Isle of Purbeck SAC reports on its recent mission to survey the legs of Swanage Pier, the spiritual home of South Coast diving
UKDIVING
Spirit of Swanage
Isle of Purbeck SAC reports on its recent mission to survey the legs of Swanage Pier, the spiritual home of South Coast diving
Report by Nick Reed, with Alison and Paul Pettitt
When your club’ s home base is the legendary Swanage Pier, and your roots reach back to the earliest days of British diving, it’ s hard to ignore a call for help from the Pier’ s custodians. Originally built in 1897, the pier stretches into the sea, supported by 180 wooden legs, each a vital part of the structure. Built largely from wood, it has always faced a persistent underwater enemy— the gribble worm, a tiny, woodboring crustacean that gradually weakens the piles over time.
So when the Swanage Pier Trust needed support with a grant application to replace several decaying pier legs, the Isle of Purbeck Sub Aqua Club( IPSAC) didn’ t hesitate to dive in.
“ Our focus over recent months has been to carry out a full condition survey of all the pier legs,” says IPSAC Chair Paul Pettitt.“ Club members have spent much of the summer underwater with tape measures, recording sheets, and waterproof slates— assessing and documenting each pile’ s condition.”
During the survey, divers recorded the condition of every single pier leg. This involved measuring the circumference with a tape measure and taking notes on the condition. The data was used to assess how much of the pier leg had been eroded by the water and attack by the gribble worm. They also recorded whether the leg had been encased in concrete and if there were any major splits or cracks. Then each pier leg was given a grading out of five, with those rated 1 or 2 recommended for immediate attention or replacement.
Swanage pier with old pier alongside
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