NUPG Winter Splash In 7th February

[KenByrne]

In water time will be about 8:15 am. Meeting up from around 7:15. If you've not dived Menai before slack water is about 3 hours before low water at Liverpool. Get ready to dive a bit before the expected time and start the dive when the water movement slows enough for you to feel comfortable. The easiest dive to describe is to enter the water by the yellow telegraph sign on the beach and dive under the bridge on the Anglesey side. Any current at the start of the dive will carry you in that direction. When the tide turns the current will bring you back. The telegraph cable runs right across the straits so you should be able to find it and follow it out to the beach.

There is the option of a second dive at Trefor from about 12:30, depends on the weather. Parking is limited under the bridge, although people park on the double yellow lines and I've not known anyone get a ticket. Don't park near the houses just by the bridge or the waste land between the houses, the owner gets very irate.

The costs are £5 for members £10 for non members. Selected images are submitted by e-mail and judging is at the April meeting. The entrance fee for non members includes entry to the April meeting.

[ScubaDiva]

Why oh why is slack so early? But luckily I am going to stay with a friend on the Saturday night along the A55 so won't have to get up as early as some!

[KenByrne]

I asked why we chose the 7th last night. Apparently the other weekends were worse. Normally we'd hold the splash in on Saturday but that would be an hour earlier.

[Steph]

If i'm not bunged up and the vis looks reasonable I will join you.
Do we have to do the cables? As there are several other sites within 500m each way that would be as good if not better.

How many people are you expecting?

As the mother in law will still be here i'm afraid i can't over anyone coming from further afield to sleep in our spare room.
(I live 10 min Drive from the Bridge.)

Just a shame i'm rather unlikely to make if for the judging as i'll live in Edinburgh by then.

[KenByrne]

After meeting up you can dive where you like. I'd be interested in finding out about the other sites. Anywhere with better parking? We usually do the cables or get in the other side of the bridge and from there you can go in either direction. Don't know of any other decent entry points although I think you can dive near the slip.

[Steph]

There are a couple of sites.
Unless you pass this way before then it is probably best if i show you after the dive on the day.
I find this sort of thing not that easy to explain in writing and have not got the time to draw a map at the moment.

[KenByrne]

I'm not going to make the splash in so hopefully you can give some of the others a pointer to the other dive sites on the straits and I can find out from them.

Is the Edinburgh move a permanent one?

[Steph]

Will be there for the next 4 years and hopefully permanent.
If we don't stay in Edinburgh I think the posibillity of moving back here is unfortunately rather remote.

Having exchanged Edinburgh for Bangor I used to hate it here.
I guess that was mainly due not having a car.
Now that I have lost interest in clubbing and such i'd much rather stay here.
Hills and the Sea is even closer than from Edinburgh.

The marine life in North Wales is much richer more diverse than in Scotland.
Well i like sponges...
And Macro is my thing so on that front i really should really stay here.

There are so many pictures in my head from round here that still need shooting... so will have to come back for some holidays at least.


But lets look at the bright side.
Oban Scappa etc. St Abbs and the Farnes hare not very far and perhaps on the east coast everything is so densely paced with dead mans fingers i never bothered to look close enough to see the interesting macro stuff.

Best of all the Viz is much better in Scotland and at least in the lochs it is always good enough to make a dive worth while which is more than can be said about Anglesey!
There are many more lobsters and squat lobsters...

Still I will sorely sorely miss all those sponges and decorator crabs... esp. now that i got external strobes and would be able to take some decent pictures of them.

If you can't make the splash in if you are up for a dive between now and the 16th.
I can go diving during the week.

[KenByrne]

Love to get in for a dive. Mid week is fine with me. 9th 10th or 11th Feb would be good for me.

[Steph]

Can't make the 10th. I would prefer the 9th.
That said if caught the sniffels again and it usually will take a while to clear.
is it Ok if we pencile in the 9th and then say go/no go at short notice?

Despite the sniffles i went for a snorkle (no duck diving) with the new DIY camera rig.
The arms are as feared to floppy, but that is for another thread.
The viz was panz 50cm! and it was absolutley freezing.
Not quite as bad as the reservoir i tried first (on both counts) I stubbled across a wee wreck in the first 2ms.
If the viz ever plays ball in the reservoir that should l make a cracking over/ under shot.