YD Stock 3, Selsey - from Day 0 as it happened - The Complete Story

[MATTBIN]

Mark - what's that spotty fish on the sea bed (pic 2)

Matt

[robertsT]

Hi guys
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed my first gig even though I only did one dive (Shirala) was fantasic dive, but after reading some of the other reports wish nI had been around for more dives especially U90, oh well next time.

Sorry I could not hang around for the BBQ had to go off and be fredly to my girlfriends parents!

Any way hope to see you again soon

Tom

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by MATTBIN

Mark - what's that spotty fish on the sea bed (pic 2)

Matt

That would be the Lesser Known spotty fish



On the basis that i dont know eather

Where is Steve W when you need a nancy tree hugger eco type

If it was eddable I would know

ATB

Mark Chase

[Andy M]

Originally Posted by MATTBIN

Mark - what's that spotty fish on the sea bed (pic 2)

Its a Leopard-Spotted Goby (Thorogobius ephippiatus)

[Mark Powell]

Friday was a great day and the weekend just got better! The U90 was stunning! I'm not a big fan of subs but this was excellent, the vis was amazing which made the wreck look stunning, the wreck is covered in interesting bits to look at and every hole is filled with at least one giant conger. Floating alongside the conning tower and looking over at the stern gun and then the bow gun made me reconsider my view of subs.

The only problem with Friday was that most of the boat was called Mark which made things a bit confusing but is we stuck to Chasey, Gizmo and Deck Bitch then it made things a bit easier.

Second dive on the Louis was also a surprise, 15m and just 100yds off the cliff I assumed there would be nothing left but although it it well brokem there was more than enough to keep us busy for our planned bottom time.

Saturday morning and HMS Sapper. Again the vis was stunning which made the most of this relatively small wreck. Mark (Gizmo) was my buddy again and we dropped in with Digger who was diving a Tesco's shopping basket and SimonA. The whole wreck was laid out before us with the bow still relatively intact and then a broken section before reaching the boilers and continuing on to the stern where the prop and rudder are still clearly visible.

Digger spent a large portion of the dive trying to retrieve a cup he had found then then spent the next 10 mins flashing a note at everyone trying to find any tools of any description. When he came up to me I just thought he was showing me a shopping list.

Second dive was the Shirala, again wow. Great vis, loads of life, lots of holes to poke about in and even a cuttelfish which insisted on posing for Gizmo while he took photos. Talk about vain cuttlefish, "Take one of me like this", "this is my best side", "Look, I can do this".

Sunday and a new buddy, Paul Oliver and I had both been abandoned by our buddies so paired up for the Prince Leopold. This has to be one of the best wreck dives I have done in the UK. There are wrecks at twice the depth that wouldn't compare with this wreck. Most of it is intact and it's a HUGE Wreck. We swam down towards the stern through a number of sections and then all the way back up to the bow. We then cam up on top of the wreck and flaoted with the current over the top of it. Neither of us wanted to call the dive but with a 60 min max dive time we eventually had to leave. The last time I dived this wreck it was about 1m vis and I didn't see anything. This time I was amazed how good it was. Back on the boat Paul and I agreed that we were running out of superlatives to describe the dive.

Last dive on the Sunday and we were on the Mulberry. Paul had decided that he was in the Red Sea and turned up for the second dive in a wetsuit and single tank. As we dropped in I realised that he was right and that we were in the Red Sea. As we put our heads underwater we could clearly see divers swimming around on the bottom 10m below us and looking over we could clearly see the Mulbery about 15m away from us. Floating gently around the Mulberry, surrounded by fish, was one of the most relaxing dives I've ever done.

Thanks have to go to Skipper for organising the whole thing, Andy for being a great skipper on Friday, Gizmo and Paul for buddying me, Sue (Mrs Dude) for running around after us, and everyone lese for making it such a great weekend.

[abucksdiver]

Originally Posted by MATTBIN

It was brilliant!!!!!!!!YAY!!!!!!!!!

Leopold from Storm Force. 32m (depth not viz, altough they were almost the same) Cuttlefish, Huge Crab, Huger Lobby. Ok so that the first 5 mins of the dive dealt with. Now I dont normally enthusee about wrecks too much as its the life I go for, but Jamie (Crisspy Fiver) enthused lyrically about the Leopold and I have to say I concur. 20 mins bottom time, nowhere near enough but with great discipline Adam and I started our ascent and did our stops as required on the schedule we had agreed beforehand. We went in as a 2x2 (with Andrew - Abucks and Jamie) but as the shot was a little busy we seperated as pre arranged. Didnt see the GUN but others did and were beaming back on the boat. My mask leaked the whole dive, not because it didnt fit but because of the enormous grin.
Dive 2 - Mullberry - never before have I seen so much life, great viz or benign conditions. Part way through the dive we saw an enormous shoal, looked like a South African bait ball, absolutely out of this world. 57min dive - need I say more, excepty I wish I'd been on my twins.
Water temp excellent so no cold issue.
So a top notch couple of dives, enjoyed by everyone, a great rhib and a super skipper. I could wax lyrically more but you had to be their to really appreciate what an absolutely superb time was had by all.
Thanks to Andrew, Jamie and Adam for buddying up. Thanks to Simon, who I called Steve many times, to Dave Archer (who I called Jamie) and Jez whose name I completely forgot. Not strong on names as you probably guessed.
A special thanks to Dave (Skipper - who I called Dave) for arranging it all, many said it and I know I meant it, the best days diving ever for me.

Oh yeah forgot to mention, we diverted on the way back from dive 1 to see the porpoises (2) and the dolphin. :

Wot Matt said!

And thanks to Simon (I think) the skipper on StormForce, Dave (Skipper) for arranging it all, and Jamie, Matt and Adam for two great dives.

Regards
Andrew

[Andy the Coastie]

Originally Posted by Mark Powell

The only problem with Friday was that most of the boat was called Mark which made things a bit confusing but is we stuck to Chasey, Gizmo and Deck Bitch then it made things a bit easier.

Talking of GIZMO's ........ i was amazed that you that within 5 sec's , someone could take a photo and have it posted on YD .........

Was great to meet you at long last ,,,,,,

[Andy the Coastie]

to read Diving Dudes report, i have never seen a bigger smile than the one he had , after seeing a FREE SWIMMING Conger........

[Andy the Coastie]

When we gonna start to put his trip together , Dave ,,,,,?


How about the summer bank holiday and make it 4 days ..........Only if i can do the U 90 and not that bloody LUIS wreck....

[Lou]

Originally Posted by Andy the Commie

When we gonna start to put his trip together , Dave ,,,,,?


How about the summer bank holiday and make it 4 days ..........Only if i can do the U 90 and not that bloody LUIS wreck....

Well, you didn't do the Luis anyway What are you complaining about, man???

Mind you...nor did we....

I shall write up my report, but for now just say it was a fantastic weekend. Great dives, great bunch of people, great weather and a logistical nightmare that paid off in the end - Dave, I hope your Sat comments about "never again" have been swept aside because we have to do it again!

Thanks to all that made the effort and came along. A hardcore of us were having a curry in Selsey at 11pm last night (they didn't like us in Itchenor - made some excuse to not serve us food! ) and it was still rolling with the jokes and laughter. Hated to leave, but got home about 1.30am. Shattered.

Lou