HMS Minion - 9/sept

[jptaylor9]

Well, I've finally lost my "2 hour run time " cherry And, it couldn't have happened on a nicer wreck.

Disclaimer: This is a report about a "tourist wreck", there where no kit or diver f*ck ups! You have been warned

Anyway, back to the dive... dived from Nauticat out of Brighton, ropes away at 07:30AM, dived at 9AM. Left home about 5AM to avoid the traffic & arrived Brighton Marina in good time for a McDonald's breakfast. Was diving with Bob from Amphibian Sports dive shop in West Norwood, both of us on YBODs'.

We dived the wreck of HMS Minion, a destroyer apparently sank in a storm while been towed to the breakers yard. The gun turrets had already been removed, more later. Wreck in the 40 - 45m rage, upright, hull reasonably intack, but colapsed in places, but could still see it's shape & much decking.

Viz was 4 -5m & it was darker than recent wrecks I've dived. Shotted near the bows, could see the gun mounting (things). As we went astern, found the vertical bit (with gearing intack) where the helm was fitted. Lots of other boat bits I recognised but don't know there names. This dive is a good rumage.

As we came to the stern, the engine room was clearly vizable, Bob went in, but I couldn't as I was lugging 2 7L Ali stages. A bit excessive for this dive Bob, designated them "team bailout" But I could clearly see the repeater that received signals from the telegraph on the bridge. As we went around the stern & saw the engine room from the other side, a row of gauges was clearly visable.

I'd picked up another 7L ali stage from Bob, the prevoius night & had it filled with 20/35. I took it along today to check feel of it in the water & to practice coming off the loop & onto my trusty Cyklon reg. I did & all was OK.

There were also lots of fish on this wreck, apparently some large cod, various crabs & a lobster that my buddy took for his supper.

Did a bottom time of 56 minutes, just a little deco required! Our ascents to the VR3 deep/pyle stops was little slow & the TTS stubonly refused to go down as we ascended (guess we were well below the 10m/min it assumes)

Got to our 12m stop (first) after 70mins RT, it lasted 4 minutes. From there ascended to 6m following the "man on the rope". Got to 6m after 1H 26', VR3 showing 68mins TTS as 6m selected as last stop. Changed the VR3 last stop to 4.5m & TTS dropped to 55 mins, a bit better. Anyway, I proceeded to follow the "man on the rope" up to 4.5m, maintaining the 1.3 set point,well letting the computer do it . Didn't have any issues with bouyancy, if anything still a bit over-weighted.

Bob cleared deco about 5mins before me, I cleared after 135 minutes. had run up 68% CNS & 197 OTU's

It's worth noting that I run 20% saftey on my VR3

During deco, Bob, pointed at his hand sets & gave me the "finger" sign!!! Wasn't sure what he meant, afterwards I found out it meant he was raising his set point, although he stayed at 6m (but, he does run a 4th cell). He offered me his lobby, but I declined his kind offer.

A good day out, I'm now sorting my kit out for tomorrow, I think I'm diving the "Seven Seas" another "tourist" wreck around 40m. We'll I will when I sign of YD.

JT

PS. Ha, Howard (Diving Dude) where you working today

[Diving Dude]

Originally Posted by jptaylor9

PS. Ha, Howard (Diving Dude) where you working today

Now that's not nice.

How insensitive, posting about midweek dives when folk are at work.........................AND l"M NOT ON IT

Especially since the Minion is one that l want to do.