mid chanel divers

[Janos]

Nigel,

You can always submit a Freedom Of Information (FOI) request in writing.

Freedom of information : Directgov - Government, citizens and rights

Janos

[Paul Oliver]

So Andy if you want to foster good relations with divers how about some good marks for the U16 that will keep us out of the lanes for at least one dive then

[Janos]

Originally Posted by Paul Oliver

So Andy if you want to foster good relations with divers how about some good marks for the U16 that will keep us out of the lanes for at least one dive then

FOI Request again

Janos

[Paul Oliver]

Originally Posted by Janos

FOI Request again

Janos

Blimey that gets me into their boats GPS as well?

[Janos]

Worth a try.

MCGA FOI details are HERE

Note that you can make FOI requests by email too. But they do take a while to process and it's your taxes that pay for it.

Janos

[Andy the Coastie]

Originally Posted by Paul Oliver

So Andy if you want to foster good relations with divers how about some good marks for the U16 that will keep us out of the lanes for at least one dive then

Paul,

I have the marks in one of my old log books ,,,, I will get the missus to go up in the loft to track down for you.

U 16 is the North East of the group of 3 on the inside of the tip of the southern tip of the south goodwin.

[Grouty]

Yes I've read rule 10 - ambiguous with regards divers/dive boats isn't it.

The 'safe' areas of the shipping lanes, are, where I'm concerned, the separation zones, no problems with fishing boats here in rule 10 - shipping prohibited from these areas unless crossing so would appear as 'safe' as anywhere else to me.

As you know, you don't have to be in the lanes to get run down - just the wrong place!

I was approched by the police last year following a lawful? dive, details taken, where were we diving - lat & long, (they must have known that or why would they be talking to us anyway), names contact details ect.

Other than that, no further action or contact whatsoever?

So as an interested party, with I assure you Andy, and you Nigle, no personal axe to grind, I watch this space with interest, and await the outcome - if any.

Ian

[nigel ingram]

I now of at least three occasions when this has happened and was involved in one of them,
we were told that we were not allowed to dive the tss part of the lanes, we told them that we were not breaking any laws by diving them and would carry on doing so, they told us we will prosecute if you dive the lanes, ok then we ant gonna tell you when we dive them,
" Thats up to you but we will be looking out for you"
Even BSAC say thats its not against the law to dive the lanes
I have it on good authority that the problems are not coming from Dover coast guard or cross channel ferry masters, But from large cargo vessel pilots that get on board at falmouth and travel up the channel to one of the big ports (rotterdam) and then catch a free ride back on another ship to falmouth,
small boats cant be seen on the radar not even when running, the pilots radio in and ask why is there a small boat front of them and they told one moment please i will find out, they then ask a ferry master if they can see a small boat, the ferry master says yes its a dive boat with an A flag up, righto i will let the pilot know,
the pilot says dive boat in the shipping lane !
C G says, well sir this is Dover you know there`s only 19 miles and allsorts goes on here, bet you dont get people swimming the channel down your way.
in my opinion its not the dive boats that need to change what they do and how they do it, its the pilots what need to change there attitude about divers,
provided you dont anchor in and you dont inpeed a ship and you have an A flag up, you are perfectly within your right to dive the lanes,
best fishes

[yazzyfooty]

You have had me and I am sure many others suspended by their finger nails waiting for the next edition and what do we get? An episode of Crossroads how disappointing is that?

IS there good stuff to look at in the shipping lanes? Or is the appeal the danger of surfacing and seeing a bloody big ship bearing down on you? Give me reefs and fishes anyday.

[ray]

Originally Posted by Janos

Nigel,

You can always submit a Freedom Of Information (FOI) request in writing.

Freedom of information : Directgov - Government, citizens and rights

Janos

Very interesting, does BSAC fall in within this, is it a Ltd Comp wholly owned by the members, and if it does fall in the FOI, does this apply to branch level?.