Plymouth 20-21 October 2012
Plymouth needs no introduction to seasoned UK wreck divers and newcomers to this south west coast hotspot in Devon will be spoilt for choice. This is a two day trip on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 October 2012 with two dives each day from Steve Wright's boat, SEEKER http://www.wrightys-charters.co.uk/. I've planned the first dive on the Maine, an outstanding wreck at 12.30 am, so we have a late ropes at 11.30 sharp. If you prefer, you could drive to Plymouth early Saturday morning and only pay for one nights accommodation.
This is a recreational wreck trip in the 15M to 35M depth range for 12 divers. As a special treat, I have secured permission to dive the protected 17th century Coronation warship wreck trail, just outside Plymouth breakwater for our second dive on Saturday http://www.coronationwreck.co.uk/. If conditions are favourable on Sunday, Hand Deeps is a possibility - an awesome wall dive nine miles offshore with a staggering diversity of marine life, followed by the James Eagan Layne or HMS Scylla, both wrecks are in the 11M to 24M depth range. Our skipper reckons we could do all three dives on Sunday at no extra cost, subject to adequate gas planning. Click on the links below to find out more about these great dives.
http://www.divernet.com/Wrecks/wreck_tours/159477/wreck_tour_1_the_maine.html http://www.divernet.com/home_diving_news/935553/coronation_trail_prompts_large_response.html http://www.divernet.com/Wrecks/wreck_tours/159416/wreck_tour_62_the_james_eagan_layne.html http://www.divernet.com/Wrecks/wreck_tours/159414/wreck_tour_64_hms_scylla.html
Accommodation. We're staying at the popular Mountbatten Watersports Centre http://www.mount-batten-centre.com/ the south west's premier waterside venue. If you don’t know it, you’ll find the location of the Mountbatten Centre very convenient, it’s immediately opposite the jetty where we board SEEKER and InDeep, the gas fill station is on-site for air, Nitrox and Trimix fills http://www.indeep.co.uk/. I've reserved standard twin bunk and double bedrooms with shared bathroom and shower facilities and there's a communal drying room for your exposure suit. If you want to upgrade to an en-suite twin or en-suite double bedroom, please let me know.
Saturday evening. We are eating at the Clovelly Bay Inn, http://www.clovellybayinn.co.uk/ CAMRA Pub of the Year 2011, a 15 minute walk from the Mount Batten Centre and saves us battling our way in and out of down town Plymouth.
This trip costs £136.50 for club members or £151.50 for non club members, It includes two days diving with two dives per day (possibly three on Sunday), one night accommodation on Saturday, 20 October 2012 and a cooked breakfast. If you want to drive down Friday evening and stay at the MountBatten Centre on Friday, 19 October as well, your trip will cost £161.50 for club members or £176.50 for non clu members. The licence fee to dive the Coronation Wreck Trail is £1.50 per diver.
It excludes the cost of getting there (it's 216 miles from SW19, South West London - we'll sort out car sharing arrangements nearer the time), gas fills, other meals, drinks and general spending money.
Gas prices: InDeep's 2012 gas price list is not available until 13 January, I'll update this section then.
Diver certification, dive kit and previous experience. All diving will be planned within recreational limits down to 40 metres and subject to prevailing weather and sea conditions each day. Minimum diver qualification is PADI Advanced Open Water and Deep Diver Speciality or equivalents, the ability to deploy a DSMB is essential, some boat diving experience would be useful. Having further PADI certifications in Enriched Air Diving and Wreck Diving or equivalents will help you to get the most out of this trip. Full scuba diving kit, including an appropriate exposure suit, DSMB, reel and a good torch - having a back up mask, DSMB and torch is a good idea. If you plan to use a single cylinder, carrying a redundant air supply such as a Pony cylinder is highly recommended on the deep dives. Divers must be over 21 years of age and logged 50 dives. If this is your first trip with the organiser, you will be asked to provide evidence of your certification and experience, remember to bring your logbook and certification cards with you.
To book a place on this trip, a £50 deposit is required, the balance payable 6 weeks (42 days) before the trip, that's Friday, 7 September 2012.
Cancellation policy. Deposit refunds for cancellations made in advance of the balance due date can only be given once the trip is full and another diver has taken your place. For cancellations made after the balance has been paid, no refund can be given until your place is sold to another diver. If we are successfull, you will receive a full refund, minus any reduction agreed between you and the buyer of your place. In the event of adverse weather conditions or "force majeur" causing cancellation of the arrangements, your payment for that part of the booking will be refunded after the trip. This only applies to day boat charter fees, it excludes accommodation, admission fees and liveaboards, unless specifically stated in the trip details.
Health and saftey on the trip. It is important you listen carefully to all safety briefings while you are on this trip and follow the instructions you are given at all times, both in and out of the water. Make sure you dive within the limits of your dive certification, experience and comfort level. If you experience a dive related problem, make others aware of it immediately. Familiarise yourself with each dive site where possible and agree a dive plan with your buddy. In an emergency, you are reminded you have responsibility for the first actions to effect a successful rescue, without endangering yourself.
Please note. Care has been taken to ensure the information about this trip is both a fair and accurate representation of what you will receive and the magnitude of cost you will incur. Neither Dive Wimbledon or the trip organiser accept any responsibility for errors, omissions or changes which may result in an increase in cost and/or changes to the itinerary. By booking a place/s on this trip, you accept that Dive Wimbledon and the trip organiser have no duty of care to you or others on the trip and understand we are merely facilitating the hire of the boat and accommodation.
For more information, diver training courses and to hire dive gear at competitive rates:
Contact Roger and the team at Dive Wimbledon on 020 8540 6874