English Heritage Maritime Archaeology Unit Talk ~ 2nd September

I have Booked Alison Hamer from the English Heritage Maritme Archaeology Unit to come and give us a talk on Wednesday 2nd September.

It would be really great if this is well attended as it could open up some interesting opportunties with some of the protected wrecks we have of our coast.

The plan is to hold the event at Arlington Village Hall (awaits confirmation). The invitation is extended to any other interested divers who follow the Meridian Divers blog. Please add a comment if you are planning to attend (or send me an email).

Tad

Sea Zones ~ Revised Times ~ Sunday 12th July

Please note a TIME CHANGE for the Sea Zones dive on Sunday 12th July are as follows:-

Meet Newhaven 12:15
Ropes Off 13:00

Ernie

Back from the Maldives !

Simon and Linda here, back from celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary on Mirihi island in the Maldives.

We had an overnight in Columbo first - reasonably interesting place but there is a massive security presence - you're not allowed to photograph anything - and the big hotels were all bunched together with even more high security, so we didn't wander out into the city, especially as we were told there are no private bars outside of the hotels!

Next day we got our flight to Mirihi island and our room there was stunning. It was incredibly hot the whole time we were there, not very conducive to anything but diving or bathing! We did use the gym one afternoon after we'd dived in the morning, but the skin on Simon's upper arms began to bubble so we stopped immediately and went back for a rest. Oops! Had a fabulous time, although it did take a little while to adjust to doing absolutely nothing (I read 3 books). You could walk round the shoreline of the whole island in 15 minutes.

The dive centre was very slick and professional and was only about 10 paces from our door, so very handy. The boat went out every morning and afternoon so you could just put your name down if you wanted to go. It was all extremely efficient and well run - the whole place is managed by an Austrian and there is a heavy Swiss German influence in the management too, so naturally everything runs very smoothly. Lots of lovely sealife, bigger shoals of fish than I remember in Egypt, although I thought the corals were not as pretty or colourful. Among the things we saw were blue stripe snapper, clearfin turkey fish, forceps fish, fat starfish (!), lovey huge batfish that come very close, peacock grouper, moorish idol, yellow trumpet fish, clown trigger fish, turtles, remora that tried to attach themselves to my wetsuit!, unicorn fish, oriental grunt, Napolean wrasse, etc., etc., .......... you get the picture. Oh, and we had to do mask removal and buddy breathing before they'd take us out. Doh!

Also saw a couple of small sharks but sadly no manta rays (we didn't expect to as it's the wrong season) or whale sharks. We went out on the boat for 2 dives one day and the crew did spot the whale sharks so we stopped and were going to jump in with our snorkels, but they'd moved off. The boat fired up the engines again and began to move away and apparently one of them then went right underneath the boat! Typical. On the last day Simon and I dived the house reef and wreck - at about 25m - on our own, which was a new experience for me (I know, I sound like a complete novice). I was fine with it, although I did get a bit anxious on the way back as to whether we were going to come up in the right place. Should have had more faith in Simon as of course he knew exactly where we were.

All in all, a fantastic anniversary hol.

See you all soon!
Linda and Simon

Seazones ~ Sunday 12th July

We will be diving the T R Thompson from Seazones on Sunday 12th July.
Depth approx 34 mtrs.
Return to harbour approx. 19:30
Wreck and drift £32.00 including scones.

Divers booked:
1. Ernie
2. Tad
3. Chris P.
4. Trez
5 Simon
6. Prometheus
7. Gary
8. Terry

Hope everyone is O.K with these arrangements. If not let me know ASAP.

Ernie

(PS Note Revised Times Posting above).

JimBob Comes to Malta

Ahoy fellow scuba fans. I hope the UK weather continues to please.

Malta has not been the same since Jim left with his haul of fantastic pictures. We did 8 dives in fewer days, hitting all the major spots - Um El Faroud, Cirkewwa, The Blue Hole, HMS Maori. We saw moray eels, grouper, a cowrie (thanks Jim!) a pyrosome, flying gurnards, nudibranchs, and a dentex. And that was just at the restaurant...

The pics and the dives formed the basis for an article in a local newspaper, which I am linking to here.

We have print copies too, and these feature genuine picture credits for a certain "Jim Harvey" (who he?). Basically I think he's a local celebrity...

JimBob's photo album can be viewed HERE! Well worth a click I'd say!

Beach Dive -~ Newhaven Arm 2nd July 2009

I have finally made it back into the water. This evening Ernie & I dived the Arm. Viz was 1-2 metres but it was very silty and there is still a bit of plankton. Plenty to see, crabs, 2 very large lobsters, various fish and gobbies etc., and a very startled large eel. Sea temparature was a very pleasant 16 degrees.

We also met some old friends. Matt W, his brother, Jason and Andy C.

The good news is that a flat path has been created along the wall so the journey to the shoreline is not so arduos. So all of you out there you can't use that as an excuse not to follow my lead and have a very pleasant dive

OK , Something for the Dog Owners !

I thought those of you on Meridian Divers who are also dog owners would like to know a little more about a very special dog that I featured in one of my photos from British Columbia.

A couple of posts before this one are the photos. One of the photos shows an Orca passing a research vessel. The keen eyed amongst you may have spotted a black Labrador dog on the research boat , I think his name is Tucker!

Tucker is not just there for the ride, he's part of the research team and his particular task is to track whales ! Apparently his sensitive nose detects, well, shall we jsut say on this family blog, that which the whales leave behind! Well that's what the skipper of our boat told me and you know what I don't think its a shaggy dog story ! The Orca was spotted whilst we were travelling by boat from Vancouver to Vancouver Island, that trip takes you right along the 'sea border' with the US. The Orca in the picture were actually in US waters and the research boat was from a US university. There is a little more background HERE!

T.R.Thompson Remembered

Its hard to believe that it is nearly a year since we had the wreath laying dive on the T.R.Thompson in the company of crew relatives Norman and Mary Jack, but although a year has nearly past the project has not been forgotten and Norman has been flying the T.R.Thompson flag up north at the TRT birth place Sunderland.

Norman has given talks on the ship and the project and has good connections with the Sunderland Maritime Heritage charity. With this in mind Norman and Mary have had a brass plaque made up commemorating the Thompson's crew and the charity is mounting this on a piece of oak along with a rivet and a piece of the iron ore cargo (recovered during last years wreath laying dive) this plaque will have its home in the charity's HQ in Sunderland and who will also be showing a looped film of the TRT video footage filmed last year. The project has a page on their website dedicated to the TRT , to view the page click HERE

Meridian Divers and I would like to thank Norman and Mary for their continued support of the project.

Marine Life ~ British Columbia

A few photos of marine life taken during my recent visit ~ sadly I didn't get to go diving which was a great shame as the waters were very clear and are renowned for good diving!

White Sided Pacific Dolphin

Orca (Killer Whale) & Research Boat

Humpback Whale Flukes

Humpback Whale

Sea Lions

Jelly Fish

Just a handful from the twelve hundred or so shots! OK , OK , I took the dolphin & jelly fish shots in Vancouver Aquarium but the rest were in the wild!

Next Meridian Divers Meeting ~ Wednesday 1st July

Hi all, the next MD meeting will be held at 7.30pm at the Berwick Inn, Berwick on Wednesday 1st July 2009. Looks like we should be getting some warmer water and imprving viz , so let's get going!

Pool Session - Sovereign Centre, Eastbourne

Meridian divers enjoyed a sucessful pool session at Eastbourne Sovereign Centre. Some skills and DSMB deployment were practiced and some fun just getting wet. Very enjoyable evening and Debbie found a new friend!

Scallop Wreck Dive

This is some of the video footage taken a couple of weeks ago whilst diving as a guest with TWSAC diving the Scallop wreck in 36m about 12 miles south of Newhaven. Although I had taken my camera most of the footage in this clip were taken by Jamie Smith from TWSAC with some bits of mine added in.

T.R.Thompson Wreck Tour Dive Sunday 26th July

Arrangements have now been made for the T.R.T wreck Tour dive with Diver Magazine John Liddiard. The Dive will take place on Sunday 26th July ropes off 1.30 pm. The dive will take place from a local newhaven Hard boat MV MY Sharon skippered by Ray Duff. Cost is TBC. If the hard boat is full there maybe spaces on TWSAC rib.

Tunbridge Wells SAC are also organising a meal drinks and film night at the Captains Table on the Saturday Night (25th July) to coincide with John Liddiards Vist to their Club. Meridian Divers have been invited along with the opportunity to talk about our project and show film footage as well as see the stuff TWSAC have put together. This is open to all and should be a great evening but again need to know numbers asap please. Lets support this guys.

If you would like a space on the dive please add a comment. also add a comment if you would like to attend the Saturday evening event.

Thanks to Jamie Smith and Tunbridge Wells SAC for organising this.

Divers
1.Ernie
2. Chris P
3. Tad
4. John Liddiard
5.
6.
7.
8.

Saturday Meal and Film.

1. Tad
2. Sheila Ernie
3. Chris and Sue