Trip report and organiser: Adrian Dodds
The July dive trip was to Plymouth. Arrived Friday to glorious sky’s and a flat calm, but by the next day we were meet with 15 to 18 mph winds and rain filled clouds. The skipper said we could still dive so all aboard and off we went. By the time we reached the end of Plymouth’s breakwater plans were redrawn and we were offered the fort by the breakwater as the only alternative to get a dive in that day.
So gear on and in we went to 12m down to the scrapyard around the old fort. Actually it was very interesting with lots of marine life and even a couple of conga eels and lobsters. By the time we resurfaced the weather had deteriorated further and we coudn’t even see the other side of the sound. So back to shore and the local pub for a longer afternoon break!
The meal at the Boringdon Arms in the evening was great as nine members indulged.
Day 2 arrived and a different sky awaited us with fairly calm seas. So off to Whitsands Bay and a great dive on a the James Egan Layne in 10m visibility. The shot was midship giving us a dive along the side to the bow, up the bow and back down through the cathedral like interior of the ship. What a great dive this is!
The 2nd dive was on the Scylla which is near by. The shot this time was on the helicopter landing area at the rear of the ship – a great place to start a dive. So up the port side walkway and into the bridge. Back down to the forward missile deck and forwards to the bow. Everywhere was covered with marine growth. Back along the starboard walkway to the helicopter deck where we ended our dive deploying our DSMB’s and back to our world above.
What a difference the weather makes. Day one wet and windswept, day two sunny and calm with two great first rate dives with excellent visibility.
