Latest News - Dive South

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22/09/20

Join Paul Rose tomorrow evening... ... See MoreSee Less

Paul Rose, Explorer and Presenter - Zoom talk

blesma.org

You’re invited! A man at the front line of exploration and one of the world’s most experienced divers, field science and polar experts, Paul Rose helps scientists unlock and communicate global mys...

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Dive South is with Danni Callahan.

21/09/20

Such a great pool session this Sunday, just the best feeling seeing new and returning divers progressing so well.

We had Danni doing her final open water confined dives, all ready for heading off to open water next weekend, well done Dani, looking very comfortable in the water.

Sam finding his feet again with his buoyancy and trim, after a break from diving as he works towards his 30m qualification, he got on so well, we moved into some finning techniques, including turns, stopping and backward finning.

Great to welcome Madison back to the pool for another try dive session, looking forward to you joining us soon for your open water course.

We welcome James into the team as he starts his Divemaster journey, it's great to have you on board, we're going to have a lot of fun:)

Thanks to Rich, Dave, and Justin:))

@DiveSouth #DiveSouth #LearnToScuba #diveraiduk #DiveRaid #scubadivinguk #openwatercourse #divemastertraining #trydive #scubadiving #underwaterphotography ... See MoreSee Less

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Dive South

21/09/20

A little update from our local inland dive site...Thank you for all your efforts over the summer – we are so pleased to have had so many divers and swimmers able to visit safely.

However…. There are clearly stormclouds ahead for all of us and we would like to reinforce some covid principles and controls for safe enjoyment of Vobster Quay during the Autumn.

Firstly, please do not visit Vobster Quay if you or your family have symptoms. That is stating the obvious, but there’s no shame in that. Please also do not visit Vobster if you or your family are waiting for a covid test result. No single individual swim or dive is more important than our collective safety please.

Once you are here – please, please pay more attention to social distancing. It’s so easy to imagine the real world is far away from escaping into the water, but if we want to keep it that way, good distancing and mask use is essential.

Changing for swimming. We have invested in new changing areas to reduce the clumping of swimmers at the swim entry. Please don’t arrive at the swim entry until you are ready to swim - ie in wetsuit or swim suit without clothes over the top. Pop your gear on the bench from the entry side, swim, exit and collect your gear on the exit side. A quick towel off, or removing the top of your suit is OK here, but a complete change is not allowed. Please do not walk the wrong way through these areas. To help provide options for changing, check at the top of the ramp when you arrive to confirm whether or not you can park at the bottom. Please use the spaces if parking at the bottom.

Spectators, children and dogs. Sadly, it’s not the year for any of these at Vobster Quay. One person as a spotter is fine in non lifeguarded session, but please do not bring extra spectators, children or furry friends. Vobster Quay is limited to active swimmers and divers.

Thanks in advance for all your cooperation - we have come too far to relax our guard in more challenging times to come.

Cheers,

The Vobster Team ... See MoreSee Less

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Dive South

19/09/20

It's definitely the season for night diving, here are some of our encounters from last nights's dive at Chesil beach. The large (around 25cm) cuttlefish was my favourite, displaying such amazing patterning, from smooth stripes to spike mottled brown, just incredible.

Interested in joining us for night dives let us know and if you haven't yet experienced night dives we will be running some courses in the next few weeks, please get in touch with us on Facebook or email us info@divesouth.co.uk
@divesouth #DiveSouth #nightdiving #scubadivinguk #learntoscuba #diveraid #diveraiduk #PADI #underwaterphotography #chesil #cephalopod #UKcephalopodreports ... See MoreSee Less

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Can't wait to be able to join you on these!

Dive South

19/09/20

Join RAID today and enjoy RAID membership until 31st December 2021. Yet another reason to join the RAID family.

https://mailchi.mp/diveraiduk/…

#diveraiduk ... See MoreSee Less

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Dive South

19/09/20

Earlier this week we headed to down to Ilfracombe with a great bunch of divers to visit Lundy Island to dive with the seals. What a great experience and a fantastic trip, thank you all it was such a blast. Although sadly the second day was blown out and we couldn't cross to the Island we all had such a fun first day and a lot of laughs.

The first day's crossing was flat calm although very foggy, you could only see the island appearing from the mist once we got to Rat Island, we were all watching out for dolphins on the way out, but they didn't come in close to play with the boat they kept their distance.

The first dive of the day was the wreck of the Carmine Filomena, a very scenic dive, covered in kelp and plant life, starfish, snakeslock anemones and urchins, lots of huge spider crabs and wrasse, with little swim throughs towards the stern section, well that's if you made it to the stern section and didn't come off the wreck lol:))

The second dive we made our way to Brazen Ward a small shallow bay, for some seal time. The viz was reduced, mainly due to the seals bombing about, in and out of the small cave swim throughs. It is mating season, so they were very much more interested in each other than they were us, but it was really lovely to see them together and we did get some playful tugs on our fins and managed to get closer to them around the cave areas and the sleepy seals.

We even made a quick detour on the way home via Chesil for a few of us to get a dive in together before heading home. Viz was a milky 3m with a fair bit of surge but a nice dive to round off the trip.

Great trip, can't wait til next year:) Thank you all and a big thank you to the amazing Lundy Diving Team on Obsession II :)) See you all again next year! @divesouth #DiveSouth #learntoscuba #scubadivinguk #diveRaid #diveraiduk #padi #seals #Lundy #lundyisland #lundydiving #underwaterphotography #olympus #nauticam ... See MoreSee Less

$Earlier this week we headed to down to Ilfracombe with a great bunch of divers to visit Lundy Island to dive with the seals. What a great experience and a fantastic trip, thank you all it was such a blast. Although sadly the second day was blown out and we couldnt cross to the Island we all had such a fun first day and a lot of laughs.The first days crossing was flat calm although very foggy, you could only see the island appearing from the mist once we got to Rat Island, we were all watching out for dolphins on the way out, but they didnt come in close to play with the boat they kept their distance.The first dive of the day was the wreck of the Carmine Filomena, a very scenic dive, covered in kelp and plant life, starfish, snakeslock anemones and urchins, lots of huge spider crabs and wrasse, with little swim throughs towards the stern section, well thats if you made it to the stern section and didnt come off the wreck lol:))The second dive we made our way to Brazen Ward a small shallow bay, for some seal time. The viz was reduced, mainly due to the seals bombing about, in and out of the small cave swim throughs. It is mating season, so they were very much more interested in each other than they were us, but it was really lovely to see them together and we did get some playful tugs on our fins and managed to get closer to them around the cave areas and the sleepy seals.We even made a quick detour on the way home via Chesil for a few of us to get a dive in together before heading home. Viz was a milky 3m with a fair bit of surge but a nice dive to round off the trip.Great trip, cant wait til next year:) Thank you all and a big thank you to the amazing Lundy Diving Team on Obsession II :)) See you all again next year! @divesouth #DiveSouth #learntoscuba #scubadivinguk #diveRaid #diveraiduk #padi #seals #Lundy #lundyisland #lundydiving #underwaterphotography #olympus #nauticam$

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Gorgeous pics. Wish I was still able to dive

Stunning

Dive South

19/09/20

Ahoy thar mateys!
Today be International Talk Like A Pirate Day, so hoist yer colours and fly ‘em proud!

We be clearing our decks and readyin ourselves for tomorrow’s pool session teaching some new hands to find their sea legs. Let us know if ye’d like to come alongside!

And while ye get yer pirate on and buckle yer awash, take some time to remember Harry Paye of course.

Meanwhile spread ye the word...and the word is “Aaaaaaar!”

...now, where’s that rum gone...?!

www.talklikeapirate.com

#talklikeapirateday #harrypaye ... See MoreSee Less

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🤔It's bucket of swash😏 said the retired sailor pirate😀

Dive South

14/09/20

After a great pool session, we decided as it was such a nice afternoon we'd go for a team dive at Branksome. We had seen earlier reports of 5-8m Viz and 3 triggerfish at the end of the small pipe and schools of juvenile cuttlefish.

The Viz was good at around 6m and there were so many small juvenile cuttlefish (6-9cm in length) everywhere you looked there seemed to be more of them in small groups, so cute. They started about within the first 10mins swim along small pipe, which is where most of them were, but we saw more as we swam along it and there were another small group of around 5 or so at the end of the pipe.

Loads of common prawns inside the end of the pipe, but sadly no triggerfish to be seen, this time. Tompots, Ballan wrasse, Corkwing wrasse, tiny Red mullet, bib, pollack, bass and more of the usual suspects:) @DiveSouth #DiveSouth #LearnToScuba #DiveRaidUK #Underwaterphotography #cuttlefish #branksomepipes #lovescubadiving #scubadivinguk #scubadiving #learntodive ... See MoreSee Less

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Wow!

Dive South is with Danni Callahan.

14/09/20

Great first session in the pool yesterday morning, for Danni and Belinda, looking great! Nice to meet Conor who joined us for a bit of fun pool time, looking forward to seeing you our on some local dive with us soon. And really nice to have the team back together thanks for all your help guys, Scott, Dave, Justin & Rich. Here's to making more memories and good times ahead:)

Want to Learn to Scuba Dive, book on to our next course email info@divesouth.co.uk

@DiveSouth #DiveSouth #DiveRaidUK #scubadivinguk #LearnToScuba #girlsthatscuba #lovescubadiving #openwatercourse #diveraid #scubadiving #learntodive ... See MoreSee Less

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Dive South

13/09/20

Getting set up for our first pool session, designated areas for shallow water entry students and deep water entry divers. Cleaning/sanitising zones defined and setup, processes all running smoothly. Open water students all ready to start. Looking forward to all our pool based courses again:) Big Welcome to the new faces Dani, Belinda and Conor. And great to be back together with the Dive South Team Rich, Dave, Justin and Scott :)) ... See MoreSee Less

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Thankyou for a great first day!!!

Well done! Good to see dive training is progressing and geared up to continue running when the inland sites start to cool down

Nice work! Looks great 🙂

Solid time! 😃

Great news!!

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Dive South

12/09/20

Looking forward to our first pool session tomorrow since before lockdown, excited much!:)) ... See MoreSee Less

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Dive South

12/09/20

Nice to be back underwater with our good friend and dive buddy Scott. Conditions were not too shabby at Swanage pier today, well once you got past mid way down and towards the end of the pier. At the start of the pier vis was a milky 2-3m and at the end of the pier a reasonable 5-6m:) It was lovely as the sun was shining too, just love the sun rays beaming through the slats above:)) Thanks Scott! @DiveSouth #DiveSouth #DiveRaidUK #Lovescubadiving #LearnToScuba #ScubaDivingUk #SwanagePier #underwaterphotography ... See MoreSee Less

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Do people fish from the pier?

Dive South

10/09/20

We made it! 100,000 signatures means this will now be debated in Parliament. We are beyond grateful to everyone that signed and shared, together we all made this happen. We know everyone is excited to hear the next steps so we'll keep everyone updated very soon. But for now, we celebrate!⁣
⁣
#finspirechangeUK 🎨 Janina Rossiter ... See MoreSee Less

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Dive South

08/09/20

We have our first pool session starting again this Sunday morning, come on down and join us:) We have a new Open Water group starting and we have space for Try dives, Refreshers and a Buoyancy or Finning Techniques workshop or if you just fancy a splash about let us know, spaces will be limited and booking is required. Get in touch info@divesouth.co.uk ... See MoreSee Less

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Would like to join this Sunday! What time is it? Many thanks, Conor

Whoo hooo, really pleased for you. Can't join you I am afraid but have fun.😀😀

Dive South

07/09/20

Well done Sam on your Navigation adventure dive late afternoon/early evening.

Nice dive on Shore Road pipe, 3-4m viz, saw a cuttlefish hunting too which was cool.

Thank you to Justin for being our surface support and Rich for in water/buddy for Sam.

Looking forward to diving with you again for your next adventure dives:)) ... See MoreSee Less

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Dive South

05/09/20

A really fun day out today at Portland, well done to Sam on his adventure wreck and drift dives with myself and Rich. First dive was the Countess of Erne Wreck and the second dive was pulpit rock drift. Great to meet Karel who buddied up with Jon and Rosie for his dives. Thanks guys, see you soon for more diving:) ... See MoreSee Less

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It was really great to get out there today. Good company, and some nice diving! A Saturday well spent!

Dive South

04/09/20

Evenin' all!

With the Summer coming to an end, you may have noticed that the big bright thing in the sky is dropping below the horizon earlier!

This is starting to turn our evening dives, into proper night dives, with all the respective fun that involves!

If you would like to join in said fun, you are of course most welcome, but we do ask that you have the relevant experience and equipment to do so safely, in comfort, and looking almost as cool as muggins in this picture!

Experience: Night/Limited Visibility diver or equivalent
Equipment: Torches (primary & backup) and strobe/glowsticks

For further details or to discuss any requirements you may have, feel free to get in touch and we will be happy to help!

Cheers all!

info@divesouth.co.uk ... See MoreSee Less

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Dive South

03/09/20

Bank Holiday Monday was spent at Chesil with a couple of dives with Adam. Very enjoyable day, Lobsters, Wrasse, the tiniest ever Anemone Shrimp (no bigger than 1cm) and the largest Red mullet, creating clouds of silt everywhere he went. Viz was 3m average but occasional area up to 5m, lovely calm conditions and a surprisingly empty beach. @DiveSouth #DiveSouth #LearnToScuba #diveraiduk #chesil #chesilbeach #shorediving ... See MoreSee Less

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Is the 5m where the red mullet wasn’t?! 😂

Dive South

02/09/20

Just back from a really nice drift dive across Swanage bay, lots of blonde and spotted rays, dogfish, undulate ray, large edible crabs, spider crabs, hermit crabs, large shoal of mackerel (shot off to one side) dahlia anemones. Viz was 3m, reasonable bit of speed at the start of the dive. With, Rich, Adam and Martin and the Wed night boat crew on Rocket with Trev 🙂 So glad you enjoyed your first drift dive Adam, looking forward to loads more! @Uber Scuba #DiveSouth @DiveSouth #LearnToScuba #diveraiduk #driftdiving ... See MoreSee Less

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Dive South is with Rosie Laura.

01/09/20

What a fantastic bank holiday weekend of diving in Plymouth with Indeep.

Saturday we dove the wreck Persier lying in 28m of water, the viz was good at 5-7m, really enjoyed the rudder section swim through. The second dive was Fairyland wall, viz was 4-5m at 23m. Loads of life, crawfish, pink sea fans, bib, pollack, conger eels, urchins, cuckoo wrasse, lobsters, squat lobsters, jellyfish, deadman's fingers and loads more. Really lovely dives.

The Sunday took us to the wreck Scylla for our first dive, the viz was not as good as the first day, but still 3-4m. She sits proud of the seabed, we had a max of 24m, such a huge wreck, covered in Jewel anemones and deadman's fingers, pink sea fans and soft corals, bass, bib, pollack, cuckoo wrasse, tompots, a baby scorpion fish. The second dive was the James Eagan Lane, viz was much the same at 24m max. An interesting wreck to explore, as it is quite broken up, lots of little swim throughs and overhangs. Similar life to the Scylla with the addition of compass jellyfish.

So much fun thanks to Rich, Dave, Rob, Tom, Sam, Sally, Rosie and Jon and to James, Ben, Hugo and Pete at Indeep, we'll be back soon 🙂 @DiveSouth #DiveSouth #LearnToScuba #diveraiduk #xdeep #Apeks #sidemountdiving #indeepdiving #Scylla #jel #persier #Underwaterphotography #nauticam ... See MoreSee Less

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Beautiful

Dive South

31/08/20

We were there today for a couple of lovely dives. We are so lucky to have this amazing place on our doorstep for diving:) ... See MoreSee Less

Play

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Dive South

30/08/20

We're open Bank Holiday Monday 9-to-5 with fills available 10-to-4. We still have a number of membrane ex-demo and hire Ursuit drysuits as well as 1 DUI and 1 Argonaut. In-store sale only, if you are around. ... See MoreSee Less

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Dive South

30/08/20

Great first day down in Plymouth with Indeep:) first dive was the Persier, viz was an unexpected good 5-7m at 28m, second dive was Fairland Wall 4-5m viz at 23m, lots of bib, pollack, crawfish, squat lobsters, urchins, starfish, cuckoo wrasse, sea fans. Really nice day, looking forward to tomorrow:):) @DiveSouth #divesouth #DiveRAIDUK #LearnToScuba #Indeep ... See MoreSee Less

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Dive South

23/08/20

Divemaster Course starting in September!

We have a couple of spaces open for a divemaster course commencing next month. This will not be a quick turnaround course, as we focus on making great dive leaders.

Step up to the first rung on the professional ladder!

If you are interested in joining, or just want to know a little more, get in touch on info@divesouth.co.uk ... See MoreSee Less

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Tempted but a little bit scared..

You could do it!!

Dive South

21/08/20

RAID are proud to promote the charity, Shark Guardian in its fight for the conservation of sharks and right now they need the support of you, our divers and instructors.

WHY?
· It is currently legal to bring in 20kg of shark fin into the UK per person

· Shark fin is being brought into the UK this way which may belong to endangered shark species protected by CITES. This would be illegal!

URGENCY!
We have until 11th September 2020 to reach 100,000 petitions! When reached, this petition will move to Parliament for debate.

Be a part of the cause and help stop the importation, exportation and sales of shark products.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300535

www.sharkguardian.org ... See MoreSee Less

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Dive South

20/08/20

“So how does this distances group picture thing work then..?!”
A good morning of diving with our friends up at Vobster Quay Inland Diving Centre.
Well done to Team Gould on their successful skills practice dives - good to see you all progressing!
Great to see Andy Low back in the water after too long away! Looking forward to Lundy Island next month!
Big thanks to David Rintoul for your help bud! ... See MoreSee Less

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Is it me, or is this a bit Early-90's-indie-album-cover?!

Thanks to Richard & Dave from the Dive South team for taking me out today and putting me through my paces again...... always feels safer with you guys watching my back😎.... I had a great day and it was great to catch up...see you soon guys... PS....sorry you missed it Lisa, but some of us have to work😎

Dive South

20/08/20

Come on in the water’s great! ... See MoreSee Less