X-Ray Mag

England

There are now significant gaps in the coverage of hyperbaric treatment facilities in England.

England Faces Critical Shortage of Hyperbaric Chambers for Divers

2 months ago By Chief minion

This decision follows a recent procurement process where three recompression chambers in the Midlands, North West, and North East of England were unsuccessful in their bids to continue providing HBOT services. The British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) warns that this could leave vast regions without accessible treatment for decompression illness (DCI) and arterial gas embolism (AGE), conditions that require immediate medical attention.

Shipwreck Linked to Wordsworth Family Granted Protection

11 months ago By Chief minion
Mr Tonkin's 1805 survey and proposal to recover the cargo using a 'diving machine'. The salvage of the cargo was undertaken by John Braithwaite in a diving bell in 1805-1807". Copyright Portland Museum Trust

The Earl of Abergavenny was launched in 1796 in Northfleet, Kent and is rare as one of only 36 ships of 1460 tons that formed a special class of the Company’s merchant fleet. It was an early example of the changing technologies in ship building of the time, incorporating the use of iron in its construction.  

3D model still of 16th century ship found at Dungeness quarry
3D model still of 16th century ship found at Dungeness quarry

Remains of a rare Elizabethan-era ship found in quarry

2 years ago By Chief minion

Workers at a quarry near Dungeness made the dramatic discovery of a rare Elizabethan-era shipwreck on the coast of Kent while dredging gravel for building materials out of a lake in April.

The location is now some 300 metres from the coast, but archaeologists believe that the site was once right on the coastline. The vessel could have been wrecked or abandoned on the former shoreline, and then gradually buried in sediment as time passed and the headland expanded. 

The USS Jacob Jones has been missing since 1917
The USS Jacob Jones has been missing since 1917. Photo provided by Richard Ayrton

Divers find First World War US shipwreck off Cornwall

2 years ago By Chief minion

The USS Jacob Jones was the first American destroyer ever to be sunk by enemy fire. After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Jacob Jones was sent overseas. On 6 December, Jacob Jones was steaming independently from Brest, France, for Queenstown, when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-53 with the loss of 66 men out of a crew of 150. The vessel sank in eight minutes without issuing a distress call.

Earliest English medieval shipwreck uncovered

2 years ago By Chief minion

The survival of a vessel such as this is extremely rare, and there are no known wrecks of seagoing ships from the 11th to the 14th centuries in English waters. The discovery makes this the earliest English designated wreck site where hull remains can be seen, Bournemouth University writes.

The shipwreck was preserved due to unique environmental factors, according to maritime archaeologists now excavating and analyzing the site.

UK scuba diving sites, Chepstow, NDAC, National Diving and Activity Centre, Rosemary E Lunn, Roz Lunn, XRay Mag, X-Ray Magazine, scuba diving news
The loss of this exceptional training resource will be deeply felt within the recreational and technical diving community. NDAC is a unique site in that offers diving in the 6 metre to 80 metre range

NDAC: Top UK dive training quarry closes

3 years ago By Rosemary E Lunn

The National Diving & Activity Centre is based at a large flooded quarry in Tidenham, Gloucestershire, England. This dive site is located on the English / Welsh border at Chepstow, just a few minutes' drive from the M48 Severn Bridge. For 52 years, this was a toll bridge - cars would pay £5.60 to cross the River Severn. When bridge tolls were scrapped on 17 December 2018, NDAC suddenly became financially more attractive to dive. 

NDAC is permanently closed. We are not taking bookings for leisure activities or public diving.

Membership Question

Divers have asked NDAC about membership refunds. Ashley Bryce, NDAC Manager responded stating that all memberships had been extended by seven months to account for the Covid-19 lockdown. 

What's next for NDAC?

At the time of writing this, it is not known what will happen to NDAC. Rumours have been circulating for a number of weeks that the Ministry of Defence has bought this dive site. This is unlikely. There are other rumours that the quarry is going to be developed into a holiday park. Whether recreational and technical divers will be able to access and dive these unique waters again, is not known at this point. 

Royal Navy to dismantle WWII shipwreck in risk of enormous explosion

3 years ago By Chief minion

A Ministry of Defence report said an explosion “would throw a 300 metre-wide column of water and debris nearly 3,000 metres into the air and generate a wave 5 metres high”.

The warship was part of a US convoy travelling to the UK in August 1944 - but when it arrived in the Thames Estuary, it was instructed to anchor in the Great Nore, off Sheerness, where it sank, with about 1,400 tonnes of explosives remaining on board.

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