M2 with Scimitar diving

Yup - Scimitar Diving can always be relied upon for a great day's diving - I had a lovely day

I was up early, and being such a nice mornign, i thought I would sneak out for a quick 2km before I set off. Halfway round, I had to stop to assist 8 little ducklings whose legs were too shoort to hop up the kerb and follow mum... As they were in the middle of the road, on a blind corner, I didn't want them to get squished. That is sure to get me into heaven, if there is one

With the car loaded I set off, allowing plenty of time to sort my kit out when I was there. On the M27, the signs were saying ' A31 closed after A348'. I have no idea where the A348 is, and with no-one in the car to read a map that I don't have anyway, my heart sank. I missed the M2 a year or so ago becasue I'd been stuck in traffic. Oh well - I resigned myself to a 200 mile round trip with nothing to show for it and plodded on. Then I found out where the A348 is - just where the road goe from dual carriageway to single carriageway. The detour took about 20 minutes extra, but I finally arrived at Scimitar shortly after 11. Phew. plenty of time to fettle and even have a cup of tea.

With a full boat of 12, we set off round to the M2. Rumour had it that it would be busy, but when we arrived, we found just 2 other boats - one of F&B's ribs, and Skin Deeper. Once all their divers were in, we started. Ross went first, and as Trimixer and I were ready, we went in straight after. Our paln was - sraight down, bubble check at 5m, and if we lost each other, carry on, as we are both ok with solo diving and solo ascents. I started descending and waited at 5m.... and waited..... I looke dup, could see no diver above me, and waited a bit longer, then as a diver came up the line, i decided I wouldn't wait any longer - others would be jumping in, and i didn't want to hold anyone else up.

More divers came up as I went down the line, and at one point, I did wonder whether it would be just Ross and me on the wreck. The shot was tied in - just as well, really, given the number of divers who were hanging off it! The vis wasn't brilliant, but it was OK. It was more-or-less what I expceted. Green, and about 2-3m, more in some places. I found heaps and heaps of nudibranchs, tom-pots, and crabs. Many of the anemone seemed to be ready to spawn, and there were plenty of what looked like eggs from one creature or another - certainly the telltale spiral of nudibranch eggs were easy to spot!

After about 30 mins, the water trickling in though my dump valve was starting to make me really cold, so up went the dsmb, and I was soon back on the boat. There was my errant buddy, who'd managed to make his way to the wreck and dived without me.

We went back to Portland, enjoyed the obligitory post-dive tea and a natter and agreed it was a lovely dive.

Thanks to everyone on the boat - some YD lurkers, apparently

I took a couple of pics.....


Eggs - parents unknown





Tompot blenny



Nudibranch family portrait

There was loads of bits in the water, so the pics aren't great.

Anyway, as I was in no particular rush to get home, I decided to drive the long way round to Wey hay hay muff, via the Bill, and it would be churlish not to have got the camera

Great piccies Morag.

I was 1 of the 3 on the F&B RIB (bit of a last minute decision after my well thought out plans 4 the weekend got scuppered due to usual buddy getting a ear infection - can't be helped) After a bit of searching, some frustration on the part of our Skipper and a bit of freiendly banter with Skin Deeper over who got to shot 1st, altho they were gracious enough to offer thier shot if we wanted it.

We descended our shot to find we weren't on the M2, luckily we'd not missed it by much, but by the time the lift bag got inflated to send the shot up and we swam to her we had limited time left as 1 of the party was on a 15ltr air plus we hit the M2 just down of the coning tower and went with the current to the bow.

I thought the viz was pretty good (3m) and not the usual blackness that comes with UK depths but I didn't get chance to get my camera out and start faffing er I mean practicing as I had a raging headache from the moment we got 6m down the shot so tried to limit the task loading and just enjoy the dive.

Am already wondering when I will be able to get back to dive the M2 again (the two I foistered self upon on the F&B RIB, cheers guys 4 letting me tag along were planning on doing it all over again today but sadly I couldn't stay) next time I will be hard boating it as much as I enjoy RIB diving it's a long ride out hanging on for dear life and then getting back in that's the killer, my arms are going to feel sore for at least the rest of the week!

Still I had an ace day, we also did the Countess of Earne which turned out to be a lovely dive, we saw every inch - started off by swimmin all around her, then went through her then up and over the top of her.