A pier diving challenge was set-out early in the year, the winner will be announced at the MD Christmas Dinner.
Challengers are asked to add their names to this post or email me if they are rather shy! Simple rules again , the MDer who has dived the MOST Piers (different Piers, not numbers of Pier dives!) during the period 1st january 2008 to 10th December 2008 (inc) will be the winner! In the event of a tie , the most MDer with the most pier dives will win!
Any UK pier is eligible. Diving glory awaits!
Showing posts with label Piers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Piers. Show all posts
26 October 2008
07 August 2008
Free Shore Diving ~ Selsey & Bognor ~Sat 16th August
Hi all,
Mulberry Divers are doing a marshalled shore dive at the popular Selsey Lifeboat Station on Saturday 16th Aug . Meet at 14:00 , dive at 15:00on . Meet on the green by the Pier and all for the price of a phone call to let them know your going.
There is also talk of another dive beforehand at Bognor Rocks at 10:30am, just waiting for details from Gary at the moment but will edit post when I have all the info. Myself, Tina, Sean and a few others from O/View will be going as it a nice dive and also cheap! Mulberry Divers have a BBQ afterwards [their club social] which they're more than happy for us to crash, just bring some food and drink for yourself.
Put your name up if interested and I`ll let them know how many are coming or give them a call yourself :-
http://www.mulberrydivers.com/
Mulberry Divers are doing a marshalled shore dive at the popular Selsey Lifeboat Station on Saturday 16th Aug . Meet at 14:00 , dive at 15:00on . Meet on the green by the Pier and all for the price of a phone call to let them know your going.
There is also talk of another dive beforehand at Bognor Rocks at 10:30am, just waiting for details from Gary at the moment but will edit post when I have all the info. Myself, Tina, Sean and a few others from O/View will be going as it a nice dive and also cheap! Mulberry Divers have a BBQ afterwards [their club social] which they're more than happy for us to crash, just bring some food and drink for yourself.
Put your name up if interested and I`ll let them know how many are coming or give them a call yourself :-
http://www.mulberrydivers.com/
26 July 2008
Swanage, Menage et Trois!
Leave house at 04.30 [caffine needed!!!!!!] pick up Sean + George for a day diving at Swanage :
DIVE 1:
After arriving at Swanage, parked on the pier, kitted up, found out it was now a 2 tank dive and got the kit on the boat, a cat called Smoothhound operated by Divers Down. Tt was a 40min steam out to our first dive Aeolian Sky a 10,000 ton Greek freighter. We went down the shot after waiting for the current to stop running and desended to the bottom at 31m, we made some checks and started to tour the wreck its very damaged for such a young wreck [@30yrs old] lots of life on here, vis was 4-6m,really good dive but as it was so big a twin set would be best.
DIVE 2:
This was a drift dive looking for scallops but as we had a 2.5hr car drive back and it was really hot we left the goody bags on board. This was a cracking dive LOADS of life big edibles, decent lobsters, spiders, scallops and lots of fish, vis6-7m , depth 15m this was my best dive of the day
DIVE 3:
Swanage pier is a must if you dive here not deep just a really good rumage around loads of fish , too many to list, very nice dive also tug a few fishing lines while you'rethere eh Sean!!!! This was a great day out thanks to George for sorting this one out, Sean for doing what he does best and the weather gods for turning a blind eye!
PS this will be a good weekender, wrecks n drifts ,oh yes!!!!!!!!! Got home 20.15, I'm knackered
DIVE 1:
After arriving at Swanage, parked on the pier, kitted up, found out it was now a 2 tank dive and got the kit on the boat, a cat called Smoothhound operated by Divers Down. Tt was a 40min steam out to our first dive Aeolian Sky a 10,000 ton Greek freighter. We went down the shot after waiting for the current to stop running and desended to the bottom at 31m, we made some checks and started to tour the wreck its very damaged for such a young wreck [@30yrs old] lots of life on here, vis was 4-6m,really good dive but as it was so big a twin set would be best.
DIVE 2:
This was a drift dive looking for scallops but as we had a 2.5hr car drive back and it was really hot we left the goody bags on board. This was a cracking dive LOADS of life big edibles, decent lobsters, spiders, scallops and lots of fish, vis6-7m , depth 15m this was my best dive of the day
DIVE 3:
Swanage pier is a must if you dive here not deep just a really good rumage around loads of fish , too many to list, very nice dive also tug a few fishing lines while you'rethere eh Sean!!!! This was a great day out thanks to George for sorting this one out, Sean for doing what he does best and the weather gods for turning a blind eye!
PS this will be a good weekender, wrecks n drifts ,oh yes!!!!!!!!! Got home 20.15, I'm knackered
05 July 2008
Lobster Supper at Swanage
The best made plans as they say! Four of us actually made it to Swanage Pier on the Friday 4th July and three entered the water for the Pier dive! What was supposed to be a 'stop-off' on the way to Looe became the signature dive of the aborted trip!
Travelling to Swanage was a bit of a pain, well to be fair much of the blame for that lies in Sussex roads (what's new!) normally getting West of Chichester (and out of Sussex) is a bonus but delays on the roads in Hampshire just added to the fun! The best part of the journey was the very short chain ferry ride at Sandbanks. Still , arriving at Swanage the sun was shining and the sea in the sheltered bay was quite calm. To get us in the mood for spotting marine life some shellfish were consumed at a kiosk on the promenade , then with plenty of parking spaces on the pier itself , we kitted-up for a short walk to the steps into the water. All very genteel. I can't say it was the best viz we'd had on the pier dive but it was good enough for a nearly 60 minute dive.
Max depth 4.5m which pretty much equates with much of my former inland dive site experience! So I suppose 32% Nitrox was an unnecessary luxury! And with 150 bar of the stuff left at the end of the dive I could have happily done two dives on the same cylinder. We saw shoals of 'fry' and some larger wrasse , a few spider crabs and a single flat fish. Not too much of a massive list. But it was pleasant enough.
So where did the lobster supper come into the equation? Good question! Well, while some others have fallen from the moral high ground of a 'no take' policy and gone for trophy photos with the largest creature they've killed, we are more confused! I say confused because whilst no lobsters were taken by us we were able to overcome the dilemna but just having four of the blighters served-up with thermidor sauce and washed down with a couple of bottles of pouilly fume at our hotel over looking the bay that evening! Diving can be soooo arduous at times but luckily three more courses followed by coffee & liqueurs eased the strain.
A night in a room with a sea view , waking to glorious sunshine across the bay , a cooked breakfast and a stroll down the private steps to a secluded beach set us up for Saturday. But on reaching Devon by early afternoon the weather fell apart so we cancelled the next stages of the hurriedly assembled plan B and headed back to East Sussex , where, of course , the sun was shining!
Final score, a day and a half of sunshine, one shore dive, four lobsters in a delightful dinner versus half a day of duff Devon weather. Oh , and more than a glass or two of petrol!
Travelling to Swanage was a bit of a pain, well to be fair much of the blame for that lies in Sussex roads (what's new!) normally getting West of Chichester (and out of Sussex) is a bonus but delays on the roads in Hampshire just added to the fun! The best part of the journey was the very short chain ferry ride at Sandbanks. Still , arriving at Swanage the sun was shining and the sea in the sheltered bay was quite calm. To get us in the mood for spotting marine life some shellfish were consumed at a kiosk on the promenade , then with plenty of parking spaces on the pier itself , we kitted-up for a short walk to the steps into the water. All very genteel. I can't say it was the best viz we'd had on the pier dive but it was good enough for a nearly 60 minute dive.
Max depth 4.5m which pretty much equates with much of my former inland dive site experience! So I suppose 32% Nitrox was an unnecessary luxury! And with 150 bar of the stuff left at the end of the dive I could have happily done two dives on the same cylinder. We saw shoals of 'fry' and some larger wrasse , a few spider crabs and a single flat fish. Not too much of a massive list. But it was pleasant enough.
So where did the lobster supper come into the equation? Good question! Well, while some others have fallen from the moral high ground of a 'no take' policy and gone for trophy photos with the largest creature they've killed, we are more confused! I say confused because whilst no lobsters were taken by us we were able to overcome the dilemna but just having four of the blighters served-up with thermidor sauce and washed down with a couple of bottles of pouilly fume at our hotel over looking the bay that evening! Diving can be soooo arduous at times but luckily three more courses followed by coffee & liqueurs eased the strain.
A night in a room with a sea view , waking to glorious sunshine across the bay , a cooked breakfast and a stroll down the private steps to a secluded beach set us up for Saturday. But on reaching Devon by early afternoon the weather fell apart so we cancelled the next stages of the hurriedly assembled plan B and headed back to East Sussex , where, of course , the sun was shining!
Final score, a day and a half of sunshine, one shore dive, four lobsters in a delightful dinner versus half a day of duff Devon weather. Oh , and more than a glass or two of petrol!
03 July 2008
Swanage or Bust (or both)
With the weather collapsing the Looe Dive Trip , one or two or even three of us are still going to try to get wet at Swanage with a gentle little Pier dive before the worst of the weather hits Dorset! Well that's the plan! We'll be there at 2pm tomorrow (Friday 4th) . Not wishing to make life too rushed we'll be staying over in the town that night. I sense a celebratory glass of something on the cards!
It may not be too grand - but it's something! Shame I've just filled my 15 Litre cylinders with Nitrox, don't suppose I'll be using much out of those fills!
It may not be too grand - but it's something! Shame I've just filled my 15 Litre cylinders with Nitrox, don't suppose I'll be using much out of those fills!
Selsey Pier ~ Diver Recall Signal
Hi all,
You may or may not be aware of a situation that happened a couple of weeks ago that I think everyone should be made aware of if you are going to dive Selsey Lifeboat Station. On Sat 14th June there was a call for the Lifeboat to attend a situation, this was the 25ton offshore vessel not the inshore RIB, when a sharp-eyed crew member spotted bubbles directly in front of the launch ramp were divers were diving with no SMB so rather than launching the vessel to the emergency [a yacht had run aground no casualties, unknown to the RNLI crew!] they spent 10 minutes trying to alert divers by banging on the Pier until they moved out of the way then lifeboat was deployed to the emergency.
A recall signal has now been agreed with the Lifeboat Station and diving organisations regulary using the site which consists of:- 3 BANGS-GAP-3 BANGS when heard please surface immediately but as safely as possible,and please don`t forget SMBs must be used at all times on the site and obviously don`t dive in front of launch ramp! Safe diving!
You may or may not be aware of a situation that happened a couple of weeks ago that I think everyone should be made aware of if you are going to dive Selsey Lifeboat Station. On Sat 14th June there was a call for the Lifeboat to attend a situation, this was the 25ton offshore vessel not the inshore RIB, when a sharp-eyed crew member spotted bubbles directly in front of the launch ramp were divers were diving with no SMB so rather than launching the vessel to the emergency [a yacht had run aground no casualties, unknown to the RNLI crew!] they spent 10 minutes trying to alert divers by banging on the Pier until they moved out of the way then lifeboat was deployed to the emergency.
A recall signal has now been agreed with the Lifeboat Station and diving organisations regulary using the site which consists of:- 3 BANGS-GAP-3 BANGS when heard please surface immediately but as safely as possible,and please don`t forget SMBs must be used at all times on the site and obviously don`t dive in front of launch ramp! Safe diving!
21 May 2008
Selsey 'Pier' Dive ~ May BH week-end!
Well, the feedback from a number of you is that with the roads in Sussex as they are and the limited parking in Selsey , it is folly to try to dive there on a Bank Holiday weekend! That may be true and I think most if not all have decided to drop that plan as a result! Sad, but there will be another day!
[Update: 4 divers are diving the pier Sat 24th - see comment!]
A couple of boats with week-end placces have been posted (below) , if anyone is 'up' for something this w/e do add a post / comment.
High Tides this w/e at Newhaven are around:-
Sat 24th - 14:36hrs BST
Sun 25th - 15:15hrs BST
Mon 26th - 16:02hrs BST
[Update: 4 divers are diving the pier Sat 24th - see comment!]
A couple of boats with week-end placces have been posted (below) , if anyone is 'up' for something this w/e do add a post / comment.
High Tides this w/e at Newhaven are around:-
Sat 24th - 14:36hrs BST
Sun 25th - 15:15hrs BST
Mon 26th - 16:02hrs BST
01 May 2008
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?
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?
30 April 2008
Meridian Divers Meeting of 28th April
Something of a record-breaker this meeting! We had 96 apologies! Mind you, in hindsight it was perhaps only to be expected that the London Symphony Orchestra would turn down a gig at the Berwick Inn. Nevertheless it was our best attended meeting this year.
Tad gave a briefing on the extensive work recently done on the T R T Project. Tad has been in regular contact with a relative of one of the crew (Leslie Francis) and developed a growing relationship. Contact has been made with a maritime historian who has provided us with copies of the plans for the ship, something we have been seeking for some time. Tad played a recording of a BBC interview with the relative which was quite touching. It's clear that the TRT Project work has helped fill some gaps in the relatives knowledge and I think that will have a lasting impression upon him. It has been a positive experience for all. Tad advised the meeting that he expected more information on the wreck to be published soon.
Forthcoming dive trips have been extremely well supported. Trips to Looe & Lundy are all but full (and all places are likely to have been taken with a few days). Dive trips to Lundy are usually booked up over a year in advance so we are fortunate to get such good dates for our trip.
Those on the Looe Trip may want to break their journey to Cornwall at Swanage. Simon is planning to do so, he aims to squeeze in a dive on the pier! He will circulate a rendezvous time for any other pier diving enthusiasts!
A new date for the Selsey Pier Dive hasa been set for 25th May. More details to follow.
The meeting heard updates from the 'Girls Night In (water)' arranged by Debbie and the Curry Night organised by Matt.
Dive planning for 2009 has started with Tracey leading on the France 2009 Trip, Tad will look at a Teneriffe trip (to dive the TRT Sister Ship!)
Next followed, Social Events, a BBQ on the Newhaven West Beach is planned for 8th June (fingers crossed for good weather). And a second BBQ to take place in Seaford will be planned by Debbie & Stuart for a date to be arranged in July. Provisonal plans to return to NEMO 33 before Christmas 2008 have been aired. Since the first Meridian Divers trip to NEMO there has been increased interest in this venue.
Tad will be contacting Rother Diving Club to organise a joint social.
The next MD meeting is planned to take place on Wednesday 28th May and it will be at a different location and involve a dinner!
With a full , active and varied diary for Meridian Divers we continue to make the news - no news there then!
Tad gave a briefing on the extensive work recently done on the T R T Project. Tad has been in regular contact with a relative of one of the crew (Leslie Francis) and developed a growing relationship. Contact has been made with a maritime historian who has provided us with copies of the plans for the ship, something we have been seeking for some time. Tad played a recording of a BBC interview with the relative which was quite touching. It's clear that the TRT Project work has helped fill some gaps in the relatives knowledge and I think that will have a lasting impression upon him. It has been a positive experience for all. Tad advised the meeting that he expected more information on the wreck to be published soon.
Forthcoming dive trips have been extremely well supported. Trips to Looe & Lundy are all but full (and all places are likely to have been taken with a few days). Dive trips to Lundy are usually booked up over a year in advance so we are fortunate to get such good dates for our trip.
Those on the Looe Trip may want to break their journey to Cornwall at Swanage. Simon is planning to do so, he aims to squeeze in a dive on the pier! He will circulate a rendezvous time for any other pier diving enthusiasts!
A new date for the Selsey Pier Dive hasa been set for 25th May. More details to follow.
The meeting heard updates from the 'Girls Night In (water)' arranged by Debbie and the Curry Night organised by Matt.
Dive planning for 2009 has started with Tracey leading on the France 2009 Trip, Tad will look at a Teneriffe trip (to dive the TRT Sister Ship!)
Next followed, Social Events, a BBQ on the Newhaven West Beach is planned for 8th June (fingers crossed for good weather). And a second BBQ to take place in Seaford will be planned by Debbie & Stuart for a date to be arranged in July. Provisonal plans to return to NEMO 33 before Christmas 2008 have been aired. Since the first Meridian Divers trip to NEMO there has been increased interest in this venue.
Tad will be contacting Rother Diving Club to organise a joint social.
The next MD meeting is planned to take place on Wednesday 28th May and it will be at a different location and involve a dinner!
With a full , active and varied diary for Meridian Divers we continue to make the news - no news there then!
28 April 2008
Selsey Pier / Brighton Shark Dive
Hi all,
Firstly thanks for making my family feel so welcome and it was nice to meet you all! Right,there is a Selsey Pier dive on Sat 24th May, dive time 17.48pm meet at 17.00pm . This is organised by Mulberry Divers and anyone can turn up and dive plus they know where all the good places are, I propose a dive and if any are up for it curry after?
Firstly thanks for making my family feel so welcome and it was nice to meet you all! Right,there is a Selsey Pier dive on Sat 24th May, dive time 17.48pm meet at 17.00pm . This is organised by Mulberry Divers and anyone can turn up and dive plus they know where all the good places are, I propose a dive and if any are up for it curry after?
PS. there is also another Shark/Turtle dive at Brighton Sea Life centre on the 18th May after my experience on sunday I can`t recommend it highly enough to book on contact Mulberry Divers
25 April 2008
MD Secret Diving Society Find Cash on Pier Dive
Report from Simon and Ernie: Nipped out of Brighton Marina on Channel Diver for a skive dive.
First was the Steam Trawler. Pitch black and poor viz, but with the reassurance of cucumber cool Ernie and my new Metalsub torch I managed to stay down for 35 mins.
Second was the Palace Pier, surprisingly good with about 5m of viz, lots of life and 20p. Quite calm when we went down and very choppy when we came back up.
(Bet you held on to your swag though Simon, Tad)
First was the Steam Trawler. Pitch black and poor viz, but with the reassurance of cucumber cool Ernie and my new Metalsub torch I managed to stay down for 35 mins.
Second was the Palace Pier, surprisingly good with about 5m of viz, lots of life and 20p. Quite calm when we went down and very choppy when we came back up.
(Bet you held on to your swag though Simon, Tad)
18 March 2008
MD Divers Come Clean
It's a fair cop. Ernie and I have bagged our first 2008 pier and are the official front runners in the Meridian pier race.
We set off at 11ish yesterday morning on the newest, cleanest most user friendly day boat we had ever been on. Massive amounts of room to leave kit and even a covered changing area with comfy seats and yet more storage. The skipper, Steve of Channel Divers was a top man, with coffee and chockie biscuits freely available.
Our first port of call was the wreck, Indiana, apparently. Ernie and I dropped down the line into cold vichysoisse, hit the bottom, signalled "A-ok" and promptly lost each other. Eight minutes later I was enjoying the use of the electric lift, mmm easy-peasey.Met Ernie on the boat and he talked me into another go. This time we stuck together like limpets and had a 23 minute bimble in the 9 degree "water". We bumped into a couple of wrasse and numerous bits of protuding metal. Then back up to play on the lift again.
We managed to dive longer than the other 6 hardy souls and it was decided to can the drift dive. One of the other divers suggested we had a go at the Palace pier on the way back to the Marina. Ernie wasn't so keen, but once the pier challenge was mentioned we knew it had to be done.
Splash, incredibly there was less visability, now we were in pea soup and you could actually see further with your eyes shut. Like a pair of out of sync. nodding donkeys, we bounced from the bottom to the surface missing each other. Eventually we met at the bottom and headed East, after about 5 mins and 2 bruised heads we gave up and returned to the lift. A very nice days diving apart from the diving was bad!
Cheers Simon
We set off at 11ish yesterday morning on the newest, cleanest most user friendly day boat we had ever been on. Massive amounts of room to leave kit and even a covered changing area with comfy seats and yet more storage. The skipper, Steve of Channel Divers was a top man, with coffee and chockie biscuits freely available.
Our first port of call was the wreck, Indiana, apparently. Ernie and I dropped down the line into cold vichysoisse, hit the bottom, signalled "A-ok" and promptly lost each other. Eight minutes later I was enjoying the use of the electric lift, mmm easy-peasey.Met Ernie on the boat and he talked me into another go. This time we stuck together like limpets and had a 23 minute bimble in the 9 degree "water". We bumped into a couple of wrasse and numerous bits of protuding metal. Then back up to play on the lift again.
We managed to dive longer than the other 6 hardy souls and it was decided to can the drift dive. One of the other divers suggested we had a go at the Palace pier on the way back to the Marina. Ernie wasn't so keen, but once the pier challenge was mentioned we knew it had to be done.
Splash, incredibly there was less visability, now we were in pea soup and you could actually see further with your eyes shut. Like a pair of out of sync. nodding donkeys, we bounced from the bottom to the surface missing each other. Eventually we met at the bottom and headed East, after about 5 mins and 2 bruised heads we gave up and returned to the lift. A very nice days diving apart from the diving was bad!
Cheers Simon
Mystery Divers in Pier and Wreck Blackout
A little bird told me that 2 of our hardy bunch have braved the elements for the first wreck dives and pier dives of the year,diving from Nauticat out of Brighton
The report I heard from the leak, that there was a massive 6" inches of visibility on the wreck which proved interesting for the dynamic duo, plus virtually nil Viz on Brighton pier.
Still it counts for the great MD 2008 dive a UK pier challenge and puts the pair firmly in the lead.
I and I am sure you are, looking forward to seeing a full report on their adventures, appearing on the Blog asap.
Tad
The report I heard from the leak, that there was a massive 6" inches of visibility on the wreck which proved interesting for the dynamic duo, plus virtually nil Viz on Brighton pier.
Still it counts for the great MD 2008 dive a UK pier challenge and puts the pair firmly in the lead.
I and I am sure you are, looking forward to seeing a full report on their adventures, appearing on the Blog asap.
Tad
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