Treasure! Yarrr!

 High tide at 8am means an early start if we want to reap the benefits at Babbacombe. Our friends at Exeter BSAC and Teign Divers had exactly the same idea, and our massive vehicles six point turned into their tint parking spaces trying not to run over the divers milling around the car park.

But onto the diving! Two pairs waded in and set off in different directions. Myself and Lise took a bearing to Mushroom Rock off the slipway. We're both fairly fast finners and we suspect we blew past it quite early on, as we spent half an hour swimming north looking for a drop off! Turns out surface support were wondering where the HELL we were off to! Looked like Teignmouth.

As we turned round after we'd what was quite a long distance from shore, I spied a rectangular piece of paper just peeping out the sand. It looked like litter and I generally tend to pick up underwater litter if I see it. I picked it up and the sand fell away, revealing a modern, waterproof £5 note! Treasure!! I felt it only right to donate it, but it felt so good to finally find something!!  

We actually did find Mushroom and Split Rocks on the way back funnily enough. Lise was navigating so credit definitely goes to her! We had a good hour under the sea and saw many jellyfish, hermit crabs (with one sporting anenomies), sea slugs, and some small fish.  

We provided surface support to let the third pair go in. It was a great morning!

Porthkerris 21-24 July

Here's a message from Andy:

I am organising a diving/camping weekend at Porthkerris, Cornwall the weekend 22 and 23 July. We will be using their boat Celtic Kitten which is currently available.

There is also currently camping/caravan space at the bottom of the hill.

I have booked myself in from the Friday 21 July to the Monday 24 July. If you want to come along please decide quickly so we get our group booked in before anyone else does.

Google "Porthkerris Divers" to find their website and if you book in let me know and ask to be at the bottom by the shore diving.

Any questions please get in touch.

I am also organising a weekend at Riverside camp site, Plymouth for August Bank Holiday using our own boat.

West Bay

It was my turn to dive manage, and determined as ever to go somewhere other than babbacombe. JR had suggested Sea Town and West Bay, and after scoping these out yesterday thought it might be worth a go. West Bay is a lovely seaside town that has recently had a tourism boost thanks to the show Broadchurch.

On the dive with me was Dave Howard and Andy Kingston. Today we drove just over an hour from Tiverton to Bridport, parked up on the esplanade west of the breakwater for max three hours (£1 per hour) for a shore done a little before the 1610 high water.

We had a good space near where we parked on the promenade to kit up and not in the way of the mildly interested land lubbers. We found the harbour master (and air filling station!) at the other end of the promenade and told her of our intentions. We wanted to take a bearing off the end of the breakwater, swim 50m out, then swim West 100m where there is apparently a petrified forest, and then swim North back to shore.

We got in about 3pm, surface swam for ten minutes until we got to the end of the breakwater (whilst being encircled by a jet ski), and close to the end of the breakwater we picked up a strong current. Although we were close to HW it was still enough to pull us round. We changed the plan and decided to swim back along the breakwater towards shore. Visibility wasn't as good as JR had reported, it was about 2 or 3 m.

I struggled to get down. I was getting exhausted fighting the offshore current and finning downward, at the same time getting my upward protruding find tangled in the smb line. Dave and Andy kindly lent me 1kg each, which made a world of difference and gave me almost perfect buoyancy! We had also reached the point of the breakwater where the current was shoreward directed and worked in our favour.

There wasn't much to see unfortunately. We all saw one fish, Dave and Andy saw a crab. Out in the bay appeared to be just sand - and i had read reviews that this was the case, and that there wasn't anything to see that way.

I'm glad i planned a dive here, as i now know not to again! The same probably applies to Seatown but i think I'll still arrange a trip there to make sure. It may be worth planning ahead and getting one of the many charter boats that go out of West Bay, where we can do some deeper diving and see new places.

April 2017 Newsletter

AGM

To be communicated.

Diving

We've had a couple of trips through march. Andy and Linda lead a good trip out Brixham breakwater. The dive out of babbacombe last week had to be aborted due to kit failure (shredded dry suit seals, I should have checked more carefully!)

Please comment below to let us know what you've been up to!

March 2017 Newsletter

Dive Leader Theory

Congratulations to Adrian and all three Daves for completing the dive leader theory course and passing their exam!

Dive Leader Practical

We are thinking about organising a day where we can carry out the dive leader emergency scenarios. These will hopefully happen in April if we can get as many instructor's and candidates free on the same Sunday. Please liase with Andy!

ASPs

Thanks everyone for being proactive in getting ASPs done. Won't be long before we're back in the sea!

More to follow

Maybe...

February 2017 Newsletter

Lanzarote

This year we're off to Lanzarote in September. The cost will be about £850 for the hotel and £240 for a 10 days dive package. Please speak to Andy if you would like to book a place or leave a comment below if you have any questions!

ASPs

It's the time of year where we renew our diving skills, so book yours in with Andy as soon as you can. 8.30pm at the pool. We always aim to get them complete before the start of the diving season.

Committee Meeting

Will be at Stoodleigh Village Hall on Saturday 18th February. We are combining it with a skittles night. Meet at 7pm. There is no bar, so bring your own drinks, but there will be good food available. The first is £5 per person, please liase with Linda 07818433046

Annual General Meeting

This year will be on 17th of March, 7pm at the Fisherman's Cot, then staying on for drinks and a delicious dinner.

BSAC Stuff

The wreck of the Coronation off Plymouth is not normally accessible to divers, but there is now a website where you can explore it virtually. Check it out at www.thisismast.org/coronation-3d-virtual-trail.html.

And now, the weather.

Bleugh.

January 2017 Newsletter

Sorry for the delay, but better late than never!

Happy new year, how you're all managing to keep warm and dry. Last week the pool was shut due to maintenance, but should be open again this coming Thursday.

It'll be a few months before we get properly up and running with diving, so until the February newsletter, ciao for now.