Rebreathertraining
is constantly researching new dive sites around the island.
Below we have listed just a few of our favourites, we have
many more.
Punta Quintana: a long wide airy cave
in 8-10m. Two entrances with total penetration of about
60-70m.
Cova des Moro: large opening with skylight
in 8-10m. Total penetration about 60m with air chamber and
stalactite/mite formations at the back.
Pont den Gil: must be seen dive. 200-250m
penetration with a clear surface for normally 95% of the
cave, spectacular formations.
The Malakoff: sunk in 37-40m, it was a
French cargo ship which was heavily salvaged in 1927. Has
now become a beautiful man-made reef with an abundance of
life.
Salvage platform: sunk on purpose in 1998,
plenty of open compartments making the site an excellent
training site.
Francisquita: Spanish cargo ship sank
in 1952. A perfect wreck dive in 50m, lying upright on the
sea bed still intact.
The Bullring: appears to be an ancient
cenote or collapsed spring from thousands of years ago.
Sheer walls around a perfectly circular rim dropping from
54-75m.
The Georgia K: Greek cargo ship sunk in
mysterious circumstances in 1992. Originally found in 1998,
but a ban imposed by the local authorities meant it wasn't
dived again until 2002 when we gained permission to visit
the wreck. Sits upright on the seabed at a maximum depth
of 103m. A serious dive for the serious diver.
TRIP
REPORTS
Georgia K 2005
During the last week of September we made our annual pilgrimage
to the wreck of the Georgia K. She was sunk in suspicious circumstances
for insurance purposes, and we have been led to believe was supposed
to have gone down in depths of 200+metres, however she eventually
settled on the seabed lying upright and intact at 98 metres.
She was originally located by an English team led by Ron Mahoney
of Beyond the Blue diving magazine and later by an Italian team,
but after an incident on one of the dives the authorities placed
a ban on diving her.
In 2002, Mark Moss and myself gained permission to dive the wreck
once more, and so began an annual trip to survey the wreck.
This year we were joined by Mark Ellyatt (current open circuit
scuba deep dive world record holder) , diving on open circuit,
and a group of English divers all on AP Diving Inspirations –
I decided to try-out AP’s newest model, the Evolution, to
see how it compared to the Inspiration at these depths.
As you descend, this awesome wreck comes into view at about 65
metres, the first thing coming into sight are the towering bridge
and the crane, but such is the size you cannot see the whole of
it in one go.
The wreck is still in excellent condition; the massive props
sitting proud on the seabed – unfortunately, the camera
decided not to work this year, so the only shots we have are on
the surface and during the deco phase of the dive, all taken by
Mark Ellyatt.
The Evolution worked as expected and had no problems with the
gas switching I was carrying out during the dive - the electronics
functioned perfectly. I also incorporated the GCS (Gas Connector
System) from APD this year, which caused no problems in connecting
any of the supply lines - this has to be a must for any serious
CCR Trimix diver. The gases I used gave me the same runtimes as
the other CCR divers, who were all using Heliair 10/50, but whist
they had an END of almost 45 metres, mine was never higher than
23 metres (if you would like to learn more about the gas mixes
used – and training available to competently use them –
email me: simon@rebreathertraining.net).
Plans are already in motion to do a weeks diving on the wreck
next year, taking video with us this time, and to get a closer
look at the charts that can be seen in the bridge as well as looking
at the whole wreckage and the oxyacetylene hoses we have seen
disappearing down into the wreck.
Anyone wishing to join one of these trips, or the Battleship
Project should contact us through mail@rebreathertraining.net
Please remember that it is necessary to have the correct level
of certification, a diving medical and diving insurance to dive
in Menorca.
