Lebanon / HMS Victoria Info Wanted.

Ivon

I'm looking at putting a trip together to dive off Lebanon in late 2008 or 2009, specifically to get on to HMS Victoria.

I know a couple of you were looking at organising trips out there, I'm looking for info from anyone who has dived her or is planning to in the near future, i.e. has set the wheels in motion.

PM me if you like and I can sort out about phoning you if that's easier.

Thanks.

Teppo

Hi

Contact Walid Noshie at IANTD Lebanon Home Page or Scuba Diving In Lebanon he should be able to help you out.

Regards

Teppo

Ivon

I have an opperator sorted now, thanks.

Out of interest has anyone dived her on here?

Meerveld

I was diving on HMS Victoria the first two weeks in December 2007 and it was everything you have heard and more. It is a spectacular dive. As you descend through 60 meters you see the transom, rudder and two huge propellers appearing out of the dark blue below. As you swim over the transom at 77 meters you get to appreciate the shear size of this vessel as you peer down the barrel of the huge rear gun facing directly up at you. The stunning visibility is deceptive and it is hard to appreciate that this ship has a beam of 28 meters (91 feet)! The most spectacular view of the wreck is seen when ascending from the depths seeing the giant hull silhouetted against the light blue above. Penetration is easy as most of the wooden decks have rotted away and the ship is still full of the artifacts that she sank with.

The only negatives are that since the wreck was discovered by Mark Ellyatt and Christian Frances in August 2004 the local fisherman have also located her and now regularly fish on her with large quantities of dynamite! This has annihilated the abundant fish life that used to be there and has caused the main superstructure to collapse to the seabed. The top of the debris pile now starts at 141 meters, trailing off to the seabed at 153 meters.

There were six divers in our group; three Ukrainians on two Inspirations and one Evolution. Mark Ellyatt on his Pelagian rigged with full OC bailout, Christian Frances and myself on OC. I have owned my Pelagian mCCR for less than a year so I did the dives OC. I figured that 140+ meters is not a good place to build experience on a new rebreather However, I was Mark Ellyatt's buddy when he dove his Pelagian to 147 meters. His deepest dive on the Pelagian to date.

Mark Ellyatt was the organising force behind the trip
See: Ocean Gladiator Inspired Training Decochek Mark Ellyatt Technical Diving

Lebanon Divers provided the logistical support and currently hold the exclusive license to dive the Victoria
See: Lebanon Divers

Basic but cheap accommodation was provided at Las Salinas Resort just South of the Lebanese town of Tripoli
See: Las Salinas Lebanon Beach Resort Motel Tourism Lebanon Hotels Beirut

I am hoping to return to Victoria in May or June 2008 and hopefully many times thereafter.

I recommend contacting Mark Ellyatt to arrange a trip as he is the guy who puts most of the trips together and is a major factor in ensures they go smoothly.

Have you managed to dive her yet?

Carl

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Outlaw

i am going there in April with CV and a few others. i am looking forward for some more information on the wreck or maybe a picture or something?

Thanks.

Spyros

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