Despite the cold weather the club has started to look towards the diving season and a trip to Oban over the  Easter 2010 bank holiday weekend.

The caravans at Oban have been booked for the nights of Thursday 01 April to Monday 05 April (inclusive).

If anyone wishes to add their name to the list for the trip please just let me know.

Cheers Sue

November 2009 saw Belper Sub Aqua Clubs trip to Magic Island Dive Resort, Cebu in the Philippines. A chance email from Ultimate Diving stirred us to book this trip as something a little different from the Red Sea which was the original plan. Ultimate Diving were great in helping us organise the trip around the changing plans of a group of nine people (divers and non divers). They also had the challenge of getting the travel documents to us during the postal dispute – solved by meeting up at the Birmingham Dive Show.

Eventually we settled on the plan of flying Cathay Pacific to Cebu via Hong Kong. The departure day came and we all waved goodbye to our bags at Heathrow hoping to see them at the end of our journey (and we did). We arrived at Cebu International Airport early evening to be met by Magic Island staff and a mini bus, 3 hours later after a tortuous journey we arrived at the resort.

To call it a resort would be an injustice, we were met in person by the owners Ari and Desiree a Dutch couple who have transformed what was once a run down complex into something that was comfortable and very laid back. First thing we were provided with was something to eat and a cold beer – we knew we had arrived then!

Ari and Desiree were around every day and always took the time to socialise, chat and provide information. There were only around 22 guests at the resort (being looked after by 22 staff) which made it feel very friendly and comfortable.

We were shown to our rooms, some around the pool side and some a little further away, the rooms were fine, spacious and clean, although the beds could have been a bit softer (personal opinion).

We were also introduced to the dive staff and planned the first dives for the following day. We were very pleased to be allocated our own boat and crew (from the two available) for the length of our stay.

The following morning we were raring to go, we checked in to the office with our qualifications and were shown where to store our kit, the whole operation was extremely well run and each of our allocated storage locations were designed with the requirements of divers in mind.

We kitted up and then boarded for a couple of dives at Pescador Island a journey of around 20mins. This was a great introduction to diving in the area which is concentrated on macro life. The highlight of the first dives however was an absolutely enormous sardine ball containing millions (didn’t count them exactly) of fish which parted as we swam through them and swirled around our bubbles. The walls around the island were covered in a mass of coral which seemed in excellent condition and there were many reef fish, hidden away a couple of frog fish were pointed out by our guides.

We returned from our first day to relax by the pool, later chilling out at the cocktail bar and enjoying a great meal alongside a group of Dutch divers who we got to know really well over the course of our holiday.

Day followed day, sometimes we dived twice and sometimes we dived more including a night dive. None of the sites were very far away and although all the sites were in effect along the same reef system, there were differences in topography and the type of marine life we encountered.

The main highlights were turtles on most dives, bat fish on the house reef, sea eels, banded sea snakes, ghost pipe fish, mandarin fish and many species of nudibranch. My personal favourites were the early evening dive to see the mandarin fish mating and our guides showing us the pigmy seahorses at Dolphin House Reef. These tiny tiny creatures are amazing; fortunately the guides had magnifying glasses which we used to get a better view before attempting to capture them on our cameras. We really wouldn’t have known where to look without the guide’s expert knowledge.

Eventually our diving came to an end and we decided to have a day canyoning. This entailed being dropped off in the jungle with two local guides and after a trek leaping into a fast flowing river. We then had to follow the river downstream through canyons and jungle swimming walking and leaping off waterfalls.

Unfortunately this is where we had our only mishap with Tony falling badly and later finding out he had broken a rib, he was a brave lad though and managed to carry on to the end (I don’t know how we would have got him out anyway). When we got to the end of the trek the staff had provided a BBQ and we also took the opportunity of taking a water massage which basically entailed lying on a bamboo raft under a 20 metre waterfall which then pounded you into submission!

The last 24 hours unfortunately was very wet as we caught the tail end of a tropical storm, the journey back to Cebu airport was quite hazardous with floods and road closures. We made it on time in the end, subsequently once home we found out there was a contingency plan; Ari never did tell me what it was though.

The journey back to England was a long one caused by an eight hour stop at Hong Kong, in true tradition and spirit of adventure some of us left the airport and caught the train downtown to find the only bar at Victoria Harbour with a happy hour. We arrived back at Heathrow at 05:00 in the morning to make our various ways home.

To summarise the diving, the sea temperature was warm (28 deg C), the visibility varied but reasonably good. As regular UK wreck divers it was surprisingly different and we all enjoyed it, we must have really as no dive was less then one hour and the longest dive was just under two hours. However it would be a while before we go back unless of course they take a large ship and scuttle it as an artificial reef just off shore.

Magic Island Resort is more like going to stop with friends, it is extremely well run, the only thing I would suggest is to go full board (we went B & B) as there isn’t really anywhere close to eat as an alternative. We ended up having all our evening meals there which were varied and substantial.

The group were Andy, Sue, John, Anne, Alan, Clive, Tony, Nigel and Claire.

By Andy McKay – Trip Organiser

Photo's by Clive, Andy & Sue

A group of Belper divers headed for Plymouth on the last Friday in September as all forecasts indicated a fine weekend with little wind!

Windy conditions much of the summer had thwarted our attempts to dive in calm waters here for a while. And on the last occasion was such that even Martin Sharman lost his breakfast – it was the sea conditions wasn’t it!

Anyway, arriving about 10.30pm we parked the club rib at Queen Anne's Battery and met a few of our group for a welcome pint or two at the Thistle Park, a pub within easy walking distance with a good selection of locally brewed beer on offer. Late arrivers are sure of a drink as the doors have been known to be open till the early  hours. We enjoyed our drinks and discussed the following days possible dive sites.

Saturday morning looked promising as we launched the rib and headed to Hand Deeps where a fabulous colourful reef dive was enjoyed by all divers with sights of John Dory’s amongst many other fish.

                John Dory

I unfortunately am unable to dive at present but know and love this site and the conditions were almost perfect although the vis was reported to be a little murky. It was then decided to spend a little time looking for the wreck of the Totnes Castle a paddle steamer and a new site for Belper, but we had no luck, so headed for an old favourite The Persier.  This again proved to be a fantastic dive with abundant fish life including apparently the largest conger eel seen.

     Tompot Blenny on the reef (yes it is the UK)

Incredibly the day seemed to have slipped by and it was time to head back to Plymouth to refuel the rib for the following day. We of course refuelled with the local brew, unfortunately the live music was disappointing, not the quality we have seen from a variety of bands who frequent the Thistle Park, but the diving had more than made up for that.

 A cloudless bright and still day greeted us on Sunday morning so we headed out to the Eddystone Lighthouse 12 miles offshore, it was one of those rare days where the lighthouse could be seen in the distance after leaving the breakwater, amazing, I think we were all pinching ourselves.

       A fine day at the Eddystone

As the conditions were so favourable two dives were taken where there again was an abundance of fish life and a sighting of an even larger conger eel than the previous day. A very happy group of tanned faces returned to Plymouth which gradually appeared through the heat haze. The last weekend in September had in fact been one of the best for weather for Belper divers this year. There was one downside, when o when are the road works on the M5 on the bridge at Bristol ever going to be completed? Thankfully this delay has faded into the background as we had had such a brilliant weekend, thanks for everyone’s efforts to bring it all together.

By Anne  - A Belper Diver

Farne Islands July 25^th / 26^th

We had intended going to Plymouth for the weekend but the weather for the South West wasn’t inspiring with strong winds forecast, so for the second time this month we made the trip up the A1 to Seahouses to dive the Farne Islands.

Despite the break-up of most schools and the start of the traditional holiday week we all had a pretty easy journey on the Friday night to our various accommodations. Saturday morning 08:30 sharp found us at Seahouses slip waiting to put the boat in, We took Belper Eagle with the newly installed chart plotter and navigation software, one boat being sufficient for the number of divers.

The weather was fine and just got better all day with most of us managing three dives despite it being one of the biggest Spring tides. First we dived the Pinnacles and the wreck of   St Andres and then managed to dive the Crumpstone at slack water with some of the group finding the wreck of the Britannia. All of us had continuous encounters with the local grey seal population on this dive with fins being tugged and surface marker buoys being yanked.  The final dive of the day was in the shelter of Beadnall point away from the strengthening current on the wreck of the Yewglen, this wreck is really just a collection of plates but always has plenty of marine life surrounding it.

A Sea Lemon on the Yewglen

Sunday morning arrived and despite dire warnings from the weather forecasters about strong winds which didn’t really arrive, we motored out to the islands in a fine rain we all love so much as UK divers. We dived in the tidal lee of Brownsman Island, the vis was excellent, I could see the seabed spread out below at 15m whilst decompressing at 6m after an hours dive. Unfortunately the current got better of us and we moved to another site in order to find slack water. It was at this stage that we noticed the leaking hydraulic fluid from the steering system and we thought it prudent to return to Seahouses rather then risk steering failure whilst having divers in the water.

It was a struggle getting the boat out of the water as the tide had gone out father then normal but we managed with the help of all hands. We loaded up and set off home earlier then planned but were all very happy with the quality of the diving we had just done and the amount of underwater life we had encountered.

By Andy McKay – Belper Diver

It was a great trip as always even with the water temperature on the chilly side . Friday was a bit overcast but the sea state was fine and we had a trip out to the Farnes at Bush Rock , somewhere I had not visited before . The visibility was a bit poor but all around you you could see the life without the need of a torch . With only one boat and eight divers we were coming back in to change tanks for the afternoon dive . We were finding notes left by the parking master-at-arms trying to make us pay more for the privilege of staying on the harbour . A fault rectified by explaining the money put in was two pound coins and a two pound coin , it had not recognised the two pound coin as is but as a one pound coin ,even with no three pound parking fees. The next day came out bright and sunny so the Somali was sought and dived with relish . The vis. was just like before but did not curtail our enjoyment . Another trip out to the Farnes finished off the day nicely . Another note from the master-at-arms for Henry’s van again this time his dad had forgotten to put the parking ticket on the van but had it in his pocket .  The evenings were a joy spent on Heather’s lawn in the sunshine drinking a few beers and the like finishing up in the Pack Horse for a meal . The last day bloomed just as good as the day before and we went off to the Farnes to the Knivestone on some wreckage there . It was decided to finish after this dive and toddle off home  but not before another note was found from you know who saying we had not paid enough . I know it was paid because I paid it , the coins were getting stuck in the machine and I had to use a fifth pound to push the fourth one in .We didn’t bother going to tell them as we had had enough and just drove home . Great weekend !!!

Tony Slator - Club Treasurer

         12 divers set off from Belper at the start of the May Day Bank Holiday weekend with the promise of fair weather from the long range forecast, if only they knew!

 

         We arrived at the Loyal Watcher, Plymouth, to be greeted by skipper Darren, wife Linda, helper Annie and Sinbad the Dachshund. The Loyal Watcher is a very capable dive vessel, one of the best UK based liveaboards this group has ever dived from. She is licensed take a maximum of 12 divers up to 60 miles offshore and is equipped with Oxygen and Tri-mix for advanced diving. The boat is spacious and well equipped with every creature comfort, including BBQ deck, TV, DVD and 240V mains power everywhere. Linda does very well in the galley, catering for all tastes and plenty of it. Tea, coffee and snacks available all day plus Linda even has her own little bar!

 

         Not that we needed Linda’s bar on the first night before sailing. Large quantities of Cornish Doom Bar and Scrumpy Cider were consumed, then all washed down with a chaser or two of Southern Comfort!

 

         Sunday morning, the sun still shining, we steamed to Penzance Bay and a dive to 38m on the SS Hellopes, before turning SW in building seas and heading for The Isles of Scilly. It wasn’t long before the last nights’ cocktail delights mixed with heavy seas resulting in some “un-comfortable Southern Doom ............ bah!” 3 hours later, we’ve anchored in St. Mary’s Bay, fired up the BBQ and braving a rather chilly sunset, we began the daily task of re-charging the alcohol levels! We didn’t know it then, but that was the last we were to see of the sun over The Isles of Scilly as the clouds steadily built.

 

         The next 2 days we dived 4 of The Scilly’s wrecks, the first being a 40m dive on the Italia off St. Agnes, then 2 dives in one on the Hathor and Plympton and ending with the Cita ranging in depth from 20 - 40m. I think, for most of us, the wrecks off the Scillies were a little disappointing, not helped by the deteriorating weather conditions, the relatively poor visibility and the blooming Plankton! At times it was like diving into a pint of Nigel’s cloudy cider! Nevertheless, there’s always enthusiasm from Belper’s divers. With reports like more gold bars being found off the Manacles, you just never know!  For our next dive, Darren suggested the seal colony off Mini Wathan island. I’m not sure whether all that Kelp bashing in conditions akin to diving in a washing machine was really worth the 2 seal sitings me and my buddy had, ah well, you just never know!  4 divers sat out our last “Scilly” dive which was to be on the Cita again, before skipper Darren, after a group consultation, decided to steam for Falmouth. With a following sea and signs of the sun again, we made it to the Cornish coast and in time to dive Raglan’s Reef at the end of the day. The visibility here was a big improvement and this reef proved to be the highlight of our scenic dives. An abundance of life of all kinds, sadly no gold bars, but you just never know!

 

         That night, we put into Falmouth for a welcomed walk on Terra Firma and of course, a couple of beers!

 

         Thursday morning’s seas looked a lot more promising as we dropped our shot over the SS Orchis. Darren’s knack of putting his line right on top of the boilers proved to be consistent, and for such a little wreck lying in 44m, impressed us yet again. This dive was everyone’s favourite wreck. Our first pair in, had such water clarity they were able to see just about all of the wreck as they descended the shot. Darren has his own communication method when it comes to getting divers to talk to the surface. He uses a special device know to a few as Malus Domestica …………………. To the rest of us, it’s just an apple, sent up on its own buoyancy to tell the surface that all is well!

 

         I don’t know whether it was the apple, probably more likely to have been the Plankton, that attracted the first Basking Shark of the season, but he stayed with us throughout the morning, sweeping our diving area from side to side. What is it about Basking Sharks and cameras? They always seem to know how to keep their distance just out of photographic range!

 

         Thursday afternoon; and with strengthening seas again we headed for Plymouth to dive the Rosehill and at 32m this was an opportunity to break out the Nitrox. As many of us had brought upwards of 34%, most of the other sites had been too deep to use it. As we surfaced, the weather finally gave up on us, and it started to rain!

 

         That night we sheltered in Cawsands Bay and in the morning we stuck the bows out with the intension of heading towards the Maine. Once again, the weather was our nemesis and we’d not be out for more than 10 minutes, before the decision was taken to turn back. After 2 very forgettable dives in Cawsands Bay and the inner western tip of Plymouth Sound’s breakwater, that was it, diving over and almost time to go home.

 

         And so it was, 12 contented Belper Divers returned to Plymouth Yacht Haven, packed and ready for the 4 hour drive up the M5 and back to Belper.

 

         Thanks again to Darren, Linda and Annie for a great trip and a great boat. We hope to see you all again in the very near future, let’s hope for better weather next time.  You just never know!

 

         Thanks also to Sue for organising the trip and to Henry, John, Nigel and Martin for driving.

 

          Report by Martin Lucas, Belper diver.

 

Belper Sub Aqua Club Easter 2009 Expedition to Oban

This Easter Belper Sub Aqua Club enjoyed our diving holiday and expedition based near Oban on the North West Coast of Scotland. Oban, also known as the gateway to the Isles due to the large number of passenger ferries departing for the neighbouring Isle of Mull as well as the Inner and Outer Hebrides, is equally ideal for the use of the Club boats. Each of our two boats, rigid inflatables (RIB’s)  has a powerful engine capable of speeds of up to 40 knots which gave us access to world class dive sites either within the Sound of Mull or to islands to the south of Oban, ranging from fantastic ship wrecks to spectacular scenic dives.

Our actual base was Puffin Divers just south of Oban and this provided safe mooring for out boats, whilst the nearby Oban caravan park provided comfortable low cost accommodation for our ten strong expedition.

Club members travelled up on the Thursday before Good Friday in order to make the maximum use of the Easer Holiday, which meant that most members of the expedition were able to complete nine dives before returning home on Easter Monday afternoon.

The diving itself was carried out over an impressive range of sites, ranging from the gigantic wreck of the Rondo half way up the Sound of Mull, with its crystal clear water and plunging depths, to an exhilarating drift dive through the beautiful and serene Garvallach Islands to the south. The underwater visibility was generally very good for the whole weekend, whilst the weather top side, ranged from a little light drizzle on the Friday and Saturday to a glorious flat calm sunny day on the Sunday.

In all, we each spent over six hours underwater (or in Nigel’s case well over seven hours!) and the boats travelled over 70 nautical miles over the three and a half days. We encountered many varieties of fish, crab, lobsters, and Scallops, not to mention the fantastically colourful sponges, soft corals and anemones that seem to cover every surface, including the wrecks, in this part of Scotland. Overall a cracking trip, made all the better by excellent planning from our expedition organiser Sue, and one we’ll certainly want to repeat before too long.   

Trip Report By: Martin Rawson (Club Chairman)