Whose done the HMS Stubborn off Malta??

[Maltaman]

I'll be doing this sub wreck for the first time with the club on the 24th June. Just wondered who else has done it and what sort of kit they used. I think a number of club members will be using sgl 18l air. Comments?? Also what experience level do you think is ok for doing this dive (55m)

[Lazlo]

Originally Posted by Maltaman

I'll be doing this sub wreck for the first time with the club on the 24th June. Just wondered who else has done it and what sort of kit they used. I think a number of club members will be using sgl 18l air. Comments?? Also what experience level do you think is ok for doing this dive (55m)

We used the full tekkie clobber, which aside from the usual advantages gives you a lot more time to enjoy it.

It's not a difficult dive - just deep. There can be a bit of current apparently. I wouldn't do it on a single, but that's just me.

Oh - and if you're not careful you can get almost 60m on the bottom.

[alby scubakitmarket]

Originally Posted by Maltaman

I'll be doing this sub wreck for the first time with the club on the 24th June. Just wondered who else has done it and what sort of kit they used. I think a number of club members will be using sgl 18l air. Comments?? Also what experience level do you think is ok for doing this dive (55m)

a single cylinder on a 55mt dive

and i thought i was a raving lunatic

alby

[garethwoodruff]

I suppose its clear water etc.... but it sounds a bit mad at 55 meters !!

If I was going to do that on a single 18, I think I would ask to have a cylinder of spare gas at 9 meters on the shot line / under the boat just in case. Pony cylinder as well, but not sure it will get u upto 9 meters from 60 though.

I would have though indie twins would have been a better choice (and a squirt of helium ! )

Got to be at least a Dive Leader and with some experience of deep air (4o meter plus) diving, even then its a little dodgy on insurance...

[alby scubakitmarket]

If I was going to do that on a single 18, I think I would ask to have a cylinder of spare gas at 9 meters on the shot line / under the boat just in case. Pony cylinder as well, but not sure it will get u upto 9 meters from 60 though.

a pony cyl will get you up but you would have to come up so fast that your body will be so full of bubbles you would be like a shaken can of coke ready to explode

get wise use the correct kit for this and every type of dive

alby

[garethwoodruff]

tbh, not sure a pony cylinder would but depends on how much u guzzle, would be a last tresort bale out.

Personaly at that depth, got to be trimix, twins and associated gubbins !

[Maltaman]

I think the plan is in fact to have back up cylinders at 9m - will check that out with the club. The other comments certainly provide food for thought. I do think however, that the fact that the water here is warm and clear does make a huge difference to the overall seriousness of the dive.

[alby scubakitmarket]

Originally Posted by Maltaman

I think the plan is in fact to have back up cylinders at 9m - will check that out with the club. The other comments certainly provide food for thought. I do think however, that the fact that the water here is warm and clear does make a huge difference to the overall seriousness of the dive.

personally i think your plan stinks, what if you have a blow out at 55mt how are you going to get up to the backup at 9mt, surely you don't propose to buddy breath up 46mt, if so (your a better man me ghunga din)

don't muck about you may put someone else in danger read garethwoodruff's post twins etc

as an after thought without being a prat what is your experience level

alby

[ibbo]

hi, knowing you i don't think you will have a problem with this one. i know here in the uk it wouldn't be considered butif you stage rigged a 10l along with your 15 then you would be ok for gas. put some drop tanks in and only go if you're happy with the current etc.

might be a good idea to try the set up first on a couple of shallower dives.

all the best

mike

[DaveT]

We did it a few years back, using twinned 80 Ali's and with drop tanks on a trapeze (just in case). It's a very nice dive, but you've got to be strict about the bottom time - there wasn't any current. There was a local guy on the boat who did it on a single - but he only came back with 10-20 bar; and we came back with 100+.

To be honest, I wouldn't do it again on air, for a number of reasons:

(a) Narcosis - at a max of 57m and nominal 51/52m cruising round, I defy anyone to say that they're not diving on the equivalent of at least 1 bottle of red wine!

(b) Time - without being set up with higher O2 deco mixes, an 18 minute bottom time turned into 80 minutes run time.

(c) I now dive a YBOD (or SBOD thanks to Kent Tooling), and have for the past 3 years - the last year or so on Trimix for anything below 30m.

We're over in Malta again in September, and the Stubborn is definitely on the list, but this time on a mix and definitely with 2 7ltr side slungs (1 mix, 1 50%), for bailout.

regards
Dave