Newhaven 17/07 In the Sun

[MartinS]

A reaonable departure time of 10:30AM and what started out as a clear sunny day took a slight turn when, sitting on the boat waiting to leave for what was to be a long haul out to the Alaunia, a thivk bank of fog came in and engulfed the marina and the whole section of coast! We ummed and ahhed about whether the dive would actually go ahead, but once the ferry (boy is that a bog ferry!) had docked, we decided to start our trip and see how it went. Once out of the harbour, we had already decided that we had left too late to reach the Alaunia in time for slack, so the 'Seven Seas' was decided on as it lay in about the same depth as the planned wreck. The fog slowly cleared and after about an hour we were bimbling along a flat calm sea enjoying a pleasant drive out to the site. Of the six from our club all but one were OC divers (two on air, three on Nitrox) and the remaining one was CCR. The two on air teamed up, Tom and Andy decided to also buddy up early on so that left me diving with Steve - the CCR diver.
Once at the wreck, the skipper informed us that the depth was nearer 40M, as as I had a 36% mix (was told it would be about 30M!!!), we had to find something shallower, so we ended up on a wreck called the 'James' or 'Johnson' 'Roberts' (must find out what it weas called!). The bottom was 29M, and the viz looked good - and it didn't disapoint! Steve and I went in first, and hid the bottom of the shot without incident to find a sandy bed, but the wreck was not far, so Steve carried the shot to the base of the wreck and we began out search. Well, the viz was 6-8M and the amount of life was almost prolific. Large pollack, bib, lots of large tompot blennies and lots of nooks, crannies and overhangs with larger crab and lobster - what a dive this was going to be! I found a glassless port hole but a tug on it proved it to be still attached so I didn't waste any more time or energy. We also came across a plate, but it was badly chipped and broken so got left behind. I didn't care - the viz was excellent, and the wildlife out in force - I MUST get a housing for my camera! Anyway, 38 minutes later with 6 minutes of stops on my computer, I decided to call it a day and head for the surface. Steve and I had already agreed to part when I was ready - he'd make sure I got off OK and then continue, so I shot my bag and started the ascent to the surface with drysuit dump fully open I reeled myself up and as I started to slow down for the first stop at 6, I suddenly felt myself losing control of my ascent and heading quickly for the surface! The reel was in a tangle, and I couldn't dump any air in my wing quick enough and hit the surface! Right, I had 5 minutes of stops still to do, so bum in the air, dump all air out of wing and drop back down as quick as I could, and then as the reel was tangled, hold on to it and pull myself up the string to do my stops. My computer didn't beep or complain, so I did my 5 at 3 (plus two extra for safety), and then slowly pulled myself up tthe remaining line to the surface to see the boat not far off (had seen my appear the first time!) Got back on the boat, and after getting myself de-kitted, decided that I felt OK, but also that would probably not do the second dive just to be safe. I know where I went wrong - about half way through the dive I felt a little heavy, so instead of using the drysuit, I pumped some air into the wing...and then forgot all about it! The drysuit dumped happily on the ascent, but the wing abviously couldn't, and what with a tangled reel, and trying to keep myself from surfacing, that's just what happened! Luckily for me, all was OK - I'm sure people have been bent doing much less, so I guess going out the night before and not drinking may have saved me from a DCI hit (actually I never drink the night before a dive), but I'll never know. Whatever anyone thinks, it was my fault and mine alone - I have no-one to blame but myself, but am also very lucky I came out of it unbent.
Apart from the scary ending, the dive was cracking and I am looking forward to getting back in the water again soon (am off to Cornwall in a couple of weks so the viz should be even better!) and not make the same mistake!
Regards, and dive safe
Martin

[tom]

Further to Martin's report - there's some dodgy video footage here:

video at putfile.com

and some discussion of the wreck here:

http://www.yorkshire-divers.co.uk/fo...596#post281596

[MartinS]

Thanks Tom - great video, and even with my 'experience' still a cracking dive.
Martin

[Paul Oliver]

Nice video, looks like a cracking wreck.

[mukey]

Originally Posted by MartinS

'James' or 'Johnson' 'Roberts' (must find out what it weas called!).

I know that there is a 'confusing cluster of wrecks' here, including Adventurine/Avanturine/Blanefield/Midsurrey etc. and even an unknown Uboat but there is one that we have always known as 'Joseph Robert' - French trawler - Sank in 1968 (I think !), and I think that this fits your bill.

[MartinS]

Hi Markus
Yes, that's the one - many thanks. A cracking wreck and when the viz is good (like it was) there's so much to see. Ireally can't wait to get the housing for my camera!
Thanks again - have some green
Regards
Martin