Cardiff BSAC Forums

Brian’s report from the weekend!

Despite the impending doom of the various weather reports, Anne insisted that it was going to be dry for the weekend! After a clear drive down from Cardiff in the afternoon, Teresa, Adrian and I were greeted by a chilly Bunkhouse. Not to worry, the pub was soon serving hot food and drink. As we waited for the rest of the gang to arrive, a new accomplice, Paul, a Mancunian from Torbay BSAC, in Torquay, joined us for the weekend.

Saturday morning came, and the waves breaking at Chessel Beach were even bigger and whiter than the previous day. Shouldn’t be a problem for the Bottle Bank! We did discuss going outside of the harbour…very, very briefly... so, the first dive was indeed to be the old favourite, the Bottle Bank!!! The visibility was zero, and below about 8m it was very dark. After hitting the bottom, Ron and I spent enough time there to launch a DSMB before aborting the dive and making our ascent. Everyone else, apart from Steve, also cut short their usual dive times, to berate the conditions back on the boat.

The revised plan was to have lunch and look at what else was available. A couple of us already called it a day; Adrian had gotten soaked inside his “dry” suit, and I was still feeling the effects of having eaten something that had disagreed with me. The remaining brave souls hit the water above the “bombardment chamber” inside the harbour wall. Most (except Steve) lasted slightly longer than the first dive, or perhaps it just seemed longer??? The visibility was the same as the first. Paul did however find the bombardment chamber….once he was actually inside it! Ronald held out to be the last back on board. On the way to the dock, the consensus was that we wouldn’t be going out on Sunday. Nothing to do with the deteriorating forecasts and conditions, we really wanted more drinking and partying time that night (yeah, right!)

The early finish gave us a retail opportunity in the O`Three shop just down the road from the bunkhouse. Despite the enthusiastic efforts of the sales chap and his blue-eyed blonde sidekick, we couldn't be tempted by anything except the free hot drinks and peppermints.

In preparation for evening’s events, some of us showered and slept, others watched a racy video: “Racing Stripes”, a tall tale of a horse-race-winning talking Zebra…so I was later told. That evening however, the day’s pace took its toll. After leaving a token twosome to hit the remainder of the Weymouth hostelries, the rest of us headed back to the bunkhouse for a girly night in: chocolate, wine, and a video of Arnold Schwarzenegger running around in a lycra suit!!

Sunday started with a later-than-normal breakfast (negotiated to 9am), before an early return to Cardiff! The diving conditions were far from brilliant, but as ever it was a good weekend away, and we’ve made friends with a chap in a club, in Torquay that has its own rib and hardboat! (Also, a useful contact for anyone wanting to make an Advanced Diver training trip...it was subtly pointed out to me).

Overall it wasn't the greatest of dive weekends but, we have had some brilliant winter trips to Weymouth in the past so, for most of us, we feel it's worth taking the chance.