Oceana, BBQ & Air Show Dive ~ 13th August

L to R: Tad, Ray, Ken, Ernie

Without doubt, for me, this was the best day's diving in the UK this year! Totally brilliant day out! MDers Tad, Ernie, Sheila and I started the day in true Brit Diver style ...with Bacon Butties at the "Early Birds" Cafe in Eastbourne. That set us up for the short drive to Sovereign Harbour to rendezvous with MDiver Simon, and Nicky , Tony, Sara , Ken & Ray and several other divers , oh and of course Channel Diver skipper Steve , his lady wife Caroline and his brother Chris.

It was an overcast and cool start as we motored out of the lock gates heading for the wreck of the Oceana. But the sea was fairlyflat and and a spot of cool weather can be an advantage when wearing a dry suit for periods of time! Steve , as ever expertly shot the wreck and we were soon descending in to what looked like plenty of light and encouraginly good viz!

I dived with Simon and we clocked-up 49 minutes and reached a max depth of 26 metres. Others made an hours dive. We had a long and detailed tour of the wreck finishing at the Bow. There were blennies everywhere and a torch was only needed for looking into recesses. A very enjoyable bimble! On surfacing the weather had changed ...it was sunny with blue skies and lovely white clouds. Quite a beautiful day!

After the dive , some coffee and biscuits we motored across to a point a few hundred metres off the Eastbourne , Wish Tower area. We anchored and the energetic amongst us tried their hand at fishing ... the catch was not great! One Weaver fish and a brace of Mackerel! Luckily we had brought food for the on board BBQ ! Steve acted as Captain & Chef and quickly had us tucking into some lunch on the aft deck.

Following the refreshements it wasn't too long before the Eastbourne Airshow started . A major local event and free! Highlights were the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (Spitfire , Hurricane, Lancaster) , the Blades acrobatic team, wing walkers, then the hugely powerful F16, followed by the Red Arrows.

Fantastic displays , the boys on board, true to firm seem to favour the fastest & noisiest aircraft , so the F16 was the winner for most!

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight put on quite a show and at one point a Spitfire and F16 flew side-by-side! The old & the new.

"Behind You !"

After the Red Arrows we sped back to Sovereign Harbour to get in the front end of the lock queue!

A truly great day out , and great to be joined by old buds, Ken, Ray & Sara. It was Ken's first dive from a boat with a diver lift! I think we may have spoilt you now Ken , you'll always want one now!