Aeolian Sky 11 June 2005

[Adrian Kelland]

8.30 on Saturday morning saw 3 of us heading in the unusual (for Exeter BSAC) direction of Swanage. We were joining some members of London Hellfins on 'Killer Prawn' for a day's hard boat diving. The boat was to leave Swanage Pier at 12:30, so we had plenty of time.

We arrived at the gates to the pier about 11am, just as Janos (from Hellfins) called me to say we were now leaving at 12. After getting hold of trolleys to transport gear we pay £1.50 each to get on the pier. You have to pay this even if you are not diving from the pier. Normal walkers pay 30p...

We loaded our kit onto the boat and met up with the other divers, 5 Hellfins, a couple from Orpington and Paul's mate Wayne diving with another single diver Rick. I had already planned to dive with Janos, both of us would be diving with twin 12l with 32% Nitrox, plus deco stage/pony. Paul was diving a similar setup with Dave. The journey out was a bit slow, but we were still on site and shot in 20 minutes before slack. Mike, the skipper knows his timing. We wave to Kyarratoo with Mark Powell and co on board. The site is not a busy as the last time I was there.

Janos and I kit up, buddy check and we are the 3rd pair in. We have planned on a total dive time of 70 minutes. Janos's divers are doing marshalling training, so they record our plan. We descend the line and end up the wrong side of the hull. The Aeolian Sky lies on its port side in 30m http://www.divernet.com/wrecks/wtour270501.htm So its up and over and then a partial exploration of the 10800-ton ship.

The wreck is huge; part of the cargo was Land Rover chassis, of which some are obvious. There is lots of pipes, steel plate to seacrh around. We enter a cave like area, which does not yield much of interest, and exit to the seabed. A few more yards I spot a lobster in the open, I pick it up - straight into Janos' goody bag. A few metres further on, Janos spots another, but it is bigger and I have little sight of it as Janos tries to get it. I miss it as it flips over into a large pipe, no getting him out of there. Oh well.

We turn about and swim through some superstructure, passing a large conger. Out into more plating and pipes. Just under an over hanging plate I spot another lobster sitting on a pipe. The lobster grabs my torch cable which gives me a scare, but eventually number 2 is in the bag! We pootle along the wreck some more, then Janos give the agreed sign for 'home', I agree. We swim up the wreck while I get the DSMB out and release from a high point in about 20m. We then make a slow ascent to 5m, switching to our deco mixes, spending about 10 minutes at that depth. We then finish our ascent, breaking the surface after 65 minutes. 'Killer Prawn' has a lift, so we are quickly and easily back on the boat. Vis was a fair 10m.

Once de-kitted, I decide to put some elastic bands on the lobster claws. The first lobster is easy, the second a bit more difficult. I put the first band on, but it is not enough. As I take the band off to double it up, there is a lot of pain from my right index finger. Yep, the lobster is introducing itself and shaking me by the claw. I eventually get it off my finger, drawing blood on the way. The lobster now has many names, the most polite one being ‘Dinner’.

We then head North for the Kimmeridge Ledges for the second dive - a scallop run. Paul is delighted ;-), he did this dive many times with his old club. We have a break for our own lunch, plus supplied hot drinks and cake. After an interval of about 90 minutes, we kit up again and all enter the water in quick succession. Once on the bottom I realise my torch cable is tangled with reg hoses, but that is quickly sorted, and we are off. We quickly arrive at one of the ledges, where we find a shell. Ordnance not fish. Janos puts it in his goody bag. Oh dear...

Once over the ledge the scallop beds are obvious - from all the holes where others have picked them. However there are enough of them for us. We are entertained by the comic actions of the smaller scallops jetting around. After about 30 minutes we are running low in the twins and call it a day. Back on board, we de-kit and put things away for the journey back. I appear to have a full audience as I start shucking the scallops - it save sooo much time at home. Janos eats some of the coral - I'm not sure if the other members of his club are surprised or disgusted!

The shell was examined by one of the divers from Orpington - who happened to be ex bomb disposal. He explained a few things about the shell, and reckoned the fizzing bubbles were air escaping. However the shell is returned to the water.

The journey back is long - against the tide again, but we have the added bonus of the seeing the Peregrine Falcon nesting on the cliffs. A great day and a relaxing change from my normal RIB diving.

Adrian

[Kirstie]

Wow, futuristic trip reports! Do you use a crystal ball or tea leaves?


Good report, by the way

[RickW]

thanks Adrian - great report and thanks for sorting Wayne out as a buddy I had a great time even if my scallop spotting skills have to improve

There was two lobsters? Only saw the one that nipped you in the bucket near Janos, was quite an uneventful surface interval until we heard your very loud 'french' from the back of the boat

[RickW]

Originally Posted by Kirstie

Wow, futuristic trip reports! Do you use a crystal ball or tea leaves?


Good report, by the way

wondering what you were on about for a sec

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by Kirstie

Wow, futuristic trip reports! Do you use a crystal ball or tea leaves?

ARSE!

[Mark Chase]

Cracking report M8

were off and possably diving the Sky on the 15th, what sort of viz did you have?

ATB

Mark Chase

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

Cracking report M8

were off and possably diving the Sky on the 15th, what sort of viz did you have?

ATB

Mark Chase

Up to 10m Mark, will add to report.

[Clare Gledhill]

Yay! - Al, Frase and I are doing this one on Sunday - here's hoping for good weather, good vis and a great dive

[JAG]

I think our Deco course group were on the Sky at the same time as yourselves. Viz was pretty good, not that I saw too much, was concentrating on preparing for having my mask ripped off, shutdowns and OOA's! Definately one to do again without the fear of Mark Powell pulling something on us..

[DanE]

Yep, was diving the Sky from Kyarratoo (although not on the deco course) and can confirm it was a cracking dive with loads of life and plenty of viz.

Keeping to our plan, I got out the SMB at 38 minutes and behold, a bloody big lobbie runs out in front of us. I'm sure it's fate that has control of these sorts of things. Managed to avoid being tempted to break the plan to chase the lobbie and put the SMB up spot on time

dan.