View Full Version : Faslane Wrecks
alexmaclennan
03-05-06, 09:16
When I did my PADI Advanced Open Water training - OK five further dives - our instructor, who was Dave Tomlin from Splashsports, took us to a shore dive site in the Gareloch opposite Faslane (I think). Dave called the site 'Faslane Wrecks'. There were two small wrecks we visited reaching a max depth of 15m and only spending about 30 mins in the water. I cannot recall anything much about one of the wrecks but the other was, I think, a trawler. There may have been a rope between the two wrecks so they were reasonably easy to find. I really enjoyed that first wreck dive even comparing it now to north Red Sea wrecks. Safety stop was hanging onto the radar reflector on the mast of one wreck.
Does anyone know this divesite? Where do you park and what direction do you swim in? I would like to visit again.
Alex
When I did my PADI Advanced Open Water training - OK five further dives - our instructor, who was Dave Tomlin from Splashsports, took us to a shore dive site in the Gareloch opposite Faslane (I think). Dave called the site 'Faslane Wrecks'. There were two small wrecks we visited reaching a max depth of 15m and only spending about 30 mins in the water. I cannot recall anything much about one of the wrecks but the other was, I think, a trawler. There may have been a rope between the two wrecks so they were reasonably easy to find. I really enjoyed that first wreck dive even comparing it now to north Red Sea wrecks. Safety stop was hanging onto the radar reflector on the mast of one wreck.
Does anyone know this divesite? Where do you park and what direction do you swim in? I would like to visit again.
Alex
We call this site the five wrecks and the wrecks u r talking about r connected by a single strand of copper wire and r both old wooden motor cruisers that sunk at anchorage:) :) :)
U drive round Garelochhead and turn in just past the burnt out house (room to park 3 cars) head down to the beach with the old boathouse to your right facing faslane enter the water and go down to 12-13m and turn left after u reach the first wreck on the other side midships there is a copper wire 1mm thick going to the other wreck If u want to dive these wrecks u must let security at the gate of faslane (at roundabout) know u r diving there they have underwater microphones there because of the peace protesters trying to swim over and if u dont let them know u r diving u get security boats and police cars waiting for u. I can speak from experiance.
Ahh, Five Wrecks Reef! Like diving in a blocked toilet, as I recall.
Ding introduced me to this site in 2002, and I've dived it 3 or 4 times since. Always in sh!t viz. Never done more than grope my way around the wrecks. I think they're callled the "Cherokee Chief" and the "Golden Shower" ... or something. There's loads of stuff in the cabins: mugs and tools and bits and bobs.
Funny thing about this site: you max out around 14m, but it feels a damn siight deeper. I'd be more comfortable at 40m on the Kronprinz than at 14m on the Cherokee Chief. Creepy sort of site. Can't put my finger on it. Maybe just the low viz and the creepy entry point, the nuclear subs, ribs full of commandos and ...
No. I know what it is, now that I think about it. That site reminds me of the scene in Jaws when Richard Dreyfus is snorkling under the broken hull of the wee fishing boat and the severed head suddenly rolls out at him! That's what it is! :eek: :eek: :eek:
Get's my vote for creepiest site ever dived! Now there's something ...
Wow, similar to the red sea, jings that's scarey. I dived there once viz like soup, knew I had reached the wreck cos I managed to hit it before it appeared, not good, abandoned that dive.
The strange thing about that dive site is, you go to the shore, the water is crystal cleaer, you get to about 3m, then soup....... no thanks agree with Gord, creepy creepy creepy
alexmaclennan
06-05-06, 12:00
'Wow, similar to the red sea, jings that's scarey.'
No not similar to the Red Sea. Dunraven, Carnatic, Thistlegorm, Kingston, Kormoran etc are much grander wrecks with much better vis and colourful sealife. Dunraven stern to bows swimthrough was my second ever wreck dive. What I meant was that these were the first wrecks that I had ever dived and so, impressionable me, really enjoyed them - even if it was in soup. That's all. I'll give them another go and, forewarned, be prepared to be disappointed/disorientated/disembowelled by great white.
Alex
Don't give the Mod Plod any back chat either, they don't have a sense of humour:D
bubblemaker
06-05-06, 12:28
Don't give the Mod Plod any back chat either, they don't have a sense of humour:D
i find that due to their distinct inability to find anything funny, they are brilliant to take the piss out of!!
i find that due to their distinct inability to find anything funny, they are brilliant to take the piss out of!!
But remember to to let MOD guys know if u r diving there ;)
alexmaclennan
23-06-06, 04:51
Well, Alan & I went there last night and OK its not the Red Sea but I still enjoyed the two dives and will go back. Viz was no better/worse than other Loch Long sites sometimes. Thanks for the directions. Link below is to YD trip report.
http://www.yorkshire-divers.com/forums/trip-reports/39727-five-wrecks-faslane-wrecks-gareloch-22-6-06-a.html#post476468
alex
Nice report, Alex. How about copying it into our dive log directory.
The problem I alway had with this site was finding the first wreck. Once you've got that, it's easy enough to get the second one. But I've dived this site a couple of times without actually finding wreck #1!!!
:o
This a divesite I havent dived for a long time wonder how intact they are?
Will need to remember to let the MOD plod know I'm diving. A rebreather and camera might not look good opposite a nuclear sub base. :D :D
I'll phone them and let them know your coming Mr Mohammed
I'll phone them and let them know your coming Mr Mohammed
Mr Mohammed binladin to you. Hope the spy bots dont pick up these names. ;)
alexmaclennan
25-11-06, 21:32
The old burnt out Dallandhui Hotel is being renovated and the parking space now has a metal fence midway across it. You would be able to undo the fence as it is only tied together with rope but it looks as if at some point there will be further restricted access to this dive site.
alex
Cheers for the info, alex. Do you think that the hotel's grounds include that access point then?
Looks as if those that want to experience diving these wrecks & also Powmill Quarry (see Max's post (http://www.congeralley.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4279#p4279)) had better be quick! :eek:
alexmaclennan
26-11-06, 06:05
Charlie, I reckon that the parking site that is described in the Five wrecks divesite description is the end of a looping drive that belongs to the hotel. It is not obviously continuous to the hotel as the driveway is so overgrown and has rubbish/ building rubble dumped on it. I plan to dive the wrecks again before Xmas. They would make an OK night dive as there is easy access from the shingle shore and depth is max 15m.
alex
Yeah, that sounds like a good plan, alex. The wrecks would probably look pretty good in the darkness :cool:
If you're going some time, I'd be keen to tag along if OK with you.
Went looking for these wrecks before. As mentioned by others viz was extremely poor, never found them but reckon we were in the wrong area. Fancy giving it a go again with the directions on the site to help.
atlantic-diver
07-12-06, 23:16
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hi ,
just share some info about this site . the builders have moved into the old house and started work so
there was 2 gates across the access to the drive way , no builders there last sunday so untied gate
and parked inside as they have a sign up asking for no parking . the pile of gravel that was at the gates has been moved to block the gap in the trees that leads down to the entry point.
at some point i guess this will be private land again , in the meantime if the builders are there ask their permission to dive the site . it is possible to park inside/outside the gates without obstucking the access.
the diving on the fishing boat was good , but on the smaller boat it was down to about 1.5m even at nearly high tide on second dive .
but to make up i saw my first norwegian lobster (dublin bay prawn etc) making a tunnel in the mud
under the rope between the wrecks.
someone was asking for directions , take a bearing from the wooden thing on the shore looking towards the left hand side of the big shed at faslane.
about 310 degrees i think. follow this out , should hit stern of small wreck before 8m if not repeat. rope to big wreck starts from 2m square mooring
block . this is 2-3m from port bow.
did this back in june and vis was great for here and the big wreck getting
quite colurful now
mod plod watched us get ready but ignored us.
safe diving
kenny
Hi Kenny how r u
not your usual divesites
Cheers
John N
atlantic-diver
11-12-06, 19:07
hi john , had my pal with me who is just certified so
i was trying to fightened the s*** out of him with so
quality scottish vis but he passed the test...
kenny:rolleyes:
now that's just cruel ... :D