Gibraltar May 2005

[Ian@1904]

We had booked the dive through Dive Charters and we were very well looked after by Cathy and James
http://www.divegib.gi/aboutus.html

The boat
RIBs are not allowed in Gib, except for the police and military. Not a great mystery when you see how close Africa is to Europe. However our boat took things a tad too literally. Small, very slow, and with the smallest ladder ever seen for a boat. Water entry was the undignified roll over-whilst trying to soak the crew! Exit was full dekit and then fin up-always a challenge for the girls, or contortionist skills to master the ladder. It is not fun waiting an hour after a dive waiting for the loo. Although this did provide amusement for new entries in the funny clamber/walk to the nearest loo…I think my walk rates as one of Gary’s holiday highlights.

482M 16m
This cable laying barge sits next another barge. You can go inside the holds and although not for the wreckies make for a good wreck training environment. We found several octopus, a lovely gurnard, wrasse, bream, crabs, plenty of nudibranches, and scorpion fish everywhere.

Seven Sisters 11m
This is a group of rocks reaching the surface creating pinnacles. Again plenty of octopus even out in the open, congers, lots of purple blennies hiding in holes, and more scorpion fish.

Excellent 28m
And it is. This 1800 ton ship lies upside down and is broken in three places. There are access points to roped swim throughs which are well worth using for the newbie wreck diver, so take some good torches along. The prop is still there. Spider crabs lurked inside along with spiny lobster and some soft corals.

3 barges 15m
This is as it says three barges sunk in close proximity, along with a car (follow the rope). We had great viz 15m. We were starting to get bored after an hour in the water as there was so much wildlife (Oh look, another octopus in the open) when I found a large cuttlefish swimming along very relaxed.

The water was 15c, so take a drysuit, with viz varying from 10-15m. We incurred a few ear infections-including the dive crew and we were all experienced divers, so there might have been something in the water.

Not diving?
Gib is very English everything from Green King beer to Marks and Spencer. Lots of duty-free shops and a very relaxed atmosphere. Eating ranges from £5 for bagette and fries to £35 for three sumptuous courses and wine. We averaged about £20-25 per head. The food here was great.
We stayed in the Cannon Hotel which is a cheap and cheerful B&B, about 15 minutes walk to the marina. About £5 by taxi from the airport.
SWMBO went up the rock by cable car, twice, and then walked down. This is quite a feat as I did this on the non-diving day and my legs ache. A visit to the siege tunnels is good, but the apes did little for us. However the views at the top of the rock of Spain Africa, Med and Atlantic are magnificent.
Take shorts and T shirt, dining is relaxed, and weather was very warm.

Flights
Monarch fly to Gib twice a day from Luton and BA fly from Manchester and Gatwick. That is your lot. Prices vary and we paid about £200 in total for two adult return fares. The airport is right next to the border and the main road has to be closed to let the aircraft take off and land.

Lowlights
Having one of the local dolphin trip boats driving at speed come to within 10m of my smb whilst on a deco stop. Gary I am thought it had become a tad noisy. If fact the crew have lodged a complaint with the harbour authorities.
Ear infections-though not me

Highlights
Spotting dolphins, this perked a sleeping Gary up no end, until I pointed out the dolphins were painted on the side of a boat .
Having a bar right next to the dive centre.

Would we go back?
I think May next year is on the cards

[CotoChris]

Great report, glad you had good time. I've been curious to hear what the diving was like there. Were all of these dives on the western side? Also are these the main sites or are there other main ones but you didn't go it? Pity to hear about the boat though.

[Ian@1904]

http://www.divegib.gi/divesites.html

Most of sites are on the West as you can see from the link.
There is plenty of wildlife. The remainder of the divers were hoping to do some night diving, in which case hopefully Gary (aka Blue) will add some detail.

I had only two diving days. A diver could be very happy for a week in Gib, but an ordinary tourist (SWMBO) will find it limiting after a while-unless they wished to cross the border into Spain.

I have some Gib photos which I will try to add tonite

This is not a place for the serious wreck nut-we are not in the Scapa league here, but better wildlife than in the Med itself. Techically dives on the western side are in the Atlantic. The previous couple of days had been very windy and this stirred things up. Viz was good but not glorious as a result.

[Paul Oliver]

Sounds very good, we nearly did this as a Club start of season trip a few years ago.

Not sure why we did not go, but it looks good to get you started for the summer.

[gobfish1]

Had 4 good club trips to gib,
the boat looks just like the one we were in .
Most of the dive's are only 10 min's out in the boat, A Small tub would do .

its a good place to take your new divers ,
its nice rest for your old divers

Steve G