Welcome to BSAC 406 weekly Dive Report. Please contact Ian Hussey if you would like to contribute to the weekly newsletter that is distributed to BSAC 406 members worldwide. In addition, if you would like to feature in the published Dive Report please contact Polly Buckingham. |
Welcome All,
Apologies for the lack of an email over the last couple of weeks. This was due to my absence on leave, not a complete lack of activity although we did miss out on one weekend. Going back to Friday 9th August, we took a boat out to Mike’s Tug and Victoria Star. I acted as a non-diving boat driver for this one, partly due to an impending flight, also because I wanted to get back early. On the boat were Mike and Brian with Matt and Richard from DSDC joining us for the day. Mike’s Tug was an appropriate destination as Mike has returned to the UK after completing his period of leave cover, so it was his last dive (until the next one). Since I wasn’t underwater, any description is second-hand but I gather the viz was reasonable and all four enjoyed their dives. For the second dive, I made an executive decision to return inshore to the Victoria Star rather than hanging around offshore to dive the Jumbo or Neptune. This was mainly in the interests of time-saving, given that the surface intervals could be completed whilst on the move. It also proved fortuitous since the sea state picked up significantly later on and a return trip from the Neptune to Al Khan would have been hard work. Again, I don’t know much about the diving except that Mike and Brian did some exploration in the engine room. After that it was back to base for some refreshments. The following weekend, Brian tried to organize a dive but he was almost the only one still in the country so nothing happened. Last Friday on the other hand, Allen took a boat to the Dara. With the summer almost over, at least in terms of holidays, people are starting to reappear and we should have some good diving in the weeks ahead, sea state permitting as always. --------------------------------- We have some new fans above the dive table which work a treat and will provide some much-needed ventilation post dive and Tuesday evenings. Thanks to Peter for organizing the installation and to the Main Club which put up half the funds. The Dive Club meets every Tuesday night in the Dive Bar. See you there. DAN insurance website: https://www.daneurope.org/home .
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Welcome All,
Summer heat is on still and much to catch up with Dive Logs. Members are returning from summer recess so tales of Wandering Wonders galore to follow. Please stay tuned. Further logs to follow with write ups for upcoming Oman Dive Trip in October - Maldives Live Aboard - Med Diving - and some dive trips closer to home with some of the brave hearted. Please contact a member of the Dive Team for more details about the Oman Trip. Last year was magnificent with Whale Shark sightings and an abundance of marine life. Members and non members are welcome. Dive club meets every Tuesday in the Dive Bar. See our flyer for contact details if you are interested in becoming a member of the Dive Community. Safe Diving. Welcome All,
BSAC 406 exiles (London Branch) reunion. Geoff tells the story: I hope all is well. A few 406 Exiles met up last week for some drinks and tales of past adventures with SWDC. A pleasant Saturday afternoon in early August provided an opportunity for a few past members of BSAC 406 (and a present member) to get together in Wapping, East London. Wapping is an area on the north side of the Thames between ‘The City’ and Canary Wharf on the ‘Isle of Dogs’. The history of Wapping can be traced back to Anglo-Saxon times and it was a centre for marine trade from the middle ages with many docks, wharves and warehouses. This infrastructure was supplemented by public houses lining the river to nourish the seafarers, workers and cutthroats that made Wapping home. They were also frequented by the likes of the “Hanging” Judge Jeffreys and Samuel Pepys in the 17th Century, Charles Dickens in the 19th Century, royalty and stars of the silver screen in the 20th century. The Captain Kidd pub (named after the famed pirate who was executed at nearby Execution Dock in 1701) and next to the Marine Police Force (the oldest marine police force in the world) was the meeting point for Mike and Zulfa Dalton, Robin Hughes, Derek Roberts and myself. We were also fortunate to have Cara join us during her summer break from the UAE. A lot of reminiscing was done over several local libations and a hearty lunch before we headed off to ‘The Prospect of Whitby’, a pub steeped in tradition and dating back to around 1520. Formerly known as ‘The Pelican’ and ‘The Devils Tavern’ to reflect its nefarious connections, it retains its original stone floors and has many nautical related features, including a replica gallows over the river. After farewells to Robin, Mike and Zulfa and a promise to arrange another reunion, Cara, Derek and I headed to ‘The Town of Ramsgate’, another pub able to trace its heritage back to the 16th Century to enjoy “one for the ‘frog and toad’ before going our separate ways. I think I speak for all when I say this was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, meeting up in a unique area of London with old friends who would never had met if it had not been for the wonderful bond of SWDC BSAC406 that introduced us all. ---------------------------------- DAN insurance website: https://www.daneurope.org/home ---------------------------------- The Dive Club meets every Tuesday night in the Dive Bar. See you there. Welcome All,
There a few people away at the moment but we managed to get a team of six out to the Jumbo and Neptune on Friday. The sea state was a bit lumpy but not too bad and we made it out to the Jumbo in reasonable, if not quite record-breaking time. Mike and Allen were first down the line followed by Polly and Angela. Polly had inadvertently put her wet-suit on back to front but this didn’t bother her and she dived as she was. The Jumbo is a medium size cargo vessel that went down in unknown circumstances some time ago. It was lost for a long time before turning up on the seabed survey that was carried out before dredging the Palms. It is fairly well broken up but the stern and bow are still the right shape. The wreck is home to a lot of fish life and is a very scenic dive in good viz. On Friday we had about 5-8m which is pretty good. The second dive was on the Neptune, an upturned barge which is much better known than the Jumbo despite being only a short distance away. It isn’t an easy wreck to hook but we got lucky on this occasion, snagging a fishing pot from which Mike laid a line to the wreck. Compared to previous visits, the wreck is becoming far more broken up and there are now several places where you can swim from one side to the other. By this time the current had picked up and in one corner particularly, progress against it was quite tough. A good dive nevertheless. After that it was back to the club for a few lemonade refreshments: ---------------------------------- DAN insurance website: https://www.daneurope.org/home ---------------------------------- The Dive Club meets every Tuesday night in the Dive Bar. See you there. |
Authors-Ian Hussey and Dive Member Contributions. Archives
March 2023
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