Meridian Divers at N.D.A.C

Some of the clips from the weekend Dives at NDAC

Tad

Grand Tour of Muddy Puddles ~ 17th & 18th May

Dive Team basking in the sunshine at Vobster Quay

Plan the Dive and Dive the Plan , that's what we do! Though sometimes we add a little extra to the plan! And so it was with our plan to dive the National Diving Activity Centre near Chepstow. We travelled to Wales on Friday evening (16th) and took up B&B accommodation in a beautiful valley where a field of horses and a couple of farm dogs befriended us (or we pestered them, one of the two)! Saturday morning was dull but dry as we made our way, using the courtesy buses, from the NDAC dive centre to their quarry based dive sites. Our first dive was on the BAE 146 aircraft at 26m , followed by a tour of a variety of other submereged attractions. The second dive that day started with a visit to the North Sea Diving Bell but ended in horror as we stumbled across a small but growing colony of Gnomes (see Go G.N.O.M.E post below).

On a 'wing and prayer' welcome to NDAC's North Sea Diving Bell

After taking stock of the Gnome pollution over a 'pint and a pie' back at Tour HQ , there was only one option. Relocate to Somerset and dive Vobster Quay on the Sunday. At Gnome Free Vobster we dived another aircraft fuselage , then refuelled on bacon & egg baps before diving through their tunnel to the Crushing Works and then onto an aircraft cockpit. I don't know if it was the absence of Gnomes but on Sunday the sun shone warmly and a huge rainbow trout came up to greet us on our safety stop.

Simon contemplates the Diving Bell

So is muddy puddle diving 'proper diving'? The answer is clearly 'yes', there are divers tackling deeper and more technical dives in quarries than I would want to do anywhere, but I don't think it's going to compete with diving in the sea as far as I can see from the views of Meridian Divers. It is nice, however, to be able to freely try-out different diving. Some divers are just 'plain against' fresh water inland sites and consider them not safe. It might seem extraordinary but even those divers will sanction using them when it's convenient! You need to keep an open mind, plan properly and decide for yourself!

Go G.N.O.M.E!

Pollution in the National Diving & Activity Centre - Chepstow

The grand tour of muddy puddles (17th & 18th May) brought some very strange fresh-water diving practices to light. Everyone knows that salt is vital to human life and it may be that the lack of salt in fresh water is causing fresh water diver enthusiasts all sorts of health problems. Is there any other explanation for the distorted thinking that results in the placing of models of members of a supernatural dwarfish subterranean race thought to guard the treasures of the earth underwater? What in Gnome's name is that all about? It looks as though it's too late to prevent this abberation in fresh water but there may be time to prevent this perverted pollution reaching salt water .

You can see how the little blighter above , far from guarding treasure has attracted other detritus in to the water. You allow a gnome in then it's old tyres , this is no way to support Project Aware and support marine environments. So sign-up to day to the Go G.N.O.M.E campaign.

G - Gnomes
N - Nautically
O - Offend
M - Marine
E - Environments

Go G.N.O.M.E and keep it real!

Looe & NDAC ~ Suggested Setting-Off Times.

Distances and times are from Pyecombe, which is just North of Brighton on the A23 close to the A27.

First of all NDAC. AA Route Planner = distance 161 miles and time 3hr. Suggest we all aim to arrive for 9:30, that'll be leaving homes (or pubs!) at approx 06:00. Hopefully/maybe we'll then be able to get in before most of the divers on courses.

Secondly Looe, more specifically those who fancy breaking up the journey by jumping off Swanage Pier. AA = distance to Swanage 116 miles and 2hr 42mins then on to Looe = 142miles and 3hr 33mins. If we say the stop at Swanage is approx 3hrs then leaving to arrive at Swanage for 12:00 should be about right.

What say all of you fellow intrepid types?

National Diving & Activies Centre ~ 17th & 18th May

Just a reminder that this dive trip is "ON" !

Four MD divers have confirmed (and some others still contemplating!) . We have identified a Hotel which all the confiremed have now booked into. There are still rooms available so if you are interested let me know / add a comment and I'll send you the details.

Their address is the National Diving & Activity Centre, Tidenham, Chepstow, Gloucestershire NP16 7LH.

http://www.ndac.co.uk/

[Update 15/4: There are now SIX divers on this trip]

1. Simon
2. Tad
3. Chris
4. Ernie
5. Tracey
6. Trez
7.
8.

National Diving & Activies Centre ~ Trip Planning

Simon is planning at week-end at the above location in the Forest of Dean, Gloucester over the 17th & 18th May 2008. Accommodation will be about £45pppnand entrance fees £15pppd.
As ever , interested names on a comment or email please .