Yorkshire Divers

Captain Deco · #1 (**permalink**) 26-10-07, 07:55 PM

Wow. I am still buzzing from what has to be one of the best dives I have ever had.

I booked on the Channel Diver 2 a couple of weeks ago whilst sitting at some lame arse crime scene wishing I was rich and I was looking forward to what sounded like it was going to be a major dive for me. My absolute depth at my current level of diving experience and training is 50m and Steve Johnson (for it is he) was offering up a day on the wreck of the "Persiana" which was torpedoed by the Fritz Navy in 1915 whilst taking coal to Italy.....in 50m!!! Sorted!!

I got to the Marina nice and early and spent a leisurely 20 minutes loading the boat with my gear and parking the car. I was initially quite worried as I was buddyless dude, as all my dive buddies on my very short list of ace buddies were busy.....which to me meant that I would be ruining someone's dive by being billy no mates and making a three....

No worries there than as another buddy-less dude by the name of Tim stepped up and became my new best friend. I have seen him on dives before, and we had exchanged hellos, but now we were exchanging deco plans and buddy checks. After a fairly gentle run out to the drop zone I looked overboard and confirmed that the water was the most amazing shade of denim blue I think I had ever seen. It looked like foreign dive movie water had been brought in for the occasion of me testing my new Bare XCD2 pro dry suit which was itching for a dip with it's new right thigh pocket. I had fettled my kit to perfection, and as agreed Tim and I sailed slowly down the line doing bubble checks etc. At 33m I could see the beams of the 3 divers already on the wreck at 48/50m and I was almost beside myself with excitement at what was becoming the most amazing of dives. Once we hit the wreck we freed the shot, and then went for an explore.

There was life everywhere. So much that we were all but elbowing the multitudes of fish out of the way. The wreck was fairly broken up, and it was full of nooks and crannies to point the torches into. The water, even at this depth on such an overcast day was deep denim blue, and the viz was an amazing 15m!!! Giant lobsters lumbered about, congers, crabs....Oh My!!!! It was a gorgeous wreck for sea life, and I got a kick out of seeing them potter about. After a full roam around the decks Tim and I sailed over the side of the wreckage and had a little sojourn next to her but on the sea bed, swimming past what looked to me like a massive mast structure. Back up the wreck, and over the holds where loads of coal was scattered about to the back of the wreck. Tim feathered over the stern and I followed - there in front of me was a massive overhanging stern, under which was a massive rudder/propeller combo. We doused the dive lights to get a deep sea explorer feel to it, and I was blown away. The only way this dive could have been better is if I had found a bell!! Tim gave me the signal to shoot the bag off, which I did in free water with no drama, and we began the ascent. It was a quality one dive day, and knackered/hungry as I am right now, I would easily pull a sicky tomorrow to do that same dive. What a beauty.

Total run time - 74 minutes (28 ish on the bottom, 46 deco)

New suit - comfy, unrestrictive and just right for me. I am impressed.

New buddy Tim - Top bloke. No dramas.....hope to do some more diving soon mate!!

Steve Johnson and his tub -

Top bloke, top boat.