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The place to dive |
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...and enjoy it! |
Brighton
Saturday 1st May 2010
Overview
A new boat for Aquanauts in 2010 operating out of Brighton. Channel Diver is one of the best equipped and most luxurious dive boats on the SouthCoast. The skipper Steve Johnson is also regarded as one of the best skippers around.
Diving from Brighton allows easy access to hundreds of shipwrecks dotted along the Sussex coastline. There are wrecks of all shapes and sizes catering for all grades of diver.
We’re staying fairly shallow on this trip as it’s still quite early in the season, so although it’s a bit of an early start, this is a great trip if you’re relatively new to UK diving, or if you just want to ease yourself back into things for 2010.
Spaces: 12
Level: Regular Upwards
Open for booking: 01/02/2010
Initial payment: £25.00
Full cost: £50.00 – based on full boat
Full payment due: 15/03/2010
Diving
Channel Diver is a 36ft catamaran which provides an extremely stable dive platform for those susceptible to mal de mer (otherwise known as sea-sickness!)
She is licensed to carry 12 divers with a top cruising speed of 25 knots. In addition the boat has all the latest electronic and safety equipment - including GPS’s, PC/Plotter, Radar, Ship recognition systems, depth sounders & VHF radios, two Oxygen therapy units, 1st aid kit, life raft, flares etc.
There’s even a sheltered seating area for 12 people with hot air to keep you warm on the coldest of surface intervals!!! Tea & coffee making facilities are available at no extra charge and a wall mounted monitor relays navigation information from the wheelhouse to the deck area.
Entry to the water is by a giant stride from the rear of the boat and exit is by way of a diver lift so couldn’t be easier. A centre bench system for your dive gear runs down the centre of the boat where you will store cylinders on top and dive bags underneath.
Loading & Unloading
On arrival at Brighton Marina (BN2 5UP for sat nav users) the boat pick up point is on West Quay, next to the West Quay pub. There’s a McDonalds opposite in case you didn’t have a chance to grab breakfast on your way out.
There is easy access onto the boat when loading and unloading via the doors on the stern. Once loaded you can move your car to the multi storey car park which has FREE parking !
Air & Nitrox
As this is a one day trip, air and nitrox fills can be obtained in advance from the shop. If you aren’t Nitrox qualified yet speak to Lynne in the shop for further info.
Equipment and equipment hire
You will need to bring 2 cylinders with you and your ascent will be made on a surface marker buoy so not only must each diver carry one, you will also need to be proficient in its use. Again, speak to Lynne if you need training. The water will be on the coldish side so you will need to ensure that you have adequate thermal protection, preferably a dry suit and most definitely hood and gloves.
Accommodation
If you are thinking of travelling down to Brighton the night before there are a number of B&Bs on the seafront. Be aware that this is a Bank Holiday weekend so booking well in advance may be advisable.
Costs
Cost for the days diving is £50. Parking is free. Don’t forget to bring your lunch.
Further info
I will be contacting Steve Johnson the night before the dive to check the weather status with him and discuss final plans. Please call me between 18:30 & 19:00 for confirmation on 07847 893236.
Dive Plan
Obviously weather dependant, but this is the current plan:
2 dives – a wreck dive followed by a drift.
Dive One – SS Pentrych
Locally known as the six miler due to its distance, the Pentrych is a lovely wreck. Carrying a cargo of coal, this 3,300 ton British Steamer was sunk on April 18th 1918 by the submarine UB40 (the same U Boat that sank the Salsette out of Weymouth not the band). Most of her middle Section has disappeared but her large boilers are still prominent amidships & the massive stern section standing 7 metres high makes an excellent starting point. Towards the stern there is a large gun to be seen in amongst all the other mangled parts. Just forward of the stern on the starboard side you'll find a large propeller – the prop shaft is visible and can be easily followed to navigate from stern to bow. In June 2005 one of the blades was covered in a carpet of beautiful Jewel Anemones, a rarely seen species in Sussex waters. This is a big wreck and takes a good 30 minutes to look around. Maximum depths are 20 metres at low tide slack As with most wrecks in this area, sea life is usually prolific with Bib, Wrasse and Pollack commonly seen as well as various species of Crab, Lobster and Anemones.
Dive Two – The Ledges Drift
This site stretches in a northeast to southwest direction from Brighton's Palace Pier outwards and continues on out about 3 miles to form College Rocks. The best patches to dive are Looe Gate near to Brighton Pier and a bit further out at South West Rocks. The rocks themselves rise up to form a ledge about 2 metres high in places and provide large crevices for fish to hide and swim. This makes an ideal drift dive as you can shelter from the current quite well if you stay next to the ledge. Fish seen include flatfish, bib, wrasse, triggerfish in the summer, bass and crabs. Fan worms are very prevalent along the entire wall and cuttlefish spawn here in early summer. Both the South West Rocks & Looe Gate sites are designated Marine Sites of Nature Conservation Importance, due to their geological & marine life interest.
Load Time: 06:15
Ropes Off: 06:45 Sharp | |