Vulcano Ash

OK everyone, its time to start crossing your fingers , well at least those of you on the Malta Dive Trip of 12th May. It's not long away now and the backlog of displaced travellers is going to take some time to sort out even if the vulcano behaves! I have rung the Royal Navy to see if they have anything going to Malta in May but apparently the pedalos have packed-up and the RN are fully booked to provide cover for the summer season at Butlins.

Diving The wreck of the Indiana April 18th 2010

Indiana Dive Sunday 18th April

After the Easter diving had been cancelled I was getting itchy fins for my first sea dive of the year . Come up trumps Ocean View who had a space on Chris West's Buccaneer and as I was already down on the coast for the weekend I jumped at the chance to join the OV guys on their trip out to the wreck of the Indiana about 1.5 miles off Worthing, I had never dived this wreck before and as this would be an easy dive, conditions allowing, it would give me the chance to get the camera in for the first time this year.

I like Buccaneer a lot there is a real old fashioned charm about it. Skippered by Chris with Dave as Crew, we left shoreham in warm sunshine and flat calm seas hoping that the vis would be at least a couple metres, Chris had been out on Saturday and they had dived the City of London with a very dark and silty 1-2m vis but at least with the Indiana being very shallow there should be plenty of light.

About 45 minutes later we arrived over the wreck which only lies in 11m of water and the shot was dropped in and me being given the job of tying in I was soon kitted along with Nigel and popped in and down. Guess what we were blessed with around 8-1om horizontal vis and top to bottom vis wow.

Now I wouldn't really call the the Indiana a wreck dives cos there really isn't much that is recognisable as a ship its all completely broken up and flattened more like a reef,but what the Indiana lacks in being a good wreck it more than makes up for in life. With large shoals of bib and pollack following you around, some very large wrasse and some very very large congers, lying under the collapsed plates kept us more than interested for 68 minutes when it was the cold and the strengthening tide that forced us to leave the bottom and head back up the awaiting Buccaneer and hot coffee.

All the divers on board had a great dive. This is the perfect dive for those first ventures out into open water for the inexperienced and even for those with a few years and pounds under our belts there is still enough to keep you interested.

Thanks to Ocean View for the offer of the space and their divers for making me welcome. Thanks to Chris West and Dave from Buccaneer for another great trip out I'll be back soon.

Video to follow shortly

Wreck Dive ~ Sunday 25th April 2010

Hi All,

I have 2 spaces available for a Wreck and Drift dive on Sunday the 25th of a April. The plan is to dive a 20m Wreck and then follow with a Drift dive. Ropes of is a lazy 2:15pm

If you fancy a dive Text or ring 07729 277651 or drop me an E-Mail.

If this date does not fit then take a look at my website diary. I still have weekend dates available, including this weekend that has a great forecast !!!!

Hear from you soon

Mick Luff Sea-Zones boat charter(Newhaven) Tel 07729 277651
www.sea-zones.co.uk

Red Sea Dive Trip ~ November 2010 (Date TBC)

As promised , I am researching some options:-

Option 1a. Marina Lodge, Marsa Alam
Some of us have used this Hotel a few times, it has a built-in dive centre and dive boats (day diving) moor right alongside the hotel grounds. I'm not impressed with the immediate cost estimate from Scuba Travel (I think there will be MUCH better deals) .... "As a Rough estimation you would be looking to pay around £975 per person with the group discount of 10 % this price would include Gatwick flights transfers and 7 nights Half Board basis with a 5 day diving package (boat dives )".
UPDATE: Scuba Travel have come back with revised figures:-
Rates both from the Marina lodge and from the Airlines if you were to depart on the 10/11/10 the times would be as follows ~

LGW SSH
09:20 16:55

SSH LGW
17:55 21:55

All of the prices would be based on 2 sharing on a half board basis for the divers the cost would be £775 and for the non-divers the cost would be £615 ( both of these prices are subject to availability).

Option 1b. Marina Lodge, Marsa Alam
Same as Option 1a above but with Longwood Holidays. It seems their prices are £1270 FOR TWO, but excluding diving. 10 boat dives with Emperor are £205 (good price). This equates to £840 per diver and £635 for a non-diver (subject to any hidden charges I haven't yet found!)

Option 2. (Concept Only!) St Johns, Liveaboard.
London Scuba are promoting a Southern Red Sea Trip in September (wrong months - hence concept only! £1095 per person on Sea Serpent. Not everyone is a liveaboard lover (many are!) . For more info CLICK HERE. It's an option to see if they will run this trip in November.

Update 22nd May:

All plans on hold , not sure on who's 'in' and who's not!

Portland Dive Trip ~ Sunday 13th June

Good News MDers!

I have had the following response from Fathom & Blues Dive Centre :-

"You’ve picked the best weekend in June for 30m dives – well done you! I’d recommend the following: -

1). 10.00 departure for the M2 – complete submarine at 34m
2). 15.30 departure for the Aeolian Sky – HUGE cargo ship in 30m

Costs are £30 per person for the M2 and £30 for the Sky.
Do you need accommodation at all – we have the bunkhouse at £15 pp if you need it."

(i.e. £60 for two dives)
I think some of use will travel down the night before for a spot of R&R and B&B before the dive day! I have dived both of these wrecks before ... they are worth the trip!

Add a comment or email me if you are a "Yes Please!"

Pool Session - Sovereign Centre, Eastbourne

Eastbourne Sovereign Centre Pool has been booked for Tuesday 27th April between 20:00 and 21:00. Meet at approx. 19:30. Entry is through door at left side of the building.

Anyone intending to come along please add a comment ASAP, so we can gauge numbers. Cost per person is £5.00. Any profit above hire of pool will go to MD funds. Please be careful with your equipment ( e.g. no standing tanks (always laid on there side, when not on your back and be careful with your weights)

Ernie

Learning to Swim?

Being able to swim is not too surprisingly and important prerequisite to learning to dive , mind you it's pretty much a life skill that everyone should have. For details on swimming lessons available in Seaford click on this link EASY-SWIM

Meridian Divers Meeting ~ 7th April 2010

The MD meeting had a good attendance , anyone would think the UK season is starting to wake-up! I know, I know, it's a 12 month season, yeah, OK! It was good to welcome Philip to the meeting and pick his brains about his last year's visit to Malta , not least as we aresoon off to there ourselves!

Quite a lot of business discussed and some how amongst the competing voices our Hon Sec Sheila has managed to capture the outcomes, at least I hope she has! Full notes tobe circulated later but in the meantime , the following was covered:-

a). Return visit to Sovereign Divers.
b). The Malta Dive Trip (May)
c). Report on the Kent Lake Dive
d). Boat Dives cancelled due to weather (er, did I say it was a 12mth season?)
e). Buccaneer Dive & BBQ planned for 4th July.
f). The Air Show Dive (12/8/10)
g). Pool Sessions on 27/4/10 and another in October TBC)
h). Go Ape session at Leeds Castle in September.
i). Christmas Dinner Competitions (provisional dater 15/12/10)
j). Underwater Film Festival
k). Portland Trip 13/6/10 TBC
l). Seaford Beach dive & BBQ in August TBC
m). Possible return visit to Hyperbaric Chamber (for those who have not been)
n). Possible return trip to NEMO 33 in January 2011
o). Plans for a Red Sea Trip in November 2010
p). Girlies Night Out on 23/5/10
q). Bowling & Laser Quest on 8/6/10
r). Dive Book & other dive stuff swap shop (at meetings).

So just a few things on the go!

Channel Diver ~ Charter Dive Boat Dates 2010

APRIL
Thursday 8th Brighton Unknown Sailing Ship 10.30am away 48mtrs £55
Friday 9th Brighton UNKNOWN WRECK TRIMIX 63 13.00 £45
Saturday 10th Brighton CITY OF WATERFORD 34 08.00 £45
Saturday 10th Brighton ARISTOS 58 13.30 £45
Friday 16th Brighton HMS KERRYADO 39 11.00 £45
Saturday 17th Brighton PENTRYCH 24 12.00 £45
Sunday 18th Brighton CITY OF LONDON 26 07.00 £45
Sunday 18th Brighton FORTUNA 32 12.30 £45
Monday 19th Brighton GERLEN 50 07.30 £45
Wednesday 21st Brighton TYCHO 33 09.00 £45
Thursday 22nd Brighton WARILDA 50 08.30 £55
Monday 26th Brighton CLODMORE 27 09.00 £45
Wednesday 28th Brighton TR THOMPSON 34 09.30 £45
Friday 30th Brighton INDIANA & PIER 12 08.00 £45

MAY
Sunday 2nd Brighton CITY OF WATERFORD 34 13.00 £45
Tuesday 4th Brighton QUAIL 40 08.00 £45
Wednesday 5th Brighton DUKE OF BUCCLEUGH 58 08.00 £50
Monday 10th Brighton ASHFORD 42 07.30 £45
Wednesday12th Brighton INVERCLYDE 20 09.30 £45
Friday 14th Brighton LALEN MENDI 25 09.30 £50
Monday 17th Brighton STEAM TRAWLER 16 07.00 £45
Wednesday 19th Eastbourne UC65 German Submarine 43 08.15 £50
Thursday 20th Eastbourne CHATEAU MARGEAUX 37 07.45 £55
Friday 21st Eastbourne SEAFORD FERRY 46 10.15 £50
Monday 31st Brighton FORTUNA 33 13.00 £45

JUNE
Tuesday 1st Brighton HMS MINION 46 08.00 £45
Monday 14th Brighton INDIANA & PIER 12 10.00 £45
Tuesday 15th Brighton PENTRYCH 24 07.00 £45
Wednesday 16th Brighton TYCHO 33 07.00 £45
Thursday 17th Brighton RAMSGARTH 25 08.00 £45
Friday 18th Brighton new mark MOLDAVIA AREA 50 07.30 £45
Monday 28th Eastbourne ALAUNIA 36 11.15 £45
Wednesday 29th Eastbourne FRUCKNER 30 07.15 £45
Thursday 30th Eastbourne VILLE DE BORDEAUX 44 07.45 £45 JULY
Monday 26th Eastbourne OCEANA 25 10.45 £45
Tuesday 27th Eastbourne MOHLEN PRIX 30 10.45 £45

AUGUST
Monday 9th Brighton BRAUNTON 36 09.00 £45
Tuesday 10th Brighton TR THOMPSON 34 09.30 £45
Wednesday 11th Eastbourne ALAUNIA Cunard Liner 30 10.45 £45
Thursday 12th Eastbourne OCEANA + AIRSHOW + BBQ 24 07.15 £50
Friday 13th Eastbourne THE TWINS + AIRSHOW+ BBQ 44 07.15 £50
Monday 16th Brighton NORTHEASTER 44 09.00 £45
Monday 16th Brighton MIOWN + PIER 12 13.30 £45
Tuesday 17th Brighton RAMSGARTH 25 09.00 £45
Wednesday 18th Brighton MOLDAVIA 50 09.30 £55
Thursday 19th Brighton ARIEL 28 11.30 £45
Friday 20th Brighton CITY OF WATERFORD 36 07.00 £45
Friday 20th Brighton DUKE OF BUCCLEUGH 58 13.00 £50
Monday 23rd Eastbourne KINGFISHER 48 08.45 £50
Tuesday 24th Eastbourne HMS ARIADNE 27 10.15 £45
Wednesday 25th Eastbourne GLENARTNEY 40 10.45 £45
Thursday 26th Brighton PENTRYCH 24 11.30 £45
Friday 27th Brighton CITY OF BRISBANE 27 12.00 £45
Monday 30th Brighton FORTUNA 33 13.30 £45
Tuesday 31st Brighton QUAIL 40 08.00 £45

SEPTEMBER
Monday 6th Eastbourne ARGONAUT 40 09.45 £50
Tuesday 7th Eastbourne CHATEAU MARGEAUX 40 07.15 £55
Monday 20th Brighton PERSIANA 48 07.30 £50
Tuesday 21st Brighton PENTRYCH 24 09.00 £45
Wednesday 22nd Brighton Submarine U130 30 09.00 £45
Thursday 23rd Brighton TR THOMPSON 34 10.00 £45
Friday 24th Brighton SEAFORD FERRY 48 09.30 £55 Dieppe
Monday 27th Dieppe 5 DAY TRIP to DIEPPE 40 08.00 £345
Tuesday 28th Dieppe 5 DAY TRIP to DIEPPE 20-40 08.00 £345
Wednesday 29th Dieppe 5 DAY TRIP to DIEPPE 20-40 08.00 £345
Thursday 30th Dieppe 5 DAY TRIP to DIEPPE 20-40 08.00 £345

OCTOBER
Friday 1st Dieppe 5 DAY TRIP to DIEPPE 40 08.00 £345
Monday 4th Brighton CITY OF LONDON 30 07.30 £45
Wednesday 6th Brighton NYON 45 08.00 £50
Friday 8th Brighton UNKNOWN WRECK 53 10.00 £45
Tuesday 12th Brighton HMS KERRYADO 34 07.30 £45
Wednesday 13th Brighton CITY OF WATERFORD 30 08.00 £45
Thursday 14th Brighton WARILDA 2 Day French Trip 50 07.00 £165
Friday 15th Brighton LANFRANC 2 Day French Trip 52 08.00 £165
Monday 18th Brighton HMS MINION 50 07.00 £45
Wednesday 20th Brighton BLANEFIELD 33 07.30 £45
Friday 22nd Brighton ASHFORD 42 09.00 £45
Monday 25th Brighton BIG CRAB WRECK 36 10.30 £45
Wednesday 27th Brighton FORTUNA 28 07.00 £45
Friday 29th Brighton DUKE OF BUCCLEUGH 58 07.00 £50

To reserve a space call Steve 07970 674799

Next Meridian Divers Meeting ~ Wednesday 7th April

The next MD meeting will be held at the Berwick Inn at 7.30pm on Wednesday 7th April. The agenda is being circulated.

Puddy Muddle Done!

Well, Team MD conquered another Kent Muddy Puddle and now Holborough Lake has fallen to our superior allied forces (the 1st Bn OV Reservists added numbers to fray)! Poor puddle didn't stand a chance really, just like shooting another water rat in a barrel! There we were equipped to take-on the raging oceans at depth and in front of us stood a trembling pool of fresh water, still wet behind the ears and only recently let go of it's mothers apron strings. OK divers, let's not leaving it in suffering for too long, let's get in there and finish it off quickly! But the little blighter surprised us all and came back for more, taking a second shot before the finish was in sight.

The water tried to resist at 7Deg C and the viz ranged from 5m metres to slightly worse than none at all! After some searching, weapons of mass diving discovered, three boats (small, medium and medium-large) and a couple of diving platforms, at 7m & 8m. Max depth was just over 10m.

The hosts were Nemes Scuba Academy, and Martin (da boss) and his staff were all very helpful and welcoming, they positively rushed to get hot drinks to you as soon as you surfaced & exited. The centre has a small office with male & female toilets, hot showers were also available . There was a clean air compressor (£4 any size cylinder). There were about twenty cars there , all parked on new tarmac. Huge cable drums made perfect kitting-up tables.

It was a good opportunity to pre-test the kit before going back into the sea, and with an entrance of £7.50 including all the tea & coffee you could want, it was a very fair rate. Good staff made it all the better, but the nature of muddy puddles is that they can soon become silt clouds ...and that soon happened! There is a small but user friendly slip way and a small jetty. A good place for cheaply checking kit configurations. Oh, and there is a Wimpy 'Restaurant' about 500m away , but may be best not to comment on that too much!

Dry Suit Up For Grabs!

Hi all,

Due to continuing ill health & financial restrictions I am reluctantly reducing my kit down. I am looking to sell my drysuit - it is a Female, Medium Gates CBX450 with Size 5 feet. It would suit someone (either male or female even tho described as a 'female suit) around 5'3-5'7 (I am 5'4) . Build wise, it has seen my dress size go from a 14 to 16 back down to 12 so there is lots of scope for sizing. It has been serviced & had a new neck seal. The zip & valves were all checked & found to be in excellent working order. The suit has not been used since it's service.

I still hope to one day get back in the water but it's not going to be any time soon, I cannot afford to 'give it away' and so am looking at around £350 as it is in such excellent order & recently serviced (cost me £85) . If you or anyone you know is interested, email , add a comment or contact me & I will get back to you asap - however bear with me as between 2 jobs, dogs, child & housework my 'free' time is practically non existent!

Robbo's Down Under Diving

Sorry guys,
I should of mentioned that the wreck of the Canberra is in the Victorian graveyard which is south the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse outside of the "heads" which is the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. I was in my drysuit as the water temp was chilly although the air temp was 20C . The dive boat operated by Dive Victoria had about 12 divers on board and 2 crew. The conditions were good but the sea a bit bumpy. We set off from Queenscliff and passed through the Rip which is one of the most challenging areas for ships to pass in. The passage through the rip was not unlike a bad day off Newhaven when you would certainly not see any boats venturing out into the surf, however the area of most concern is only a mile or so wide and can be traversed fairly quickly. Whilst passing through the rip as we were going out a huge bulk carrier was coming in "awesome size vessel" the pilot was dwarfed by the size of the ship. The actual width of the channel is only about one and a half kms and its an S shape so all commercial ships must take on a pilot both entering and exiting Port Phillip bay. I hope that gives all a bit of back ground to the dive area.
Cheers Robbo

Update from the Down-Under Diver!

Update from Robbo:-

I have been in the water again, this time I dived the Pope’s Eye and the new wreck on the block, The Canberra, which is situated in 30 metres of water max with the main deck at 18 metres. By some quirk of Australian diving standards my qualification Advance & Rescue is only recognized as a 18-30 metre max qualification. To dive any deeper in Australia I have to have a deep cert and then that will only suffice for dives of 40 metres max. The Australian authorities are enforcing the qualification fairly strictly.

Before doing my double dive on the Canberra I was warned by Dive Victoria not to enter the wreck at any point and that included the Bridge area which has numerous windows and doors to get out of. Since I was a single diver I was buddied up with an Instructor who was taking three other divers on a wreck tour of the 18 metre deck level and internal compartments but if I was with a friend and we dived without an instructor /guide we would not be allowed to penetrate the wreck at any time.

Sounds as though Dive Victoria who have the principle contract for the moorings over the Canberra are protecting their investment. The ship isn't huge, probably on the same scale as the Scylla back in the UK. Not much growth on her but plenty of fish outside. With a deep cert the big attraction is diving straight down the ships funnel into the engine room (with a guide of course). I guess I’ll have to do a bit of training again.

The Pope's Eye is a man made structure in Port Philip Bay with about 12 metres max depth, I swam around it twice and was almost on to my third circuit before a certain lump of weed looked a bit familiar so I surfaced for a quick look and was heckled by the dive boat !!!

Robbo

MD GO Ape ...Again! ~ September 2010

Hi all, Linda has done some preliminary research fo a Meridian Divers social at Go Ape at Leeds Castle in September.

There is full availability for Saturdays and Sundays in September at the moment - up to a maxium group size of 14. Using Saturday 4th September as an example (Sunday timings and costs are the same), start times are every half hour between 0830 and 1630 and the cost is £30 per head. Early September is probably best for Simon and Linda.

Add a comment or email Linda or me if you're interested and let us know whether you have a preference for dates.

Muddy Puddle Dive ~ Sunday 21st March

I am joining a group from Ocean View to Dive a new Muddy Puddle in Kent this coming Sunday if anybody is interested to shake off the winter cobwebs and check out kit before the forthcoming boat dives.
The site is at Snodland near Rochester (details to follow) apparently it was in last months Sport Diver.
The lake has a max depth of 11m plus attractions at a cost of £7.50 includes a cup of tea plus airfills are available on site.

website is http://www.nda-scuba.com/

Post a comment if you are interested

Tenerife Scuba ~ March 2010

Just back from Tenerife and some very enjoyable diving, courtesy of Chris & Sarah of Tenerife Scuba . I enjoyed diving with Chris & Sarah five years ago and my return visit, sadly confined to just four dives, if anything demonstrated there was more interesting marine life than I expected.


Chris & Sarah are the most welcoming of hosts and good company through-out the day. They operate a RIB from the harbour of Las Galletas (East of Los Christianos). Much money has been invested in the harbour in the last five years and the benefits show! It's rather nice to enjoy lunch on one of the harbour arm restaurants during the surface interval.

Air temperatures were bewteen 21 and 23 Deg C and the water was between 20 and 21 Deg C. I was quite comfy in a full 5mm wet suit & hood. Underwater visibility was very good and one 35m+ dive we could easily see the surface.

Tenerife being a volcanic island has plenty of underwater rock but there was a good variety of marine life, huge sting ray, many morays, bait balls of fish , shoaling fish, barracuda, roncodores, long-legged spiney crabs, colourful shrimps, octopus, cuttle-fish. And there are some small wrecks and swim throughs. Many of the dives sites are a short run from the Harbour and one , Montana Amarilla is a MAMP (Protected Micro Marine Area). I really enjoyed it, may be one for Meridian Divers to visit in 2011?

Seazones - Easter Monday 5th April 2010

I have confirmed our places on Seazones with Mick for 5th April. Details as follows:-

Diving: Lancer & drift
Meet at Newhaven: 07:45
Ropes off: 08:15
Approx return: 15:00
Low water slack: approx 23 metres
Cost £35.00

Divers confirmed so far:-

1. Ernie
2. Simon
3. Tad
4. Trez
5. Chris

Please note anyone confirmed on the boat will be responsible for their place and if you do not turn up you still have to pay.
Mick and I are trying to fill the rest of the boat. If you are interested in joining us please add a comment.

Ernie

Buccanneer Eastbourne Dive booked

As mentioned at the meeting I have booked 5 spaces aboard Bucanneer Out of Eastbourne on Sunday 4th July

Meet and Dive times TBC

Divers

Chris P
Simon
Trez
Ernie
Tad

There a couple of spaces left if anyone is interested
once booked then you are liable for the cost