.png)
Rib trip 2&3 August 25 - Paul R reports…
The weather was dry and warm on both days, we had neap tide and the wind was mainly westerly F2/3 on Saturday then increasing to F4 on Sunday. Visibility on all the sites were similar, about 3m. The water was a relatively warm 19 degrees centigrade. The DM was Angie (supported by Chris) who has only recently returned to the water after her spinal surgery. All the ingredients for a great dive weekend in Portland.
Saturday: Angie (cox and DM), Chris (ass. cox), Frank, Fari, Charlie, me
We had a relaxed start to the weekend with ropes off at 9:30am. The 1st dive was on the British Inventor, a popular dive with the club and again with an abundance of sea life it didn’t disappoint. The wreck is well broken up with lots of bent and distorted steel plate dispersed over the sea bed. It was covered in a large shoal of poor cod, oblivious to our movements and torch beams. In the crevasses of the steel were saw large edible crabs and a big Wrasse hiding deep in a piece of folded metal.
We returned to the harbour for lunch and air fills, by which time the wind had veered to the north so we decided to change the second dive to the James Fennel on the west side of the Bill. The shot line was dropped in front of the ship’s large boiler so was a great start. After an inspection of the boiler tubes we worked our way towards the stern and to the engine where the large pistons are proudly on display. After swimming between these parts we came off the wreck and used the remaining time looking for marine life, seeing amongst other things pink sea fans and yellow boring sponges. The day was finished off by seeing a jumping dolphin near the entrance of the marina.
Saturday's dive team:
Sunday Angie (cox & DM), Chris (ass. cox), Frank, Fari, me
The wind strengthened to F4 and backed to a westerly. We travelled out to the Elena R, our intended first dive, but the swell was on the verge of being not dive-able so we revised our plan to the Binnendijk. It was the first time any of us had dived this wreck so a great back up. We descended an already positioned hard boat shot line to the deck at the stern of the boat. From here we moved to the bow, parts of the ship’s frame and the deck were easily made out. Once at the bow we returned along the port side where we could see the still intact hull skin and through large gaps
some of the boat’s cargo areas including tyres. Staying around 23-26m we had a good 30 min dive. As well as the interest of the wreck, it had an abundance of sea life including large conger eels hiding inside, Edible crabs, a Common lobster and Common Cuttlefish. It really was a cracking dive and we agreed it was the highlight of the weekend.
The second dive was on the lee side of the island, a drift from Grove Point. Once in the water we were gently carried south for 40mins, initially amongst boulders and a gravel sea bed then into kelp fields. We saw occasional Scallops (which Fari foraged to take home), some wrasse, sea slugs & Blennies, both camouflaged on the seabed and anemones on the boulders.
We all agreed the weekend was a great success!
