E.L. De Bayo & Empress of Fort William Dives - Dover Sat 30 Sept

[Paul Oliver]

Well despite the weather doom and gloom along the south coast we met up at about 0600 in Dover to head out for the Liberty ship Henry B Plant, the wind was quite gusty but we loaded up and went out for a look Bad sign as we were going out as one of the local Rhib Clubs was coming back in having sacked it as it was too rough

Outside the Harbour it was a bit lumpy, but its always worse for about a mile around the walls, so we headed off to the N/E with the sea settling down a bit once we were away from Dover. Its a long run 22+ Miles up to the Henry B so we decided to cut our trip down and went for an alternative site, what Dave calls the Urania, the wreck is actually the E.L De Bayo which sunk in about 2 mins following a collision with the Currie Liner the SS Westmoreland, in dense fog on 12 May 1911, the Captain and 4 crew going down with her.

So why does Dave call her the Urania - 'cos that's what the bell says, and it was the first of many he has found She was launched as the Urania in 1896 a steel steam ship.

On site we jumped in to some quite clear viz, giving 8-10m depending on who you were behind I was diving with Gareth J for the first time and it was very nice to dive with a competent, sensible and helpful Death Box Diver for a change

The wreck is very intact in the front half, upright with a slight list to port, the holds are quite full and we tied off and dropped over the Starboard side to look at some wreckage, then back on the deck to move forward. Soon Getafix was calling us over to look at the ships telegraph that was pinned under some wreckage with the shinny brass showing through.

Moving on towards the bow we dropped into the forward hold, where i got a lobster bite from a very defensive lobby so i let that go, then out the front to look at the broken bow. You can see where the wreck hit the seabed bow first as there is a big crater in the chalk seabed. I had my max depth here of 41m, with the ship towering above me.

Turning around there we headed back along to the shot then past it and off the back of the wreck. There is a large bulkhead holding the front together, but we followed the prop shafts back and found more wreckage of the stern. We could see a shadow and lots of fish just a bit further on but had to turn now as i was time out.

So the wreck is very intact at the front and stern, with an easy to follow debris field between them, general seabed depth of about 37-38m, max of about 43m in the hole by the bow. The decks however are at a very nice general depth of 30-32m

So a great long dive with 42 min plus on the wreck, followed by the normal deco stuff with a total run time of 76 min, using EAN 27% and 49% which should have been 28% and 50% but i can only blame myself for that.

Back on the boat everyone was buzzing except for Lou and Caroline who had not had a dive as Lou twisted her knee quite badly while waiting to get in.

So a bumpy ride back to Dover for a couple of hours before we went out to do Dive 2 The Empress of Fort William, which was a freighter carrying Coal that went to the rescue of the Big Liner the SS Maloja after she struck a mine in WW1. However the Empress struck another mine and went down as well.

We only had 2-3m of viz on this inshore wreck and it took some time to get orientated, but she rises up very nicely with big props still in place and some real monster lobsters about. Having dropped in at 30m it was only at the point i had to turn the dive that me and Gareth found the main wreckage, so another visit to come i think. So a max of 30m and a 34 min dive time for a good second dive, not a bad 2 dives for £35

Its amazing i have been diving out of Dover for 12 years and still get to do 2 great wrecks for the first time, 1 at 8 miles out the other at 2 miles out

Hopefully Lou is not too badly hurt, serves her right for carrying crap Beaver cylinders

The Divers:-

1. Paul Oliver
2. Gareth J
3.
4.
5. John Perrin
6. Debs
7. Carl
8. No1 Jonah Mattbin
9. Getafix
10. Lou (I'll punch you if i dont get a place this time )
11. Caroline
12. No2 Jonah Tom

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by Paul Oliver

Hopefully Lou is not too badly hurt, serves her right for carrying crap Beaver cylinders

Mr O you are going to be in trouble when Lou sees this and will insist they are Euro's and not Beavers

Hope you are OK Lou, one more in the dodgey knee club.

[Paul Oliver]

The good news is i managed to sell off one of their second dives so i have a small refund for them

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by Paul Oliver

The good news is i managed to sell off one of their second dives so i have a small refund for them

In that case you are probably safe for now.

I must try and get down for a dive sometime. I hate keep reading reports like this

[MATTBIN]

Heard from Lou last night and this morning, its not good. Cruciate ligament damage, which rather put a dampner on what was otherwise a good day out. A bit lump???? Not quite how I would have described it, or indeed dive no.2 Tom was doing the line out stuff and it was very hard going for him to do that and fight the slack on dive 2. Just shows how much conditions can change between dives.

Get better soon Lou, or I'll have to offer you silly money for your kit, now I reckon with your breathing rate mu recently tested and cleaned 10's would be so much easier to use than your 12's

Matt

Paul, cheers for organising it, Tom for being a very able buddy and the rest of the dive team for a good day out.

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by MATTBIN

Heard from Lou last night and this morning, its not good. Cruciate ligament damage

[Midnight]

Good to hear about the "Empress" as she was my first sea dive.... you ought to see the 2 pages of the report I wrote about it!!!

Enjoyed reading your report thanks.

Were you with Mr. Batchelor?

Regards
Mdnight

[Paul Oliver]

Originally Posted by Midnight

Good to hear about the "Empress" as she was my first sea dive.... you ought to see the 2 pages of the report I wrote about it!!!

Enjoyed reading your report thanks.

Were you with Mr. Batchelor?

Regards
Mdnight

Yes we were with Dave, top skipper

Carl one of Canterbury Divers enjoyed dive 2 more than dive 1, and he had a good first dive, so its all a bit on perspectives i'd say.

The conditions on dive 2 were not great but i certainly enjoyed it just need to see more of it, and the Aircraft just off the stern, may be a bit of a project there

[milldog]

Paul

really jealous as our boat was cancelled, glad you got out and had some great dive.
I must book a long weekend and dive dover area,

nice report mate

[Andy the Coastie]

Originally Posted by Paul Oliver

Yes we were with Dave, top skipper

Carl one of Canterbury Divers enjoyed dive 2 more than dive 1, and he had a good first dive, so its all a bit on perspectives i'd say.

The conditions on dive 2 were not great but i certainly enjoyed it just need to see more of it, and the Aircraft just off the stern, may be a bit of a project there

Ya have to beat the others ,,,, that already have bits off and are over Hawkinge ready for the reconstruction. PROPELLOR,,,,,,, what prop :OHHH: