
By Mark Lewis
24th October 2021
We are all told that the Red Sea comes alive during the dark with a cacophony of nightlife not normally seen in daylight hours. Vobster is no different! It’s a surreal change where the attractions and landscape take on a metaphorical change, the perch go to sleep with the crayfish and critters coming out to play. With lightsaber looking torches from other divers lighting up the quarry, it is an enchanting and relaxed diving experience. The rusting bolts on top of the crushing works are picked up, somewhat glistening in your torch beam and the green coral on and around the further most aircraft fuselage (east), seems to illuminate as a green sprawling carpet; not seen in daylight hours.

Some wanted three dives, some wanted two and some turned up later in the afternoon for the night dive only. My buddy for the afternoon was Pete Eastland and we made just two dives, the last planned as a long dive to find the new “Sophia” attraction. There are two routes to Sophie, the first to pick up the chain from the fuselage near the east end of the crushing works and drop down into the abyss or down the tunnel, around the crushing works and pick up the chain near the lines to the Jester Park and the rusting Skoda car.
We chose the latter and exiting the tunnel it was a cold and dark gloom. There was still ambient light but with so much silt kicked up, it was a white out in torchlight. Keeping the crushing works on our right, we traversed the breezeblock contours, looking for the chain. Obviously missing it, we continued around, keeping the wall on our right and when we ran out of recognisable landmarks, we ascended to 13m to pick up the road. Having finned a little too far, it was a 180 degree about face and we picked up the road and plateau in a few minutes in a rather warm 14degC. Pete and I then swam around the shallower attractions taking in the nocturnal ambience, a slow meander back to the exit slipway. Run time was a delicious 74 minutes and while on a 28% back gas from last Saturday’s aborted dive to the Cuvier, Pete was on air and racked up a small 3 minute decompression obligation.

I can’t make next Sunday’s Vobster Quay Halloween Night Dive, but those who aren’t trick or treating, pop down to Vobster and I can promise a Vobster that you have not seen before!
In conclusion, a huge thank you to Amy and Pete at Vobster for organising and allowing the group to use the schools area. Maybe Vobster will consider another advertised night dive in January or February before the clock jump forward? I’m in!