If you are running an activity week or would Dive Rutland to provide a Try Dive Experience for your group, then please contact us to discuss.
 After two days of enjoyable and pretty shore diving at St.Brides Haven, with our Juniors, it was time for two days boat diving with Dive Pembrokeshire on Predator. Day 1: So we were all loaded and ready for ropes off at 09:00. Dive one after a very long journey (2 hours) we found ourselves at our first dive site - Hen and Chicks. A very pretty site with lots of nooks and crannies... and lots to see, you just needed to look... spider crabs, hermit crabs, lobsters, nudibranch, pollack, prawns and anemones - amazing site. A short break in a sheltered bay and we were ready for dive 2: Lead Run High Point... this was a 'no take zone' and did the crabs know it.... they just sat on their boulders and looked at you AND they were HUGE... potential for octopus and one was spotted by a couple in the group... a very interesting scallop bed - they were large to and could we get them to swim? NOPE they were having none of it... another site to swim slowly over and look as yes - we saw another species of nudibranch. Day2: Back again for another day on Predator. This time our first dive was Greek wreck at St.Ann's head. There was a wreck but it was scattered over quite a large area and you could see why it crashed as it was a very rocky area. So lots of metal to have a look at and even some brass! but also lots of life to see to all surrounded by Kelp. Dive 2: A Wreck that lies amongst the rocks but hey not here for the wreck we were here for the SEALS... would they come and check us out was the only question...? That was answered before we even got in the water, one came to the back of the boat and swam around whilst we were kitting up and getting in. The rest of the dive was spent with seals and when they went away for a few minutes we had a tiny look around and again lots of small life... but it was the seals that made the day... the best safety stop ever! Another great trip, so thanks to Alan, Charlie, Monika, Rachel, Sam and our guest club member Kenny for being a great dive team and then to our support team Mark and Tracy Adcock whose help is always greatly appreciated -but they do eat a lot of ice-cream and ours always seems to have melted by the time we get back!
And lets not forget Dive Pembrokeshire whose skipper (Len) and crew (Dave) and Sue (backroom) who made the whole experience....
 HSA Certificates Tracey Roberts and Rachel Perry The certificates have finally arrived for our two newly qualified HSA (Handicapped Scuba Association) Instructors - Tracey Roberts and Rachel Perry.
Here at Dive Rutland, we believe that Scuba Diving should be accessible to anyone who wishes to learn and the Handicapped Scuba Association's training programmes match this philosophy, allowing us to provide people a training programme with a high margin of safety and patience, just in this case those with a disability. If interested in learning to dive, then we are your Dive Centre. We provide a personalised service to everyone, just get in touch and discuss not only your requirements, but ambitions.. You never know we might make your dream come true. The day started with a meet at the quay in Wells-next-the-Sea and the loading of our charter "Jimmy Rib" from East Coast Diving and "ropes off" by 09:00 and out of the tidal estuary we went. The first dive of the dive was HMS Umpire who is situated out within the wind farm turbines off the coast. So a longish journey out and aren't those turbines big.. you do not realise how big until you are underneath them. After putting a shot into the wreck, we kitted up and in we got. The shot was in the wreck and the last diving team in, removed the shot from the wreck and sent it back to the surface for the skipper to retrieve. The visibility was good and the wreck is shallow (17 - 20 metres) and she lies on her side, if you stay non keel side there is lots to see - just remember she is a war grave, so a look, no penetration and a NO TAKE wreck. Wildlife included crab, lobsters, anemones and cod to name a few. And then the worse part of the day and 3 - 4 hour surface interval, whilst sat on the rib and it 'chucked it down', it was an uncomfortable time. Second dive of the day, was The Amberley Descending down the line to the wreck, it became obvious that we had entered the water a little before slack. Hanging onto the line, the current was 'running' but hanging onto the line and pulling ourselves down the line, we landed on the sand just back from the wreck. After taking a breather we swam onto the wreck and because she lies on her side we swam with the wreck to our left. Again visibility was good, so easily see into the holds, the stairways, the winches. A great little dive. On the way back into harbour, we were treated to a display by the Red Arrows who were displaying over Holkham Hall and the weather cleared to be a sunny end to the day.
And what can beat Fish and Chips by the sea.... nothing... so we showed Bridget a proper Fish and Chip shop...  Today (Tuesday), was the last day of space school with three groups of budding "astronauts" ready to take on the Dive Rutland "Satellite Challenge". Teams Philae, Whitson and Tereshkova. All teams completed the build and launch - although we had some laughs along the way with the launches... See you all next year.. |
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