With near-perfect Easter weather, and a new wreck to dive, the start of the UK diving season looked set for a great start. Unfortunately four diver deaths have overshadowed the upbeat mood.

The 2004 diving season started with some great weather conditions mixed with tragedy; two divers missing at the National Diving Centre at Chepstow, a death on the Hispania in the Sound of Mull, and a woman diver drowned at Dingle, Ireland.

The battle for top dive spot was comprehensively won by Plymouth. The new wreck Scylla and the nearby James Eagan Layne were literally heaving with divers and dive boats over the Easter break.

"The wreck has made a big difference already" commented the Clare Hopkinson, the National Marine Aquarium's liaison officer. "The economic benefits are already being felt. We counted 18 boats on the Scylla at one point on Friday, but even with the bustle, the site was being well-managed and co-ordinated by the local skippers.

"The other advantage that we have here is a good tourism network, already in place, to accommodate the extra numbers. We've also had excellent support from PADI and BSAC" she told Divernet. The Scylla project are launching a £7.99 guide to the wreck which will be available online and in dive shops.

But the rush of first-time enthusiasm was tempered with realism from experienced wreckies. "Scylla is a nice enough wreck, and great for training dives, but I won't be hurrying to dive her again" commented diver Mike Ades, after exploring the artificial reef on an Inspiration rebreather. DIVER correspondent John Liddiard was also on the wreck this Easter and is producing a Wreck Tour for the June issue.

Weymouth, the traditional hotspot for start-of-season south coast dives, was reportedly busy for hardboats, and quiet for club RIBs.

"All our boats were pretty much booked solid," confirmed Janine Gould from Old Harbour Dive Shop in Weymouth harbour, the booking centre of most of Weymouth's hardboats. "But we don't see many club RIBs down here. Chesil beach had a lot of divers - as always," she remarked.

"Our club were over in Portland, and it just didn't seem as busy as normal," Nic Weeks, Training Officer for Holborn BSAC 130 told Divernet. "There were actually spaces in the main car park at Breakwater; it's usually absolutely teeming. This year definitely felt a lot quieter. The Hood ban seems to be taking a toll, and with a brand new wreck on offer in Plymouth it's understandable that some clubs are deciding to switch."

The unusually fair weather conditions allowed many to get a full four days of diving - quite an achievement for the start of season. "Now if we could just get them to move Easter onto neap tides rather than springs, we'd be laughing," joked Loyal Watcher skipper Steve Wright.

Relevant links
Scylla project rescued by National Marine Aquarium
Scylla ready for divers to explore
Scylla website
Easter 2003 dive report

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