View Full Version : Greetings from Spain
Hi there, my name is Roger (dune).
I have been a swimmer since before I could walk, a snorkler before a cyclist, and a scuba diver before a M*ff diver! I learnt to dive when I was about 10 at "Divers Down" on the pier in Swanage in the early 1970's and have never looked back.
When I finished school I came to work in Spain leading dives, first on the "Costa Brava" then to "Mallorca" followed by the "Costa del Sol" and now finally in the "Costa de la Luz" where I am Dive Master at Novojet Diving (a BSAC Resort Centre).
I have just added a free logbook to my web page, and I need a little help to fine tune it.
As I said it is free, all the information you introduce when you register is for your own personal use and will not be given to third parties. Nor will you receive any Spam.
You can change it or update it any time you wish at no cost.
If you go on holiday you can go to any Internet facility and view, print or log dives so long as you remember your name and password.
If you find that it does not have certain information you need for a Tec dive or other type of diving please let me know and I will try to add it. It is still in its infancy so any comments would be welcome.
I hope to be able to give you a link to this page and add a screen shot, if that is ok with the BSAC Forum admin? But until then you will just have to search for it!
I just want to say Merry Christmas to everyone at BSAC Forum, and Good Luck in the future. DUNE
Tristan Green
02-12-2005, 10:42
Hi Roger,
Welcome to the forums.
If you want to add a link to your logbook site, then why not add it on our links directory - http://www.bsacforum.co.uk/forums/links/
Probably under the "Useful stuff" for divers section.
Cheers,
Tristan
Ok Tristan
Thanks for that. I will post it streight away.
Best regards
Roger (dune)
Chris aka divingchef
02-12-2005, 22:42
Hi Rodger
Greetings from the other end of Spain !!
Bienvenido al Forum
I come over Almeria way from time to time
Chris
Hi Chris
Next time you come down South, why don't you drop in and dive with me on the battle of trafalgar ?
I am based about 2 miles from where it took place! There are over 60 large Cannon in one place.
What is the diving like where you are?
Rog..
Chris aka divingchef
06-12-2005, 16:50
Hi again
Certainly next time i'm down ur end of Spain I will drop in.
We have just got back from a shore dive loads of life, especially if ur in2 seafood !!
Doing the Cies Islands on Sat and Sun they are national parks, again excellent sealife, loads of wrecks around here although the local gov "Xunta" have banned the Viking and Galleons but still loaads of other stuff old and new.
The battles of Rande happend not far from here were many Fr & Sanish gold ships where sunk, it's mentiond in Jules Vernes 20,000 legues !!
Water a bit cooler than down south coldest today 13C but as calm as a mill pond, viz 10 Mt tidal range 1.5 so hardly any current in open water.
What's the diving like down south, did the hurracane that hit the Caneries affect u ?
Chris:D
Dear Chris,
I am based at Novojet Diving in Novo Sancti Petri, near the stretch of water named Trafalgar. You can dive on the remains of sunken ships believed to be from that famous sea battle, within less than one hour’s boat ride. Most of the wood from the battle ships has rotted away as it has on one of the most accessible sites like the remains of the *Redoubtable. The whole site is laden with over 60 huge cannon, and massive anchors, but not much else has survived. Other places like the remains of the ship called *Santisima Trinidad are hidden under silt. It is possibly still intact but waiting to be re-discovered.
Yes we recently had some strong wind and rain probably left over from that hurracane that hit the Canaries, but nothing like as strong.
Depths here run from 4m to 25m, perfect for diving with Nitrox. The water is fairly warm most of the year, from 18C to 28C degrees. I dive all year round with a one-piece 5mm suit. This week the water temp is 22C at the surface and 21C at 20m depth. There are no sudden changes in the temperature as in Gibraltar or Tarifa. Visibility here can vary depending on the wind direction from 25m to 2m, generally around 8m.
Until recently very few people had dived here or done any research, so many places are still untouched. I have personally found Roman lead anchors and pottery that have been dated to over 2000 years old. At the moment we are the only centre offering Archaeology dives and a PADI Archaeology Specialty Course.
* The regional government (La Junta de Andalusia) have not yet officially confirmed the names of the ships. We are assisting with logistics during their on-going investigation and marine archaeology dives in this area. However we are pretty sure which boats are which because of the number of cannon, size and location of the wrecks.
Rog..
Chris aka divingchef
10-12-2005, 21:23
Hi again
Sounds good will try and get down after the new year.
I've only started to scrap the surface,,,not exactly on wrecks as we are next to Costa de la Muerte, Death Coast there are over 300 recorded wrecks on this bit of coast alone.
I think we will have plenty to investigate !
Keep us posted to your investigations
Regs
Chris
Hi Chris.
Have you got any pictures?
Rog..
Chris aka divingchef
12-12-2005, 21:32
Hi Rog
Here is a good pic of the Rias including the Cies Island and Baiona on right.
Baiona is famouse for C Colubus returned here after his first trip, missing the straightd of Gib by a fair margin......hay ho !
It could have been another wreck for you to find !!
Chris
Yep now I have seen the photo I remember that a friend of mine (Helen) was on holiday on the island this summer. She said that she had never seen so many fish, and that is was a fantastic place.
Keep me posted on the wrecks.
Rog..
Speaking of Spain, I really do believe it is ripe for a BSAC expanded presence. For example massive nos of expats, holidaying divers and proximity to UK by cheap airlines mean that I feel that BSAC could really push its presence there.
I am not aware of many clubs as such (and I've dived across much of the fine country) and on the whole the club scene through our good friends PADI could be a lot better.
Hopefully the BSAC status will be expanded there with the new categories (the names of which I cannot recall).
Is there a branch in Madrid?
C
Keith Lawrence
15-12-2005, 15:19
Is there a branch in Madrid? The only two ordinary branches that I can find in Spain are http://www.bsacmarinaalta.com/ and somebody down in Mojacar. A very quick look reveals about 70 members in Spain and 5 in Madrid. HQ may be able to help you on this one, we can sometimes put you in touch with local people willing to form a branch. There's nearly 400 on the lapsed list for Spain, so the people are out there somewhere!
Keith L
Chris aka divingchef
15-12-2005, 20:52
Hi all
We are looking into becoming a BSAC Resort and hoping to encourage more members.
I have posted another thread to see if there were anybody around our parts that would like to form a club, so far no replies.
As you say there are a few expats BSAC divers over here but as far as I can tell they are over by the "costas".
We get a lot of Portugese here, mainly from Oporto as the viz and currents down tere are bad.
Chris
Dear Chris.
Here at Novojet Diving (where I work) we are one of the Lucky Few to be an official BSAC resort in mainland Spain.
We are hoping to do the instructor cross-overs in the early spring and offer our facilities as a BSAC school.
I am planning to start an ex-pat BSAC club here in Andalusia, Spain. Offering help, advice and special events to BSAC members.
Please get as many people as you can to visit our web page at www.novojetdiving.com and register for free as a BSAC diver, they will not receive any spam, their information is confidential and will not be given to third parties. They will be able to use the free on line diving logbook, print, save fotos and get discounts on dives and equipment.
Can you then please ask your friends to send Novojet an email giving their support to forming a BSAC Club. Show em just how many we are!
P.S. There is a Job place available this summer 2006 as a trainee PADI Divemaster, including all dives, equipment, course, and Divemaster exam in exchange for work. If anyone is interested I would give priority to a BSAC diver, or instructor.
Thanks.
Rog..
Chris aka divingchef
10-01-2006, 20:20
Hi Rog
Feliz año nuevo,
Did you hear about the WWII mine found outside Cadiz ?
Chris
Happy new year.
Tell me more!
Rog..
Chris aka divingchef
13-01-2006, 16:55
MMMMMMMMMM
Clever lot,,,,,took it back to port with them !!
Un pesquero "captura" una mina antisubmarino alemana en aguas de Cádiz (04-01-2006)
(Canal Sur) Artificieros de la Unidad de Buceadores de Combate de la Armada española han neutralizado una mina antisubmarina que quedó enganchada anoche en las redes del pesquero "Mari Tere Carrillo" cuando faenaba en aguas del Golfo de Cádiz.
Según informaron hoy fuentes de la Subdelegación del Gobierno, la mina fue encontrada sobre las 22:00 horas de ayer por la tripulación de ese arrastrero que avisó de la inusual captura a la Guardia Civil a su llegada al muelle de El Puerto de Santa María.
Los agentes de la Unidad Fiscal de la Guardia Civil adscrita al muelle portuense reconocieron el ingenio como "una mina explosiva antisubmarina esférica de aproximadamente un metro y medio de diámetro", según la delegación del gobierno.
La Guardia Civil pasó la alerta al Mando de Acción Marítima en Cádiz, desde donde se desplazó al lugar a un equipo de buceadores-artificieros que establecieron que el ingenio era una "mina de orinque tipo GY de fabricación alemana", de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, al tiempo que descartaron la posibilidad de deflagración.
La Armada trasladará la mina antisubmarina al interior del recinto de la base aeronaval en Rota, para su detonación controlada.
Hola Mi Amigos
Hable english por favor , mi no entiende espanol:)
Hasta luego
Hola Mi Amigos
Hable english por favor , mi no entiende espanol:)
Hasta luego
yo tambien - solomente Ingles por favor
Tristan Green
14-01-2006, 03:50
Quick and dirty translation from http://babelfish.altavista.com/:
A fishing boat "captures" water a German antisubmarine mine of Cadiz (04-01-2006) (South Channel) Firework makers of the Unit of Divers battle of the Spanish Navy have neutralized an antisubmarine mine that was hooked in the networks of the fishing boat "Mari Tere Cheek last night" when it worked in waters of the Gulf of Cadiz. According to sources informed today into the Subdelegation of the Government, the mine was found on the 22:00 hours of yesterday by the crew of that arrastrero that warned of the unusual capture the Civil Guard its arrival the wharf of the Port of Santa Maria. The agents of the Fiscal Unit of the Civil Guard assigned to the portuense wharf approximately recognized the talent like "a spherical antisubmarine explosive mine of a meter and means of diameter", according to the delegation of the government. The Civil Guard passed the alert to the Control of Naval operation in Cadiz, from where she moved to the place to a team of diver-firework makers whom they established that the talent was a "mine of buoy line type GY of German manufacture", of World War II, to the time which they discarded the deflagration possibility. The Navy will transfer the antisubmarine mine to the interior of the enclosure of the naval air station in Defeat, for its controlled detonation.
Oh well you get the gist.
Cheers,
Tristan
Clever lot,,,,,took it back to port with them !!
Yes, but now they are going to blow up the US base at Rota with it!!!!
Hi.
I am not surprised! I found two live 40kg shells this summer in the same area. I took a GPS mark and reported it to the local Spanish Navy. We were not allowed to dive within 2km of the area which is very popular, for a week in mid summer, while they removed it.
I was quite impressed with the hi-tec equipment they were using ie. Small hand held underwater xray to look inside the projectiles.
They later showed me an underwater video of the objects to confirm that they were the same.
Meanwhile someone overheard my conversation and told the local press. In less than two hours the local radio station broadcast that bombs had been found! Five military police squad cars turned up, radio stations and local TV network were phoning my office, and it was just madness.
On top of all that the local fishermen got pi***d off with me because they were told not to fish with nets in that area!
It was just like "Fawlty Towers" by the sea!
Rog..:eek:
Steve Pearson
16-01-2006, 17:35
MMMMMMMMMM
Clever lot,,,,,took it back to port with them !!
Un pesquero "captura" una mina antisubmarino alemana en aguas de Cádiz (04-01-2006)
(Canal Sur) Artificieros de la Unidad de Buceadores de Combate de la Armada española han neutralizado una mina antisubmarina que quedó enganchada anoche en las redes del pesquero "Mari Tere Carrillo" cuando faenaba en aguas del Golfo de Cádiz.
Según informaron hoy fuentes de la Subdelegación del Gobierno, la mina fue encontrada sobre las 22:00 horas de ayer por la tripulación de ese arrastrero que avisó de la inusual captura a la Guardia Civil a su llegada al muelle de El Puerto de Santa María.
Los agentes de la Unidad Fiscal de la Guardia Civil adscrita al muelle portuense reconocieron el ingenio como "una mina explosiva antisubmarina esférica de aproximadamente un metro y medio de diámetro", según la delegación del gobierno.
La Guardia Civil pasó la alerta al Mando de Acción Marítima en Cádiz, desde donde se desplazó al lugar a un equipo de buceadores-artificieros que establecieron que el ingenio era una "mina de orinque tipo GY de fabricación alemana", de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, al tiempo que descartaron la posibilidad de deflagración.
La Armada trasladará la mina antisubmarina al interior del recinto de la base aeronaval en Rota, para su detonación controlada.
Thought I'd be smart and use a bit of translation software to help us understand it. I'm not correcting mistakes so read it as it is.
The fishing one German "captures" a mine antisubmarine in waters of Cadiz (04-01-2006)
(South channel) Artificieros of the Divers' Unit of Combat of the Spanish Navy they have neutralized an antisubmarine mine that remained hooked yesterday evening in the networks of fishing " Mari Tere Cheek " when it was working in waters of the Gulf of Cadiz.
As reported today sources of the Subdelegation of the Government, the mine was found yesterday on 22:00 by the crew of this trawler that warned about the unusual apprehension the Civil Guard at his arrival to the wharf of The Port of Santa Maria.
The agents of the Fiscal Unit of the Civil Guard assigned to the wharf portuense recognized the ingenuity as " an explosive antisubmarine spherical mine of approximately one meter and a half of diameter ", according to the delegation of the government.
The Civil Guard spent the alert to the Control of Marine Action in Cadiz, from where one displaced to the place to a team of divers - artificieros who established that the ingenuity was a " mine of orinque type GY of German manufacture ", of the Second World war, at the time that they discarded the possibility of deflagration.
The Navy will move the antisubmarine mine to the interior of the enclosure of the air-sea base in Rattan, for his controlled detonation.
Steve
Steve Pearson
16-01-2006, 17:38
Damn
tristan beat me to it, I'm just too slow :p
I love the computer translations!
It actually reads as: - A fishing boat "captures” a German antisubmarine mine in Cádiz waters (04-01-2006).
P.S. Artificieros means “artillery” not firework makers?
Rog..:confused:
Chris aka divingchef
17-01-2006, 20:51
Hello
Clarification..
Artificieros is Artificer in Ingles !!
What happened just before WWII ? Makes you think how it got there !
Chris :D
Yep very interesting. There is so much underwater here that has never been seen or discovered. Spain has a massive coast line but it is largely un touched. It is only the tourist resorts the are well known.
In the times of General Franco so many things went on in secret. I will try and find out more if I can.
Rog..;)
John Williams
18-01-2006, 11:18
Damn
tristan beat me to it, I'm just too slow :p
Only by about 14 hours though mate!:D
John:rolleyes:
Chris aka divingchef
18-01-2006, 20:01
Hi Rog
Yepp Don Paco used to let his buddy Hitler run his wolf packs out of Vigo, there are three subs nearby but deep as the RAF used to nip up from Gib.
Maybe allowing this was a revenge for the Royal Navy sailing into Vigo bay and pinching the gold !! ie Battle of Rande 1708 I think !!
Chris
Spain is still trying to takes it's revenge on Gibraltar
Chris aka divingchef
18-01-2006, 20:21
Yepp
But just remind them that if they hadnt swapped Menorca for Gib a) They would have lost the holiday market. b) Spain would be France c) they wouldnt know how to make gin !!
The brits tried in on up here in Galicia in the 1700s ish , the navy landed marines on the coast and they tried to cross some mountains to catch the garrison from behind at Ferrol, misjudged got slaughtered and even now they celebrate it !! ( tourist attraction ?)
Chris
I think we swapped Menorca for Florida, but the Spanish claim on Gibraltar is just about as strong as ours would be for Florida to be returned to British rule.
Was the El Ferrol bit anything to do with Wellington?
Yepp
But just remind them that if they hadnt swapped Menorca for Gib a) They would have lost the holiday market. b) Spain would be France c) they wouldnt know how to make gin !!
The brits tried in on up here in Galicia in the 1700s ish , the navy landed marines on the coast and they tried to cross some mountains to catch the garrison from behind at Ferrol, misjudged got slaughtered and even now they celebrate it !! ( tourist attraction ?)
Chris
Sir something or other Moore?
seem to remember? Mind you wasnt that when Spain was a vassel state and was part of the Napoleonic wars?
John Williams
19-01-2006, 07:35
Sir something or other Moore?
seem to remember? Mind you wasnt that when Spain was a vassel state and was part of the Napoleonic wars?
Owww!
My head hurts!
history lessons on a diving forum at half six in the mornin'
Owww!
:D :D John:D :D
Chris aka divingchef
19-01-2006, 18:56
Sorry John
the only relevant bit is the wrecks they left us !!
Hay ho ist a hard life
Chris:cool:
John Williams
20-01-2006, 08:27
Sorry John
the only relevant bit is the wrecks they left us !!
Hay ho ist a hard life
Chris:cool:
I've quite enjoyed hearing about the "firework-makers" all chucking roman candles and catherine wheels at the ultimate "banger"
It's all good fun in the end!
(except for the wars of course!)
Keep it coming!
(it makes the diving that much more interesting when we eventually get there!)
John
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