform (excluding nurses, maids etc, so Phil B. and Chris W. will be OK).
After we had finished terrorising the instructors Chris Read showed us round more of the venue, where divers from other BSAC clubs were found lurking in the bushes - so now we know what they do in the winter season - and of course it was then back for more butties and tea before home.
All this for £13 per head, a really good morning - cheers everyone.
Many thanks to the instructors at the venue, they were both excellent and I see us returning here again for more socials in the future if they will have us.
Jon Bramley
Sunday 7th January - HMS Hermes
“You’ve got to dive the Hermes…” said Rob a couple of weeks ago. “…it’s one of my favourite wrecks” he continued rambling on about spidge to be collected; cracking vis to rival the Red Sea; a light sandy seabed reflecting brilliant sunlight to bathe the entire area with ethereal light; mermaids galore and other rash promises.
Me, being a fresh out of the box newbie Sports Diver, listened eagerly believing practically every word insisting that I be included on the next dive he organised to this wondrous wreck. True to his word Rob got his act together and a few texts on Friday and Saturday and the kind offer to sort me out a 35% Nitrox fill and we were good to go for Sunday morning.
A 7.30am meet for 8 o’clock ropes off on the Neptune was order of the day. We met on an unpromising, cold and grey clouded morning. Paid a fiver in coins for the dubious honour of parking at Dover Marina (yeah they’ve sussed that the ‘cheap’ ticket machine wasn’t working properly so be warned for future meets) and loaded our stuff.
Hardcore (foolhardly might me a more appropriate word) Canterbury Divers Rob, Nik, Nigel and Ian turned up at that ungodly hour. Obviously being early birds we were there in plenty of time but had to wait an extra few minutes for Chris from Shorncliffe to bring up the rear (insert your own Carry On line here). In total there were ten divers.
Our spirits soared as, despite the dull skies the vis changed from brown to blue as we crossed the Channel. They then plummeted as it turned back to brown again the closer we got to the French side and our intended target. The journey out is perhaps best described as ‘interestingly lumpy’ but we made it without anyone bringing up whatever breakfast they may have had earlier that morning.
It was already slack when we arrived on site so we kitted up as quickly as possible. Nigel hit the water almost as the engines stopped he was that eager to get wet. Rob and I dropped in, descended the shot pausing for a quick 6 metre bubble check before carrying on down to clip on and reel off. The shot was at the bow so we reeled off down the starboard side until Rob ran out of line. I then clipped on my reel and we continued, finning against the current all the way. When we reached the stern we turned and Rob took over my reel for the return journey.
We took a short while to find the shotline again before ascending to about 12 metres at which point Rob stopped, looked at me sheepishly, and handed me the double ender boltsnap that had been attached to my reel. He then looked apologetically at me as he clipped his spare reel onto one of my D rings.
We ascended to 6 metres for a safety stop whilst Rob went through a few drills and messed around with his stages before returning to the surface and the Neptune where hot tea and sausage rolls awaited. We’d done a total of 36 mins – which was plenty long enough in 6 degrees with a max depth of 29.9 metres and an average of 20.1m. Vis was about 5 metres or so. When all were safely back on board all that remained was for us to undergo the bumpy journey back to Blighty.
I’m very keen to return and dive Hermes again. It’s a lovely wreck with a great deal of recognisable stuff to see, plenty of life and loads to explore. More importantly though, there’s a dirty great, bright yellow McMahon reel with my name carefully written on it somewhere on the bloody wreck.
Nik
January
Sunday 24th January - The Brazen
I'd decided I wasn't going to go on the following day's dive. However the target changed to the Brazen and even though the meet was at 5.30am (ugg!) I was up for doing the wreck as hopefully the winter weather might have moved some of the silt/sand from it and we might find something interesting.
Carl, Debs, Kay, Nik and Rob were on this one. The early morning start was not good for Kay, she forgot her undersuit and had to rush back home to get it, she belted back to Dover and just made it in time before ropes off. In all the excitement Nik then left his computer in his car; luckily he had the same mix as Kay with whom he was diving with for his final SD qualification dive. Off we went and underwater it was much the same story as the day before with fairly low vis. Rob came back with a crab and Nik got his SD - well done to him.
All ready 2 dives of the year and it's still January.
Debs
Saturday 23rd January - The Unity
Paul organised this one through Yorkshire divers - Carl, Debs, Gerry, John and Rob signed up for it. I arrived at a murky foggy Dover to find that Paul was suffering from the sniffles (he claims its a chest infection) so he couldn't go on the dive he organised so new boy John (Scubahippo) got his first trip on Neptune. As I lugged all my kit onto the boat Gerry and Nigel Ingram went off to find breakfast and the rest of us contemplated whether or not we would be able to dive The Unity in the fog. Rob, ever the laughing boy, was not impressed. So off we went and, much to Rob's delight, as we got closer to the target the weather cleared enough for us to dive it.
We all started to kit up, well except for Gerry who's unwise choice of a sausage sandwich was causing him to look very pale and queasy (nothing could damage Nigel's guts - he eats pickled eggs for goodness sake) and so decided to bin the dive. The rest of us dropped in for a low vis (2-3m) low temp (8oC) dive at 37-38m. Most came back with large bags of scallops including Rob with a bag full that he'd left back on the wreck in November. John, just to demonstrate the fact that Scots are 'well 'ard' went in without gloves, though did remark afterwards that he'd wear them next time.
So not the most exciting of dives but the first one of the year so we were all happy.
Debs