kath2407
09-04-2006, 15:49
With a slightly dodgey ear, I was not enthused to drive 2 hours to crap n rainy to find i couldn't dive, so I thought I'd give the Blue Lagoon a go instead.
Today was its "launch" altho I belive it has been open a while and maybe just changed hands???? At just under 35miles round trip its a WHOLE lot closer than the big two (stoney and carpernwray).
LisaR has posted to say that she was going so I gave her a bell and we arranged the rendezvous at about half ten.
I'm bombing down the motorway at the phone rings at 9.45 "I'm here love!" Well at least she didn't get lost!!!!!
So we'd both arrived and i went for a wander. I caught up with Lisa just getting her bacon buttie and cup of tea from the cabin. the day had started off gloriously sunny but now it was fair old chucking down.
We kitted up to get ready. Lisa broke her nail really badly urgh! and I STILL cant get my DIN fitting to seat on my cylinder properly!
Off we wanders down to the waters edge. Theres a nice path between the car park and the edge and steps the go right into the water.Some nice helpful chap tries to tell us where everything is and promises us max 9 meters, 11 if we can find the deep bit! Bit of fannying getting fins et al on and Lisa took a random bearing towards a bouy and off we go.
We hit the bottom at 5m, the bottom is covered in weed but there is about 4in of silt, even finning gently stirred it up! Whatever was promised under the bouy never materialised. There are hundreds of baby tiny fish and I swear to god we were swimming in circles! After about 15 mins we decided to surface to try and figure out where the hell we were. Not that that helped becuase you stuck your head under the water and didn't have a clue again.
Following the "reccie" we decided to swim over to the far wall then follow it back round anti clockwise till we reached the entry exit point. We hit the wall. It was at this point - about 28 mins into the dive that I started to feel a bit cold. so we turned around and same back across the pond.
We got out the same way we got in and trudge back up to the cars. As I rolled my set off my shoulder and onto the floor something caugt my finger. I now only have half a fingernail! (OUCHEEEEEEE) Upon stripping off the dry suit I discovered that I was wet. I think this may have been ahirs inth nack seal but I'll tell you something for nothing - brains lose heat really quickly!! All the kit got thrown in the back of the car and off we went home
Verdict - the blue lagoons facilities, cafe, shop etc etc are excellant, it is a shame it is so shallow. However, I may well be back to do random kit tests and maybe the "pre season" dives to get my mo jo back! Vis is quite pants but I have heard rumours that they will be pumping out some silt later on. If all the baby fish grow up then the fish may provide more entertainment!!!
Dive time 32mins
Depth 5.4m
Lessons Learned - the new 6mm posidon gloves are toasty.
Check for hairs in neck seal.
always pack a dry tshirt! Even if you are only 17 miles from home!
K XX
Today was its "launch" altho I belive it has been open a while and maybe just changed hands???? At just under 35miles round trip its a WHOLE lot closer than the big two (stoney and carpernwray).
LisaR has posted to say that she was going so I gave her a bell and we arranged the rendezvous at about half ten.
I'm bombing down the motorway at the phone rings at 9.45 "I'm here love!" Well at least she didn't get lost!!!!!
So we'd both arrived and i went for a wander. I caught up with Lisa just getting her bacon buttie and cup of tea from the cabin. the day had started off gloriously sunny but now it was fair old chucking down.
We kitted up to get ready. Lisa broke her nail really badly urgh! and I STILL cant get my DIN fitting to seat on my cylinder properly!
Off we wanders down to the waters edge. Theres a nice path between the car park and the edge and steps the go right into the water.Some nice helpful chap tries to tell us where everything is and promises us max 9 meters, 11 if we can find the deep bit! Bit of fannying getting fins et al on and Lisa took a random bearing towards a bouy and off we go.
We hit the bottom at 5m, the bottom is covered in weed but there is about 4in of silt, even finning gently stirred it up! Whatever was promised under the bouy never materialised. There are hundreds of baby tiny fish and I swear to god we were swimming in circles! After about 15 mins we decided to surface to try and figure out where the hell we were. Not that that helped becuase you stuck your head under the water and didn't have a clue again.
Following the "reccie" we decided to swim over to the far wall then follow it back round anti clockwise till we reached the entry exit point. We hit the wall. It was at this point - about 28 mins into the dive that I started to feel a bit cold. so we turned around and same back across the pond.
We got out the same way we got in and trudge back up to the cars. As I rolled my set off my shoulder and onto the floor something caugt my finger. I now only have half a fingernail! (OUCHEEEEEEE) Upon stripping off the dry suit I discovered that I was wet. I think this may have been ahirs inth nack seal but I'll tell you something for nothing - brains lose heat really quickly!! All the kit got thrown in the back of the car and off we went home
Verdict - the blue lagoons facilities, cafe, shop etc etc are excellant, it is a shame it is so shallow. However, I may well be back to do random kit tests and maybe the "pre season" dives to get my mo jo back! Vis is quite pants but I have heard rumours that they will be pumping out some silt later on. If all the baby fish grow up then the fish may provide more entertainment!!!
Dive time 32mins
Depth 5.4m
Lessons Learned - the new 6mm posidon gloves are toasty.
Check for hairs in neck seal.
always pack a dry tshirt! Even if you are only 17 miles from home!
K XX