Euro diving

Phil O · December 22nd, 2005, 12:15 AM

There's a number of divers signing up from Belgium so I wondered what is the diving like over there? What sort of dives are you doing? Where woudl you recommend?

Maybe we can set up a trip over there from the UK - a DIRX Euro gig sounds a lot better than Stoney 2006.

Any thoughts guys?

A-M · December 22nd, 2005, 12:48 AM

I guess it's not that different from what you have except for Oosterschelde.

- Some mines (ask Smekke, Roel and Davy for that)
- Quarries (open mines or whatever the english word may be)
- Fresh lakes, forget those, not worth the trip
- North Sea wrecks, always great!
- Oosterschelde, salt water, tidal, fish and stuff, great for photografy

Maybe we can start an exchange program? One guided week(end) here and one at your place

Guys, did I forget anything?

A-M

Rick · December 22nd, 2005, 10:47 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by A-M)

Maybe we can start an exchange program? One guided week(end) here and one at your place

Sounds like an excellent idea! :D

Quote: (Originally Posted by A-M)

Guys, did I forget anything?

Just the Leffe Brun

A-M · December 22nd, 2005, 10:55 AM

Looks like you've been here before

davy · December 22nd, 2005, 11:03 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by A-M)

I guess it's not that different from what you have except for Oosterschelde.

- Some mines (ask Smekke, Roel and Davy for that)
- Quarries (open mines or whatever the english word may be)
- Fresh lakes, forget those, not worth the trip
- North Sea wrecks, always great!
- Oosterschelde, salt water, tidal, fish and stuff, great for photografy

Maybe we can start an exchange program? One guided week(end) here and one at your place

Guys, did I forget anything?

A-M

Nah, that's about it...

You only forget Nemo
the 35m deep swimming pool

Oosterschelde is nice for scenery shore dives;
It's free and lots to see... however not very "turbo-sole friendly" because of the many oysters and sharp rock you may have to navigate on exit/entry.

Fresh water lakes...
Well nice training grounds or a nice 1 time visit.
There is the "silverlake" for example with generally good viz and tropical blue water; there is an under water museum with paintings and statues.
there is another lake/quarrie with a nice lime wall where you can see all kinds of different layers in the soil including sea shells etc.

North Sea/Englisch channel...
The Belgian side has generally less viz because of the many sandbanks etc.
The best diving over here however, but somewhat impossible to arrange for non-locals...
you have to book the good boats way in advance, and if the weather is bad there is a no-go... but you guys in the UK should know all about that

The open quarries.
nice to visit once.
There is generally good viz and lot's of junk to see

Danny · December 22nd, 2005, 12:27 PM

I think that everybody know's NEMO 33 :D

davy · December 22nd, 2005, 02:07 PM

Yes, but still thought it worth mentioning...

Only been there once, and didn't really like it, but that was because they didn't let us free dive the deep end

The reason why we went in the first place...

GoDiva · December 22nd, 2005, 04:08 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Phil O)

There's a number of divers signing up from Belgium so I wondered what is the diving like over there? What sort of dives are you doing? Where woudl you recommend?

Maybe we can set up a trip over there from the UK - a DIRX Euro gig sounds a lot better than Stoney 2006.

Any thoughts guys?

For a visitor the best place to dive would be the Oosterschelde. Visibility can vary, but quite a few interesting creatures. Officially this is part of Holland, but you will find at least as many Belgian numberplates (or even more) on the cars on the shore as Dutch plates. Oh, and some German cars too.

And Rick: if you dive with us you wil have to ask for a "donkere Leffe", as we are flemish speakers. Because of a lack of French-language DIR-sites, I am afraid there are no practically French speaking dir-divers, as far as we know. We are planning to inform the other half of the Belgian diving population about DIR, but nobody seems to have found time to make a satisfactory French site.

Chrisch · December 22nd, 2005, 06:56 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by GoDiva)

Because of a lack of French-language DIR-sites, I am afraid there are no practically French speaking dir-divers, as far as we know. We are planning to inform the other half of the Belgian diving population about DIR, but nobody seems to have found time to make a satisfactory French site.

1 Leffe avant la plongée - PADI
2 Leffe avant la plongée - CORRECTE
3 Leffe avant la plongée - DIR

:D Chris

GoDiva · December 22nd, 2005, 07:17 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Chrisch)

1 Leffe avant la plongée - PADI
2 Leffe avant la plongée - CORRECTE
3 Leffe avant la plongée - DIR

:D Chris

I have seen "Leffe pendant la plongée" (well, not Leffe but a philippine beer, and more like "leffe au fin de la plongée") (it apparently resulted in half a mouth full of beer and half a mouth full of salt water).
I have seen Leffe (or at least this Philippine beer) "entre les plongées".
I am pretty sure that the DIR way would be "Leffe sans la plongée" (or should be, anyway).

BTW, in Holland (Oosterschelde) of course Leffe would be exchanged for a joint :D (I have even once seen "marihuana entre les plongées

, and that in a country where possession of it would mean life imprisonment or even death penalty... I suppose they must really have been suicidal)

December 22nd, 2005, 12:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
Phil O(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 340	Euro diving There's a number of divers signing up from Belgium so I wondered what is the diving like over there? What sort of dives are you doing? Where woudl you recommend? Maybe we can set up a trip over there from the UK - a DIRX Euro gig sounds a lot better than Stoney 2006. Any thoughts guys? __________________ Phil

December 22nd, 2005, 12:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
A-M(Offline) Cave addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 370	Divng in Belgium I guess it's not that different from what you have except for Oosterschelde. - Some mines (ask Smekke, Roel and Davy for that) - Quarries (open mines or whatever the english word may be) - Fresh lakes, forget those, not worth the trip - North Sea wrecks, always great! - Oosterschelde, salt water, tidal, fish and stuff, great for photografy Maybe we can start an exchange program? One guided week(end) here and one at your place Guys, did I forget anything? A-M

December 22nd, 2005, 10:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
Rick(Offline) Jock Exley Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Falkirk/Stratford UK Posts: 730	Quote: (Originally Posted by A-M) Maybe we can start an exchange program? One guided week(end) here and one at your place Sounds like an excellent idea! :D Quote: (Originally Posted by A-M) Guys, did I forget anything? Just the Leffe Brun __________________ Forget Everything And Remember http://phreaticzone.thedeepstop.com/ http://www.dublinbaydiving.com/

December 22nd, 2005, 11:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
davy(Offline) DIveR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 275	Quote: (Originally Posted by A-M) I guess it's not that different from what you have except for Oosterschelde. - Some mines (ask Smekke, Roel and Davy for that) - Quarries (open mines or whatever the english word may be) - Fresh lakes, forget those, not worth the trip - North Sea wrecks, always great! - Oosterschelde, salt water, tidal, fish and stuff, great for photografy Maybe we can start an exchange program? One guided week(end) here and one at your place Guys, did I forget anything? A-M Nah, that's about it... You only forget Nemo the 35m deep swimming pool Oosterschelde is nice for scenery shore dives; It's free and lots to see... however not very "turbo-sole friendly" because of the many oysters and sharp rock you may have to navigate on exit/entry. Fresh water lakes... Well nice training grounds or a nice 1 time visit. There is the "silverlake" for example with generally good viz and tropical blue water; there is an under water museum with paintings and statues. there is another lake/quarrie with a nice lime wall where you can see all kinds of different layers in the soil including sea shells etc. North Sea/Englisch channel... The Belgian side has generally less viz because of the many sandbanks etc. The best diving over here however, but somewhat impossible to arrange for non-locals... you have to book the good boats way in advance, and if the weather is bad there is a no-go... but you guys in the UK should know all about that The open quarries. nice to visit once. There is generally good viz and lot's of junk to see Last edited by davy; December 22nd, 2005 at 12:35 PM.

December 22nd, 2005, 10:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
A-M(Offline) Cave addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 370	Looks like you've been here before

December 22nd, 2005, 12:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
Danny(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 77	I think that everybody know's NEMO 33 :D

December 22nd, 2005, 02:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
davy(Offline) DIveR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 275	Yes, but still thought it worth mentioning... Only been there once, and didn't really like it, but that was because they didn't let us free dive the deep end The reason why we went in the first place...

December 22nd, 2005, 04:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
GoDiva(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 560	Quote: (Originally Posted by Phil O) There's a number of divers signing up from Belgium so I wondered what is the diving like over there? What sort of dives are you doing? Where woudl you recommend? Maybe we can set up a trip over there from the UK - a DIRX Euro gig sounds a lot better than Stoney 2006. Any thoughts guys? For a visitor the best place to dive would be the Oosterschelde. Visibility can vary, but quite a few interesting creatures. Officially this is part of Holland, but you will find at least as many Belgian numberplates (or even more) on the cars on the shore as Dutch plates. Oh, and some German cars too. And Rick: if you dive with us you wil have to ask for a "donkere Leffe", as we are flemish speakers. Because of a lack of French-language DIR-sites, I am afraid there are no practically French speaking dir-divers, as far as we know. We are planning to inform the other half of the Belgian diving population about DIR, but nobody seems to have found time to make a satisfactory French site.

December 22nd, 2005, 06:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
Chrisch(Offline) Hogarthian Heretic Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 104	Quote: (Originally Posted by GoDiva) Because of a lack of French-language DIR-sites, I am afraid there are no practically French speaking dir-divers, as far as we know. We are planning to inform the other half of the Belgian diving population about DIR, but nobody seems to have found time to make a satisfactory French site. 1 Leffe avant la plongée - PADI 2 Leffe avant la plongée - CORRECTE 3 Leffe avant la plongée - DIR :D Chris

December 22nd, 2005, 07:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
GoDiva(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 560	Quote: (Originally Posted by Chrisch) 1 Leffe avant la plongée - PADI 2 Leffe avant la plongée - CORRECTE 3 Leffe avant la plongée - DIR :D Chris I have seen "Leffe pendant la plongée" (well, not Leffe but a philippine beer, and more like "leffe au fin de la plongée") (it apparently resulted in half a mouth full of beer and half a mouth full of salt water). I have seen Leffe (or at least this Philippine beer) "entre les plongées". I am pretty sure that the DIR way would be "Leffe sans la plongée" (or should be, anyway). BTW, in Holland (Oosterschelde) of course Leffe would be exchanged for a joint :D (I have even once seen "marihuana entre les plongées , and that in a country where possession of it would mean life imprisonment or even death penalty... I suppose they must really have been suicidal)