Our chairman, along with Anthony Fitzpatrick kindly suggested and booked the campsite for the diving weekend with electric hook ups to make for more of a glamping than camping experience with some having very impressive blown up, beds. The main purpose of the trip was to give new trainees their first taste of sea diving off a boat and a shake down post covid for more experienced divers who wanted to refresh their skills.
The campsite at Pencraig was a great camp site with a café, shop, toilet, and shower block as well as the electric and water hook up for each spot. It was always going to be a busy weekend with a big boxing match and a derby also to be included in the itinerary of the diving weekend.
The weather forecast was good but some concerns about wind meant the Assistant Diving Officer had to check the sea each morning to confirm whether diving could go ahead. We’ were gassed up, ready and excited to explore a couple of wrecks called the SS Missouri and the Hermine.
The dives were relatively shallow at 12 to 13 metres and there was no guarantee as to what the visibility would be like.
Most Campers arrived on the Friday and once tents, campervans and caravans were all safely in place the group split into two, those who fancied a curry at the local curry house and those that wanted a pub lunch. A drink or two was had to wash down the food but then it was back to the campsite to get a good night’s sleep for the first of two planned dives on Saturday.
Everyone was up early and loaded the ribs with their cylinders, rebreathers and twinsets and although it was very windy at the campsite the sea was reported to be calm in the bay and the dive was given the go ahead. Both ribs were launched from the slipway, and we headed out.
The new trainees at that stage were still studying their Ocean Diver qualification and it was the first time they had been on a rib and out to sea. Nerves and excitement were high in equal measure and each trainee was paired up with a very experienced Diver as their buddy and assistance was given kitting up on the boat.
Our skilled boat captains got us safely over the wreck and the trainees went in with their buddies first so they didn’t have to sit getting nervous for too long. Helpfully the wreck had 3 visible markers which meant the divers could navigate down one of the three shot lines to ensure they landed directly onto the wreck. Once all trainees were safely heading down to the wreck it was then the turn of the more experienced divers to refresh their skills and hopefully enjoy getting back into the water.
The visibility at 12 to 13 meters wasn’t the best but you could still make out wildlife, parts of the wreck and have an enjoyable dive. Once all divers were safely back on the boat, we headed back to shore for a lunch break and to chat about the morning’s dive before heading back out again for the afternoon dive which was to dive the wreck Hermine.
The trip out was a lot longer on the rib and brought the boats close to rocky areas, so we had to rely on the boat captains experience to keep everyone safely away from the rocks and have a good dive.
There was no shot line, on this wreck and it proved that a diver or two may not have been correctly weighted and the odd bit of lead had to be found to assist them. The visibility was not as good as it had been that morning, but all divers managed to get into the water for varying lengths of time.
Some enjoyed the dive; some felt the visibility wasn’t the best, but everyone still had fun. That was day one of diving done and it was back to the campsite for a little rest before a trip to the local pub to watch the big Tyson Fury fight.
Sunday saw us getting an extra hour to get ready before heading to the shore to launch the boats. As it was Derby Day it was decided we would only do one dive today and we all decided we wanted to dive the SS Missouri again from different shot lines to see other parts of the wreck.
The visibility was like the day before and those that dived all reported having a great time. A buddy pair reported seeing an octopus and got a great picture of a Nudibranch Facelina Auriculata as seen in the picture below.
After safely returning to shore and back to the campsite some had to leave for work the next day and those that stayed watched the derby in the local pub. With the majority of divers being reds the blue supporters left quickly after the first goal was scored. After a succesful result for the reds we headed back to the campsite for a few drinks and a reflection around the camp fire of the weekend and how much we had enjoyed it, we had an ealy night ready to pack and head home the next day.
A couple of members, Eddie Dorrian and Graeme Cooper also came along for the weekend to do a few shore dives, with Peter Beaver joining them on the Sunday and Graeme’s report of the diving is detailed below:
Diving on the Saturday, we chose Porth Dafarch. This was largely because we managed to get parking down on the slipway, which made for good shore access, with no need to carry weights and cylinders up and down the hill. We were also able to kit uo on the steps, directly by the beach.
The sea was a bit choppy because of a strong wind, and the waves stirring up the sand made the visability bad. We went out along the rocks on the east end of the bay then simply went across the bay (east to west), heading back in along the rocks. Max depth 5 metres, but a dive’s a dive.
We got a second dive in, which was better. The wind had dropped and the visability had improved. We pretty much repeated the first route, but went further out and deeper, exploring the rocky shoreline at the west end of the bay.
On the Sunday, Peter joined us, but after breakfast Eddie had to head home. Peter and I stayed with Port Dafarch for diving. We headed out long the bay’s east side, before heading further out along the west side rocks. Still not deep, (6 or 7 Metres), but far enough out to be among some nice tall kelp, with rocky gullies around the headland.
So a few good relaxed shore dives, plus the chance to catch up with other club members. Can’t claim that the dives were spectacular, but for me this type off accessible shore dive was useful for getting back into the sea after the winter and refreshing my diving skills.
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Its safe to say that going away on club dives gives everyone a chance to get to know each other better, new and old members. Some members even just came for the weekend away and to enjoy the sights and didn’t dive. The feedback from the trainees who attended was that they had an amazing weekend not only diving, but getting out on the boat and getting to spend time laughing and joking with other more experienced divers and members and they picked up hints and tips that will be invaluable to their diving skills going forward. If you are new to diving and haven’t yet experienced a dive weekend away I would strongly encourage you to go for it, you wont regret it.
Trip members : David Edwards, Robbie Edwards, Martin Campbell, John Dunne, Sean Cafferkey, Ian Bennett, Dave Barlow, Kelly Baird, Faye-Louise Northam, Steve Baxter, Andy Parsons, Sue Kids, Pete Cheesewright, Alex Naylor, Mark Williams, Graeme Cooper, Eddie Dorrian, Peter Beaver, Phil Coggins, Angela Coggins.
