SHEEPHAVEN SUBAQUA CLUB NOTES.
Sheephaven divers enjoyed another weekend of settled weather that allowed them to get in a good dive on the wrecks in Cranford harbour on Saturday morning and a lovely Sunday snorkel in PortnaBlagh harbour.
The dive on the Cranford wrecks was conducted in one stick to a depth of 11 metres for a dive time of 30 minutes.
In-water visibility was good at around 5 metres until the soft silt on the wrecks was disturbed, after which it quickly deteriorated, while in-water temperature remains cold at 5 degrees Celsius.
Two of the wrecks at this site are touching each other and they consist of a large wooden trawler, with a smaller steel vessel sunk behind her.
It was a super dive on a bright early-spring morning, chilled somewhat by an easterly breeze that kicked up a bit of a wave as it blew across the Broad Water into Cranford harbour, but not enough to take anything away from the dive.
The Sunday morning snorkel was conducted in near calm conditions, with just the smallest of a swell remaining from the big sea that that raged earlier in the week.
For the second weekend running new Sheephaven trainees took to the water and demonstrated how comfortable they were in the open seas, all they need to do now is built up their water fitness as they progress to their first scuba dive in the near future.
The post snorkel breakfast brought to an end a near perfect weekend, which would not have been out of place on a summers day.
While there was a good turn-out on Sunday morning there were notable absences of some club members who were attending the CFT AGM in Athlone, which also incorporates a Dive Show that attracts exhibitors from a wide range of maritime related activities.
Once such stand was Atlantic Composites owned by club member Timmy Boyle based in the Derrybeg Industrial Estate. Atlantic Composites provides a range of RIB repairs, engine sales and maintenance to customers including Sheephaven SAC, as well as various state agencies.
One of the main features of this year’s dive show was the ‘focus’ on underwater photography, with workshops and exhibitions from some of the most renowned Irish underwater photographers available including Nigel Motyer, Nick Pieffer, Mike Orth, Dr Alexander Mustard, Stewie Andrews, Richard Thorn and Ivan Donoghue.
Another very significant presentation delivered at the Dive Show was that of Underwater Archaeology Unit from the National Museum on the subject of the Streedagh Wrecks. These were three Spanish Armada wrecks driven onto the Sligo shore in 1588 and lay there undisturbed until the winter storms of late 2014 and early 2015 exposed them once more.
During the summer of 2015 divers from the Underwater Archaeology Unit recovered cannons and other artefacts from the exposed wrecks and currently have them under a conservation programme in Dublin, which will ultimately rendered them in a preserved state fit for public viewing at a later time.
The dive show is also an opportunity to fit on potential new kit, with divers taking the opportunity to examine expensive purchases such as dry suits, before making a commitment to buy such an essential piece of kit.
One such stand was Mevagh Dive Centre, which provided Sheephaven SAC once again this year with access to their 3m dive pool for trainee in-water work. Other services they cater for includes the sales and maintenance of dive gear including the annual servicing of regulators.
By all accounts from those attended the Dive Show it was well worth the long drive to Athlone, but to some giving up a weekend in the water was too high a price to pay.
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