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WHEN YOU'RE NOT AT SEA...
NIGEL EATON, EDITOR
WANT TO EXPLORE A SUNKEN COASTAL TUG, a double-decker bus, a helicopter or a mock-up of an oil rig? Want to dive with carp, freshwater crayfish, the mother of all pikes or a white sturgeon? Want to view an underwater collection of pornographic gnomes...?
You can now do all this and more at inland dive sites in the UK, reports Gavin Parsons, who this issue embarks on a tour of five freshwater favourites on behalf of DIVER readers.
It's a tough itinerary, and his aging Ford van is barely up to the job - but Gavin says that you can forget the days of featureless muddy pits and even muddier car-parks.
His chosen stopover points at Chepstow, Vobster Quay, Stoney Cove, Capernwray and Gildenburgh offer all-weather diving in greater comfort than ever before. This may not yet be the world of cappuccino-culture to which Gavin alludes, but in most cases visiting divers can expect a generous range of facilities - not least of which are plenty of calorie-packed hot snacks suitable for the chilliest of days.
Meanwhile, if you're looking for something a bit out of the ordinary, there's even a new UK inland site offering an underground diving experience in a former reservoir.
Accessed via a vertical ladder down a shaft, the Rez in rural Staffordshire comprises several flooded subterranean chambers, ranging from the dimly lit to the pitch black. Veteran cave diver Martyn Farr assesses its appeal as a training facility for night divers and wreck divers, as well as for cave enthusiasts.
Talking of inland diving attractions, plans are now being finalised for the London International Dive Show (LIDS 2005), which takes place over the weekend of March 5/6 at the state-of-the-art ExCeL Centre.
This year's show promises to be at least as big as 2004's, with a fascinating line-up of speakers, some top underwater films, and themed sessions on diving with rebreathers - plus stacks of kit and diving holidays on offer at competitive prices.
And the British Sub-Aqua Club, in association with which DIVER Group organises LIDS, will this year be launching its own BSAC World area. This will combine the popular rebreather try-out pool with special features aimed at members and branches - and, of course, plenty of expert advice on diving in the UK and overseas.
All in all, it's an event that's not to be missed!
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