With hot weather baking Hertfordshire and temperatures hitting the 30s, 13 members of Dacorum Scuba headed south to Swanage for a (slightly) cooler day of diving under the pier and later on a shuttle boat with Swanage Boat Charters.
First off were under-the-pier dives, as an introduction to the UK seas for some of our newer members, or fun for our more experienced divers. Swanage Pier harbours a great deal of life and is one of the most dived sites in the UK. SCUBA magazine happened to run an article on it just as we were there!
Tides weren’t the friendliest for a pier dive, with a midday low tide meaning most divers entered and exited the water over some fairly treacherous rocks. However all managed it safely, though there were calls for additional weights at times as people tested out new gear configurations or got used to their kit in the sea. Visibility was a very exact 1.2m for the majority, with surge nearer the shore having the dual effect of both reducing visibility there and causing a bout of sea-sickness for some.
However some good dives were had with crabs of many types, lobster, wrasse all seen in profusion. A chilled and relaxed band sat down for lunch and to ponder the afternoon dive on the Fleur de lys (& nearby barge). The small French fishing boat suffered boiler problems and sank in April 2000. A short 10-minute trip from the pier, most members were ready to jump in as we set off. Buddy pairs were split descending down either the Barge shot or the Fleur shot and were all quickly deposited on the wreck site. Visibility was a decent 2m+ allowing all to see a great deal of both wrecks, with nudibranchs coming out in profusion and being seen in abundance, especially on the barge.
A successful dive later and all the pairs were back on the Mary Jo, hot drinks in hand and steaming back to the pier for a late-afternoon finish before many headed home, though some stayed to enjoy more of the weekend in the South. Many thanks to all who joined and got to enjoy some of the classic diving out of Swanage. The rest of you missed a great trip.
