neilh(Offline)

(Also posted over on YD)

A while ago AndyC organised some trips out of the NE on Spellbinder which were to be a mixture of technical and recreational dives. Saturday was the first of these trips and planned to be an unknown in around 45M and the Oslofjord/Chandris in around 15M afterwards.

Hopefully some photos will appear later... including mine once I get my camera back from Allan having left it on the boat

We met up at Royal Quays on a sunny morning with the wind picking up a little. Nice to see catch up with some familiar faces and a couple of new ones. We had a healthy mix of DIR and non-DIR onboard and a mix of OC and CCR as well - and a nice amount of room as there were only 7 on the trip.

After a bit of a trip North of the Tyne through typical NE weather (sun, wind, rain, snow, etc) we arrived at the site. Vis was looking promising and conditions were pretty good so we all kitted up and dropped in. At the bottom the vis was pretty good indeed, although it was certainly dark enough to warrant a torch. The wreck itself has been dived quite often, but nobody has managed to put a name to it yet. It's fairly broken up, but there is still plenty of structure remaining and the holds are absolutely packed with bottles, shells, what look like ash trays - and phosphorous. Moz and I followed the propshaft aft having a good look around along the way. There looked to be quite a few places where you could get inside and have a good rummage around, but it was clearly incredibly silty. It would definitely be a blind exit and we decided that wasn't something we fancied!

At the stern there's a pretty decent sized prop still in situ with one blade standing vertical. Further round sticking out from a jumble of wreckage is what looks like a 4-5 inch gun. We carried on round towards the bow and came across some large (presumably) deck winches and a rather nice porthole with glass still attached to the side of the ship.

There seems to be loads to see on this wreck and is definitely one to come back to and have a really good nose about. Probably with a few goodie bags and lift bags next time So it was a shame to thumb the dive and head back for a cuppa and pie and mash.

The ascent was, erm, "interesting" We got to 21 and switched as planned and Moz sent up the SMB. The first few stops were fairly uneventful although the blob was clearly giving Moz a hard time and the line was off at quite an angle. Part way up and Moz gestured pretty clearly that even though we were ascending he was almost out of the 45M of line on the spool I got my backup spool out ready to clip on a bit extra if we needed it. Around 9M the water changed from the typical green to green with plenty of small bubbles and we could feel the swell so it was obviously going to be fun for the last stops. I decided that we'd do the last deco at 6M instead of finishing off with a planned slow ascent just in case it was a bit tricky.

We surfaced to a pretty lumpy sea and a fair bit of wind which made getting back on the boat a bit fun. I'm glad Allan has a lift on Spellbinder cos I wouldn't have fancied a ladder!!

Once everyone was back onboard we set off for a bit of shelter and a bit of a look over a few goodies that had been retrieved. David brought up quite a nice, intact brown bottle that was stamped so it will be interesting to see if that turns up any useful info.

Sadly the conditions weren't really favourable for a second dive, so while we got the kit off the boat back at the marina Allan cooked up a cracking pie and mash. We had a good chat about the wreck while stuffing our faces and I think everyone agreed it had been a cracking dive and was definitely one to do again.

So, huge thanks to Andy for organising, Allan for skippering and feeding and Moz for buddying. Thanks also to David, Rob, Jo and Tim for a great day out

tim(Offline)

Seconding Neil's thanks to Andy for organising - an interesting wreck to dive, indeed. I thought I had just about worked out what was where, then found I'd only seen half of it!

From the wildlife side, lots of bib/pollack (can never remember which is which..) hanging around the wreck, sometimes swimming JUST on the edge of the light beam and making me think they were something much more exciting! One rather unimpressed octopus sitting on top of the wreck and camouflaged into a (good) impression of a bit of rusty old metal. Andy found a flatfish which had stuck itself to some angled wreckage and looked slightly confused by the lack of any horizontal surfaces, and we spent a while looking hungrily at a large lobster (accompanied by a large shrimp) which was well hidden in wreckage.

Also, lots of jellyfish, which I was enjoying right up until one decided to have an intimate moment with me as I was doing the 21m gas switch....

Tim

Neil S(Offline)

Thanks Neil

Really looking forward to the August weekend now- Is Pie and Mash always included????

Deposit money will be in the post tonight Andy- sorry forgot

Jecowling(Offline)

Sounds nice - would have been there if only my drysuit wasn't having such a wonderful time in Narvik without me.

Bib are the ones with broad brown/white vertical colour bands with white chin barbs, pollack are the dull silver-green ones with big eyes and miserable mouths. If you're remotely arsed about it.

Cheers
Jen

tim(Offline)

Thanks Jen, think they were pollack then. Have fun in Narvik!

Tim

Jecowling(Offline)

I'm not going to Narvik...

Moz (Online)

But your suit is?

Neil S(Offline)

I believe that there was a "sub optimal" packing incident for the Sheffield Narvik trip resulting in Jens suit getting sent to Norway.

She discovered this the morning she was packing her car for the South Shields dive.

She took the news really well though.

neilh(Offline)

Nightmare! I hope you've been suitably compensated by whoever managed to do that to you

Diving Dave(Offline)

My suit once went to Brighton without me. Narvik tops that hands down. Although it was then left in brighton having been identified as an extraneous piece of kit. Hopefully they'll bring yours back.

They still insist my undersuit got up and got on the bus of its own accord. Bloody cheek!

__________________
Dave