S
HOLIDAYS & TRIPS FOR 2022
In2scuba Dive Club on our wreck diving weekend in Plymouth July 2009!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Egypt is our regular dive venue, please see the Whats New page to see the latest details.

 

In2scuba are running several dive trips throughout the year to many UK dive sites including Inland waters like Stoney Cove and Gildenburgh Water. We will also be offering regular hard boat diving from Brighton & Eastbourne, some weekday evenings .

In addition to these regular events we have organised some dive trips and diving holidays in the UK and Abroad, to keep you diving in new and interesting diving environments. We have a friendly group of divers that meet up on these trips; this forms a relaxed and enjoyable environment for new divers to feel comfortable and part of the group.

In2scuba offer full Equipment hire for your trip or holiday, this includes: Dry-suits or Semi-dry suits, BCD, regs, hood, gloves, booties, mask, snorkel, fins, weight belt, weights and a 12 or 15litre tank. All divers are required to have there own dive watch or computer, dive knife, dive compass and a dive torch.

For coastal destinations ALL divers must have there own SMB and reel, these are essential for the safety of all the divers on the trip. If you are unfamiliar with the use and deployment of an SMB, we offer separate training for this important skill, please contact us for details.

Please note: on all of our dive trips the dives are NOT supervised. You and your buddy should have adequate training and experience for the environment you will be diving in. If you require supervision on a dive you can book a PADI Discover Local Diving program for that dive, where a PADI Professional will supervise you at a cost of £30 per buddy pair, per dive.

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Farne Islands Trip (Diving with the Seals)14 - 16 OCT 2017

Farne Islands Seals

If you've ever been lucky enough to visit the Farne Islands, you will already be aware that in the height of the breeding season, it is home to a deafening plethora of nesting seabirds such as terns, puffins, guillemots, shags, eider ducks and kittiwakes.

You may also have seen grey seals lounging on the rocks at low tide, but follow them as they dive underwater and a whole other world opens up to you. Diving in and around the Farne Islands is a real feast for the senses, numerous wrecks litter the seabed, and inquisitive grey seals come and say hello.

Whether you prefer a shallow dive or are prepared to delve that little bit deeper, there's something to suit everyone out at the Farnes. The Farnes consist of almost 30 small islands and rock outcrops lying between 2 and 4 miles of the Northumberland coast. They are split into two main groups separated by a stretch of water known as Staple Sound.

The islands are comprised primarily of a rock called whinstone, which is very prone to vertical weathering and faulting. This has produced a strange topography of steps and sheer faces above water that gives just a hint of the delights below. Most of the diving takes place at the outer Farnes.

Date: 15th & 16th OCT 2017

Availability SORRY FULLY BOOKED

Requirements: Advanced Open Water or above.

Cost: £210 per person (£50 deposit to secure your place by Feb 16)

the trip can be extended by starting a day earlier , this is and extra £90 covering Thurs night B & B and 2 boat dives on Friday

Includes:

  • 2 Nights B&B
  • 4x Hard boat dives.

What you will need:

  • Full kit including x2 cylinders
  • Transportation
  • Logbook & Certification
  • Camera (Take some unforgettable photos)

Optional Extras

Dive Trip Details

Dive Boat

We will all travel up to the Farnes getting there early and relaxed, once settled into our rooms at the B&B we will all get together for an evening meal and meet our skipper (Toby) and discuss the fantastic days diving ahead.

Next morning after breakfast we will go down to the harbour and load our equipment on the boat. Once at sea we will be doing 2 dives during the day with a surface interval at sea. Once back we can fill our cylinders at the local dive shop and look forward to another great days diving.

On Sunday we meet again at the harbour to enjoy another two exciting seal dives. At the end of a great days diving we can load our equipment up and have a meal before heading home that evening.

To review our October 2012 trip, please click here!

To book on our Farne Island trip 2014, please click here or contact us for further details

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Southern Red Sea

Holiday At Shagra Marsa Alam

4 JUN 2018

We have arranged a trip to this diving resort for £850.00

This includes flights, transfers, 7 nights tent accomodation on a soft all inclusive basis (alcohol not included)

You also get 5 days unlimited diving on the house reef which is good diving with zodiacs or shore diving from 6am to 9pm.

This is a very peaceful holiday with no music, no TVs and no animation team. Villas are available at an extra charge. See below.

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO IF YOU WANT TO JOIN THE GROUP

All courses available on this trip ioncluding open water.

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Southern Red Sea land based diving trip at Marsa Shagra Eco-Village

5 Days Unlimited Diving!

 

from £850.00

 

In2scuba are offering this fantastic trip to divers & non divers. Whether you want to learn to dive, continue your training or just want to enjoy some amazing pleasure diving, then this is the trip for you!

If you feel the UK is to cold for you to learn to dive, then this trip would make an ideal alternative. It will give you the opportunity to train in warm and comfortable conditions with In2scuba`s experienced English PADI Instructors

The Red Sea reefs!spacerThe Eco-village at Marsa Shagra!

Shagra house reef is home to 15 endemic species of fish and about 300 species of fish and 100 types of corals. It has an easy access for unlimited house reef diving from 6am until 9pm. The bay is frequented by dolphins and manta rays during certain seasons.

The North reef gives opportunitys to see baby black tips seeking shelter on the reef top, to see the resident turtle, and to see many other species like barracudas, potato groupers, mackerels, black and white tip reef sharks, sometimes frog fish and even an occasional leopard shark. The south reef has a plateau with a wonderful drop off. You have a chance to see reef sharks, nudibranches and a lot of very colorful coral patches that are like mini gardens.

As well as diving the house reefs of Shagra , the trucks leave twice daily to explore the sharms, marsas and reef walls along the coral coast. Enjoy over 150km of coral fringe reef, from 8m coral gardens to 60m drop offs, pitted caves, elaborate tunnels and a diversity of marine life to match.

Red Sea Scorpion Fish! Flying turtle!

The outstanding offshore reefs of Elphinstone, Abu Dabbab, Nakari, and Shaab el Gadeer are effortlessly accessed from Shagra Village, by either hard boat or RIB. Elphinstone, a jewel of the south is directly opposite Shagra, with walls covered in soft coral plunging down into 400m of water. Here the strong currents and multitudes of fish attract up to seven species of shark. Shaab Samadi (Dolphin House), another gem lies just off Nakari, with beautiful soft and hard corals grafted into caves and caverns.

For the budding photographer the house reefs are in an ideal setting to perfect your underwater camera techniques.

Red Sea Napoleon Wrasse
Red Sea Box Fish

Accomodation Options:

Tents
Tents are located near the beach. Inside each cotton house (3.5 x 3.5 meters) there are two beds, 2 meter apart and they are supplied with 2 sheets, blankets (not necessary in summer) and a pillow per person. The tents have electricity for lighting, battery recharging, and computer use. The tents have the use of communal showers and toilets (running hot and cold water)

Shagra village tentsspacerShagra village tents

Mandarah Huts
The Huts have 2 beds with sheets, blankets and a pillow each. There is a bedside table with a lamp, a clothes cupboard, and a fan. The Mandarahs are 3.5m X 3.5m with domed roofs and 2 windows. This desert styled architecture is very effective and interior stays cool enough without requiring air-conditioning. Huts have the use of communal showers and toilets (running hot and cold water).

Mandarah huts at Shagra villagespacerInside the Mandarah huts

Madyafa Guest House
The Madyafah is 24m² stone building with domed roofs. This desert style architecture is very effective and stays cool enough without requiring air-conditioning. In addition, there are two terraces of 8m² with bamboo chairs.

One of the terraces has a mountain view while the other one is facing the sea. The chalets have their own bathroom facilities (cold/hot shower, toilet) and are furnished with two beds, wardrobe, side table, dressing table with a mirror and a fan. Towels are provided for showering and the guests should bring their own towels for the beach.

30 chalets with air conditioning and mini-refrigerator plus kettle for tea and coffee are available now for only 5 Euro per night extra on top of the normal price. These chalets are non-smoking.

The Madyafa Guest house at ShagraspacerInside the Madyafa guest house

 

Cost: (£250 deposit to secure your place)

  • Tents: £850 (No single supplement)

Price includes:

  • Direct return flight from Gatwick
  • Accomodation, 3 options
  • Transfers
  • Meet and assistance at Marsa Alam
  • Full board: 3 meals per day plus soft drinks, mineral water, tea, coffee
  • 5 days unlimited diving
  • Cylinders & weights.

Optional Extras:

Dive sites
You will be given unlimited access to the large house reefs at Shagra Village including zodiac usage. These house reefs are shallow, sheltered bays approximately 10m in depth, slowly dropping as they reach the outside walls which are 40-50m in depth. The house reefs and the coastal fringe-reef sites are rich in marine life and contain an excellent variety of hard corals. Some sites have elaborate shallow tunnel systems within the reef, which are almost never seen in the northern territory.

Doogone
Moray eel
Marsa Abu Dabbab
This site is famous for the Dugong that is living on the large sea grass bed. Divers can also spot big green turtles feeding on the sea grass and Guitar Sharks. But make sure you also dive the excellent North and South reefs that are really rich in colorful corals and fish and special reef fish like scorpions and stone fishes.

TurtlespacerTrigger fish

Elphinstone
A must for experienced divers! This outstanding offshore reef is only 20 minutes away by speedboat from Ecolodge Shagra Village. The reef has an abundance of soft corals in all colors. Every kind of sea life can be seen here, like tuna, turtles, dolphins, scorpions, moray eels, napoleons and even nudibranches.

But Elphinstone is most famous for its sharks: hammerheads from May till mid August, Oceanic White Tips (Longimanus) from mid September till end of December and many other species like grey reef sharks, thresher sharks and silky sharks might be spotted all year round.

Hammerheads at ElphinstonespacerOceanic White Tips at Elphinstone

Shaab Samadai (Dolphin House Reef)
This is an offshore boat excursion starting from Nakari Bay. Shaab Samadai is the home of a group of Spinner Dolphins, that use the horse shoe shaped reef for shelter, rest and play. This reef is a National Park and a fee of 15 Euro has to be paid at the diving centre to enter

The site is protected by the Rangers who have zoned the inside of the reef into a no go zone marked by red buoys, a snorkeling zone marked by white buoys and a diving zone. In between the dives there is a chance to snorkel with the dolphins if they are present in the snorkeling zone.

The first dive is a drift from the zodiac along the North-East reef that ends on the corner in a rich landscape of mountain corals next to a sandy bottom with large and small reef patches with soft corals scattered around (ending in a drop off, an eel garden and flower-like anemones on the sandy bottom and sea grass.

The dive can also be done from the boat through the coral patch garden to the drop off and back to the curve and the boat. The second dive leads along an anemone city through a shallow tunnel system that is open on the top (magnificent light effects!) and ends in a landscape of mountain corals into a canyon and back through a sandy bottom with patches of reef scattered around. Chances to see an abundance of anemon fishes,nudibranches and to make that picture with a diver framed by soft corals!

Red Sea Dolphin at Dolphin ReefspacerA Red Sea dolphin

Southern Eco-Village Facilities

  • Linen is provided, but bring towels and toiletries.
  • 3 meals a day including all soft drinks, mineral water, tea, coffee & afternoon cake.
  • Egyptian beer & delicious ice cream can be purchased on site.
  • Large modern restaurant.
  • 220v re-charging (bring fast re-chargeables 6 hours max).
  • Medical kit and emergency oxygen.
  • Equipment shade, cylinder storage, drying lines plus 1 dip tank for rinsing regs, cameras & computers and 4 for regular rinsing. Showers.
  • The Hyperbaric Medical Centre/Recompression Chamber, located at our Shagra Eco-Village, is comprehensively equipped and manned around the clock.
  • Nitrox.

Battery charging
The equipment hut has 220v power points for battery recharging. At all Ecolodge Villages the electricity is 24 hours. There are fresh water wash tanks beside the equipment hut for rinsing regulators, cameras & computers etc, and also a drying rail for hanging equipment. Full cylinders (12lt aluminium) are used.

Dive Guiding
The guides will give a detailed briefing at the dive sites. If guests feel they require a more in-depth briefing they should tell the guides, who will be pleased to elaborate. The Red Sea maximum depth allowed is 40m.

Nitrox
Nitrox tanks are available for hire to qualified Nitrox divers, for €2 per tank. Training to use Nitrox can be conducted by In2scuba, before or during the dive trip.

Airport Meet & Assist
On arrival at the airport, a transfer representative will meet us outside the terminal building. The cost for an Egyptian visa for British Subjects is £18.

Transfers
From Marsa Alam Airport the journey takes approximately 30 minutes to Shagra Village.

Food & Drinks
You will be supplied 3 meals a day in a buffet style layout, plus freshly baked cakes in the late afternoon. Please tell us in advance if you are vegetarian or have special dietary requirements.

Soft drinks are included free and Egyptian Stella beer is available at approximately €3 Wine is available at 12 Euors per bottle. A selection of ice cream and crisps are also available at Shagra Village and can be purchased on site.

For further details on our Southern Red Sea land based trip, please click here!

For further details on any of our holidays or dive trips please call us on: 01959 564211 or email us at: trips@In2scuba.co.uk

 


 


 

Day trips to Leybourne Lakes

In2scuba Open Water Students training at Leybourne lakes!
 
Steve & the Gnome in Leybourne Lakes!

Leybourne Lakes is located near Larkfield just 1.2 miles from the M20 junction 4. The lake has a maximum depth of 8.5 metres, and is a purpose built, dedicated dive training site.

The entire dive training area is 'roped off' and consists of several solid platforms for training purposes.

There are also various underwater attractions aound the lake, including a speed boat, two cabin cruisers and a "Gnome garden"

The lake offers "comfortable" and "easy" diving, especially for the novice diver who wants to get some experience in a safe and stress-free environment

Visibility is variable, depending on how many divers are in the water, but the average is 4 metres. The water temperature ranges from 4 degrees in the winter, to 23 degrees in the summer months. The lake has some interesting marine life, including freshwater eels, chinese mitten craps and various freshwater fish, such as pike, tench and carp.

Requirements: Open Water or above and students training with In2scuba

Cost: £8.00 entry fee to dive site (Supervised dive costs £20 per buddy pair + Entry fee)

What you will need:

  • Full dive kit including 1x cylinder
  • Transportation
  • Logbook & Certification

Optional Extras

Please contact us to book in advance


Night diving at Leybourne Lakes

Leybourne Pike
 
Leybourne Mitten Crab

The Lakes completely change at night making it a challenging, exciting and interesting place to dive!

The “Night Life” includes an abundance of eels and our resident mitten crabs, also with some luck the large pike may come out to play!

A night dive at Leybourne Lakes gives you an opportunity to practice your night diving skills, in a comfortable and controlled environment.

Visibility can be very good during these night dives as they are normally held midweek, when the lake has had a chance to settle from the previous weekends diving.

In2scuba offer the PADI Adventure Night Dive and the PADI Night Diver Speciality, during these visits to the Lake. Both of these courses teach you how to plan & organize night dives, using proper techniques and recognizing hazards at night.

Requirements: Advanced Open Water or above and students training with In2scuba

Cost: £8.00 entry fee to dive site (Supervised dive costs £30 per buddy pair + Entry fee)

What you will need:

  • Full dive kit including 1x cylinder
  • Transportation
  • Logbook & Certification

Optional Extras

Please contact us to book in advance


Day trips to Stoney Cove

Stoney Cove

In2scuba will be making regular Monthly visits to Stoney Cove throughout the year (checkout the dates below) as it is the perfect diving location to complete courses such as the PADI Advanced Open Water and PADI Speciality courses including Deep, Wreck and Multilevel.

Stoney Cove is a dedicated inland dive site situated in the county of Leicestershire. The Cove is based on a disused quarry and has 3 diving levels, ranging from 6 metres for novice divers, 22 metres for intermediate divers and 36 metres for Deep qualified divers. There are many in water attractions such as the Stangarth wreck and the Nautilus submarine to keep you exploring all day long.

Diving Requirements -Advanced Open Water or above and students training with In2scuba

Cost: £18 entry fee to dive site (Supervised dive costs £30 per buddy pair + Entry fee)

What you will need:

  • Full dive kit including 1x cylinder
  • Transportation
  • Logbook & Certification

Optional Extras

Please contact us to book in advance


Day trips to Gildenburgh Water

Gildenburgh Waters

We will be visiting Gildenburgh several times throughout the year. All PADI training will be available during each visit, please contact us with your requirements.

Gildenburgh is located near Peterborough in the village of Eastrea.

The inland lake offers year-round access without the problems of weather found on coastal locations. Depths vary up to 22m, a number of entries including shallow, deep water and jump bridge are available for all levels of divers. A variety of fish including mirror carp, perch, rudd, roach, eel, and pike to over 1 metre long can be found here. Visibility can be up to 10m but averages 4 to 6m depending on time of year and diver activity.

There are some interesting wrecks to be seen and explored, including various cars, a double decker bus, front section of a Shorts Skyvan, Jet Provost (temporarily removed during spring 2000), cabin cruiser and barge which provide a habitiat for the underwater life.

Diving requirements: Advanced Open Water or above and students training with In2scuba

Cost: £10 entry fee to dive site (Supervised dive costs £30 per buddy pair + Entry fee)

What you will need:

  • Full dive kit including 1x cylinder
  • Transportation
  • Logbook & Certification

Optional Extras

Please contact us to book in advance


Day trips to Vobster Quay

Vobster Quay

In2scuba will be making regular visits to Vobster Quay throughout the year.

it is situated in the heart of the Somerset countryside approximately 5 miles from the market town of Frome and 4 miles from Radstock.

For certified divers, there's no better place to hone your diving skills and have fun than at Vobster Quay. With 36-acres of fresh water diving in depths ranging from 6m to 36m, divers of all levels will find the mix of exciting underwater attractions hard to resist.

Submerged beneath the lake waters you'll find a fascinating array of attractions just waiting to be discovered! Divers can explore the wreck of an large commercial aircraft, a 42ft motorcrusier, the large metal wheelhouse of a former coaster plus a number of former quarry buildings including the massive crushing works - a towering structure the size of a 2-storey house - and even a spooky concrete-lined subterranean tunnel that's not for the faint hearted!

Requirements: Advanced Open Water or above and students training with In2scuba

Cost: £17 entry fee to dive site (Supervised dive costs £30 per buddy pair + Entry fee)

What you will need:

  • Full dive kit including 1x cylinder
  • Transportation
  • Logbook & Certification

Optional Extras

To review our trip to Vobster Quay in August 2008, please click here!



Wreck Diving Weekend in Plymouth

In2scuba have organized a great wreck diving weekend in Plymouth, Cornwall in Mar 2015. We will be diving the famous HMS Scylla & the SS James Eagan Layne, both fantastic wreck dives for divers at all levels.

HMS Scylla!spacerSpencer Bell in the bridge of the Scylla

Date: 15th - 16th March 2015

Availability: 2 places

Requirements: Advanced Open Water or above.

Wrecks we will dive: HMS Scylla, SS James Eagan Layne, Persier & The Elk

Cost: £165 (£50 deposit to secure your place)

Includes:

  • 2 Nights B&B Accommodation
  • 4 Hard Boat dives with lift
  • Sat dinner

What you will need:

  • Full kit including 2 x cylinders
  • Transportation
  • Logbook & Certification

Optional Extras

Wrecks diving at Plymouth

HMS Scylla
The Scylla is a great dive for the novice and the experienced diver because the main deck is only at a depth of 8-10 metres, with the sea bed being reached at 25 metres. HMS Scylla was an Exocet Leander class frigate, the last frigate to be built in Devonport Royal Dockyard in 1968. The Scylla is 113 metres long with a displacement of 2500 tonnes.

Diver penetrating the ScyllaspacerThe walk ways of the Scylla

The Scylla made the local news headlines in 1973 when she collided with the Torpoint ferry. She undertook 'Cod War' patrols in 1975 and in August 1980 was dispatched to deliver emergency relief teams to the hurricane stricken island Cayman Brac. In December 1987 she was deployed to the Persian Gulf and then decommissioned in 2003. The Scylla was then bought by the National Marine Aquarium to be placed on the seabed as Europes first artificial reef

The Communication roomspacerPreparing to penetrate the Scylla

SS James Eagan Layne
The James Eagan Layne is an American liberty ship located in Whitsand Bay at 21 metres. At 10000 Tons this considerable wreck is home to a multitude of marine life, including an array of crabs, jellyfish, anemones and the familiar Pollock, bass and cod.

Inside you can swim through the engine room past the engines and boilers, through the cargo holds and into various other areas of the ship. Sunk in 1945 by a Torpedo from U1195 on 21st March 1945, the torpedo piercing the 4th & 5th holds on the starboard vessel's side

On the bow of the James Egan LaynespacerWooden wheels still can be found on the wreck

Her cargo consisted of tank parts, jeeps, lorries, wagon wheels and various other smaller items. Like the Scylla this is a great dive for all levels of ability, mainly because the depth at the bow section starts at only 5 metres leading down to 21 metres at the sea bed.

All underwater photography taken by, Steve Griffiths

To book on our Plymouth trip in 2012, please click here or contact us for further details


Wreck & Drift diving trip to Swanage, Dorset

Swanage Pier!spacerIn2scuba Dive Club on our Dive Dorset weekend at Swanage!

Dates:

Availability:

Requirements: Advanced Open Water or above.

Wrecks we will dive: Kyarra, Caratan, Betsy Anna and Aeolian Sky

Cost: £195 (£100 deposit to secure your place)

Includes:

  • Accommodation (Self catering in privately rented house)
  • 2 Nights stay
  • 4 Hard Boat dives + Shore dives from Swanage Pier

What you will need:

  • Full kit including 1x cylinder
  • Transportation
  • Logbook & Certification
  • Camera (Take some unforgettable photos)

Optional Extras

Swanage Pier

Diving Swanage Pier is a fantastic experience for both the novice diver and the more experienced, there is a diving platform to giant stride straight into the water.

Under the pier there is probably some of the best marine life along the whole of the coast, with spider crabs and lobsters in abundance.

There are several species of fish including pipefish and tompot blennies; this spectacular marine life living below the pier is a photographer’s paradise.

The Wrecks at Swanage

The Kyarra
The Kyarra is without doubt Dorset’s' most popular wreck. Lying at a depth of 30m with the top at 18m and only 3/4 mile off Anvil Point. This was a large vessel on its way to Sydney from Southampton and laden with cargo, when it was torpedoed by a German submarine.  Much of the cargo is still being found including gold watches, perfume bottles, champagne, knives & forks and much more.

Tim Waters diving the famous Kyarra!spacerA resident Conger eel on the Kyarra!

The Betsy Anna
The Betsy Anna was an 880 tonne steel steamer, built on the banks of the river Tyne in 1892. She struck Prawle Point in Devon in October 1926 but was re-floated and taken under tow towards Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, for major repairs. She sank, in her current position, after beginning to take on water and breaking her tow.

Tim Waters diving the Betsy Anna!spacerThe Betsy Anna wreckage!

Aeolian Sky
The Aeolian Sky was a 14,385 ton Greek freighter.  She collided with the Anna Knuepell, a 2,400 ton German coaster, about 20 miles north of Guernsey during an Atlantic gale on the 3rd November 1979

A French tug, the Abeille Langdoc was despatched to the scene and it was originally decided to tow her to Cherbourg, but as the Aeolian Sky had drifted a great distance since the collision, it was decided to tow her to the Solent instead, either to Southampton or Portsmouth.  The Anna Knuepell was only slightly damaged!

The Port Authorities of Southampton and Portsmouth were concerned that she would sink in the shipping lanes and refused her entry into the Solent so they turned round and headed for Portland Harbour.  Soon afterwards, the Aeolian Sky was in critical condition, having taken on water and her bows were underwater.  With the weather still gale-force, the seas were pounding against her and into her holds and at 3:45am on the 4th November, she lost her fight for survival.

She sank in 30 metres of water and lies on her port side and is still virtually intact.  The top of her hull was only 9 metres below the surface after her sinking, but salvage work has now increased this to 18 metres.  She is still full of cargo, including thousands of Marmite jars which litter the seabed.

Tim Waters diving the Aeolian Sky!spacerLand Rover parts on the Aeolian Sky!

Fleur De Lys
The Fleur de Lys was built in Brittany in 1969. She was 16.4 metres long, constructed from oak, and weighed about 45 tons. She was bought over to British waters from France when she was purchased by Nick Brust in 1989. On Sunday 16th April 2000, four people were on board the Fleur de Lys on their way back to Brixham from a fishing trip around Alderney.

They had been having problems with the hot water system as steam was coming from the taps rather than water. At 15.12 there was an explosion as a result of pressure build up that ruptured the hot water storage cylinder. The damage to the hull from the explosion caused the boat to begin sinking 18 miles southwest of Portland Bill in Dorset.

The onboard liferaft failed to inflate and the crew found themselves rapidly submerged in water. A Mayday was sent out that was responded to by several vessels as well as a coastguard helicopter, which recovered all four crew 16 minutes later suffering only from cold and minor injuries. Unsuccessful attempts were made to raise the Fleur de Lys whilst she was being towed on passage to Poole, and so she was abandoned in Swanage Bay.

The Fleur de Lys is located just inside Swanage Bay as you head out towards Old Harry and has a surface marker buoy permanently attached to it, so will not need to be shotted. The small size of the wreck allows you to have a thorough explore and it is even possible to do some penetration, but be wary of the huge metal nails sticking out from the sides! A good idea for a dive plan is to begin with a circuit of the wreck to get an overall impression before going back to hunt for life or do some penetration.

If your dive time allows it, you can drift off in the current to explore the nearby seabed. The silty bottom of the bay means that the visibility is frequently limited to a few metres but you may still see a lot of life such as gobies, blennies and wrasse. If you take a torch down with you use it to look in the areas sheltered from the current by the wreck, and look under rocks for crabs.

Keith Grimes diving the Fleur De Lys!spacerA shoal of Bib on the Fleur!

Drift diving at Swanage

Tanville Ledges
This is a series of 3m high reefs which make for excellent scenic diving. Lots of small fish as well as the usual lobsters and crabs can be seen. The depth varies from 7 to 10 meters. At high water, an ebbing tide generates a very fast drift dive!

Perveril Ledges
This reef consists of a number of parallel walls of rock rising from an otherwise flat seabed. The walls of rock force huge currents of water upwards making surface conditions treacherous in the race. This does however make a truly exhilarating drift dive! Depths vary from 10 - 23 metres and visibility can reach 15 metres in summer.

Tanville Ledges!spacerA spider crab on Perveril Ledges!

All photography taken by, Steve Griffiths

To review our Swanage trip in May 2009, please click here!

To review our Swanage trip in September 2009, please click here!

To book on one of our Swanage trips in 2012, please click here or contact us for further details

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