LSSAU goes to Plymouth - 9 to 11 May 2014

Forecast to be a blustery weekend, wind WSW veering W, speed 21 to 25 knots gusting up to 40 knots, which translates into force 6 to 9, Marg, Geoff, Pete, Shirley, Simon and Tom, ventured down to Plympton scout hut, unchanged in terms of facilities from last year and costing £5 per head per night.

The George Inn, a ten minute walk from the hut, provided a very palatable pint of St Austell beer, Dartmoor and HSD, along with good food, so good that Saturday night saw a return.

Following an uneventful launch and boat check, we headed for Cawsands Bay, completely sheltered in the lee of Rayne Head. Vis though was poor with 1.5m horizontally and only a foot or so vertically. The sea bottom was sandy with some sea weed, hermit crabs, squirts and the like, but it kept all three buddy pairs interested for on average a 30 minute dive.   

The return to Mountbatten Centre with the following sea was much quicker and great fun. The weather conditions having worsened, we recovered Vixen to return to Plympton, wash down and pack up kit in readiness for calling in at Vobster inland dive site near Frome on the return the following day.

Vobster provided an enjoyable dive with vis much improved on Cawsand Bay.

Pete and Shirley successfully completed use of SMB and a low vis dive, Simon had a further dive leading skill signed off and Tom had both low vis and small boat signed off – all well deserved.

Many thanks to Marg for organising and enjoyable weekend, even if the diving conditions weren’t as good as they might have been, to Kyle for preparing and helping with Vixen and to Sam for being home contact.