wrecks in Lebanon?

dantheman

Hey! That's my motif!

--dan

Outlaw

hey guys,

i 've found out that the ferries still do the cruise to Lebanon for weekends, therefore it would have been good to carry the stuff on the ferry, and go do a couple of dives and then get back, but i've heard on the radio that some bombing was going on in the last day or so....

not sure really, but i'll find out. i am really looking forward to this trip.

__________________
CMAS - IANTD - TDI
Kamikazi Instrustor Trainer
DIRRebreather Team Member
----------------------------
"Once an Outlaw, always an Outlaw"

Digger

Oh for a life where you could nip to HMS Victoria for a weekend...

Are there any liveaboards in Cyprus? If the cruise ships are going over there for a weekend it's got to be in range. Could do a week from Cyprus starting in Larnaca on the Zen and diving the Victoria in the middle! Now that would be a hell of a trip. Massive wreck heaven...

Digs.

Outlaw

that is a great thought. we have thought about it before. no liveaboards ove here though.

maybe when the tourist season in over, we can arrange something with the boat operators from Zenobia.

__________________
CMAS - IANTD - TDI
Kamikazi Instrustor Trainer
DIRRebreather Team Member
----------------------------
"Once an Outlaw, always an Outlaw"

Digger

I reckon the big boat we were on with the bar and disco on board would run a trip out of season, we might have to set up beds in the saloon but that's no great loss, and barbecue on the back, sun deck on top, it's a large enough platform to do this kind of diving. Maybe an option.

Digs.

Outlaw

that would have been very good idea Digs,

The thing is that news over here are repeatedly saying that bombing is going on in Lebanon at the moment.

Don't think it would be a good idea...

Spyros

__________________
CMAS - IANTD - TDI
Kamikazi Instrustor Trainer
DIRRebreather Team Member
----------------------------
"Once an Outlaw, always an Outlaw"

Digger

It's about 10km off, and you're going to be in a tiny dinky boat. Just paint it blue and no-one will even know you're there.

More seriously, if you do get a plan off the ground I have a list of people who want to do the Vic too, and it would be a great trip. PM me if you know of a decent option or could help put something together. It's on my list for 2008.

Digs.

aquaxel

here is a video clip of the victoria:

http://www.inspired-training.com/Victoria%20clip.WMV

its from: Technical Diving Videos from Inspired Training

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rgds aquaxel

www.aquatec-innerspace.com

Meerveld

I was diving on HMS Victoria the first two weeks in December and it was everything you have heard and more. It is a spectacular dive. As you descend through 50 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 and hopefully many times thereafter.

Please feel free to ask questions. I will provide whatever information I can.

Carl

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We do not inherit the earth from our parents; we steal it from our children ~ based on a Native American proverb

Inspired Trainer

Hello,

Thanks Carl, if anyone wants to visit HMS Victoria in 2008 send me an email and I will forward you details of the upcoming trips that are planned.

We have lime out there already but best to bring your own tanks. Fly with a proper airline like BMI or BA and taking your unit only costs £15 each way!


Cheers

Mark