Three days with Falcon II diving out of Dartmouth. Two dives per day, beautiful sunny days with friends.

Nine CSAC divers headed down to Dartmouth for three days diving with Falcon Diving Charters. Dartmouth is steeped in history but lacking in parking and accommodation for groups so we headed over to Stoke Fleming and Leonards Cove Holiday park to hire two apartments in a converted barn.  These were finished to a really hire spec, virtually brand new with plenty of space to park and spread out, with upstairs even having a jacuzzi ( which was not used).

Logistics to Dartmouth and the gas filling station in a nearby farm were a little awkward but we managed to muddle our way through with a borrowed Dartmouth parking permit and a relay system. We did manage to acquire a parking ticket in the main square for £25 but this was split 9 ways and quite affordable ;)

Diving was a mix of wrecks and reefs but the plankton bloom pretty much dictated we keep shallow (<20m) as there was so little light at depth as it seemed to be sinking, making vis non-existent.

We dived:

The Maine, vis probably around 2m? Water thick with particles and snot all the way down, torches required which was a shame as this was excellent last year. Shot was virtually sitting on the boilers which was just as well as you’d never be able to find them otherwise.

Benton Castle, only 4 divers made it to the bottom to find it “the worst I have ever dived”, definitely not safe so this was aborted by the group. Adele missed the “stop” signal and went swiftly down to 33m into the darkness.

We decided to do a number of reef and wall dives which proved much better. Lots of interesting things to see, even the die hard wreckies enjoyed. Vis was a mix, from 1m to 3-4m. Loads of scallops returned home.

Luck was with us, the weather was warm, generally flat calm seas, Chris found his lost torch a day after loosing it (it was still on) and we witnessed a seal tussling with sea gull for a dead cuttlefish coming home.

We ate at Radius 7 at Stoke Fleming, The Jolly Sportsman ( some of us enjoying the over 60s carvery) and McKendricks which always seems to impress.

In summary, great trip with friends.

Garrie and Paul gleaming from the reef dive they have just done.

Dartmouth harbour.

No one wants to lift Paul’s twin 12’s.

A rare photo of Adele.

Falcon Dive charters, great folks.

Preparing for a morning dive at the digs, you can just make out the sea in the far distance.

Chris and Chris relaxing.

Sunny days.

Lugging kit down to the boat.

Coming in from a days diving, 20 degrees!

Adele, Mark and David.

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