BSAC London No. 1 Branch

THE SEA BLOB
08 June 2010

Well, we have just come back from a very successful trip to West Wales and I thought I would share with you my impressions on the weekend. There were only 6 of us on that trip and it is really a pity as the place around the Skomer island is wonderful. The scenery is as good above as below the water.

So, to be precise there were Jim Moroney, President of London No1; Keith, Chairman; Jim Bruce, DO; Alex Marshall, Training Officer; myself (Alex Soubeyrand), Equipment Officer; –we could not have that trip more official- But thanks god! Kate also came along. Kate is a new member of our branch and was very keen to join us after a diving break from lovely Scotland. It was her first trip with our bunch and she lighted up the weekend (with a yellow dry suit brighter than Alex M.’s.) of what would have otherwise been an old men (sorry lads!) getaway.

Jim Bruce and I shared a car and the trip West on Friday was the usual how-can-it-be-so-bad completely jammed traffic. It took us from Camden Town about 1:30 to reach the motorway. After that the road was alright and we made it to Foxdale campsite at 01:20 AM, or just in time for a duets in snore minor interpreted by Alto Keith and Baritone Jim. At around three o’clock in the morning I got waken up by the unmistakable noise of heavy rain and wind batting against my poor cheap tent and while I wedged myself as deep as possible in my sleeping bag, it reminded me of three years ago when I found myself in exactly the same spot and had to spend the entire weekend in the tent because of bad weather. But thankfully it stopped at 11:00 and after some carbonic Kelly kettle boiled tea we headed towards Saint-Dales. The bay was a bit choppy and we gave up the idea of diving from the boat for the day. Instead we returned to Marlows and continued to Martin’s Heaven for a shore dive. Sunday and Monday’s weather’s was very good and Percy was in water in no time and we swapped woolly hats and coats for caps and sun cream. I will talke about the dives in a minute but for now, I would like to express how pretty is the coast around there and how “zimzounging” on Percy in-between the tiny islands is a real treat. Being a natural reserved we had no problem in spotting seals and puffins, which entertained us plenty between waves.

The scenery underwater was quite similar from dive to dive with rocks and sand bits and the life was also plentiful (Keith actually did had a nightmare one night because of all those big crabs waving at us as we glide from one to an other and not being able to bag any- it is a no take zone you see…): scallops, all sort of crabs, spider crabs so big we could have fed the French for days, sea ursine, octopus the list is endless really. Strangely enough, we did not see that many fish. Now for the big surprise: on the first dive in Martin’s heaven, I noticed something very shiny on an outcrop below. As I got closer I realised it was silver fishing hooks I had spotted and just as I was about to swim away, I saw it: The most tiniest thing ever. I had heard about it and seen a few in books and on line but I never had the chance to see one for real and suddenly there were two right in front of my eyes: Nudibranches! So beautiful, so colorfull (Alex Marshall’s wardrobes seems very pale compare to it) so amazing. And then they were every where. As I said I had never seen one before and on that weekends, well I actually stopped counting after a while. White ones with yellow hair, purple ones, white and orange, blue turquoise, ... It was just fantastic. more pictures to come

Posted byAl at 4:22 PM 0 comments

Just a few words from our last expedition to Teignmouth.
07 May 2010

Morgan and Hannah, Jim Bruce, Wendy, Richard, Keith and I made it to our lovely cottage on a late cold Friday evening. To our surprise, we found the little sea town very quiet for a bank holyday weekend. Apart from the busy dive centre which is conveniently located just a few yards from the slipways and mooring pontoon, we were the only group of divers to be seen on those three days.

On Monday the most courageous managed to dive three sites: London Bridge, The wreck of the Bretagne and Parson and Clerk. On Tuesday we dived the Watcombes Caves and due to adverse weather, no one really fancied 8miles being tossed around to reach the Lord Stewart; instead we stopped not too far offshore to the dive site of the Galicia. It was a good alternative (for those who had a chance to dive it!) and being 18msw deep, Richard finally managed to tick all the boxes on his training log book. Well done Richard! Finally on the Monday, the two previous diving days in a 9 degrees sea were felt as we decided to dive only once before heading back home. We went back to the wreck of the Bretagne, and it was a very good way to finish the weekend.

To me the big surprise was the caves in Watcombe; I was pretty anxious that we will not find them but good advices from local divers through Yorkshire Divers and we were spot on. The vis. on site was very good between 4 to 6 meters and there was a lot to see. Richard and I were buddy on this one. The first cave we found narrowed too much too quickly and we turned it a few meters in. we then found a very inviting large swim through where we met Jim, Hannah and Morgan who were coming the other way. That was quite funny! Coming out of it and gliding gently North we came across another cavern entrance which turned out to be one huge room. Unfortunately, too soon it was time to retrace our way back and it was with much regret that we surfaced. London Bridge was also a good one and the Bretagne a nice wreck in still a good nick with plenty of life.

We didn’t make it to town at all after diving during this trip. I will blame this on two things: the first one is myself who gave early rope off times which means early wake up times and we were so tired by the end of the evening that most of us were in bed by ten! The second one will be Hannah who cooked delicious food in “Gargantuesque” quantity.

Thank very much for all who braved atrocious traffic condition and made it happen.

Pictures from "Top100britishshoredives"

Posted byAl at 9:33 AM 0 comments

BECOME CHOCO MAN with BSAC NB 1 in PLYMOUTH
25 February 2010

Dear BSAC Number One Diving Club members,

First trip of the year is now so close I could almost already hear the bells:
"DING DONG DING DONG it is time to go diving".
if you wish to come with us please contact Chris.

PS if your still debating whereas you want to come or not; have a quick look at last year Easter trip report to Plymouth on this very blog. Let's go diving!

Posted byAl at 11:12 AM 2 comments

Labels: Dear all

DIVING IN LANZAROTE
19 November 2009

By Jim Moroney,

Last October I was in Lanzarote for ten days. I spent the first few days in Puerto del Carmen old Town.

Eight dives with Safari Diving based

on a sandy beach, from where all the other operators on the Island come to dive. The beach is sheltered & currents are no problem. It takes a little getting used to, as does the water temp of about 24C, this is the Atlantic after all!

The Dive centre supplies all kit if required, it is owned by an English couple with guides of several nationalities all speak good English.

Most of the dives are out of the small sheltered bay with a sandy bottom. It is more a family beach rather than a long strand type.

As you get out about 25mtrs

the bottom drops away, the local Grouper

pops up & greets you, “just more divers” & goes about his daily business, his name is Felix. All the fish & there are many, are relaxed with the divers, they swim past unimpressed, but not afraid so they can be very close indeed. Striped bream & Green lizard fish are plentiful. Also Sting Rays one about 2m wide, two Angle sharks, Octopus & Trumpet fish there was always something to see.

There are Reefs, overhanging ledges & a swim through arch. All a short swim from the bay. They also have a boat which goes out from the harbour wall just next to the Centre. You kit up & walk around the corner to the boat, booties or flip flops are required as the pavement is tarmac & gets very hot in the heat of the day.

The boat is open, when on board you sit on a bench; the trip to the site can be 5 or 10 mins. It just goes along the coast a short way & drops divers in on some wrecks or near the harbour wall. The Viz was great while I was there.

It does not travel out far from the coast as it gets deep very quickly & beyond hobby diving limits. The staff were attentive & professional with pre dive briefings. They of course do training for both BSAC & PADI..

Check out their web site www.safaridiving.com I have attached some photos you may find interesting. There is at least one weeks diving whatever your diving qualification. They use 5 mm suits & supply 12 or 15l tanks. Nitrox is available but as most dives

Are out from the beach & return the profile is gentle. One of my dives was 62mins to 21mtrs.

The final dive of the trip had a 2 wrecks, Angle shark in the sand & swimming + a ray flying past it was brill.

Would I go back you bet I would.

The Lanzarote used to be regarded as a cheap destination, not so now

thanks to the euro rate, hopefully it will improve.

Posted byAl at 9:40 AM 0 comments

Labels: Y

Isle of Skye
28 September 2009

A few pictures from a very successfull trip all the way up to Skye...

Can you spot a monkey?

Isn 't this a bunch of happy divers or what?

Our President monster hunting...