View Full Version : hodges close
After hearing all the stories about this site we dived it yesterday.The road up to the site is single track but still ok for a car though the farmer charges you a fiver to access his land :(.
You access the quarry through a 100M long tunnel which has water in it up to your waist and you have to stoop in sections as not to bang your valves,i had Elaine with me so i borrowed a drysuit so she could walk in.After negotiating the tunnel comes a 10 ft ladder you have to go down :eek: very gingerly in your kit.
The quarry is pretty spectacular with high cliffs all around,as we entered the water the first thing i saw was a skeleton!!!,there was deco station set up with a rubber skeleton attached,the vis was amazing but the water a bit chilly.We found the entrance to the tunnel system at 23M i shone my torch in for a look but didn't go in,along the quarry floor were cars,transit vans etc basically powmill but on a larger scale.
The highlight was the second dive called "the sump",you walk into a tunnel for about 20M (it's pitch black) at the end there's a hole which drops into water,down another ladder into the water which is 8.5M deep and your in a cavern.As we submerged the visibility in here was even better, as far as your torch beam,the rock formations in here were amazing after having a swim around you swim through an arch into the daylight and exit from what looks like a puddle from the outside,there were hillwalkers walking by (should have seen there faces as two divers emerge from a puddle in full kit :D.
Had a few bevies in windermere last night and spent today cruising the lake trying to get rid of the hangover,fab weekend :D
Loudy
good blog,
wonder how the cars got in there, did they stoop through the tunnel also? :D
got any pics with your video cam?
Cliffs round the quarry are vertical with no barrier round them so i guess the pushed them over the side,didn't take my camera with me :(,also meant to say the farmers cool about camping there,i can feel a weekend brewing with camping/diving/bbq's etc :D
This sounds fantastic: excellent blog, loudy! :D
I really fancy the sound of that but I'm not sure if I could persuade my other half that she does! :eek:
very good blog Loudy, any pictures??
Sounds like a weekender to me...
EDIT: the wife just said I could go, any takers??? Loudy?
very good blog Loudy, any pictures??
Sounds like a weekender to me...
EDIT: the wife just said I could go, any takers??? Loudy?
http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/cuueg/expeditions/reports/2004_11_capernhodge.htm
I didn't get any pics but this will give you an idea,yeah i'll go back down :D
This sounds fantastic: excellent blog, loudy! :D
I really fancy the sound of that but I'm not sure if I could persuade my other half that she does! :eek:
My non diving other half went with me,she did the sump dive in a drysuit and snorkel!! i'll have her diving eventually :D
http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/cuueg/expeditions/reports/2004_11_capernhodge.htm
I didn't get any pics but this will give you an idea,yeah i'll go back down :D
cool, we could round up the boys for a weekends "diving"
Still on for Wednesday?
Deep Seeker
04-06-07, 23:55
Not really wanting to hijack this post but our East... West and Middle thing didn't really make it to conclusion. Would this place make a good venue? Sounds fab.
Nick
That sounds like a novel idea! :cool:
That sounds like a novel idea! :cool:
my kidneys are starting to get sore with the thought of it....
I really enjoyed the blog and think it sounds like something really different. Definitely one to put onto the wish list.
It does sound interesting, excellent blog as well.
What was the "East... West and Middle thing?" A CA dive?
It does sound interesting, excellent blog as well.
What was the "East... West and Middle thing?" A CA dive?
yup,
a CA dive which has no solid decision on venue or timeset.
some say west is best, some say east is... yadda yadda yadda & now the suggestion of hodges close...
while hodges close looks like its worth doing, i have my reservations that many from CA will travel such a distance in order to dive.
if things were right, i would make the effort.
im sure the farmer would welcome all the scottish five pound notes.
Deep Seeker
05-06-07, 22:39
Well... speaking for those that are part of the Glitterati (they will know who they are) I would say that distance is not so much of a problem as long as it's got an interesting dive at the end of it. Something new like this quarry fits that bill and would be far more appealing than going west to some dark and cold sea loch. Which to be fair... is ok... but doesn't whet our appetites quite so much.
So, on behalf of the 'usual suspects' from this side I would say that we would all make the effort.
Nick
It's no really that far as i did it in 2 1/2 hours,when you compare going to inverary there's not that much in it plus it's nearly motorway all the way.
Deep Seeker
05-06-07, 22:50
Not really worried about the distance at all. I'm not sure I'll get all four of the 'usual suspects' (and gear) in my pocket rocket CRX though.. :o
So may have to persuade a couple of others to drive too. Choc muffins and nachos from Beanscene will probably suffice for arm twisting though.
Should get a poll going east, west or south. That would get an idea of how many are interested and where the majority fancy going. Pick a weekend then just do it.
In fact i'll try n start a poll now
Deep Seeker
05-06-07, 23:01
Good effort!
OK... throwing my pennies worth in. 7th and 8th of July. But need to check with Gogs, Prop Guard etc.
Good effort!
OK... throwing my pennies worth in. 7th and 8th July.
Boat diving outta st abbs on 8th with YD
Deep Seeker
05-06-07, 23:08
Ok... moved the posting to your poll page. I'll edit the dates on that post now...
Right, this never came to anything, so who's up for getting a CA meet at Hodges Close for some nice n cold winter diving ???? I'll drive and can carry 4 + 4 sets of gear in my pick up and could also supply another pick up for someone else to drive and carry 4 + 4 sets of gear.
No thanks, when theres sea to be dived!
I'm sure there must be some divers who would be up for this trip ! Diversity in your diving keeps it interesting
Mr Flibble
20-10-07, 11:35
And me :D
Okay So Far We Have
Shog69
Loudy331
Mr Flibble
Gonk45
Deep Seeker
Regthing
I would be interested in going too!:D
Deep Seeker
20-10-07, 16:16
Loudy,
Got your PM... I'd be keen. Can get myself there if needs be though with two divers (you saw what I drive!) I'll ask the Gogster... otherwise Prop Guard would be a contender.
Nick
good stuff :) what do you guy's think date wise?
Aye :D
I'm easy date wise unless I find myself in gainfull employment :rolleyes:
Thinking 2nd weekend in November. Down Saturday Morning, Dive then out on the pi55, home sunday
Scuba Steve
22-10-07, 17:01
I dived this site last year and yes it was definitly one to talk about the entry to the site itself was an adventure as Loudy says. however this was my first and only freshwater dive so far, and each to their own but I thought that the dive itself was a bit of a let down. granted i did not have the balls (or wish to die in a cold dark place:D ) to enter the tunnel system which apparently extends beyond 150m into the rock and has claimed a few lives over the years.but I just felt that the lack of life made it much less interesting to me. It may grow on me and one day I might return there to dive it again but the distance I had to travel to dive just did not seem worth it. for me the highlight of the trip was getting into the place. I am sure plenty of you will enjoy this site and I did to some extent but just felt a bit let down by what I had been told about it. the viz was pretty poor as well but it was very busy that day. did not have to pay for parking mind you that must be a new thing. I do have some pics of the entrance tunnel and a view from the top of the quarry some where and will post them later if I can find them.;)
Deep Seeker
22-10-07, 17:30
What about weekend of 17th 18th? I can't do either weekend before that... not that you need to rely on me anyway... but I'd like to give it a bash even though vis could be kack and there's no life. I'm a bloody engineer, what do I care.
Although did see an Octopus on the Phaecian on Sunday, first time I ever saw an octopus in UK waters.
Nick
I can make the weekend of the 17th :)
Did you do the sump dive scuba steve or just the quarry?
17th and 18th is good for me too.
I'm not too bothered about viz or life either. It's something different in a picturesque area and there is drink involded :D
Scuba Steve
22-10-07, 19:20
I can make the weekend of the 17th :)
Did you do the sump dive scuba steve or just the quarry?
Nah Just the quarry, a couple of the guys that were with me were going on about it but I never saw it:(
probably missed the best part i bet, lol
lol that is the best part :D
Well NOV 17th/18th then ????
I didn't reply to this earlier, but will not be able to do a road trip down south to dive in a hole. I do prefer the sea, but have dived the a quarry and it was quite a surreal effect diving against the cliff in crystal clear water, with no life other than the odd water boatman with about 1m+ of sludge at the bottom. Wouldn't want to do it every week though.
However my main reason for not being interested is the idea of trying to climb up and down a muddy deep dark hole in full kit without breaking my leg (again!).
Okay Okay Okay, but can we keep the posts to people who are wanting to dive Hodges Close rather than people who are not wanting to dive it but feel they must let us know why. If you don't want to dive it then don't, if you do then stick your name down and come away for a weekend.
this thread is on page 5 now, it started as a blog.
would it be more suitable to start a thread in the dive trip (http://www.congeralley.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=18) section?
p.s. i canny go, but im saying it really quietly ;)