Eight divers ventured out into the English Channel to explore the underwater world, with surface conditions looking ideal. We had flat seas, not too much sun and what promised to be a great day’s diving.
Our first dive site was High Ground, a reef not far out from West Bay Harbour. The seabed sits at around 13 metres, with the top of the reef at about 9 metres. The first pair were dropped in, and as the next pair were kitting up, we could already see them ascending the shot line. When they surfaced, they reported zero visibility. With that in mind, the site was abandoned, and we transitioned over to the Baygitano to try our luck there instead.
The Baygitano is a First World War wreck, torpedoed about two nautical miles out from Lyme Regis. A commercial dive vessel, had just deposited its divers on the wreck. Most of them managed to miss or let go of the shot line, which meant our divers did not have to contend with an overcrowded site. Unfortunately, visibility was still disappointing at around two metres.
Following the first dive, two divers were a bit wet and cold and decided not to make a second dive. One pair did get in, but a lost weight pouch brought that dive to an early end.
We then headed back to West Bay for tea and medals, actually chips and a drink, before returning the boat to the shed to be washed down and put away.
Despite the poor visibility, everyone still had a good day. It was another club day out on the water and another chance to get the boat in the sea, which is always a win.
