PLYMOUTH

PLYMOUTH

Returning from a dive trip such as Iceland it is very difficult to think that anything new will give the same buzz.
In saying that I had failed to remind myself how much I enjoy diving and the Plymouth trip.
In terms of how long a journey, the 256 miles between my house and the B&B, takes near enough the same time as travelling the 1010 miles between Manchester and Reykjavik and , and if Bristol snarls up, longer!
We arrived in Plymouth at about 10pm and joined the others in the Fortescue on Mutley Plain to catch up and discuss the next days diving.

Day 1

Breakfast in the Devonshire B&B

Discussion at breakfast was about drizzle and a strong Northerly wind kicking up the waves and causing us to rethink the Hand Deeps dive plan. Our new plan was to prepare our kit and head to shelter at Kingsand. From Kingsand we would kit up and take a ten minute journey around Rame Head and drop straight onto the Coronation wreck. The weather was not too rough to dive but we were trying to reduce the ill effects of rough water on those who suffer from seasickness.

Having a break at Kingsand after the first dive.

The Coronation lies in about 18meters and has rotted away leaving it's cannon and anchors behind. The sea bed is made of ridged stone gullies covered in plentiful sea life; Wrasse, crabs and the occasional dog fish.

The second dive was my old favourite the James Egan Layne. The day had turned for the better. The clouds had cleared, the sun was out and the sea had calmed down and we were close by!
She didn't let me down, as usual the Egan Layne was magnificent. Dropping down to her bow on the shot line we made our way through the wreckage finding a large Conger tucked into a tube. We made our way through the holds, peering into the dark looking at schools of Wrasse, Bibb, Pollack and Sea Bass. Dead mans fingers, Plumose Anemones, Jewel anemones and Sea Fans littered the infrastructure. Instead of returning back to the shot we made our way across the debris field to the disconnected stern section.
If the dive couldn't get much better we were mistaken, the stern was like an underwater cathedral built and designed by Gaudi. It is covered in green, orange and white Plumose Anemones, inside and out. Hundreds of fish swam in and out of the wreckage making it a perfect place to set the SMB and surface.



Relaxing after the first day in Chandlers Bar at  Queen Anne's Battery marina