Diving the rivers

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Mark ONeill	Diving the rivers	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1301 (29/12/06 16:08) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None Hello all, Im a proud owner of a nice new drysuit thanks to Santa and have recently become a qualified BSAC diver, owning all my own kit. Im obviously interested in the UK's marine potential but after a few freshwater dives at stoney cove and a few years of fishing for Barbel im really interested in getting into the rivers. I am aware that there's a few divers on here and was wondering what you all get up to. The Thames would be my starting point, Im keen to find out the layout of my local 'hotspots' as im sure others have done in the past. If anyone's got any good stories or advice, especially regarding the EA's stance on the subject i would be greatly interested. All the best, Mark
lesliefisherman	Re: Diving the rivers	#1	[-]
Posts: 2713 (29/12/06 16:11) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	hi,ime sure scuba steve can give you some good advice on that.derek.
ronchant	Re: Diving the rivers	#2	[-]
Posts: 596 (29/12/06 16:49) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Mark, be careful f you do make the plunge dont forget; go with a diving buddy, I believe some one diving the river did earlier in the year. Have a word/PM with Ian Grant hes an experienced diver. www.ukdivers.net/diving/divesafe.htm Watch out for them lost ooks and spinners, you could get one in your suit. web.mac.com/ron_chant/
Paul Boote	Safety	#3	[-]
Posts: 2473 (29/12/06 17:00) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I can only reiterate what Ron said above - be careful. I used to do a fair bit of schnorkeling in both the sea and freshwater, the last time being in the early '00s in several Thames weirpools. Watch the undertow near the sills and aprons, they can drag you under them and hold you there (like they do the bodies of the drowned, only releasing them much later). I saw a whacking pike in one weirpool, scared the life out of me, looking nearly sixty through a face-mask, but probably mid to high 30s in reality. Disappointingly few barbel, though at the time of year I was looking they were probably still out on the shallows.
seph550	Re: Safety	#4	[-]
Posts: 242 (29/12/06 21:01) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I have dived the river only once and this was to help remove an obstruction in about 10-12ft of water in a weir. At first glance it looked quite an easy thing to do, but it was not and took plenty of planning. If you do intend to dive the river I would highly recommend you have at least 1, preferably 2 people on the bank and do please use safety ropes, especially in weirs. atb Paul
Mark ONeill	Re: Safety	#5	[-]
Posts: 1301 (29/12/06 21:12) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	No no, i wouldnt be going anywhere without my trusty dive reel and my brother. I had the pleasure of swimming with a couple of carp in stoney, they both seemed quite tame because of the amount of divers that go there. Hopefully the barbel will be as obliging. One aim is to find that ****ing snag and get my grippa leads back! Another is to investigate a 23ft hole which is pretty much out of reach from the fishable bank.... but not from a boat. Ahhh, im looking forward to the end of this season just as much as the start of the new one!! Good point about the spinners Ron, I bet that could be a pain in the backside. Literally! $:\$
Kevin210	Re: Diving the rivers	#6	[-]
Posts: 86 (30/12/06 00:11) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi, The best advice I would give, especially on the Thames is, ask some of the police divers. They have to dive on a regular basis and have some interesting stories. Kevin
SM	diving in the rivers	#7	[-]
Posts: 557 (01/01/07 18:50) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Mark, once again as already said, be very cautious. I was in a large Thames weirpool in December and it got pretty hairy. Was filming for the DVD that Guy and myself are putting together. As with the B.Avon, Wark Avon etc (all which I have been in since Sep time) the viz is duff at the best of times, typically 12-24". The back tow can be very dissorienting so use your compass as flow direction can be missleading and the snags can be strewn with lost spinners etc. Go careful with your new dry bag as there is plenty down there to spoil it! If you do venture into the Thames, maybe consider using a line from the bank or boat and of course avoid weekend boat traffic as propellers and drysuits don,t mix. Good luck Stuart Compared to stoney, don't expect to see much either !
johngp	Re: diving in the rivers	#8	[-]
Posts: 541 (01/01/07 19:55) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi stuart when will we be able to see your next dvd ..will it be soon .. regards john
SM	Re: diving in the rivers	#9	[-]
Posts: 557 (02/01/07 11:06) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hey John it wasnt meant as a plug. April May ish I hope.
Mark ONeill	Re: Diving the rivers	#10	[-]
Posts: 1301 (02/01/07 13:16) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thanks Stuart, Great to hear from someone who's got stuck in already! When is this DVD due for release? any idea yet? Also, does anybody know of any literature on the subject, ive trawled through google to no avail

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