Spaces for Saturday on Buccaneer

Chris from Buccaneer has spaces for dive on Buccaneer Saturday morning earlyish start but that means you get back early

We have lots of space for the Quail trip on Sat a.m. (Leaving at 07-00hrs. Max depth to the seabed is 40m but most of the wreck stands up 4 to 6m so it's not too bad. Swim through different decl levels. She's upright on the seabed with the bow broken off and pointing upwards, about 10m away from the end of the hull.
Still bottles etc to be found on this wreck and although deepish to the seabed the wreck stands up enough to make it around 34-36m

Please post a comment asap if you're interested

Please note it is advised that you carry a minimum of a 15ltr cylinder and if you have a pony set up carry that as well.

Tad

Diving The Ramsgarth

Video from The Ramsgarth dive on Saturday 10th July from Buccaneer

Ramsgarth Dive from Buccaneer 10th July

with last weekends weather looking like classic diving weather I had nothing booked but that soon changed with a text from Chris West offering spaces on Buccaneer for a trip out to the wreck of the Ramsgarth. I hadnt dived the wreck before so I was definitely up for it. A quick txt out to the MD crew saw that with one exception Trez everyone was busy.

so 8am Saturday morning Tez and me loading our kit aboard Buccaneer and heading out to the wreck site. Banks of sea fog drifted across the sea but all was clear on the Ramsgarth. Shot in we were soon rolling over the side and heading down to the wreck.

Built in 1910 this 1.553 ton British Merchantman was sunk on the 28th November 1916. After she was captured she was sunk with explosives by the crew of UB-39.

Once on the wreck we swam of in the direction of the stern and were instantly struck by the huge shoals of bib and pollock that were so thick that at times blocked out the light. With the vis around 5m we swam across a huge cargo winch and came up on the remains of the propshaft tunnel which was pretty much intact.

We were soon at the stern which although was laying on its side still towered above us covered in deadmans fingers. We retraced our dive back to the shot and headed of towards midships and the boilers but time was running out and so was homebody's air.

We found our way back to the shot and started up towards the surface to do our stops.

Once back on Buccaneer the fog decided to come in and with 2 divers still in the water in was all hands to keep watch but the fog drifted off and was well gone before the last 2 surfaced right next to the shot.

Heading back to port we did a slight detour the collect an anchor from the Pentrych which was lost by a fisherman. Divers on a Thursday night dive with Chris (Simon was on that one) had found it and tied a line to it to which Chris had attached a buoy. Chris and Tapsa went in and bagged the anchor and sent it up I think the fisherman owes him a drink.

Another great dive thanks to Chris for the spaces and as always cant wait for the next one.

Video to follow

Tad

Meridian Divers Xmas Dinner 2010 ~ Wednesday 15th December

We are in the process of identifying where this years Xmas Dinner will be located, several options are being researched as per the last MD meeting.

I have circulated specific details on the following locations:-

1) The Gun at Gun Hill

2) The Sussex Ox at Milton Street

More will follow. In due course it would be useful if MDers made comments on their preferred location , by adding a comment or emailing me!

Diving The Wreck of The Keryado

Diving the wreck of the Keryado from Buccaneer on the 4th July

Dry Dive - 6th July Newhaven Arm

To take advantage of the warm weather and calm seas Ernie and I decided to try a shore dive from Newhaven West Arm on Tuesday 6th July.

Unfortunately when we arrived we could immediately see the water was coffee coloured (probably due to the dredger out in the bay).

In line with Ernie's TDI training we decided not to proceed as it would have not been appropriate to dive in such poor visibility. Maybe 3rd time lucky.

Sheila

Kerrygo/Keryado Dive 4th of July from Buccaneer

The forecast was for strong winds on Sunday but Buccaneer Skipper Chris West thought that we may still be able to get out and dive before the wind picked up too much. Texts early Sunday morning confirmed that we wre going diving and the go ahead to meet at Shoreham was sent out. The plan was to dive a wreck Kerrygo but there is nothing listed on this, the nearest match was HMS Keryado but the marks for this are listed a lot further East.

TWSAC member Rob King dived the listed marks earlier in the week and believed that it was not an armed trawler like the Keryado but maybe the George Sutton. So with this info we looked forward to seeing if it was a Trawler and indeed the Kerryado.

Boat loaded, MD members Phil, Simon and myself were joined by Tony from Rother Diving Club on for the trip out with Skipper Chris and crew Dave and Roger. With only four of us diving there was stacks of room and the sea, although a little choppy, was still along way off of being uncomfortable for the hours journey out to the site. Skipper Chris decided that the conditions were looking so good that he would go in first and tie-off the shot which left a very envious Roger out of action with an ear infection in charge up top.

With the shot in and Chris down, Tony and I were soon rolling over the side and heading down to the wreck which sits in between 34m and 38m. The Keryado is listed in as being an Admiralty requesitioned trawler built in 1920 and sunk by a mine on March 6th 1941, originally a French minesweeper (ironic that) she was taken over by the Navy in 1940.

We landed on the very impressive bow that stretches up about 4-5m from the bottom at 38m, it was covered in deamans fingers, which would provide a great photo opportunity on a good day. The vis was around 6-8m with plenty of light. We worked our way from the bow when Tony spotted a big edible crab and with thoughts of that's ' supper sorted' then scooped it out from under the hull, but on closer inspection she was full of berry so she was saved from a hot steamy demise by her future offspring. On the way we passed Phil waiting for Simon at the bottom of the shot, quick exchange of 'OK' signals, things were fine and Simon was just coming into view.

Dive Sussex lists the wreck as being well broken-up but the hull looked pretty intact to me. We worked our way to the stern over hatch covers, winches and what looked like a gun mounting although there was no sign of the gun. At the stern the sand had built up to just below the hull with the rudder and prop just poking out of the top at around 34m. We swam back towards midships where Tony released the SMB whilst fighting a lanyard with a life of its own.

With 7 minutes of deco time we were kept amused by a jelly fish and a little fish darting in and out of its tentacles looking for cover. Once back on the surface the sea had started to get a little choppy but not bad enough to make boarding Buccaneer a little more interesting. During the trip back the wind increased and the sea got progressively choppier, we were glad there was only the one dive, although a certain hardcore group did get out on the club rib in the afternoon, RESPECT, guys. Another great day out with Chris West's Buccaneer and crew of Roger and Dave. When's the next one Chris? It just gets better. Thanks Chaps.

Video to follow

Tad

Oceana, Air Show and BBQ - 12th August 2010

There a two spaces with Channel Diver available on the Oceana/Airshow/BBQ out of Eastbourne on Thursday 12th August.

Please contact Steve at Channel Diver if you are interested.

TWSAC Blog

As some of you know I am also a member of TWSAC (Tunbridge Wells Sub Aqua Club)
Club member Rob King otherwise known Wob has put together a blog after seeing MD Blog and the ease which members can contibute to a blog rather than a standard website
Take a peep its still early days but methinks Rob is doing a great job


http://www.twsac.blogspot.com/

Tad

Return To The Wreck Of The Fortuna

Video Clips from Fortuna Dive last Saturday from Sea Zones