Hi All,
just got back from a weekend in Swanage where I finally got to dive the Valentine tanks [3rd time lucky]
Due to the education system conspiring against me I set off for Swanage at 03.30 saturday morning with a bemused family in tow [they were going to Monkey world] we got down to the pier around 7.45 just in time for the heavens to open and to be greeted by a couple from Leeds who are not YD members yet[I may get that refferal
]the rest of my club arrived and we set of for the tanks it was a little choppy and several people were bemoaning breakfast and the previous evenings small sherries, we arrived at the tanks and I was asked by Martin
www.kyarra.com to release the shot so being 9th 10th in the water I wasn't expecting much viz.
You could have knocked me down with a feather the viz was over 8m and at only 15m deep the tank could be seen in all its glory it was pretty much intact with 2 congers in residence, there were also large prawns, pollack, wrasse and a 12-14inch cuttlefish eyeballing me as I explored [sorry Gizmo
] the 2nd tank is found by a rope some 25ish metres away this one has had the turret taken off which is on the seabed nearby and also has a large conger in it.
We made our way back to the first tank and were treated to a shoal of bib so many in fact that they blocked much of the light I edged my way up the gun barrel and hung in the middle of them an amazing experience.
Men were lost on their sinking and its very sobering to remember the debt we owe to so many.
Unfortunately while we were under the weather had turned and on surfacing the breakers were so high we could not see the boat and getting back on board was a challenge thanks god for lifts
Martin advised we bin the second dive that day so we decided on an hour long bimble around the pier which was great except for the souix death march over the cobbles to get out of the water because of low tide
The forecast for today was supposed to be worse but we were offered the Kyarra if we fancied it so we decided to give it a go, this was my 8th dive on her and my first on the stern when you see some of the fittings it makes you realise what a big ship she was, the viz was probably about 5m and as usual made a very good rummage dive.
I had to forsake the afternoon dive to get number one Daughter back to prepare for her tests next week
I would have happily made the journey for the Valentines alone and would recommend them to anyone.
Safe diving,
Steve