Searching for leaks … got potatoes
AS A DIVE CLUB BASED IN BANBURY, we’ re no strangers to travelling for a dive. Stoney Cove is a familiar favourite, and if there’ s salt water involved, even better. That routine, however, took an unexpected turn earlier this year.
In February, we received a call from a local farmer, Michael, who has a large reservoir on his farm used to irrigate crops during increasingly hot and dry summers. Despite the substantial rainfall over winter, the reservoir had been losing a noticeable amount of water. Measuring approximately 50m by 100m and around 4m deep, it was clear something wasn’ t quite right. Michael asked whether we might be able to help by taking a look underwater for any signs of leaks.
Never ones to turn down a local dive, we were happy to oblige, after an appropriate risk assessment. Three willing volunteers signed up for a chilly early‐season investigation, and plans were made for a methodical search. As it wasn’ t practical to cover the entire reservoir, we focused on the most likely problem areas: the raised
The legacy of London Scuba
MEMBERS OF BSAC BRANCH 358, London Scuba formerly City of London Polytechnic and London Guild Hall University( Special Branch) met in a London pub in early March. Our branch activities diminished in the early‘ noughties’ and now was time to close the club account before the bank froze it. We had a party for about 50 members, some going back to the early days of the club – thought to be around 1967.
Over the years, the branch was very active in training students from just snorkelling to First Class Diver level, with some even being taught to swim before going on to scuba. From the mid‐Seventies to the millennium, the regular intake each September was 50‐60 trainees, using City University pool, which was all of six feet at the deep end! Easter dives to Cornwall were well attended, often with three shifts of three inflatables a day over the 10‐day holiday, keeping banks, where clay can dry, crack, and potentially allow water to escape during the summer months.
Conditions on the day were surprisingly good. Visibility was excellent, allowing us to swim three abreast: myself along the 2m depth contour, Richard at 3m, and Steve following the base at around 4m. The water temperature hovered at a brisk 11 ° C, but that didn’ t deter us from spending just under an hour carefully bubbling our way around the reservoir.
We completed a full circuit and then some, searching slowly and systematically for any tell‐tale signs of trouble— such as silt or weed movement indicating water being drawn through a small breach in the clay lining. Unfortunately, no obvious leaks were found.
While there were no fish to admire, the reservoir more than made up for it with other wildlife. We encountered
the two club compressors busy. Lamorna Cove, Sennen Cove, Porthgawra and Porthoustock were annual haunts to access The Bucks, Logan Rock, Runnel Stone and Longships, as well as the numerous wrecks, particularly the Mohegan. Summer dives ranged from Muckle Flugga to Bishop Rock and out to St Kilda and Fastnet. Longer distance trips to Spain, The Canaries, Gozo, Corsica and Sardinia all took place, with the club gear transported by road in Land Rovers and Transit vans.
Those trained through our club have dived all six continents and continue to do so, though in smaller groups. We were informally an impressive number of large toads and plenty of common smooth newts( Lissotriton vulgaris), which were a real highlight of the dive.
Back on dry land, Michael was chatting with our ever‐reliable shore cover, Tracy. He was extremely appreciative of our efforts and, in a gesture that perfectly sums up rural hospitality, presented each diver with a sack of potatoes straight from the farm.
Although we were a little disappointed not to have identified the source of the leak, it may simply be a very small problem in a very large body of water. Plans are already in place to return with more divers to extend the search— this time criss‐crossing the base as well as re‐checking the perimeter.
All in all, an unusual, and thoroughly enjoyable local dive. SHAUN WEST, DO, Banbury Sub‐Aqua Club 74
renamed‘ The Dining Club’ a few years back with large group dives no longer taking place, but the legacy of diving, friendship and community live on in the hundreds of people the club trained over the years.
After a ballot, the remaining funds of £ 6000 were allocated primarily to two marine focused charities, British Divers Marine Life Rescue, and Diving with the Injured, who train injured veterans. The evening concluded with a toast to absent friends.
Any members who have lost touch can find us on Facebook BSAC 358 facebook. com / groups / 2418706546 CLIVE EVANS, Chair, BSAC 358
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