M2 - first sea dive of 2008

[The Duck]

This was to be my first sea dive of 2008. I'd done several dives in the local muddy puddle both before Christmas and since new year, but these just don't really cut it compared to getting in the sea. Also it was to be a dive on the M2, which was my most dived wreck in '07 and a personal favorite.

Got down to Portland early for a good "Big Breakfast" and mug of tea at the Aquasport cafe. A look in Underwater Explorers and Portland Oceaneering killed a little time and then Scimiar turned up. Kit on board, more tea, put kit together, discover dead battery in VR£, change battery, more tea.

Head on out round a very smooth Portland Bill. Smudge shots the wreck and everyone gets ready. Smudge asks if anyone wants to do more than 60mins surface to surface. Shakes of heads all round. Apart from me "Give us 80min please" I pipe up. Mutters of "there's always one" are heard. Smudge tells us that the shot is on the conning tower but adds that if it gets pulled off to head East for a couple of fin kicks.

Jumping in it becomes evident that the vis is not going to be great. Carrying on down I go through the normal checks, and everything is working. Get to the bottom of the shot - HMS Seabed. Oh well, head off. Stop. Look at compass "ah, East is when the arrow points to E". Turn 180 degrees. Back past the shot and true to his word a couple of fin kicks later I almost bang my head on the wreck.

Keeping the wreck on my right I circle around at the bottom. Going under the scour at the bow I hear a bleeping "Funny" I think "I don't remember anyone with an Inspo" then I realise that it's my Vytech having a hissy fit as I'm just below the 1.4 MOD of my 32%. I'm slightly surprised as I've never heard any of my Vytech's alarms before. Coming up out of the scour on the other side of the wreck shuts the computer up and I carry on round the bottom. Swimming along the side I spot a hole in the wreck and in it the familiar silver-grey sheen catches my eye. Shining the torch inside reveals a rather large conga. I'd seen them before on the wreck but they are now getting decidedly BIG.

Get to the stern and go around, returning along the side and ascending to deck level. A circuit here revels two lobby's, one near the 'pop-up' deck gun and a big one sitting out in the open near the back of the conning tower "Bugger! No goody bag!" is the first though that goes through my head. Also near the deck gun is a largish torch but it's just out of reach.

A good look at the launching rails and finally return to the hangar and conning tower. Ascending to the top of the hangar I continue to look around and then go over to the top of the conning tower. At 53min I'm showing a bit of deco and the current is starting to run, so I fire the bag and drift off.

I'm quite glad that I was solo because the ascent was not pretty. At 10m the VR£ is telling me to swtich to my 80% "wait till 9m you stupid computer" I think. At 9m I switch and then I discovered that I'd forgotten how to confirm the switch on the VR£ . I change the Vytech (which quickly recalculates it's deco schedule and gives me some more sensible numbers) and push buttons of the VR£ until I remember what I'm actually supposed to do.

Up to 6m. "Hmm, getting a bit chilly. Really should have not left that extra undersuit top layer in the car. I think I'll remember next time ". fiddle around getting the MP3 player from the bungie on the stage, put on the head phones and get Neil Young blasting out - which makes the remaining time pass quite quickly. A slow ascent to the surface where I find Scimitar waiting close by with (not surprisingly) everyone else aboard.

Pasties, donuts and Blueberry muffins for lunch washed down with copious quantities of tea is had as we head back into the harbour. A quick discussion of what we are going to do for a second dive follows and it's decied that we'll do the Sea Vixen.

The Sea Vixen is an aircraft, without any wings, and the fuselage is broken, but it stands up well in very shallow water (about 9m). You can do a full circuit of the whole wreck in ohhh, say under a minute. Anyway half an hour was enough poking around. To be fair to this wreck I would say it is one that is worth doing. But only once. As a second dive. Oh, and the book says that this is an ideal site for beginners. Err no. Yes it is shallow, and yes there are no holes to get stuck in, but it is in heavy silt. A beginner near this wreck will turn it into a zero vis dive and you need to be able to see something to make this one worth while.

Back on board it was back home for tea and medals

Very big thanks to Helena and Smudge of Scimitar diving for a great day out. Also it was great to meeting up with DanE and his group (including Rekimaster (sp?)), Sailorbuoy, Weazlez and Scuttler.

It 2008 keeps this up we should be in for a good year

[purple vonny]

Glad you had a good one Ducky. It was nice to see you this morning, and also glad your pasties didn't hit the deck. You must have frozen your buns off.

[Scuttler]

Well I am pleased to say I missed both wrecks.

I bagged a lovely lobster (slightly soft shell but at 15" from centre of carpace to tail a good size) and a few scallops. Lobster is now cooked and sitting between several slices of bread with lemon juice, black pepper and some marie rose sauce.

There were some amusing hand signals between myself and sailorbouy as we struggled to make each other understand what we were saying....it's especially difficult when you have your hands full of Scallops!!

Have to say I really enjoyed the day. The temperature was great at 10 degrees. The sea life was fantastic with starfish, anemones, various crabs, whelks and lobsters galore.

It was good to see everyone and I have to say my first trip with Scimitar was a real pleasure. Smudge and Helena run a great ship and I look forward to diving with them again.

It was also good to see Vonny, who popped over to say hi before we departed.

All in all a great day.

Paul....thanks for organising it.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by Scuttler

Well I am pleased to say I missed both wrecks.

So it's you then, not me.

[Adrian Kelland]

Glad you had a good day, wasn't it great out in Lyme Bay today?

[warmwaterdiver]

always liked the M2, bit like an ex of mine, you know you're always going to enjoy yourself on it

[Scuttler]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

So it's you then, not me.

Funny enough I mentioned you today......you jinxed us

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by Scuttler

Funny enough I mentioned you today......you jinxed us

Glad you all had a good day, only been in the sea once this year, starting to dessicate.

[Charley]

Originally Posted by warmwaterdiver

bit like an ex of mine, you know you're always going to enjoy yourself on it

sounds familiar, she doesn't drink in the Dorothy Inn!

[Scuttler]

Originally Posted by Charley

sounds familiar, she doesn't drink in the Dorothy Inn!

An awesome place. And the club upstairs is a hoot!