Chesil Cove

A trip organised by Russ off YD (also on Top Gun earlier in the month). Good to meet some more of the YDers and put more faces to names. The weather was brilliant and there was hardly any swell so getting in and out was very easy. Geoff and I had two good dives on Saturday; one out and back down to about 11 m, then a more meandering one south then north along the beach down to about 15 m. Vis was 2 m, lots of green and brown plankton. But was fine for macro photography and we only separated toward the end of the second dive. Varied terrain, pebbly slopes, low reef with sandy patches, more bouldery to the south. Lots of creatures: fan worms, nudibranch, spider crabs, pipefish, gurnard, cuttlefish and a little cuttlefish. The little cuttlefish was too quick for me; it popped up out the sand right under my nose and scooted away leaving a few blobs of ink.

Burgh Island / Ramillies

On Top Gun from Plymouth. Trip organised by Pete (PeeBee) off YD, and Nick L. Burgh Island 20m to interesting reefy ridges vis 2m. Nice dive with lots of colourful wildlife.

Ramillies wreckage lies off some big sea cave in rock. Scattered and worn pieces of wreck around and about (perhaps!) at 10m. Vis 0.5m. Cold/kelpy.

Separated from Geoff after a minute or so. Vis so poor I sent up the blob and surfaced. Then BC wouldn't stay fully inflated [checked and is ok]. Plenty of air (and wearing an inflatable suit!) so didn't need to ditch weight.

James Eagan Layne

Boathandled with Derek on 1st wave. Dived with Derek on 2nd Wave. Sunny and calm; then windier/cloudier a bit choppier in the afternoon. 19m max. 30min. 7°C (ice-cream head). Vis 5.5m. Derek took pictures and I had a good look round and a rummage: engine, tanks, masts, winches etc,.. lots to see plus ironmongery, and other hardware e.g the Gustin-Bacon 'gruvagrip' 4" pipe-clamp inserts. Back up to 8m and top of the wreck. Very nice dive.

HMS Scylla / James Eagan Layne

Two very good shake-down dives. Went with Geoff and JC people on Discovery Diver's Red Alert (Bovisand). Just one RIB on the Scylla when we arrived. Vis 3-4m. Water cold and glad of an extra jumper. Had 26m (40min) on the Scylla and then 19m (50min) on JEL. A bit of current on the Scylla, and got out of it along the port side. Had a look in the holes. Most interesting and nicest part of the Scylla this dive was the stern.

JEL seemed much more open in places than I remember; though plenty of hull plate and deck beams still standing, and the bow intact. Had a good look round swimming through the wreck. Crates of small rings (wheel rims?), poles/pipes, girders and ironmongery, large bucket things; and found a few of the spoked iron wheels - very scenic with lots of hydroids.

Flat calm and cloudless on way out. Wind got up later, clouded over, and was quite lumpy coming back especially around Penlee point.