Caves 7th March

[chris]

Well headed off to the caves last night after some adventures choices in traffic routes to avoid the M8.
Eventually arrived to a very starry sky, although moonless so extremely dark.
Got kitted up and head down through the culvert to guide up a couple of divers who had beaten us to it and came up a bit short of the exit.
Once they were out we headed in, good news Berl had turned up they had been with her on their dive.
We went in only to find visibility was similar to your mums home made lentil soup, couldnt see my buddy, only his torch and strobe flashing, but we headed on down the slope, around 12-14 metres viz improved to a metre or so then we got to the boulders and things started to improve but every now and again it would be cloudy, must have been berl sneaking up on us. We got so far and decided to turn round as viz was getting worse and we were both getting cold. Heading up the slope we came across another really poor viz section, then out of the murk came a grey spotty thing....hey its berl come to check us out. She stayed with us for a wee while checking us out but by this point we couldnt see shit and were totally disorientated from following berly around, we deceided to head up and out and we came out just the other side of the fallen tree, so not too far a swim.
Rocks were very slippy and with some bastard removing the rope entry and exit were difficult and both of us fell at least once, I am sporting a lovely bruise on my arse at the moment, and I fell with no kit on, my buddy fell fully kitted!
A really crap night to be honest, but made bareable by berl joining us for a swim.

[charlie]

At least you managed to get there (unlike some of us last week)! :eek:

Shame that the conditions weren't favourable for you: better luck next time. :(

Is there no rope there at all now, Chris? Not even at the bottom section? Do you think that anglers have sabotaged it or that it's just perished? I've been there once when there was no rope at all & it certainly was a bit treacherous.

It definitely seems as if the seal is actively seeking out divers at both Conger Alley & the Caves. Good scope for one of our professional videographers (step forward Claire & stew) to capture some high quality footage. :cool:

[Gord]

what was the tide doing?

[Midton]

Last night LW Greenock was 1953.

Al

[charlie]

LW at Coulport last night was at 20:02 (0.4m).

Maybe the combination of silt swept down from the head of the loch and the previous divers is what made it poor for you, Chris. I've usually found viz at the Caves good once in the depths. A shame that you didn't get a chance to enjoy your Beryl encounter more because of the poor conditions. :(

{edit: sorry, Midton: wasn't contradicting you :o. We posted at just about the same time but you pipped me to the post}

[gwilson]

We did conger last night. Arrived approx 1845 ish. Tide was on its way out as there was a fair walk down the beach and the big boulder was about 30 foot or so from the water by time we surfaced after 40 cold minutes. Viz was about a metre or so but syrupy in places once down at 20 metres it wasnt too bad or at least for night time as torches helped to keep check of buddies. Tide must of been running out as when Fi put her bag up for practice the current took it and off she whent to the caravan park!!!!!!!

Plenty of hermit crabs, few blennies and flat fish but that was it. Best bit was actually surfacing to a break in the clouds and some cracking stars in the sky.

But it was a dive so hey ho.

[stew]

Good scope for one of our professional videographers (step forward Claire & stew) to capture some high quality footage. :cool:

professional :eek: i guess you aint watched my vids all the way through then..
i have been thinking about heading up, but the only thing stopping me is the darkness...im scared...erm i mean it would be dificult to capture in such conditions especially since the viz is so bad.
been a wee while since i last 'molested' Beryl..;)

the rope..........
made of nylon, unlikely to perrish in such a short time out of the water.
if it did, it would still be lying there, in bits.
sabotaged by fishermen? thats a bit harsh as some fishermen dont actually drink buckfast.;)
sabotaged by anyone, perhaps but i doubt it, the remains would be there.
i would guess it was of use to someone, perhaps a fisherman, perhaps a diver or even a passer by.

nice to see Beryl is still around & good blog Chris.

[Midton]

LW at Coulport last night was at 20:02 (0.4m).

Maybe the combination of silt swept down from the head of the loch and the previous divers is what made it poor for you, Chris. I've usually found viz at the Caves good once in the depths. A shame that you didn't get a chance to enjoy your Beryl encounter more because of the poor conditions. :(

{edit: sorry, Midton: wasn't contradicting you :o. We posted at just about the same time but you pipped me to the post}

No worries, Charlie! :)

At least we now have a tidal constant for head of Loch Long (Greenock +0009), not that 9 minutes is going to make that much of a difference!

Al.

[chris]

No idea what was up with the viz, but reckon beryl had something to do with it.
Last time I dived caves, about 4 weeks ago someone had placed a new rope with nice knots every 1/2 metre or so and it was perfect, right through the tunnel and down to the waters edge. The old but of rope from just outside the tunnel to the tree is still there but not that much use, the newish/dissappeared rope was perfect. First time I have seen the caves so bad, and I wouldnt blame the divers before as they described similar conditions.

Hey ho a dive is a dive, didnt rinse my gear until about 30mins ago and had to use baby shampoo on the hood as it stank!!
Not out now until the end of the month, so will have to put up with reading about everyone elses dives until then.

Cheers all.