2013 diving kicks off

June has come around quickly, which means we're all set to start diving on the project again for 2013. While it's been a while since we've been in the water on these wrecks, lots has been going on.  After a conversation with Mike Postons from 3Deep Media, we commissioned some 3D representations of LST 531 to see how they portrayed the wrecks. We have been very pleasantly surprised, and the images have also gone down really well at the talks that Rich has been giving around Europe.  Given this exciting development, we've decided to return to LST 531 which has more interesting artefacts around the site and to improve the quality of our survey.  The idea is to build up our 3D map of the wreck, and then add in our photo and video imagery to make an interactive documentary of the wreck site.  I'm pleased to say that Mike will be joining us this week to give us some advice and feedback on the way that we collect the data.

Despite looking nice, the weather was blowing hard

Another interesting development happened after a long chat with Nick Chipchase, who has probably dived more UK wrecks than anyone alive, and researched and documented many of them as well.  He has kindly lent us his file on the LST's which includes sketches, dive reports, correspondence with survivors and newspaper and magazine articles about the events and the wrecks.  A real treasure and we're very grateful to Nick for lending us this information.

Last night, five divers arrived in Portland (the first days are always a bit light, for some reason), and we were told that the weather patterns were extremely unpredictable, and that diving today (Monday) was unlikely.

Project plan starts to come together

We showed up ay 8am anyway, to have the news confirmed.  We seized the day, though, and spent our time building a project plan that allows for changeable weather, and also moving into or home for the week in Scimitar Diving's new premises.  We have charging facilities, a nice big computer for video and photo work.  And writing the blog of course!  The weather tomorrow is looking good, we're all filled with gas, and are ready to go. Ropes off is at 10am, and we're planning to put two teams onto the wreck to look at the bow section, and the break in the hull where we should be able to see more vehicles.