By Peter Eastland
3rd June 2023
It was a picturesque day as five members of the Seahorse Club geared up for an exciting diving adventure off the coast of Swanage.
The first dive took us to the Fleur de Lyes and Barge, but it proved to be quite a challenge. A strong current ran through the dive site, and visibility was limited to a mere 1 to 1.5 meters. Two divers got separated early on and wisely decided to call it quits. Another diver faced a kit issue and made the difficult decision to end the dive. However, two persisted through the challenge, which paid off when stumbling upon a baby octopus hiding beneath a rock, a massive cuttlefish within the coal barge and to top it off, a vibrant breeding ground of nudibranch. Back on the boat, the choppy waters prevented us from enjoying a hot drink and with a few green faces on the boat, we hurriedly made our way back to the pier.
The second dive turned out to be an entirely different experience. Heading for the Valentine Tanks, only three divers braved the bumpy ride. We arrived at the permanent shot which was a relief, as the last Seahorse club trip to the tanks, the line had snapped, leading to an impromptu dive on HMS Seabed.
Descending down the line, we were greeted by the visibility being in the 5-meter range, an unexpected surprise. The three divers enjoyed exploring the wrecks, there was an abundance of Congers and a huge variety of life including a mesmerizing shoal of fish that encircled us throughout the dive. The only bittersweet note came from the sight of the turrets lying on the seabed, evidence of possibly a trawler passing through the tanks. Despite this, the beauty and allure of the wrecks, with their poignant history, remained intact, leaving a lasting impression on the divers.
Unfortunately the consistent easterly winds forced the cancellation of Sunday’s planned diving activities. Thus, the divers were left with only the two dives for the weekend but an enjoyable day all the same.
