South China Seas

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South China Seas Expedition

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One week diving the well known but little dived wrecks and reefs of the South China Seas in May 2006

The actual dives planned will be arranged around the group of divers and will be dependent on their wishes, qualifications and experience. Please discuss this with Jack Ingle. All divers must be a minimum of Dive Leader, Dive master or equivalent. Some of the sites available are listed below but there are many more.

HMS Repulse and Prince of Wales

The Seven Skies

Other sites include

The Aur tanker, The Japanese armed merchantman, Island of Tioman, Island of Aur, Island of Pemanggil, The Dutch Submarine, Maritime Fidelity, the Bangka wreck and many other wreck and reef sites.

My Reply

South China Seas Expedition

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One week technical diving with loads of deco, a lovely shoal of divers, lots of dive talk and the chance to pay respects to war heroes.

Wreck One

Reality - Actual divers booked on the trip are very experienced and all trimix trained/training.

Me - Hmmm, I feel a little intimidated, better get some sleep Zzzzzzzzzz

Reality - Check out dive on the Seven Skies

Me - Cool, a nice 20m dive to sort out weighting with ali cylinders

Reality - 35m, bit of a current, 30 degree water, viz not crystal clear, but 20m with ‘bits' in it

Me - What? 35m check out, jeez this is diving with the big boys, eek

Reality - You've done this before in the UK, so what's your problem?

Me - I've done them, two reasonable dives, chucked up twice, now into the swing of the boat routines, feeling a little tired now Zzzzzzzzzz

Wreck Two

Reality - Brief on the Repulse, 38-55m, total of five dives planned, some current, viz not great but better than UK, water 30 degrees

Me - Ok, lets go to 40m, nah buddy wants to plan a bit deeper with more deco, but that's ok. Drop down the shot to amidships. She's big. The barbettes are huge, oh my, she's beautiful. You can still see the aircraft launch sling. Oh no, feel sick, oh rats we're at 45m. Oh that's better, up the shot to 20m, oh not again, hold on, right stops done, up to 6m for an hour. Oh no, oops sorry buddy, did that get you? Sorry!

Reality - Other divers marvel at the ability to chuck up so often and still dive. Lots of talk of where divers went and good tours around the wreck.

Me - Now that brings it home to you, hospital bedstead spied through a porthole. Feeling very humble. It's hot out on the high sea and to be in a large can must've been hell, especially under fire. Ok up the shot, holding pre-planned stops. Ooh look large turtle. Bet that could provide at least 20 steaks for dinner. Wonder what it tastes like. Focus on the buoy in the distance, ok close your eyes and think about the dive. Lovely, my first NSD (no, not No Stop Dive, No Sick Dive). Time for forty winkzzzzzz

Wreck Three

Reality - Brief on Prince of Wales, 45-60m, upside down, maybe some current, viz as before.

Me - Bottom time 15 minutes planned. Down the shot and oh my word she is enormous! Oh, I feel like crying and the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. There's an ensign on the prop. I'm a sentimentalist at best and I feel so privileged. Through the porthole you can see a small electric fan. All the cabins had them, as there was no aircon. That was quick, time to go, one last look as we ascend the shot.

Wreck Four

Reality - Brief on Maritime Fidelity, upright, some easy penetration, please avoid the liquid fertilizer in the hold.

Me - Really is upright, swim though the gangway, steady girl, watch those - what the? That was huge, jeez that made me jump. Did you see that grouper? Ok concentrate, watch that buoyancy, gently, watch the fin action, ok you're through and no silt. Did you see those coats hung up in the small room? What about the thermometer in the engine room? And all that cleaning material and buckets. Yeah and the tools hung up. Could've sunk yesterday, except for the coral growth!

Reality - Not for those who like luxury liveaboards. Good food, good crew and serious divers. Be prepared for hours of deco, make sure you're dive fit and skills are in practise. Watch out for the sun, even in shade, and chill out!

Me -Need to plan my next trip out here. It's great diving (for the wreck heads I guess) although some of those pesky fish spoiled the view. Chef managed to make them taste good though on his two ring gas stove. He was a great cook. Think I'll read my book for Zzzzzzzzzzzzz