The Devil in Devils Point

Martin Burnard · May 18th, 2006, 09:49 PM

As its peeing down with rain and blowing a hoolly, here is a little trip report.

We often dive Eastern Kings in Plymouth, but recently Trotski and I have taken to diving Devils Point itself. Now for those of you who are unsure, this means get to the usual parking area, look out to sea, turn right and drive as far as you can. Stop. Park. Kit up (Do not put your fins on!). Look out to sea. turn right and keep walking, yes.. as far as you can. When you can walk no further put your fins on and jump off. Oh buddy check, team check, phone the Long Room etc.

The descent is straight down to about 30m (mind all the fishing line!), pay attention to the discarded motorbike at 15m (you'll need this later).

We enter 35 minutes before high tide, and the ride can be quite wicked. Stopping to look at something means grabbing the rocks, do not be tempted to move out into the channel because the current will grab your ass, and send you to somewhere you don't want to go, you have been warned!

The depth goes somwhere below 36m so watch it! There is alot of life along here so keep your eyes open. The tide will go slack for about 5 mins, then whisk you back. We normally watch our bottom time and with 8 mins left come up to 15m to pad out the time for the return trip.

There are lots of areas where shallow caves have been scoured out with all sorts of life in them. you will find yourself going around all sorts of promontories (spelling?), but pay attention for the motorbike, because if you miss it you are STUFFED!

When you get to the bike, get in close to the cliff ( I mean shoulder against it, really tuck in), and ascend to the steps to climb out.

A superb dive!

If you have any doubts about whether I am serious about the current, go and have a look, don't dive, just look at the eddies on the surface!

Have Fun!

Another way to dive this is to speak to Brian at Aquanauts and book the boat, do it as a boat dive then you have cover in case you miss the motorbike!

GLOC · May 18th, 2006, 09:59 PM

Sounds fun Martin. Maybe the next time we are down...

Martin Burnard · May 18th, 2006, 10:10 PM

This was one of the dives that you did from the boat last time you were down.

With the boat for cover its fine, especially if the tidal range isn't to extreme, it can be a little more foregiving. No boat means do not get it wrong!

Always happy to dive with you dear Sir!

GLOC · May 18th, 2006, 10:14 PM

But when we did it the tide was pretty slack as we didnt feel a current, unlike the second dive when we were racing along. I take it you started where we were picked up from and then went to where we were dropped in and then came back again....if that makes sense.

Martin Burnard · May 18th, 2006, 10:35 PM

Yes.
I have discovered I can't say "Yes", it says message to short!

Dan T · May 19th, 2006, 02:59 AM

Good reading-

(motorbike, lol)

May 18th, 2006, 09:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Martin Burnard(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Plymouth, UK Posts: 580	The Devil in Devils Point As its peeing down with rain and blowing a hoolly, here is a little trip report. We often dive Eastern Kings in Plymouth, but recently Trotski and I have taken to diving Devils Point itself. Now for those of you who are unsure, this means get to the usual parking area, look out to sea, turn right and drive as far as you can. Stop. Park. Kit up (Do not put your fins on!). Look out to sea. turn right and keep walking, yes.. as far as you can. When you can walk no further put your fins on and jump off. Oh buddy check, team check, phone the Long Room etc. The descent is straight down to about 30m (mind all the fishing line!), pay attention to the discarded motorbike at 15m (you'll need this later). We enter 35 minutes before high tide, and the ride can be quite wicked. Stopping to look at something means grabbing the rocks, do not be tempted to move out into the channel because the current will grab your ass, and send you to somewhere you don't want to go, you have been warned! The depth goes somwhere below 36m so watch it! There is alot of life along here so keep your eyes open. The tide will go slack for about 5 mins, then whisk you back. We normally watch our bottom time and with 8 mins left come up to 15m to pad out the time for the return trip. There are lots of areas where shallow caves have been scoured out with all sorts of life in them. you will find yourself going around all sorts of promontories (spelling?), but pay attention for the motorbike, because if you miss it you are STUFFED! When you get to the bike, get in close to the cliff ( I mean shoulder against it, really tuck in), and ascend to the steps to climb out. A superb dive! If you have any doubts about whether I am serious about the current, go and have a look, don't dive, just look at the eddies on the surface! Have Fun! Another way to dive this is to speak to Brian at Aquanauts and book the boat, do it as a boat dive then you have cover in case you miss the motorbike! __________________ I once enjoyed a sado-masachistic frenzy of total tintintabulation leading to a state of metampsychosis... or did I make that up? www.bananafrogcars.co.uk

May 18th, 2006, 09:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
GLOC (Online) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fleet, Hants Posts: 1,964	Sounds fun Martin. Maybe the next time we are down... __________________ Gareth Images of Life Photography DIR Team Foxturd Travels Underwater and Further Afar If you don't have the time to do something right, where are you going to find the time to fix it? - Stephen King

May 18th, 2006, 10:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
Martin Burnard(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Plymouth, UK Posts: 580	This was one of the dives that you did from the boat last time you were down. With the boat for cover its fine, especially if the tidal range isn't to extreme, it can be a little more foregiving. No boat means do not get it wrong! Always happy to dive with you dear Sir! __________________ I once enjoyed a sado-masachistic frenzy of total tintintabulation leading to a state of metampsychosis... or did I make that up? www.bananafrogcars.co.uk

May 18th, 2006, 10:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
GLOC (Online) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fleet, Hants Posts: 1,964	But when we did it the tide was pretty slack as we didnt feel a current, unlike the second dive when we were racing along. I take it you started where we were picked up from and then went to where we were dropped in and then came back again....if that makes sense. __________________ Gareth Images of Life Photography DIR Team Foxturd Travels Underwater and Further Afar If you don't have the time to do something right, where are you going to find the time to fix it? - Stephen King

May 18th, 2006, 10:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
Martin Burnard(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Plymouth, UK Posts: 580	Yes. I have discovered I can't say "Yes", it says message to short! __________________ I once enjoyed a sado-masachistic frenzy of total tintintabulation leading to a state of metampsychosis... or did I make that up? www.bananafrogcars.co.uk

May 19th, 2006, 02:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
Dan T(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Orange Park Posts: 128	Good reading- (motorbike, lol)