1st May 2026 – West Bay

On Friday, 1 May, we started our first Friday evening dive of the season.

Five club members and a guest met at West Bay.

We launched the boat very quickly and headed out to a man-made reef in Lyme Bay.

Weather conditions were considerably different from all the forecasts, with much larger waves than the predicted 0.4m.

Plans changed on the fly, and the first pair became a three-person dive as we realised we were not going to get three waves in before light faded. It took longer to reach the site than anticipated, and we needed to have a dedicated coxswain to ensure we returned in daylight.

The next pair’s kitting up was abandoned due to the conditions and feelings of seasickness. A diver and coxswain swap was made so that another pair could still get into the water. However, whilst kitting up, that diver also started to feel unwell, so the second dive was abandoned.

Recovering the three divers in the water was challenging in the conditions, but everyone returned safely on board. The run back to West Bay with the waves behind us was much more comfortable.

The boat was recovered onto the trailer, and we also had the chance to watch another club attempt to launch their boat, ready for a weekend of diving out of West Bay. There was some comical reversing and plenty of shouting.

Friday evening finished with fish and chips at one of the cabins by the bridge in West Bay.

An enjoyable evening together, if not the best conditions above the surface. Below the surface, divers reported good visibility.