St Georges Day - Patron saint of good vis

**Alastair** · April 25th, 2006, 11:57 AM

Well Sunday 23rd April myself and Fraser met up at Breakwater dive center at 10am. We were booked to dive the Salsette which due to Breakwater cancelling some dives we’d ended up diving only a fortnight before. That said it is listed as the best wreck dive in the UK according to Diver magazine. The wreck is a P&O liner 134m long which was torpedoed in WW1, it now lies in 45m of water about an hours boat run out from Weymouth.

We got ready with plenty of time to spare and set off to the site. As we left the harbour it was a little misty but the sea was flat calm - as we passed Portland Bill the whole boat was stunned to see the sea remained as flat as a sheet of glass. We made good time to the wreck and Andy (Goose’s skipper) shotted the wreck first time. As we looked at the shotline the whole boat started chattering as we could see the line stretching away below us. As we made a pass near to the line there was heated debate as to whether we could actually see the top of the wreck at 35m!

Slack was still about 1/2 hour away but everyone was so keen the whole boat got kitted up early. It was a mixed crowd and the first chap in was diving solo with a helmet mounted video camera! As myself and Fraser dropped in and started our descent I managed to get the lazy shot caught around me. I signalled to Frase who un-tangled me and we carried on to the bubble check a 6m with barely a pause. As we head down the line I make out the wreck clearly as we descend. We reach the wreck with 3 minutes still showing on my timer and start off towards the bow.

(Image from http://www.dis-uk.org/gallery.htm)

The visibility is amazing - it was like diving in the red sea. We could see the wreck from the seabed to the starboard rail and could make out the seabed extending off away from the wreck. A shoal of fish were actually visible about 10m away from the wreck as well as a large quantity on the wreck itself. We headed along at 42m near the seabed peering into the wreck and pausing over various features such as the Capstans. Various bits of debris extend from the deck across the seabed. Fraser signals and asks me to slow down at this point and I realise I’m a bit keen to reach the bow. We pass the remains of the crane and pass another buddy pair going the opposite direction. We reach the bow and I swim out in front of the wreck and turn to face it. The bow is visible from the keel to the tip and huge shoal of fish is sheltering under it. Frase is hovering nearer the bow and I really wish I had a camera!

We turn round and head back along the wreck slightly shallower at about 40m. We pass the shotline and keeping going. I spot a pair of water tanks on the deck which look a little like small boilers and we carry on to the section damaged by the torpedo. The wreck is more broken up here and and we peer into the approximate area of the engine room. We carry on towards the stern and reach the deck gun I turn to face Frase and back kick away from the gun - apparently he really wanted a camera at this point as he reckoned it was a perfect photo! We swam past the stern and peer at the rudder and prop shaft. Again we turn and make our way back towards the bow. We move up to the starboard rail so we are up at abour 36-37m. We actually manage to reach the shotline again and just past it see the two inspiration dives from the boat bagging off to start their ascent. We carried on for another couple of minutes and then start our ascent as I hit minimum gas.

Deco was smooth with no drama’s. At 9m we could clearly see the boat on the surface and take our time breaking the surface at 75 minutes. Deco was a bit chilly at 9 degrees but bearable. Having got back on board and de-kitted we were a little surprised to see the inspo guys surfacing after us

Cracking dive with vis that rarely happens in the UK. Roll on a few more like this one!

fraser · April 25th, 2006, 01:33 PM

Top report of a great dive mate. I don't want to bang on about it too much (Clare will hit me) but it really was one of those rare exceptional days diving.

I even saw a couple of big Cod, a somewhat rare sight now.

Only one thing to correct - Salsette was sunk in WW1...

Looking forward to the next one, if the viz sucks this weekend we know who to blame

Frase.

**Alastair** · April 25th, 2006, 01:50 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by fraser)

Top report of a great dive mate. I don't want to bang on about it too much (Clare will hit me) but it really was one of those rare exceptional days diving.

I even saw a couple of big Cod, a somewhat rare sight now.

Only one thing to correct - Salsette was sunk in WW1...

Looking forward to the next one, if the viz sucks this weekend we know who to blame

Frase.

That cod near the crane really was quite a size! Oh and correction made

*Clare Gledhill* · April 25th, 2006, 04:56 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Alastair)

The sea remained as flat as a sheet of glass.

Quote:

The visibility is amazing - it was like diving in the red sea.

Quote:

The bow is visible from the keel to the tip and huge shoal of fish is sheltering under it.

Quote:

At 9m we could clearly see the boat on the surface and take our time breaking the surface at 75 minutes.

Rick · April 26th, 2006, 11:14 AM

Ah, sorry I thought you meant Fontaine De St George!

April 25th, 2006, 11:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
Alastair(Offline) DIRX Supporter Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 693	St Georges Day - Patron saint of good vis Well Sunday 23rd April myself and Fraser met up at Breakwater dive center at 10am. We were booked to dive the Salsette which due to Breakwater cancelling some dives we’d ended up diving only a fortnight before. That said it is listed as the best wreck dive in the UK according to Diver magazine. The wreck is a P&O liner 134m long which was torpedoed in WW1, it now lies in 45m of water about an hours boat run out from Weymouth. We got ready with plenty of time to spare and set off to the site. As we left the harbour it was a little misty but the sea was flat calm - as we passed Portland Bill the whole boat was stunned to see the sea remained as flat as a sheet of glass. We made good time to the wreck and Andy (Goose’s skipper) shotted the wreck first time. As we looked at the shotline the whole boat started chattering as we could see the line stretching away below us. As we made a pass near to the line there was heated debate as to whether we could actually see the top of the wreck at 35m! Slack was still about 1/2 hour away but everyone was so keen the whole boat got kitted up early. It was a mixed crowd and the first chap in was diving solo with a helmet mounted video camera! As myself and Fraser dropped in and started our descent I managed to get the lazy shot caught around me. I signalled to Frase who un-tangled me and we carried on to the bubble check a 6m with barely a pause. As we head down the line I make out the wreck clearly as we descend. We reach the wreck with 3 minutes still showing on my timer and start off towards the bow. (Image from http://www.dis-uk.org/gallery.htm) The visibility is amazing - it was like diving in the red sea. We could see the wreck from the seabed to the starboard rail and could make out the seabed extending off away from the wreck. A shoal of fish were actually visible about 10m away from the wreck as well as a large quantity on the wreck itself. We headed along at 42m near the seabed peering into the wreck and pausing over various features such as the Capstans. Various bits of debris extend from the deck across the seabed. Fraser signals and asks me to slow down at this point and I realise I’m a bit keen to reach the bow. We pass the remains of the crane and pass another buddy pair going the opposite direction. We reach the bow and I swim out in front of the wreck and turn to face it. The bow is visible from the keel to the tip and huge shoal of fish is sheltering under it. Frase is hovering nearer the bow and I really wish I had a camera! We turn round and head back along the wreck slightly shallower at about 40m. We pass the shotline and keeping going. I spot a pair of water tanks on the deck which look a little like small boilers and we carry on to the section damaged by the torpedo. The wreck is more broken up here and and we peer into the approximate area of the engine room. We carry on towards the stern and reach the deck gun I turn to face Frase and back kick away from the gun - apparently he really wanted a camera at this point as he reckoned it was a perfect photo! We swam past the stern and peer at the rudder and prop shaft. Again we turn and make our way back towards the bow. We move up to the starboard rail so we are up at abour 36-37m. We actually manage to reach the shotline again and just past it see the two inspiration dives from the boat bagging off to start their ascent. We carried on for another couple of minutes and then start our ascent as I hit minimum gas. Deco was smooth with no drama’s. At 9m we could clearly see the boat on the surface and take our time breaking the surface at 75 minutes. Deco was a bit chilly at 9 degrees but bearable. Having got back on board and de-kitted we were a little surprised to see the inspo guys surfacing after us Cracking dive with vis that rarely happens in the UK. Roll on a few more like this one! __________________ Helium is our friend - GI3 Last edited by Alastair; April 25th, 2006 at 01:49 PM. Reason: spelling

April 25th, 2006, 01:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
fraser(Offline) "I'm only late on your timescale" Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 463	Top report of a great dive mate. I don't want to bang on about it too much (Clare will hit me) but it really was one of those rare exceptional days diving. I even saw a couple of big Cod, a somewhat rare sight now. Only one thing to correct - Salsette was sunk in WW1... Looking forward to the next one, if the viz sucks this weekend we know who to blame Frase. __________________ Damn it feels good to be a gangsta

April 25th, 2006, 01:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
Alastair(Offline) DIRX Supporter Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 693	Quote: (Originally Posted by fraser) Top report of a great dive mate. I don't want to bang on about it too much (Clare will hit me) but it really was one of those rare exceptional days diving. I even saw a couple of big Cod, a somewhat rare sight now. Only one thing to correct - Salsette was sunk in WW1... Looking forward to the next one, if the viz sucks this weekend we know who to blame Frase. That cod near the crane really was quite a size! Oh and correction made __________________ Helium is our friend - GI3

April 25th, 2006, 04:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
Clare Gledhill(Offline) GUE Instructor Site Admin Pacman Champion! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 1,541	Quote: (Originally Posted by Alastair) The sea remained as flat as a sheet of glass. Quote: The visibility is amazing - it was like diving in the red sea. Quote: The bow is visible from the keel to the tip and huge shoal of fish is sheltering under it. Quote: At 9m we could clearly see the boat on the surface and take our time breaking the surface at 75 minutes. __________________ Clare . "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions....Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great." Interested in DIR dive training? Always happy to chat/answer questions so get in touch via PM or visit www.dirdiver.co.uk

April 26th, 2006, 11:14 AM	#5 (permalink)
Rick(Offline) Jock Exley Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Falkirk/Stratford UK Posts: 730	Ah, sorry I thought you meant Fontaine De St George! __________________ Forget Everything And Remember http://phreaticzone.thedeepstop.com/ http://www.dublinbaydiving.com/