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Thread: TGIF DUE Dive the Sabac and Unity - Dover Fri 5 October

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    Paul Oliver's Avatar
    Paul Oliver is offline DUE CEO, Booking agent, Coffee maker & Dogsbody.... Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune
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    Cool TGIF DUE Dive the Sabac and Unity - Dover Fri 5 October

    Dive 1 – The Sabac

    The Sabac is a rather large freighter of 2811 Tons that sank after a collision with the larger Dorington Court in dense fog at 1055 on 7 Jan 1962, 7 miles off of Dover, whilst on a voyage from Ploce (Yugoslavia) to Rotterdam with a cargo of Bauxite (used in the manufacturing of aluminium). The Sabac was holed on her port side and sank in 5 min with the loss of many of her crew in the very cold water.



    Today the wreck is incredibly upright and intact in a max depth of 55m with the decks at about 45m and the 2 sets of superstructure standing above this up to about 42m.

    I was diving today with Madam Poisson de Chunder who was diving on a very expensive Trimix fill to my poor mans weak Nitrox (maybe not quite weak enough though), and we had a cunning plan involving 30 min at 45m

    Edit: We had Myself, Madfish, G Wizz, Nigel Ingram, Colinicky, Andrew M and Madscuba from YD on the boat.

    Once the shot was in we jumped in and down the line for a quick 6m bubble check, Madam had a very small leak from one of her regs but we decided that it was not too bad so carried on. Down we went with it getting a bit darker until we hit the deck at 45m.

    It was quite dark but we had a nice clear 7m or so of viz in our torch beams. I knew there was superstructure near us and wanted to get into this so had a look around trying to decide which way was best, we soon opted for left and off we went to find a steel wall in front of us, great, there was a door to the side but we went up and along this looking down into the cabins below us through the holes in the roof, once across this we dropped down to have a look in the other side. By now our eyes had adjusted to the gloom and we had some nice light levels.

    Madam wanted to enter here but my gas was a bit hot at this depth and I did not want to stay this deep too long, so we looked at another section just down from the cabins and Madam decided to have a look into here, we were now at 50m and this was the first time that Di had been this deep, she asked if I wanted to have a look along the corridor, I felt it looked a bit narrow even for my svelte figure so in she went.

    I watched as she frog kicked along to the end of the corridor, about 8m or so then stop, she then started some strange fin movements and I decided she was either Oxtoxing or trying to swim backwards, after a few moments the convulsions continued getting closer to me until she came back out, well half of her, she then stopped for a bit, then had some more spasms, I tapped her leg to let her know she was out then realised she was catching her stage bottle on the bottom of the door frame, why doesn’t she come up a foot or so I thought eventually the light came on and she did this managing to get out at last

    Shaking my head at women trying to reverse we went back up over the cabins and back to the shot. Back at the shot we had lots of gas left but our deco was racking up a bit so we left the wreck just short of 30 mins and off we went up the line with our plan in taters.

    Madam worked her deco out in her head on the fly while I stuck some deep stops in and used my SUUNTO, I was hoping her sums were better than her reversing, but we managed to survive with no sign of DCI.

    So a total run time of 71 min to a max depth of 50m with me using 26% backgas and 53% for Deco, in some rather nice 17 Degrees water. On this incredibly impressive and intact wreck.

    Dive 2 – SS Unity

    After a nice long surface interval and some lunch we headed down Dungeness way to dive the ever impressive SS Unity which was torpedoed by UB57 on 2 May 1918 whilst sailing from Newhaven to Calais with a cargo of Ordinance Stores We like Ordinance stores.



    This is a fantastic wreck being upright and intact in a max depth of 40m and a general depth to the decks of 32-35m, for this dive we had been joined by Debs with her camera.

    Down the shot we went to find a fantastic 8m or so of viz and some very nice light levels, as we neared the bottom of the shot we found a large conga looking at us from an air intake

    We then worked our way along the deck in a kinda zig-zag pattern with me reeling off and the Ladies shopping for spidge around me in a random 3 formation. This wreck has lots of bits lying all over it and is a superb rummage. As we got close to the bow hold a rather aggressive Lobster came past me and after a bit of a struggle he was bagged up ready for dinner later.

    About this time I turned the dive as my tissue code had pushed us into Deco quite quickly and that was raking up a bit, so to Debs obvious disappointment we turned around and headed back to the shot. At the shot all 3 of us had something in our goody bags and up we went for the normal deco stops. During which Madam nearly dropped her Regulator as my SUUNTO cleared at the same time as her Deco on the fly I pointed out later that using optimum gasses can work

    On Neptune, Madams nice small Porthole turned out to be a pipe bracket, but it was close

    So a total runtime of 49 min, with 30 min or so on the wreck using 28% and 53% again in 17 Degrees water to a max depth of 37m. It was dark by the time we got out for a rather lumpy ride back to Dover.

    In all another rather excellent days diving on Neptune, and all for £40
    Last edited by Paul Oliver; 08-10-07 at 09:02 PM.
    Paul Oliver
    Canterbury Divers Neptune of Dover
    DUE - Dover Underwater Explorers
    2 Rules - 1. You books you pays. 2. Always return to the shot [CEO exempt]

    Quote "With all these rebreathers onboard there will be lots of space on the trip back" Steve Summers 6 Sept 2009

  2. #2
    Gizmo's Avatar
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    Sounds like a cracking day.
    Quote Originally Posted by Paul
    Shaking my head at women trying to reverse ......
    PMSL....

    Wish I was there, Just accrued a couple more of those fantastic days in lieu from work... so next time......

    A fellow DUE'r
    Now known as Muppet son of a pikey diver........ thanks...
    Experience is something you get, just after you need it
    Graham says No!
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    Madfish's Avatar
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    It is always a pleasure to get up at silly o'clock and drive 180 miles to Dover in the anticipation of a great boat and crew and intelligent conversation - safe in the knowledge that 'what goes on tour, stays on tour' and fortunately two out of four ain't bad.....

    After some last minute adjustments (I have now taken to bringing my own technician with me on these DUE trips) my freshly serviced regs managed to wheeze their way through the dives........ We compared our gases, analysed our deco gases and came up with a cunning plan - the CUS@6

    The Sabac was simply stunning & despite Paul's extremely dubious hand signals, communication was a breeze. Do ask him to show you 'seal' if and when you meet him We have got it off to a fine art now - Paul will wave his arms around & then have a complete conversation through his regs - I will nod vigorously and maybe give an ok signal and then follow him Seems to work... Occasionally he will get his knife out and tap & scrape stuff with muffled exclamations from time to time..

    We were both a bit miffed to realise there was another bit of the Sabac to play with which was more spidgacious, but we will save that for next time.

    The Unity was another excellent dive - Paul & I dived with approximately 7,000 ltres of gas each to a max of 37 metres, and Debs being tight managed to complete the same dive on a mere 3,400 and she still came up with 80bar......but then this woman did make a sausage roll last an amazing 12 nautical miles......
    Paul needed some help with his lobster as it was out-witting him and had huge claws - despite my invaluable assistance, Paul did not provide lobster sandwiches the next day and I was hugely miffed. On the credit side his suit was still leaking

    A terrific day out & much fun was had by all - thanks to Paul for organising it and to Dave & Glyn for making everything so straitforward & simple. There is always a friendly welcome on Neptune & I'm looking forward to coming back soon.

    Di
    DUE Member and GUSAC Founder Member

    Putting the div in diving.......

  4. #4
    colinicky is offline Driving my truck with my high-heels on... colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune
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    I would just like to say thanks to Paul for the usual outstanding organisation but I do have one little moan
    What happened to the usual hot sausage roles ? Did Dave B forget or is it more likely that due to everybody else deciding that "I ripped the A*** out it "( 1 hour 43 minutes ) on the Sabac dive that they scoffed them all before I got back on board ?
    As normal it was a wonderfull dive in good company even if I did have to can the 2nd to go home & repair an electrical fault
    Colin

    I trust my rebreather completely ,
    I just don't trust the user

    onwards & downwards

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    Madfish's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by colinicky View Post
    I would just like to say thanks to Paul for the usual outstanding organisation but I do have one little moan
    What happened to the usual hot sausage roles ? Did Dave B forget or is it more likely that due to everybody else deciding that "I ripped the A*** out it "( 1 hour 43 minutes ) on the Sabac dive that they scoffed them all before I got back on board ?
    No - we just waited for you to drive off, then Dave cooked us steak sandwiches & fries and we washed it all down with a small glass of red! No one had room for pudding (apple crumble) so we saved that for after the Unity



    Di
    DUE Member and GUSAC Founder Member

    Putting the div in diving.......

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    colinicky is offline Driving my truck with my high-heels on... colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune colinicky is really Neptune
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    Quote Originally Posted by Madfish View Post
    No - we just waited for you to drive off, then Dave cooked us steak sandwiches & fries and we washed it all down with a small glass of red! No one had room for pudding (apple crumble) so we saved that for after the Unity

    Di
    That would not surprise me & you were the ringleader no doubt ? Thats the last time you borrow my Allen keys ! or anything else of mine Did you contact him with your address ?
    Colin

    I trust my rebreather completely ,
    I just don't trust the user

    onwards & downwards

  7. #7
    Paul Oliver's Avatar
    Paul Oliver is offline DUE CEO, Booking agent, Coffee maker & Dogsbody.... Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune Paul Oliver is really Neptune
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    Ahhh ha, found a picture of the Sabac

    Paul Oliver
    Canterbury Divers Neptune of Dover
    DUE - Dover Underwater Explorers
    2 Rules - 1. You books you pays. 2. Always return to the shot [CEO exempt]

    Quote "With all these rebreathers onboard there will be lots of space on the trip back" Steve Summers 6 Sept 2009

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    It takes a while.................

    Quote Originally Posted by Madfish View Post
    The Sabac was simply stunning & despite Paul's extremely dubious hand signals, communication was a breeze. Do ask him to show you 'seal' if and when you meet him We have got it off to a fine art now - Paul will wave his arms around & then have a complete conversation through his regs - I will nod vigorously and maybe give an ok signal and then follow him Seems to work... Occasionally he will get his knife out and tap & scrape stuff with muffled exclamations from time to time...

    Di
    I 'think' that Paul & I have worked out what is going on..........
    the ...... nod vigorously and maybe give an ok signal and then follow him
    THAT works! He smiles & goes on doing whatever it is he does....... (very well, I might add) I follow him & it all works out well...............

    We get in, Paul lays the best line ever, we dive around a bit, we finish our dive, we get back to the shot & we remember that it was great, what more can you ask for?

    B

    because the surface of the ocean is the beginning of the sky

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    Paul catching his lobster

    Paul catching lobster.jpg

    A very proud Paul and his lobster

    Paul + lobster.jpg

    Nice trip back

    Sunset.jpg

    and really nice of Paul to organise fireworks to end the day

    fireworks.jpg
    Debs

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