Diving the rivers

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Mark ONeill	Diving the rivers	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1301 (29/12/06 15:08) 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 15:11) 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: 604 (29/12/06 15:49) 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: 4341 (29/12/06 16:00) 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: 243 (29/12/06 20:01) 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 20:12) 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: 176 (29/12/06 23:11) 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: 567 (01/01/07 17:50) 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: 610 (01/01/07 18:55) 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: 567 (02/01/07 10:06) 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 12:16) 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
barbelist	Re: Diving the rivers	#11	[-]
Posts: 890 (02/01/07 15:54) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Mark, Never been diving full stop, let alone in a river.... ....but if I was thinking of it I would definately contact my local Police Underwater Search Unit and take their advice. Remember proper planning and preparation prevents poor performance - or in this case possible disaster. Stu, having watched and re-watched the first 2 DVD's, looking forward to the next installment Happy new year one and all Paul
Damian Kimmins	Re: Diving the rivers	#12	[-]
Posts: 768 (02/01/07 16:02) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hello Mark, happy new year. All things being well, I think documenting what you might find in the depths could be a worthwhile project. I think that there could possibly be quite a few who would be interested in reading your exploits. With your picture taking skills you might have the start of a very interesting book. I trust all is well with the camera? "Whilst developing creativity, also cultivate receptivity. Retain the mind like that of a child, which flows like running water. When considering any thing, do not lose its opposite." Lao Tzu
adamphtg	Re: Diving the rivers	#13	[-]
Posts: 436 (02/01/07 16:04) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Mark I may know of some underwater housings and cameras coming up for sale in the VERY near future. I'll let you know matey. Hope you had a good New year. Adam Opener of worm cans and surveyor of the moral high ground. Alcohol and calculus don't mix. Never drink and derive.
Mark ONeill	Re: Diving the rivers	#14	[-]
Posts: 1301 (02/01/07 16:12) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I'm drooling at the thought Adam! Hope you had a good christmas and new year, get the kids any more lego?
scubasteve	Re: Diving the rivers	#15	[-]
Posts: 4297 (02/01/07 16:36) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Afternoon all. Sadly, I've not dived the rivers yet It was planned for last close season, but we had coloured water for a fair bit of the time, and then I went and broke my toe Its on the cards for this close season Only thing I would say is have someone you can trust top side. I have a mate who's a Paramedic, and he will be on the bank to offer assistance if needed. My biggest concern with diving the Lower Severn is the boats, SM, have you had any problems with boats when you have dived rivers? Mark, glad you've got the bug, what camera are you using? My brother is well into his underwater photography. We are hopefully down at Stony on Saturday if your interested. It would be good to meet up mate. Steve www.caravanonthesevern.co.uk
Mark ONeill	Re: Diving the rivers	#16	[-]
Posts: 1301 (02/01/07 17:50) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Ive got the camera steve, just havent got the underwater housing. From what ive seen so far, a D70 housing would be around £2500!! A tad beyond my budget at the moment. Im working this weekend unfortunately, but had a great day at stoney a couple of months back. Those carp are lovely If you do get round to diving any rivers this year, let me know, i'll be more than up for it!!
scubasteve	Re: Diving the rivers	#17	[-]
Posts: 4297 (03/01/07 09:11) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Have you tried these....Underwater Cameras They also have this one Nice bit of kit, and don't forget your strobe. I will keep you informed about diving the Severn during the close season mate. Steve www.caravanonthesevern.co.uk
Mark ONeill	steve	#18	[-]
Posts: 1301 (03/01/07 15:13) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	That is a nice bit of kit isnt it. A tad more affordable than what ive seen so far. Hows your brother getting on? Has he been updating his site lately? i havent seen it for a while.
del shack	Re: Diving the rivers	#19	[-]
Posts: 4 (03/01/07 17:45) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Happy New Year everyone, hope all goes well on the fishing front! Out of interest i was wondering, (please don't take this as a dig, its not ment as such) Do you have to gain permission for your exployts in rubber? The reason i ask is that, if someone owns the bankside they also own the riverbed, in the case of someone owning one bank and somelse owning the other there's a boundry striaght down the middle. (thats why British waterways insist on boaters mooring on the tow path side, in some places they don't own the opposite bank) Having said that, with the way the law has gone in resent years landowners have a duty of care towards someome on their land unless, they are there without cosent, in which case they are then tresspassing and as what they are doing is illegal, they then do it at their own risk. so, basically what i'm asking is, are divers excused these rules/laws when it comes to diving in rivers? email me if you would rather Del Shack
Mark ONeill	Re: Diving the rivers	#20	[-]
Posts: 1301 (03/01/07 18:24) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi Del, havent seen you out of the RDAA forum before. I was concerned about the technicalities of this, hence my asking for the EA's stance. it does make sense, and i'd rather not end up getting grief for it! You have a fair bit of experience in the laws of the river, any idea who is best to ask? Cheers, Mark

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