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October 2011Arrival of Winter and Darker Diving |
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Vobster With the arrival of Autumn and now Winter and the accompanying foul weather, diving options are once more narrowing, and popularity with the in-land sites goes back on the increase. Shunned by some purists due to their lack of salt water, 'proper fish', and lack of 'ocean swells', come the winter these habitats offer something the open water cannot:- a sheltered water environment offering varying depths and obstacles to practise skills, and on average, reasonable visibility depending on the number of visitors. On 30th October, Daz organised a trip to Vobster Quay, 5 members of the club attended, the primary aim of the exercise was to try out new equipment. Jim had a shiny new suit and twinset (suits you sir!) and Daz was intent on dragging him round the far reaches of the quarry to see how long before hypothermia took its toll. It was a while since I had visited the site, and I was pleasantly surprised on arrival. I was presented with a serialled tag, they now run a cashless system here.This is quite convenient for the diver, as the plastic tag is carried on his person. Air, Gas, Food, drink is all charged to the tag, and you settle up before you leave. No more looking for those pockets in your drysuit that you don't have for spare change. |
| Scribe:- Andy Brown |
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Vobster Quay |
Once we had fuelled up on Bacon rolls, we had a leisurely start to the morning. After we had sorted out a dive plan from the Feature board, we snorkelled out (yes, one of those tube things people use to poke Congers with) to the bouys above the Jacquin wreck, a small 15 metre long wooden cabin cruiser. We were the first divers on this, and we could see the length of the wreck. the Depth was about 20 metres, and the temperature 13 degrees C. We took some video, and it wasn't long before half a dozen divers came tumbling down one of the shot lines to land in an untidy heap on the front deck. Time to move on. Our next port of call was the Wheel house of a Coaster which lay nearby, allowing an interesting swim through, although the exit was a bit of a wriggle. A line tied to one side of the wheelhouse leads down into colder darker water into one of the wells of the quarry. A 4 minute swim will take you to the caravan at 24 metres, which although only 5 metres deeper than the coaster is also 5 degrees cooler at a chilly 8 degress. Those going to Narvik next year could use this to check they have adequate insulation. |
A
trip to the quarry is not complete without a swim out to the darker
and cooler crushing works with its impressive tower and concrete
chute.
There are interesting
ruins to pick through here as well as a long dark tunnel that ascends
from 20 metres at the bottom of the crushing works back up to
the 12 metre ledge, where a brighter warmer atmosphere can be
found. For
those with thicker suits and skins, more adventure can be found by
descending further to the base of the crushing works, although
the silt can be easily disturbed here. |
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Conclusion No doubt Vobster will see more of us visiting its attractions in the coming months, as we shelter from high winds, seek to practise old and new skills, try out other kit and generally remain current for that long and distant Summer season that will eventually turn up next year. Cheer up, its only a few months!. |
| The Tunnel |
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