Portland

Guest post by David Dooley

Photo: David Dooley

Andy and Sue towed the boat and lead a group for a week end at Portland.

After a night of intense thunderstorms campers and day visitors travelled in improving weather to the Castletown launch site.  The dearth of other divers was noticeable.  Andy drove the rib to a position just SSW of Grove Point.  There we found boulders, crabs, sponges, fan worms, hydroids, top shells and even a few fish in 2 metres visibility.

After a picnic on the beach or bacon sandwiches from the cafe we set out for a real wreck, the Countess of Erne, a paddle steamer downgraded to a barge before she lost an argument with the harbour wall.  However visibility was even worse, dark and  with a very easily stirred fine sediment on all surfaces, wreck, rock or bottom mud.  A few pairs managed to stay together! The last pair chose to look at the harbour wall boulders where at least there was some light.

After another night with some rain and the sound of the surf on Chesil increasing we set out to watch the keenest divers try Chesil Cove.  One look convinced even the keenest. Apart from the surf the water out from the beach was a dirty green-brown colour. 

The group dispersed to investigate Dorset cream teas and sight see around Portland.

The diving can only get better!

Can’t it?