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Dates: June 24-26th 2006
Reason: Deep Wreck & Scenic diving
Accommodation: Atlantic Diver
Organiser: Brian McAnulty
Reason: Deep Wreck & Scenic diving
Accommodation: Atlantic Diver
Organiser: Brian McAnulty
Report: Pete Slegg
Three Days of Diving the North Cornish Coast
The Team
Brian, Chris, Ben, Briony, Peter, Adrian, Mayte
During the previous week the weather had been a bit iffy in the Devon and Cornwall area. Clouds and a little bit too much wave action had been an inconvenience during my rebreather course in Plymouth.
On the Friday the weather changed and so it was almost perfect conditions on the Saturday when we woke early, had a good breakfast and loaded onto Atlantic Diver's Offshore 105 in the small harbour at Newquay.
Our target for Saturday was the wreck of the Orford Ness in about 35m.
Having dived the area for a few years we have come to expect a wide range of diving conditions but the weather was great and when we landed on the wreck the visibility very impressive indeed. After a tour around the boilders and engine we found lobster, conger and dogfish among the pipes and holes in the flatter parts of the wreck. We had almost reached the bow when I spotted a John Dory about 2-3m off the bottom and heading towards us. It turned away and we watched it for about a minute until it's camoflage eluded us. We swam back toward the boilers and out over the stern area. Chris the skipper had said it might be clear enough to swim to the stern and although we found the rudder we couldn't find anything else recognisably the stern.
The second dive was about as shallow as it gets, 5m around the Tea Caverns but in warm clear waters it was very enjoyable. In amongst the seaweed were some tiny "sea-horses" but they could have been some other type of fish fry. We were also buzzed by a friendly but timid seal.
Sunday
U-1021 - stunning! Intact u-boat in 50m of water. Had some 30m+ vis on this. The bow is broken off from the mine damage but the wreck is upright and virtually intact. The deck has gone revealling the schnorkel and some of the other piping and tanks that lay beneath.Video Clip
Monday
An unknown steam ship. Large boilers and engine and flattened wreckage making it look similar to the Orford Ness.
Overall a fantastic weekend with a dive that we will all remember for a long time and hope to visit again.
The Team
Brian, Chris, Ben, Briony, Peter, Adrian, Mayte
During the previous week the weather had been a bit iffy in the Devon and Cornwall area. Clouds and a little bit too much wave action had been an inconvenience during my rebreather course in Plymouth.
On the Friday the weather changed and so it was almost perfect conditions on the Saturday when we woke early, had a good breakfast and loaded onto Atlantic Diver's Offshore 105 in the small harbour at Newquay.
Our target for Saturday was the wreck of the Orford Ness in about 35m.
Having dived the area for a few years we have come to expect a wide range of diving conditions but the weather was great and when we landed on the wreck the visibility very impressive indeed. After a tour around the boilders and engine we found lobster, conger and dogfish among the pipes and holes in the flatter parts of the wreck. We had almost reached the bow when I spotted a John Dory about 2-3m off the bottom and heading towards us. It turned away and we watched it for about a minute until it's camoflage eluded us. We swam back toward the boilers and out over the stern area. Chris the skipper had said it might be clear enough to swim to the stern and although we found the rudder we couldn't find anything else recognisably the stern.
The second dive was about as shallow as it gets, 5m around the Tea Caverns but in warm clear waters it was very enjoyable. In amongst the seaweed were some tiny "sea-horses" but they could have been some other type of fish fry. We were also buzzed by a friendly but timid seal.
Sunday
U-1021 - stunning! Intact u-boat in 50m of water. Had some 30m+ vis on this. The bow is broken off from the mine damage but the wreck is upright and virtually intact. The deck has gone revealling the schnorkel and some of the other piping and tanks that lay beneath.Video Clip
Monday
An unknown steam ship. Large boilers and engine and flattened wreckage making it look similar to the Orford Ness.
Overall a fantastic weekend with a dive that we will all remember for a long time and hope to visit again.