Images of a small island

We left London on a cold and rainy November morning and arrived in the Turks & Caicos Islands (T.C.I.) to a very comfortable 28 degrees.

We stayed at the Beaches Resort in Grace Bay. This resort was absolutely fantastic. It had 16 Restaurants from white glove service down to an American Fifties Dinner (yes we ate at all of them).

This was an all inclusive holiday which really was all inclusive.We did not have to spend a penny whilst there. There was even a bar in our room with every alcoholic drink you could think of (shame we don't drink). For those who want to be active there was a fully equipped gym and spa complex. All the water sports were included, hobbie cats, kayaks, water bikes, snorkelling (off shore and boat) and last but not least 2 dives a day with a choice of four dive boats from a very well run dive centre.

Just one of the dive boats we used

As well as five pools there was a large water park for the children

White sand and blue sea. What more could you want?

Below is a selection of the marine life we encountered on our 20 dives.

Goodbye from T.C.I.

Halcyon Equipment Workshop ~Saturday 12th December

Halcyon have agreed to put on an equipment workshop at Ocean View this Saturday,they will be bringing along about 6 sets of equipment including single tank systems as well as twin set up's including the new Cinch set up,8.5L cylinders,torches etc etc.
There will be a chance to try these sets out in the pool between 12.00 and 3.00pm they will also be bringing some of their other products for people to look at.
If there is anything that anyone genuinly would like to look at, let Graeme know and he will call them.

If you are interested please call Ocean view on 01903 767224

All welcome and a happy Christmas to you all.

All you ever didn't want to know about Diving Cylinders

For all info the latest update on the manufacture , inspection & carriage of diving cylinders , click HERE!

Muddy Puddle Dive Anyone

Its that time of year again, the summer is a long way off and I dont know about everyone else but I am starting to get withdrawl symptons.

I am up for suggestions for a dip in a local puddle or maybe think about one a bit further afield .

Post a comment if interested.

Taba ~ Frog Fish Fables

All-white Frog Fish

Just back from another jaunt over to the Red Sea at Taba. Taba is situated right on the Egyptian / Israeli border . The marine border is marked in a low key way by having two Egyptian Police Officers sitting in a small dinghy , probably the worst posting there is!

Moray Eel

It was a bit of a lazy holiday in diving terms, with just five dives (2x shore dives, 3x boat dives), my diving buds were Paul and Andy. I have trained them both in the past and previously signed-off Paul's MSD and some specialties for Andy, so it was nice just to do some relaxing dives.

Traditional 'turning-left' signal!

We dived with Aqua Sport who have dive centres at the adjacent Hilton & Movenpick Hotels, both right on the waters edge. We saw frog fish on every dive , several frog fish on some dives. I learnt that photographing them was easy as they just sit still for you ....but that it's not easy to get a good photo of fish that are so highly camouflaged that they are hard to see in the view finder and the final shot! The solution is to find the plain coloured ones which curiously seemed harder to find (or they were just less in number!).

No dive complete without a clown fish pic!

The dive time limit at Aqua Sport is 45 minutes , although with such personal service my average dive time over the five was 48 minutes. Most of the staff we met and dived with were Egyptian , although Karina , a German Instructor led the boat dives.

Say "Arrrrh" for the camera!

The coral was not the best I have seen in the Red Sea but it encouraged a close look to find interesting marine life and in that regard there was plenty to see.

Soft Coral Snacker!

Christmas Dinner

I am still waiting for some deposits & menu choices!! An email has been sent to those concerned but if you want to come & not yet paid or given me your choices you need to do so by the END OF THIS WEEK!

There are still places available so email me or add a comment

Thank you

Tech Talk at Ocean View

I trundled down to Ocean View to listen to the the talk given by Mark Powell as an intro to Tech Diving. Having done the PADI tec rec course almost 10 years ago I thought it may be a good idea to refresh myself on what is happening around the training of Tech Divers and maybe look at opportunities to update skills that I haven't really used since doing the course.

Mark's talk was very informative and gave me the itch to carry out a refresher couse on the tech basics and perhaps progress to the next level, trimix.

The benefit of this sort of diving to me is that I may not necessarily want to dive to great depths, but to do the dives I do now for longer and with a clearer head. So Mark I may well be knocking on your door next year.

Thanks to Ocean View for the invite to the talk and an enjoyable evening.

To see the courses Mark has to offer, go to his website at www.dive-tech.co.uk

Tad

Pool Session - Sovereign Centre, Eastbourne

Pool Session - 3/11/09 (Tuesday)

Meet at 19:45.
When you arrive at the Pool go towards the car park and then turn right into a slip road at the side of the building.

Sheila & Ernie
Chris & Sue
Tracey
Therese
Mandy.

See you there.

Marine Conservation Zones off the Sussex Coast

On Monday 2nd Novenber at 7.30pm on BBC One , Inside Out South East takes a close up look at Marine Conservation Zones - one of the hottest topics for naturalists across Sussex today. For video , links and more information cick HERE.

For information on delivering marine conservation zones and the wok of Balance Seas click HERE. Balanced Seas is one of four regional projects in England that will work with sea users and interest groups to identify and recommend Marine Conservation Zones to Government. These new protected areas will be designated at the end of 2012.

Seazones - Saturday 31st October

Message from Mick Luff:

Spaces available on Seazones on Saturday, diving the Brisbane (28 metres max) followed by a drift. Ropes off Newhaven 07:45.

If interested phone Mick on 07729 277651

Ernie

Mark Powell Talk ~ 7.30pm Friday 6th November

Hi all,
Just thought I'd post this to see if anyone would like to attend Oceanview on the above date for a talk/presentation given by one of Britain's leading technical instructors Mark Powell.

The talk will have something for everybody, especially aimed at recreational divers looking to go further and deeper or stay longer including redundancy, kit configuration, basic deco, advanced nitrox, trimix and not forgetting intro into technical diving.

The talk is already filling-up so if anyone is interested please let me know numbers either by email mattwest1@hotmail.co.uk or by phone, Tad and Tracy have my mobile number and are free to give it out.

If anyone went to the diveshow you'll know Mark's talk was one of the highlight's and was standing room only on both days.

http://www.dive-tech.co.uk/

Many thanks

Matt

Meridian Diver Film Night ~ Wednesday 3rd February

Following the last MD Meeting I have booked Wednesday 3rd February 2010 at Arlington Village Hall for the next MD Film Night. More details to follow. I imagine the usual light refreshments , film & photo show will be the style of the evening.

Easter Monday 5th April 2010

I have booked Seazones on Easter Monday for Meridian Divers. We know this is well in advance but if you wish to secure a place please post a comment.

Times and where we will be diving will be discussed nearer the time.

Ernie

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

Pool Session - Sovereign Centre, Eastbourne

The diving pit has been booked to Meridian Divers on Tuesday 3rd November between 8 and 9 p.m. Cost will be £5.00 per person.

Anyone wishing to get wet please post a comment.

Ernie

1. Tracey
2. Chris
3. Sue
4. Ernie
5. Sheila
6. Therese

Meridian Monkeys Go Ape!

Doh! I have posted pictures and words from the Sunday 18th October "Go APE" adventure day on the Meridian Mutts blog by mistake! Double Doh! Oh well follow THIS LINK to view them!

Holland 5 Diving Opportunity

At the meeting last week I mentioned that Jamie from TWSAC was applying for a licence to dive the Holland 5 submarine next year. TWSAC has offered any Meridian Divers the opportunity to be named on the licence to dive this protected wreck as guests of TWSAC on their ribs.

If you are interested please add a comment including your dive qualifications, experience and if you have any maritime archeological experience such as N.A.S dont worry if you dont have this it wont prevent you diving the wreck.

The object of the dives will be to gather photo, video and marine life data plus general visual inspection which can be added to the data already gathered.

Tad

NAS Link to Holland V Project , Click HERE

Mira Dive from Buccaneer

A chilly start saw Ernie and me leaving Shoreham harbour aboard Chris Wests Buccaneer on Sunday.With bright autumn sunshine skipper Chris decided to head east to the wreck of the Mira. With flat seas all week and no rain plus good vis reports during the week hopes were high for a good dive, but the further east we got the more our hopes were falling as the colour of the water was changing. After an hours motor out to the wreck our hopes were well and truly dashed, no video today was the consensus amongst the divers on the boat and Chris was kicking himself for heading east and not west like his name.

Still we were there now and we were soon kitting up and crewman Roger was in tying the shot to the wreck. It has been about 16 years since I last dived the Mira and as I remember that dive was pretty awful, going down the shot it looked like this one wasn't going to be much better.

Once on the wreck Ernie and I contented ourselves to stay midships around once was the engine room. The Mira is a big wreck but the conditions on this dive were not going to allow us to appreciate just how big she is.

Ernie busied himself worrying the blennies whilst I dropped down the side of the hull to investigate a ventilation grill.

The vis was a very grainy 2m at the most and very dark, but a dive is a dive so we made the best of it for around 3o minutes before heading back up to the surface.

Back on board Chris took a bit of ribbing but everyone had made the best of the dive and with crewman Dave playing mum we all enjoyed coffee and cupa soups on the journey back.

I really like the atmosphere on Buccaneer and look forward to the next trip out with Chris sometime in the near future.

Tad

Happy Meridian Day ~ 20th October

Well it's a good enough excuse to crack open a bottle for a toast! Today is the 125th Anniversary of the Prime Meridian , or if you prefer, the anniversary of the day that the Greenwich Meridian Line was drawn and Longitiude 0 0'00" was created. So there , Meridian Divers, now you know when it all began! Loads more info HERE!

Meridian Divers Meeting ~ 14th October

The MD meeting took place at the Berwick Inn and some plans for the next months and 2010 were discussed. In particular:-

1). A wreck dive from Buccaneer on Saturday 17th October (Tad & Ernie)
2). A pool session in the Sovereign Centre, Eastbourne, in early November (BOOKED! 3rd Nov)
3). A reminder to post any pictures you want to enter in the Photo Competition (judged at the Christmas Dinner)
4). Christmas Dinner , being held in the Berwick Inn on Wednesday 16th December.
5). A bowling night for January 2010.
6). A Film Night planned for 3rd February 2010 (BOOKED!)
7). A Malta dive holiday in May 2010
8). A Portland dive trip in late June 2010

Other plans :-
a). Producing 'buddy cards'.
b). A reminder to gather raffle prizes for the Christmas Dinner.
c). A reminder to select your menu choices for the Christmas Dinner
d). An update on the 'Protected Wreck Licence' project.
e). The potential to be included on the Licence to dive the historic submarine "Holland V"

As ever , plenty to plan and do!

Buccaneer Dive this Week-end? ~ Saturday 17th October

Tad has circulated a dive opportunity this Saturday . He says he will buy all the divers onboard a drink is there is NOT 8 metres of visibility!

Text or email Tad or add a comment if you are interested! Click HERE for the Buccaneer website.

Red Sea Liveaboard ~ St John's (Southern Red Sea)

The Benson's are back!

Ernie & I set out to dive the St John's area in the Southern Red Sea aboard 'Dreams'. A (new) addition to the Sea Serpent Fleet, but unfortunately on boarding the vessel we soon discovered that it was far from 'new'. The journey south is quite a long overnight trip to reach the southern reefs of St John's. They are mainly a selection of Gota and Habili (reef which reaches the surface or not). The coral is in good colourful condition and we saw white tip reef sharks, oceanic white tip sharks, dolphins, turtles and fantail rays as well all the usual reef inhabitants.

There were one or two issues with the boat which all on board had concerns with which have now been taken up with the agent.

Unfortunately we would not recommend 'Dreams' as a Liveaboard.

Just a word of warning Marsa Alam airport is very hot on luggage weight. Ernie & I were 2 kilos over (between 2 dive bags and 2 rucksacks) and had to pay 22 euros excess. No receipts were being given !

Mercian Regiment Commemoration on BBC News

Meridian Diver and underwater videographer Tad, had another of his videos shown on BBC News last night (Friday 9th October). On this occasion the video was of the wreck of the Oceana which Tad had been diving with Tunbridge Wells BSAC when Jamie Smith found a brass plaque commemorating the deaths of Nottinghamshire soldiers who died in India between 1819 and 1838. Jamie handed the plaque to the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment at a special ceremony which Tad had the pleasure of attending. For full details on the BBC web site click HERE!

Christmas Dinner 2009

Hi all,

Just a reminder that the Christmas Dinner is to be held on Wednesday 16th December at The Berwick which as you are probably aware is under new management and now doing very well!

The price is £22 pp for 3 course meal plus coffee, mints & mince pies. A copy of the menu will be coming round by email shortly. I will need confirmation plus £5 pp (non-refundable) deposit by end of the month. Remember we also hold our annual raffle so any donations of prizes gratefully accepted!

Please add a comment, email or text me if you wish to be added to the list.

A belated 'Welcome' to blogging!

A belated welcome to PADI in joining the world of blogging. Since March 2009 PADI have been running a blog to track developments in their DSAT TecRec range of courses. In 2006 Meridian Divers was the first scuba blog in the South East and since then there has been a considerable growth in the media for promoting recreational diving, we are proud to have 'done our bit' to encourage interest and very pleased to see the TecRec blog.

The new range of DSAT TecRec courses becam available on 1st September , take a look at the TecRec blog for more information ...click HERE!

Unknown Wreck Mid Channel

Diving an Unknown wreck on Monday with Tunbridge Wells Sub Aqua Club.. I was fortunate enough to find I had Monday free and was invited out aboard the TWSAC rib to dive an unknown wreck 21 miles out in the separation zone which sounds a bit like an cliched sci fi series from the 1960'sall that needed to happen was that we could meet aliens ,come back and find we were the only people left in Newhaven (almost true there on a Monday) orfind that we had been part of some strange experiment. The truth is that we had a 21 mile journey out in the rib which took about an hour passing 3 dolphins on the way.
On reaching the site there was a very large factory Trawler moored nearby who took more than a passing interest in the 6 neoprene clad bods in a bright orange rib.

The sea was mirror calm and with small tides we had high expectations for the dive and with the wreck located and shotted we were not to be dissapointed, you could see the line at least down to 10m.
It was soon my turn to kit up and start the journey down and boy was it good. I touched the wreck at just over 40m and began to explore with my camera the vis was between 10-15m.
In a strange way the wreck and conditions reminded me of my first dive on the Rosie Moller in the red sea.

The wreck sits upright on the sea bed and drops down to around 47m . It also is massive and quite in tact although heading towards the bow the hull dropped away in what looks like a massive explosion has taken it off.

Turning back I headed back up midships and came across machinery and the massive engines in which a very large conger had made its home. I also came across a twin wheeled hand pump.
I allowed myself to go into 8 minutes of deco before heading back to the shot and start my very slow ascent back up.

TWSAC have dived this wreck in the past but conditions have to be perfect due to the depth and the distance out. Now the hunt is on to Identify this amazing wreck .

Certainly up there as one the best of my UK dives.
The film doesnt do it justice.

Tad

Go Ape ~ Sunday 18th October 2009

Hi all,

This has now been BOOKED and PAID for! I will therefore need money asap. If you are at meeting on 14 October then that will be ok, otherwise I will need you to get payment to me asap.

Cost is £25 per person

Date - Sunday 18th October
Time - 1.30pm (this was the latest time available)
Place - Bedgebury, Kent

Confirmed to me & booked for are:

Tad
Nicky
Ernie
Trez
Linda
Simon -plus 3
Emily
Tracey

At time of writing this, there were 3 places still available.

Once I had booked & the confirmation came up, it then informed me that parking cost £7.50 per car!!! So we may want to meet up before & car share into the forest.

If you want to check out what we doing & for directions look at website - www.goape.co.uk/

Bananas are the preferred snack option!

Meridian Divers Meeting ~ October 2009

Hi y'all,
The next MD meeting is due to take place on 7th October, but through people being away on that day we are looking at holding it on the 14th October! This is just an early 'heads-up' , I will confirm in due course. If you have any comments please add them!

Hurghada Dive Sites

Red Sea Dive Sites Index

Just for ease of reference I thought it might be useful to add some dive site maps to the blog. Rather than put them all on one post I'll add them to past (and future) posts and jut use this post as a sort of index page ! To locate the others either use the links below or or use the 'Label' :-

Red Sea Dive Sites.

Marsa Alam Dive Sites Click HERE

El Gouna Dive Sites Click HERE

Taba Dive Sites Click HERE

Dahab Dive Sites Click HERE

Hurghada Dive Sites Click HERE

Meridian Mutts

Tracey and the dog owning divers in Meridian Divers have created a new blog for MD Dogging Operations (did I say that!) , so all the new non-diving doggy stuff will appear on the dog blog!

Click HERE to be whisk(er)ed to houndly heaven on Meridian Mutts!

Marsa Alam Revisited ~ September 2009

I'll not spend too much space banging-on about Marsa Alam as much has been said before on this blog (follow the 'Subject Finder Links' in the lower right panel), save to say that having just come back from eleven day boat dives (including two at Elphinstone Reef) the water is warm ...come-on-in! 28 to 28 Deg C in fact. So on the basis of a picture painting a thousand words , here are a few chapters!

Skive Dive Society

Skive Dive Society have dives booked on:

Wednesday 16th September: Alaunia - Out of Eastbourne Ropes off 08:15
Tad
Simon
Ernie

Wednesday 28th October: Ariel - Out of Brighton Ropes off 11:00
Simon
Ernie

Anyone else wishing to join us post a comment ASAP.

Ernie

The Wreck of the Nyon ~ Sunday 14th September

The MV Nyon has an interesting story This Swiss cargo vessel was grounded in Eyemouth a popular area for diving up in the land of the kilt and Haggis in 1958 The Nyon, a 5058 tonne Swiss Cargo ship, struck Meg Watson’s Rock, 4 miles northwest of St Abbs Head, on her way from Leith to Dakar. The stern half of the ship was salved and towed to Holland where a new bow was fitted

A stranded Nyon in 1958

Move on to 1962 and the now repaired MV Nyon was heading down the channel carrying a cargo of cars and other bits and pieces when she was in a collision with the Indian Jalazad about 10 miles south of Beachy Head and sank.

Collision Damage the Jalazad

Present day and a group of us are heading on TunWells Diver out to dive the Nyon and it is another first for me. The Nyon has long been on my list of must do wreck dives and with slightly choppy seas I was soon to be achieving that long held aim to dive her. Reaching the site it was the the usual well rehearsed job of shotting the wreck and soon we were hitting the water with Jamie and Ian heading down first to tie in. Derek and me were second in and looking down the shot the vis looked like it may be ok and the light seemed to be staying with us.

The wreck sits about 45m of water on low tide and it seemed to take a while to hit the wreck but we were soon on the wreck which sits on her side and we were towards the stern area. I had to watch my depth as my mix didnt allow me past 38.6 m with a 28% set at 1.4.

The vis was was around 3-4 m and although dark you could just about getway without using a torch on the highest part of the stern . I amused myself whilst Derek busied himself with his camera taking photos. Piles of empty coke a cola bottles lay beneath us in broken crates and coils of cable still lay on the tilted decks. The water was very green and an abandoned net was draped over a peice of machinery ready to catch the unwary.

The bottom time whizzed by and Derek had already deployed his SMB and was starting his ascent above me so I decided to join him and start the slow jouney back to the surface.

Another Great dive and yet again I look forward to doing it again when the conditions are better and I can get a better feel for the wreck .Thanks again to the TWSAC Boys Derek Rob Jools Graham Geoff and Ian for the trip out and the interesting long trip back.

If you are ever up in the Eyemouth / St Abbs area you can dive the remains of the Nyons original Bow which sits in about 9m and then shoot down south and dive the rest of the wreck at a far more exciting depth. Quite unique me thinks

Tad

Diving The wreck of The Seven Seas With Tunbridge Wells SAC and Meridian Divers

The best bits from the dive I did with TWSAC on the wreck of the Seven Seas a few weeks ago

Monkeying About!

Some time ago we discussed the idea of swinging thru the trees with the help of Go Ape in Kent.

They are only open until the end of October and we had initially set asisde the 4th October 2009.

If you are still interested, please add a comment or email me. This is open to friends & family too. Payment does have to be made at time of booking so we need to get moving if we do want to play Tarzan!

You can find more details from http://www.goape.co.uk/

Tracey
(not sure what's happened with publishing names!)

T R Thompson Wreck Dive ~ 6th September

The weather gods were smiling Sunday morning when the group from Rother Diving Club and Meridian Divers met up at the Sussex Yacht club at Shoreham to join Chris West's Hard boat Buccaneer. The plan was to motor out to the MD project wreck The T.R.Thompson.

After the appalling weather of the last week we were not expecting miracles but the sea was glassy smooth and the sun was shining and warm.

After an hours motor we reach the site and there was already a rib packed with divers from TWSAC waiting for slack. Buccaneer crew member Roger popped in and tied the shot in for us.
Soon it was our turn to dive but the sky had become overcast so we expected darkness down on the wreck. Exiting Buccaneer is a little unconventional but not a problem so Nicky Steve and myself rolled in and descended into the gloom or should I say pitch black and before long we hit the wreck and after a bit of searching we had soon orientated ourselves and set off to enjoy the dive. We swam over the engines and down to the railings and winches. even though it was pitch black we were really enjoying the dive as when conditions are like this you tend to see the smaller things with more detail. In fact we were enjoying the dive so much we allowed ourselves to go into a little deco time but all too soon we had to think about our ascent and stops on the way up.

Getting back onto Buccaneer is as interesting as the exit and in fact Steve enjoyed it so much he popped back in (unintentionally) and did it again.

We had planned to do a second dive but as the conditions were picking up and becoming lumpy we canned it and headed back to port. On the way back just off Brighton we were greeted by flipper a lone Bottlenose dolphin playing near a net buoy, no doubt looking for a free lunch which was a nice touch to end a great day on.

A big thanks to Chris West Skipper , Roger and Dave the Buccaneer crew. A nice little boat and great crew will definitely take up Chris's offer of some more dives and midweek stuff in the near future.

Thanks to the Rother Diving Club boys and Girls for joining us and can't wait to do it all again with you and Thanks to Graham at OV for passing on the dive to us.

Divers
Nicky
Steve
Tony
Ian
Andy
Simon
Ernie
Tad

Diving with Buccaneer

More Buccaneer Diving Boat Charter Opportunies:-

Friday Sept 11th (HWN) Leave 14-00hrs (40m wreck)
Sun Sept 13th (LWN) Leave 09-30hrs
Tues Sept 15th (HWN) Leave 18-30hrs Indiannia (10m)
Sat Sept 19th (HWS) Leave 09-30hrs
Friday Sept 25th (HWN) Leave 13-45hrs > Waterford (30m)
Sat Oct 3rd (HWS) Leave 08-30hrs
Sun Oct 4th (HWS) Leave 09-15hrs
Sat Oct 10th (LWN) Leave 07-45hrs
Sun Oct 11th (LWN) Leave 08-30hrs
Sat Oct 17th (HWS) Leave 08-30hrs
Sun Oct 18th (HWS) Leave 09-00hrs
Sat Oct 24th (HWN) Leave 13-00hrs BST
Sun Oct 25th (HWN) Leave 13-00hrs GMT
Sat Oct 31st (HWN) Leave 07-15hrs

BOOK EARLY please, to avoid disappointment !

Dive prices.....£25 for a single dive trip.......reduced as the fuel prices have dropped. We are now offering two dives on most weekend trips, (£35), with the second dive on a different site to the first dive. If you want to book the boat during 2009 for training dives or a 'Dive School Outing' or specialist / club dives please get in touch and we can tailor a trip to your requirements.

Chris
Buccaneer Charters
Tel:- 01273 464225
Mob:- 07802 571056
Web. buccaneer-diving.co.uk
E-mail chris.mainsplice@btclick.com

English Heritage - Protected Wrecks

Follow THIS link for the English Heritage web site on Protected Wrecks.

English Heritage Talk

Firstly a big thank you to all those that braved the appalling weather wednesday night and came to the talk given by Alison Hamer from English Heritage on the issues facing the protected wreck sites off our coasts.

25 divers from Eastbourne BSAC, Tunbridge Wells Sub Aqua Club, Rother Diving Club and Meridian Divers listened to Alison's talk on what English Heritage are doing about these protected sites and how divers can access the sites and become involved in projects and even become licensees of some of these sites.

Alison also fielded questions from the floor on a variety of issues. It became very clear during the talk that protecting sites is a mammoth task due to the lack of funding and in reality there is only Alison doing the job of policing.

After Alison had finished the talk there was a chance for the different clubs to network with each other and it soon became very clear that there is a willingness to join forces and work on a particular project with a view to perhaps becoming the Licensees of a particular local site.
It is felt that a working group of volunteers from each group could meet to formalise a project outline and take it forward. There also was a feeling that a greater degree of co-operation between local clubs and groups could be beneficial when running diving and social activities etc , which is the reason Meridian Divers was set up for.

I will be emailing all those that expressed an interest over the next few days and see if we can set up some sort of meeting and have already spoken to Alison about this.

So the evening was a real success in more ways than one and once again thank you to all those that supported the evening and made it worthwhile. Also a special thanks to Alison Hamer for travelling up from Portsmouth to give the talk and no Alison Eastbourne isn't Dover. A big surprise for me was to meet an old friend that I hadn't seen for thirty odd years good to see you Claire and hubby Keenan, yep we have got old.

Finally thanks to Sheila and Ernie for sorting the room and the food.

Photos to follow shortly

Happy Birthday Tad!

Birthday best wishes to the Tadmaster , revered diving videographer sans frontieres! And well done for organising the very well attended English Heritage Martime talk.

Maritime Heritage Talk - Wednesday 2nd September

Just a reminder to all that tomorrow's English Heritage maritime talk starts at 7.30pm.

Diving the Wreck of The Mount Stewart

Photo of Anchor on the wreck

taken by Rob King

Bank Holidays normally bring pretty crap weather and Sunday was no exception grey and breezy and with a dive booked for Sunday afternoon I thought that it wasn't worth the trip down to Newhaven and a phone call from Jools confirmed my thoughts so I asked if there would be spaces on Mondays dive as the weather was looking a bit better.

Monday dawned grey and breezy again and once more I questioned if it was worth the trip down but as I had already cancelled once I thought it was polite to at least make the effort.

On arriving at Newhaven the sky at cleared, the weather was hot and the breeze was dropping.
Four of us were booked Tunwells Diver and as the boat had been out to the Scallop wreck in the morning and the vis wasn't brilliant it was suggested by Graham that we try a little dived wreck

The Mount Stewart 2 miles off Beachy Head a wreck and I hadn't dived her before. Built 1873 by T. & W. Smith, North Shields, Yard No 64; Launch Date September 1873; Built for Marquis Of Londonderry, Sunderland; Collision 3nm W Royal Sovereign Shoal on 19/12/1890 & sank whilst in tow

Reaching the wreck site we located the wreck and dropped the shot and didn't have to wait long for slack. Sheila and me were first in and surprisingly going down the line there was vis . We hit the wreck at just over 30m and we had at least 4m of vis plus plenty of light, I was so glad that I had made the trip. We tied the shot in and set off to explore the wreck.

Sitting upright on a sandy bottom the wreck was covered in life large lobsters,congers and huge shoals of bib and pollack cruised the remains. As we started to hit sand we turned the dive around and headed back towards the shot and came across the engine room complete with gantry walks and ladders. dropping over the side of the wreck the hull was impressive with large square holes where there were once windows and portholes. The Mount Stewart lies pretty much intact but depth and time dictated our stay on the wreck so we didnt reach the stern area although Rob got there and reported an impressive stern and propeller.

On the way back to Newhaven we stopped at the Beachy Light House for some photos and then a gentle cruise in warm evening sun and a flat sea back to Newhaven. This is now Rob's favourite wreck and if you want to know why you are going to have to ask him yourselves my lips are sealed.

A brilliant dive cant wait to do it again.

A big thanks to Sheila,Graham and Rob from TWSAC

Tad

The Oceana - The New and the Old

Just posting this as a bit of interest. Having dived the Oceana a number of times look at the difference a 100 years make.

Early 1900's

Early 21st Century

Just imagine diving that in a hundred years time!

Wreck Dive (TBC) - Monday 31st August

Dive boat "Buccaneer" is planning a wreck dive between 36m to 42m followed by another , shallower, wreck dive. Departs Shoreham. No other details as yet. Contact Skipper Chris via:-

www.buccaneer-diving.co.uk

Diving The Oceana with Meridian Divers

Footage of the Oceana Dive from Channel Divers on the 13th August

Project Aware Beach Clean-Up - 19th Sept

Ocean View have cordially invited Meridian Divers Friends and families to take part in a Beach Clean-Up in aid of PADI Project Aware. Please post a comment if you would like to help out. Looks pretty good to me especially the Hog Roast bit!

Where and when: 12.00, Saturday 19th September at Beach Green, Lancing. Beach Clean-Up & free hog roast with the purchase of a raffle ticket.

Diving The Ashford Wreck

Its nearly been a week since I got an email from Jools a TWSAC member asking if anyone wished to do a midweek late afternoon dive on the rib from Newhaven and as the weather looked like it was going to be great I eagerly signed up as I was already going to be in Hastings, and going by what the vis had been like on the Sunday before,hopes were high for a cracking dive.

As I had the furthest to come the decision was up to me which wreck we did and as I had never dived the Ashford the choice was easy.

The trip out on a flat sea and warm late summer sun was a real pleasure and soon we were over the wreck and waiting for slack.

Jools Rob and Justin were first in to tie off whilst Dave and I were left on the rib waiting for our turn and the warm weather made sitting around in our dry suits a little uncomfortable.

25 minutes later DSMB's popped up and we were soon helping the first 3 divers aboard and kitting up ourselves. Disappointingly the reports of the vis were not as good as I was hoping and as we were reaching the end of slack I didn't take the camera in.

Down the shot the wreck of the Ashford sits upright at about 37m she was built in 1881 and sunk in a collision with a German Barque on the 25th of June 1906 whilst carrying a cargo of coal. I had looked at John Liddiards wreck tour on the Ashford prior to the dive and the artists impression is pretty well what the wreck looks like now (good omen for the TRT wreck tour image when done) you can enter the wreck through the deck supports and pretty much swim through the wreck via the holds. The remains of the coal cargo still sit in the holds and broken plates and glass can still also be found.

During the dive I saw the biggest cod I have ever seen brush by Dave non perplexed by our presence. The vis was around 4-5m but quite grainy and as the sun was getting low, light levels on the wreck were not ideal for video without lights so just as well I had left the camera up top.

We swam the length of the wreck and also checked out the ships prop which is huge. Having planned a small bit of deco Dave was on air and I had a mix of 25% it was soon time to head but up. We had come back to the shot and decided to head back up that but the tide had turned and we were hanging like flags off the line so Dave deployed his DSMB and we drifted off, far more comfortable.

A great dive and one wreck that I will definitely want to get back to and film asap

The photo of the Ashford is courtesy of Alf Rodenby

Check out the DIVER magazine wreck tour on the Ashford here

http://www.divernet.com/Wrecks/wreck_tours/159413/wreck_tour_65_the_ashford.html

Tad

T R Thompson Wreck Dive - 6th Sept (Update)

The booking is confirmed for September 6th. 'Ropes off' or leaving time is 10-30am. We can do a second, (shallower), wreck after the 'Thompson' but as it is a spring tide, the dive will be with the tide running. Add a comment if you have preferences. The Weather will also dictate whether the 2nd dive will happen the skipper will make the call on the day.

There is a map to find the boat on the web site http://www.buccaneer-diving.co.uk/

Tad

TR Thompson Dive ~ Sunday 6th September

This will now be two dives on 6th September. 1st dive TRT , 2nd dive probably also a wreck. Ropes-off time to be announced but between 9am and 10am from Shoreham on Buccaneer. Cost £35 . See:- http://www.buccaneer-diving.co.uk/ Thanks to Graeme and Matt at Ocean View for the offer of these spaces very much appreciated.

Divers :-
1.Ernie
2.Chris P (TBC)
3.Simon
4.Nicky
5.Tony
6.Tad
7. Ian S
8. Andy T
1st Reserve:

Skive Dive Society

Calling all skivers. Channel Diver has some spaces available for some mid week dives.

Wednesday 16th September - Aluania out of Eastbourne, 36 metres. Divers already booked on are Simon, Tad & Ernie.

Wednesday 21st October - Braunton out of Brighton, 36 metres.

Wednesday 28th October - Ariel out of Brighton, 25 metres.

Anyone wishing to skip work to dive please post a comment.

Ernie

Meridian Mutts ~ Sunday 16th August

Ice creams all round!

Another enjoyable walk under my belt or should I say collar. Joined by my good friends Poppy M and Twizzle and the human attendants we had a leisurely stroll along the 1066 walk from Pevensey Castle , passed Chilli Farm and onto Rickney and returned along the river bank. To finish the day Poppy M's Mum bought us an ice cream each. Hopefully we will see more of you on the next walk.

Poppy B
X X

T R Thompson Wreck Dive ~ Sunday 6th September

Tad has circulated the following dive opportunity :-

Wreck of the T R Thompson
Sunday 6th September
Dive Boat: The Buccaneer
Port: Shoreham
Single Dive ~ Cost £25

Add comments or get in touch with Tad

Oceana, Air Show and BBQ ~ 13th July 2009

L to R: Chris, Ray, Sara, Ken

Simon on his Exercise Ball watches the planes go by!

"Look Everyone , there's an Air Show" Said Tad .. "What?" Said Everyone

Front Four to Rear Five "Still smoking then?"

More photos of great days diving and sky watching! Ernie.

Summer BBQ and Dive at Buckland Lake ~ Sunday 23rd August

Big apologies I meant to post this last week. Earlier on this year I had planned the "Soup Dragon" dive but for various reasons this never happened. Well next Sunday, on the 23rd we are planning a dive at Buckland Lake followed by a BBQ at my house. I will need numbers asap as dives need to be booked at Buckland.

Please post a comment if you can make it and will make the arrangements. The plan is to meet at the lake mid-morning, do a dive or two, then head back to my house, which is about 15 minutes from the lake, for a BBQ.

Cost of the dive is £10 and certs need to be shown. BBQ bring what you want and I will attempt to cook it and not poison you and bring what you want to drink. Everyone is welcome!

Diving the Wreck of the Seven Seas or not ?

The Toilet on the 'Seven Seas'

Stunning!!! that's the only word that can describe today's dive on the Wreck of the Seven Seas.

After battling the traffic heading to Eastbourne for the Airshow I managed to scrape into Newhaven with about 15 minutes to spare to join Tunwells Diver and TWSAC members Max, Bill, John, Graham, Jamie, Derek and Rob. A decision had not yet been made on where to dive but with good vis reports from the wreck dives during the week on sites further out it was decided that a dive on a wreck known as the Seven Seas would be a good choice. It is, however, thought that this wreck has been wrongly named !

A choppy RIB ride 10 miles out put us other the site and with the wreck shotted the first two divers were in to tie off to the wreck. I was buddied with John from London and soon we were in the water and headed off down the line and with my cold now cleared-up my ears cleared easily.

It soon became apparent that this dive was going to be a corker and once on the wreck at 37m the vis was around 15m maybe more with plenty of ambient light. I have never dived this wreck before and was amazed at how intact she was, she still looks like a ship. Sea life covered her rusting remains and we were soon off exploring the holds, engines and other features including remains of rooms. One feature which got close inspection was a loo intact but long past any Harpic treatment.

Working our way to the bows the vis gave us the opportunity to see the wreck in all its glory, the bow was stunning, still cutting its way through the currents. I had taken the video camera down but realised I had pushed the zoom control accidentally so although the quality was OK, I misssed out on the panoramic shots which is a shame.

All too soon it was time to head back up to the surface where the wind had picked-up a bit which made for an interesting ride back to Newhaven. A great dive and the moral here is that if you want the vis you need to get a bit further out at the moment . Thanks to everyone for the trip it was certainly well worth the effort.

The video will be posted shortly once Thursday's Oceana one has been completed. Tad .