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GOLF FOOTBALL SQUASH HOCKEY FENCING

CRICKET Tel. PORTSMOUTH 20611 FISHING Sportsmen shop at INDOOR BOXING GAMES THE SOUTHERN BOWLING WEIGHT SPORTS TRAINING SHOP CAMPING

ATHLETICS Personal attention 48 ELM GROVE FIRE ARMS from Peter Anderson SOUTHSEA JUDO Ken Edwards HANTS TENNIS

Stainless steel Rolex Oyster, £37.10s. See it at your Rolex jeweller's now BADMINTON RUGBY UNDERWATER EQUIPMENT YOU WOULD BE PROUD TO WEAR THIS ROLEX OYSTER THE ROLEX OYSTER is a watch which any man would be proud to own. Its permanently sealed Oyster case is 100% waterproof, dustproof and dirtproof. It is superbly accurate. It is elegant—you can see that— but actually handling it will tell you far more . . . and this is exactly what your nearest Rolex jeweller in- vites you to do. Call on him yourself, today—or UNIQUE. The Oyster is the write to the address below for a free, fully illustrated only watch with the 100% catalogue and his name and address. The catalogue effective screw-down winding shows the full range of Oyster watches, including the button that gives DOUBLE protection where it is most Tudor Oyster from £24.5s. ... • 4 needed,helpsmake the Oyster the finest waterproof watch. ROLEX OYSTER The official watch for Royal Navy Divers Courage THE ROLEX WATCH COMPANY LIMITED (Founder, S. Wilsdorf.) I GREEN STREET, MAYFAIR, LONDON, W.I. is the Word for Beer

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk Contents R.N. Diving Magazine

PAGE Vol. 13 Winter 1966 No. 3 EDITOR'S NOTES . 3

SEARCH AND RESCUE 4 EDITORIAL STAFF H.M.S. 'ARK ROYAL' 7 Editor P.O. J. HARRISON LT. E. T. BAKER CONSHELF 3 9 Treasurer J.

POLICE DIVING TEAMS . . 1/ EDITOR'S NOTES THE C.J.B. — DIVCON SUBMERSIBLE WORK CHAMBER 15

SOLENT DIVING SITES 18 ALK about the wind of change, Tit has been downright draughty H.M.S. 'SHEBA' DIVING TEAM . 19 in the office in these recent months. CONDENSATION AND PENETRATION OF HUMIDITY IN WATER-RESISTANT P.O. Gibson has gone to sail the WATCHES • • 21 crinkly and yours truly has taken over the Editorial chair, best of luck THE HOME STATION CLEARANCE DIVING TEAM • • 22 in the new job Trevor. EXERCISE SEASNAIL . . 23 Many thanks to all the people who sit down and laboriously scribe an RECOVERY OF DIVING EQUIPMENT LOST IN LAKE WINDERMERE 26 article for the magazine, without you we could not survive, but if your SEA JEEP . . 27 article has not been printed do not despair as it may well have reached H.M.S. 'VERNON' AUTUMN ROAD RACE 27 us too late for printing in this issue, the closing date being six weeks DIVERS' DINNER 1966 . 29 before publication. There does how- ever, seem to be a falling off in PROMOTIONS AND ADVANCEMENTS 29 articles from Ships. Can we have some brainstorms whilst you are on NAVAL AIR COMMAND SUB-AQUA CLUB EXPEDITION — ISLES OF SCILLY watch. If you do not tell us what is 1966 31 happening to you, how are we to know. AMERICAN INFLUENCE • • 35 As offered in the last Editorial, the BRIGHTON 1966 .. 36 Letters to the Editor have aroused some people to put their feelings into SUMMER HOLIDAY . . 39 print, may we hope to see more of this. 66 MAGSERVE " BOOK REVIEW 43 The Deepwater Sporty Types are again doing their best at rugby by Valid until Vol. 14'1, this voucher LETTERS TO THE EDITOR . . • • 45 not losing a match so far this season, should accompany any even beating the Royal Marines at A.T.U.R.M., Poole. The Division advertisement or query. won the Autumn Road Race from

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Vernon to South Parade Pier and back, details further on. Everything pointed to a diver of some look forward to seeing them at the description, and it was decided that a Royal Naval Air Station, Portland MAGSERVE has also fallen on fertile ground and more articles are asked qualified ship's Diver should be trained where they will spend eleven weeks for and for sale in this issue, don't forget if you send an enquiry for an article in specially for this task. In order to make learning the rudiments of air navi- MAGSERVE, send the chit at the bottom of the editorial with it. him a fully competent member of the gation and the various techniques of S.A.R. helicopter he should also be helicopter rescue. It would be very much appreciated by the editorial staff if subscribers on properly trained as an aircrewman. changing addresses would let us know their new ones as soon as possible. This was the birth of the Search and There are five types of air crewmen Rescue Diver. Originally all Search and ,and _they all train together foK the first 11 urn 28(Y. As he turned he saw spray him and as he seemed to indicate that settling and a parachute canopy on the he would enter the life-raft and try Search and Rescue surface 700 yards downwind. One from there the pilot moved away, survivor was seen inflating his life-raft dropped a Marine Marker datum 30 by LT. A. G. KENDR ICK, n.N., Officer in Charge, S.A.R. School. and was assumed to be in reasonable yard down-wind and checked on the shape. The second member of the diver's progress. He was by this time ditched Buccaneer was located lying face busy submerged. On returning to the "Diver ready for despatch'. crewmen in a rescue helicopter was down in the water, head held under by Observer, who had still not entered the "Despatch the diver!" given a rescue role which allowed him his seat pack life-raft riding up onto his life-raft, a strop was once more lowered. "Diver gone — move left 3 yards'. complete independence — in fact, a role neck, his backside held out of the water After some considerable effort he placed where he could detatch himself from the by air that had gathered in his flying the strop around himself incorrectly A turmoil on the surface of the sea rescue helicopter. suit, and his arms held to his sides by (bight around chest, toggle behind him). indicates the spot where yet another parachute shrouds. The canopy was 4. Because no injury had been indi- One large difference between a Naval Search and Rescue Diver has taken the submerged and below him. It took cated and bearing in mind the survivor's plane-guard crew and its R.A.F. coun- plunge. Literally and figuratively about 30 seconds to reach the spot and exhausted and dazed condition, the terpart ashore is that the former can speaking he has done just that ! Indeed the S.A.R. Diver immediately jumped pilot made the decision to hoist him invariably be on the spot within seconds the crewmen could well have despatched 3 yards short of the survivor. thus. The Observer was still attached of an incident occuring. There is, B.R. 155 into the ocean too, for all the to the life-raft and further difficulty was therefore, extra scope for ditched air- good it was going to do the chap in 2. The diver noticed that the L.S.W. encountered releasing it. the water. crew to be rescued from inside an air- was not inflated and that the pilot, as it craft — an aircraft that could be turned out to be, was not helping him- 5. A few minutes later the diver was Many seasoned divers — and I have partially or wholly submerged. Under self in any way. He turned him over, ready to assist the pilot into the strop. tremendous respect for them all — these not uncommon circumstances, inflated the L.S.W. and cleared his The aircraft then returned to the might raise their eyebrows. Professional being attached to the helicopter by a oxygen mask. Considerable effort was carrier. discipline cannot be greater in any wire is, to the would-be rescuer, very required to operate the C.0.2 bottle on branch of the Royal Navy than it is restricting, certainly frustrating and the L.S.W. The diver then submerged, among that of the Clearance Divers. therefore, unacceptable. cleared the shrouds from the parachute However, the fact remains that once the Having cut this vital life-line it is release box, and after a struggle, Search and Resuce Diver hits the water operated it. He then cleared the harness in a real emergency he is entirely on his essential then that some further means of battling the elements be employed. from the pilot's shoulders but found own without the benefits of Supervisor, shrouds entangled in the oxygen line. Standby Diver or Life-line. A new The requirements are that the rescuer Comments by S.A.R. Headquarters: should be able to assist aircrew in These he cleared by removing the clip chapter must, perforce, be written into attached to the L.S.W. He was unable 1. This is undoubtedly a case of a the Diving Manual. difficulties on or near the surface in or out of the ditched aircraft, and in order to clear the shrouds from the pilot's man's life being saved through a series The advent of the Search and Rescue to do so he should be equipped for anti-G. suit tube, so he cut through it. of decisions made rapidly and correctly. Diver — or S.A.R. Diver — occurred shallow underwater tasks. This might Only the legs were now entangled and 2. The pilot was right to locate the some eight years ago following a tragic involve freeing a man entangled in a the diver tackled each line individually submerged survivor first, but sometimes accident involving a Scimitar aircraft. parachute harness, or tendering oral with his knife. The diver then surfaced it can be a difficult decision to make. It became increasingly apparent that, as resuscitation to an unconscious man on to find the pilot conscious and the plane- 3. The diver did everything perfectly far as the Royal Navy was concerned, the surface in a high sea state; even guard ready for a run-in. The survivor correctly and more important in the anyway, it would be of tremendous perhaps releasing a man trapped in a was hoisted clear, followed by the right order. Things do not always seem advantage if one of the two S.A.R. submerged cockpit, diver in turn. logical under actual emergency con- 7 4 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk ditions, and it is very easy to lose one's 5. One can hardly take a dazed, ex- head. The diver, therefore, is to be hausted and shocked aircrew to task CONSHELF 3 congratulated on a job well done. over bad life-raft drill and S.A.R. crews must always be prepared for this kind N October last year, six divers The sphere was mounted in a chassis 4. An exhausted survivor upside down of situation. This once more highlights entered a buoyant sphere in Monaco 48 feet, by 28 feet which also housed 77 in the strop is an awkward situation the need wherever possible to use the IHarbour, were locked in, and the tons of ballast, numerous cylinders of indeed, especially with the diver busy double lift or diver-assisted lift method. sphere towed out to a position off Cape oxygen, helium and compressed air, a elsewhere. It is felt that, here again, the Even an apparently uninjured survivor Ferrat Lighthouse in Southern France. neoprene reservoir of drinking water and pilot of the plane-guard acted for the can still find himself in severe difficulties. Here the sphere was ballasted and it canisters of fruit juices. Thus apart from best. slowly sank to the sea bed-some 370 electric power for lighting and heating, feet below the surface, and here in the the diving team were entirely self- inky blackness, the six divers were to supporting. The power supplies were, work and live for 18 days. This was in fact, fed from shore by buoyant cables. MAGSERVE CONSHELF 3, the third stage in Com- mander Cousteau's programme to have A room in the lighthouse was used as men working and living at any depth on a surface control station and via closed M.S. 18. For Sale . . . British Anzani, M.S. 19. For Sale . . . B.S.A. 500c.c. the Continental Shelf, that is up to a circuit television the divers were ob- Long Shaft, 18 h.p. outboard motor. Motor Cycle, c./w. helmet. New Engine. depth of 600 feet. served for 24 hours per day for the C./w. tank and lead. 1966 model. 2,500 miles since installed. Any duration of their underseas stay. There Never been used last one of a bankrupt reasonable offer over £25. CONSHELF 1 took place off Marseille was also a telephone to a surface in September 1962, when two divers stock. Normal price £178. Offers attendant ship. spent one week at 33 feet descending to around 125. No. 17. Required . . . Has anyone got 85 feet to work. CONSHELF 2 was In the event of damage or malfunction Volumes No. 7, Nos. 1, 2, 3 for Sale. undertaken in the Red Sea in the of the equipment necessitating an summer of 1963, when five men lived emergency ascent, two three-man de- for two weeks at 36 feet and descended compression chambers were suspended to depths of 165 feet to work. Now this at depth for the whole period of the Special Terms to Club Members was CONSHELF 3, the next step, a very operation. ambitious and costly one, and one into which a vast amount of planning had The divers breathed a oxy-helium gone. Six divers living and working at mixture (25 • % 02), both when inside 370 feet for a prolonged period and and outside the underseas house. In almost self-supporting. They had their the house the mixture was supplied from One of the largest and most own gas supply, their own store of food an installation called a cryogenerator comprehensive stocks of diving gear and drinking water, and the tools which circulated the mixture gas, and necessary to carry out their scheduled on its return to the plant it froze out the in the country tasks on the sea-bed. carbon dioxide and any other noxious Cousteau's 'saucer' made daily trips gasses. This equipment also acted as a to the house for the purpose of photo- dehumidifier and as a refrigerator for Always on display at : graphy and for providing outside light the food. for the divers, but there was no personal contact with the divers, communication When operating outside the house, being by telephone or T.V. the divers used a three bottle hookah Sub-Aqua Products (Eastleigh) Ltd. closed circuit set attached to a 200 foot The underwater dwelling was a sphere length of twin hose. A compressor 63 TWYFORD ROAD 18 feet in diameter, with two floors, the pumped the gas to the divers through upper housed the dining room, labor- one hose, and the exhaled breath was EASTLEIG H - - HANTS atory and communication centre, and 'sucked back' via the second hose. the lower floor the dormitory, toilets and This exhaled breath was purified, the Telephone 2144 diving store. A bottom hatch in the expended oxygen replaced and returned diving store provided access to the sea. to the reservoir for further use. In this

8 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk way the valuable helium gas was not lost. ature was essential, due to breathing a The three bottles also contained the oxy- mainly helium mixture gas, the heat loss helium mixture, but these were for from the body was very much higher emergency use only. To ensure that than when breathing air. the breathing gas was at all times correct, the house had its own gas During the 18 days on the sea-bed, the analyser, the results of which were divers carried out a number of tasks OOPERS transmitted direct to the shore station. both inside and outside the house, as In addition there was a miniature mass well as undergoing tests and observ- spectograph that continuously recorded ations. Records were kept and are now C the presence of any gas within the house, being studied, and the results will thus any change in the mixture was undoubtedly influence the planning of immediately noticed. the next diving operation in the CON- SHELF programme. Confident — The temperature on the sea-bed varied between 50° and 55° F., and as it The divers were entombed in the Relaxed was necessary for the divers to work at sphere for 21 days, three of which were prolonged periods as part of the trial, a spent on the surface before submerging. in a Cooper-style good insulated suit was required. The At 1100 hours on the 22nd day the hatch was closed, the house tested for leaks Leisure Suit `wet' suit favoured by French divers was of no use as the pressure at 370 feet and preparations made for the ascent. would so compress the foam rubber as When all was ready the 77 tons of to destroy the insulating qualities of the ballast was released, but nothing hap- suit. Thus an incrompressible rubber pened and there were a few anxious Sensible Chap ! moments before the sphere in its chassis He bought his suit material was required, one which would retain body heat at this depth, and also finally shook itself free and rose to the from Coopers. surface at over a 100 feet per minute. He paid no more keep the diver dry. The former require- for generous Credit ment was met by the manufacture of a This step in the programme was over, Terms. material comprising two layers of and another step in man's conquest of rubber material between which were the sea had been made. placed thousands of minute gas filled ebonite spheres. The spheres, no larger Full praise must be given to the six than specks of dust, provided the divers, one of whom was Commander incompressible insulating layer and the Cousteau's son, for their part in this Make sure material, made up into vests, was worn successful operation, and also to all between two special 'dry' suits. those behind the scene personnel who made it possible. your new suit is Within the house the temperature was kept up to around 90° F. by the use The next step CONSHELF IV is looked COOPERSTYLE of infra red heaters. This high temper- forward to with interest. G.A.F. W COOPER FUND FOR THE LATE P.O. MACKENZIE HE fund for Jock realised £589, of my late husband. I shall always (Harwich) Ltd. and this has been paid to his remember your kindness and thoughts. Twidow, Mrs. MacKenzie, whose letter of thanks follows. ED. I am no good at expressing my MAIN ROAD, HARWICH feelings in words, but would like to "To All Mac's Friends, thank each and everyone of you again. BRANCHES AT ALL PRINCIPAL PORTS Just a little letter of acknowledgement to all the Divers, for the lovely con- Yours sincerely, tribution which you all made on behalf ANGELA, GINA AND ROSS." 10 11

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk many readers will remember, including to be altered. On record are bodies that the course instructor, C.P.O. Bill Soper. went upstream, wandered about in still water, and even somehow went up Much of naval diving training narrow storm-gully pipes. The main fact methods are, of course, not applicable forthcoming is that bodies in fresh water to police teams, as fortunately we do not remain heavy longer than was previously have ships bottoms to search, and the thought to be the case. suggestion of a mud-run would cause mass riots. An average underwater unit in a force of a thousand strong would be eight From this attachment a course of men, under a sergeant. They would be instruction was compiled which ade- beat, traffic, or divisional mobile men, quately provides a man with the know- available to the unit for periodic ledge and experience to safely use the practice and as required for call-outs. recommended equipment, gives him a No diving pay exists. there being no way practical insight into all the problems in police regulations which would allow met with during police diving, and in- the payment of anything like 'danger cludes a visit to H.M.S. Vernon for a dip money'. Diving is usually limited to in the Mining Tank and a pot-dip. This 60 feet, due to the type of equipment in visit is looked forward to throughout use, and to the small number of recom- the course, and I cannot stress too much pression chambers available around the the good that comes from it. country. Unfortunately there is still no direc- tive regarding police diving at all, so To end this article I thought it may be of interest to recount a few incidents teams of two are able to exist, diving dealt with in the past, to illustrate the can be done without life-lines, and stand- Police Diving Teams by divers are frequently non-existent, type of work tackled. but there are some hopes for the future. A factory was broken into and a safe HE need for underwater search helpful liaison was set up, leading to the Frequently I am asked what type of removed. A vehicle logbook, known to T units in the police was recognised adoption of the navy suit, fins, under- work we do, besides recovering the have been in the safe, was found a in the mid-50's, no doubt helped wear, compressor, D.U.C.S., and even bodies of drowned persons. This fortnight later floating in the Thames. by the accounts of Naval frogmen's Divers Log Book. This may sound a impression that we exist only to cater It was decided to search under bridges activities during the last war. A few small contribution when seen in writing, for drownings is quite wrong, as this and l 2 feet out from the banks upstream. forces, acting on the initiative of their but it should be appreciated that there work occupies only about one twentieth Subsequently the safe was found, Chief Constables, started units with the is no police diving research centre, or of our time, most of the work being securely wedged under a car that had assistance of a well known firm of funds set aside to enable the testing of recovery of property. It is of great value been stolen two years before, and which diving equipment manufacturers. At all equipment in order to select the most to C.I.D., when units of the evidence had obviously been in the water that this time there was no standard at suitable, so the freely given information are afforded by the recovery of stolen long. Both were recovered, and a which to aim, and precious little guid- of naval research is, to us, invaluable. property, frequently showing guilty quantity of documents of great value to ance could be given. knowledge on the part of a prisoner, the losers were found inside the safe, Even more pressing than equipment The recovery of valuable property which had been forced open. It was not until the 1960's that police was the apparent lack of specialised ditched because of identifiable marks is underwater units began to grow in training for police divers. Until then of course always carried out, usually as One summer evening a youth was numbers, but even then there was an forces had sent their men to a firm of a result of arrested criminals wanting to drowned in the Thames. Search was obvious lack of standardisation, and no equipment manufacturers to learn how make their co-operation as complete as made by directing the diver via his life- guidance at all regarding what type of to use the equipment, or aid has been possible, by showing just where they line from the bank. On locating the equipment, personnel, or working con- sought from branches of the British threw it away. body some 30 yards out, in 15 feet of ditions should be employed. Sub-Aqua Club, or the team has been water, the diver slipped his life-line self-taught. This situation caused the Knowledge of the behaviour of dead loose, to tie it round the body. The At this time contact was made with greatest concern and somehow resulted bodies in water is slowly being collected, inevitable happened and he was left the Superintendent of Diving, H.M.S. in the author attending a Free Diver with some long-standing views having with a body but no life-line. Ascer- Vernon, and from then onwards a most course at H.M.S. Drake, which I'm sure 13 12 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk taming his direction from the current he followed this cable a quarter of a mile struggled back to the bank with his downstream until it suddenly aimed at The C.J.B.-Divcon Submersible Work Chamber burden, to be met by a wide-eyed stand- the bank, from where it disappeared by diver enroute. Needless to say the into an unoccupied riverside bungalow. "The following article on the C.J.B.- wave heights are greater than 6 to nine lesson was well learnt. Search was then made upstream towards Divcon Submersible Work Chamber feet because it is dangerous for the a weir, but branching off up a side gives a good idea of how techniques diver. Such conditions are, for instance, On surfacing it was learnt that a child stream after a short distance, before devised in the R.N. can be employed in common in the North Sea during winter had drowned in the river Wey, some 10 ending in what looked like a hastily industry. It is of interest to note how the months. However, it is only the surface miles away. On arrival the sun had set cut blank. Many curious locals had R.N. Transfer Under Pressure technique waves which impede the diver. Once and light was failing fast. Local people followed the divers progress, and latest which was invented by the A.E.D. U. and through the surface turbulence he can in their haste to help, had unfortunately information is that previously a certain H.M.S. Reclaim has been, with very carry on normally. By carrying the opened all the sluice gates on a down- local had had an application to take a little variation put to practical use in the diver through the surface conditions of stream weir, in an effort to lower the telephone extention from his home to off-shore oil race." all kinds, the work chamber will allow river level. The sight was reminiscent his riverside bungalow, and that a diving operations to proceed without of a mountain stream in fullflood. The chappie from the G.P.O. wanted to HE Submersible Work Chamber hold-up. only course open was to put the diver interview him. H.W. will overcome the two main prob- in where the child was last seen — Tlems currently encountered in div- Such a speeding-up operation can be securely on a life-line, and to allow the ing operations in deep and open water. of great economic value. For instance, current to take him along. This resulted These problems concern the diver's in off-shore drilling rigs all drilling in the child being found some 100 yards safety and dependence on weather operations must be suspended whilst conditions. At the same time it will diving is in progress. The running costs down river, having fallen into a deep NOTICE IN A.E.D.U. TEAMS hole which was not being affected by the almost completely cut out the periods of an off-shore drilling rig average current. The gratitude of parents in OFFICE lost by drilling rigs in waiting on the approximately E200—£300 per hour and such situations is quite overwhelming, diver's lengthy ascent to the surface. the saving in time and money that can the thought of their child being in the This is NOT the office of The Herbert be achieved by use of these work river overnight having increased im- Lott Fund. At the present time, using conven- chambers, is, therefore, considerable. mensely, the distress already felt. tional diving methods, 9 hours are required to bring a diver to the surface How it Works. from 600 feet after he has spent only The Submersible Work Chamber A report was received that there was a contains two compartments separated car in the Thames, and a request was 30 minutes at that depth. The work chamber can bring a diver to the surface by a pressure-tight door. The upper made for it to be lifted. Past recoveries from 600 feet in 15-20 minutes regard- compartment is occupied by a tech- had been by crane and slings, but the less of the time he has spent on the sea- nician and a. stand-by diver and is damage caused by the wires was always bed. This is made possible by the fact normally maintained at surface pressure considerable. On this occasion it was that the diver travels to the surface in a (14.7 lbs. p.s.i.). The lower compart- decided to use a rubber fuel tank, placed sealed compartment, the internal atmos- ment is occupied by the working diver inside the car, and to pipe air to the who passes in and out via an open hatch. tank to achieve the required bouyancy. phere of which is maintained at a pressure equivalent to the depth of Water is prevented from entering the The wrong car was selected for this water at which he has been working. lower compartment by the internal experiment as it had a soft roof sup- On arrival at the surface, the diver atmospheric pressure, which is equalised ported by wooden slats, from which the can be transferred directly into a decom- with the outside water' pressure. (The inflated tank suddenly burst when lift pression chamber aboard the tender lower compartment hatch is closed be- had just come on. Again, we learnt fore the chamber is brought to the something. ship — this decompression chamber being pressurised to the same pressure surface). as the diver's compartment. This Anglers reported snagging something renders the work chamber immediately Under normal circumstances the bound in cable, in a backwater of the available to take a fresh diver to the technician and stand-by diver are not Thames. A search quickly located a sea-bed. required to undergo decompression plastic covered cable running along the since their compartment is always centre of the river, weighted at intervals "Kinky, very, very kinky" Where weather conditions are con- maintained at surface pressure. If in an with bronze rings! A patient diver cerned, it is impossible to dive when emergency or for any other reason, it 14 15

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk shOuld be necessary for the stand-by developed as a result of research in diver to leave the chamber to go to the Great Britain and the U.S.A. assistance of the working diver, the The working chambers will be Towered upper chamber can be pressurised to the to the sea-bed by cable winch from a same pressure as that of the lower drilling rig or tender ship. In an compartment — this can be accom- emergency, the chamber can, if plished in approximately 4 minutes. necessary, be totally disconnected from The connecting door can then be opened the tender ship and remain on the sea- and the stand-by diver can pass through bed for a period of up to 24 hours the lower compartment to the outside. without any form of contact with the The equipment worn by the divers is a surface. At any time during this period, modified version of the normal deep an external ballast weight can be diving dress, but when exposed to the remotely released by the occupants of pressures experienced at depths in the chamber. The chamber is then excess of approximately 200 feet, both buoyant and will rise automatically to they, and the technician breath an the surface. oxygen/helium mixture which has been How paying by cheque helps your pay go further

Lloyds Bank offers full banking help members of the Royal Navy services to all ranks of the Royal and Royal Marines. You can get Navy and Royal Marines. it at any branch - or, if you like, When you have a bank account, write to the Public Relations you'll find that paying by cheque, Officer, Lloyds Bank Limited, automatically having a record of Post Office Court, 10 Lombard your outgoings, never carrying Street, London, E.C.3. unnecessary amounts of cash on you - all help you to have a clear view of what you're doing with your money. Help it to go much WENDY'S PROGRESS REPORT nevertheless I enjoyed my tethered further. OWN to 55 feet in lovely clear swims. Ask for our free booklet which LLOYDS BANK water I have been doing my visual Must curl up now with a good book D The Sub-Aqua Diving Manual and learn explains how Lloyds Bank can FOR GOOD AND HELPFUL SERVICE underwater signal exercises. How very explicit and descriptive these my life-line code thoroughly. signals are ! Of course I have not been Best wishes, a further report after allowed off the line at this depth, but Christmas. WENDY, A.E.D. U. 16 17

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk to approach this enormous object of the traditional marks for the site. Solent Diving Sites except on a calm day and in a seaworthy Depth varies between 14 to 28 feet, visibility ranges from nil to 35 feet but by ALEXANDER McKEE boat. On such a day visibility is ex- traordinarily good but the weather is a good average is between 4 to 5 feet. HE FORTS. Spitsand, Horsesand, used to be well weeded, until a winter liable to swift changes for the worse, Current does not exceed 2 knots except No-Mans-land and St. Helens. gale threw most of the shingle onto the particularly in the afternoon. Boats are on high springs, and at low water slack, TBuilt between 1861 and 1880 at beach (winter 1959-60), but still a good not allowed to secure to the tower and it changes direction as precisely as a the sides of the main fairways, to spot for bass as well as flatties, bugs and care should be taken when anchoring Guardsman's about turn and in about guard against the menace of the new miscellaneous stuff like wrasse. Vis- because of the fast tide and swirling the same amount of seconds. Many fangled steam warships being built ability 5-15 feet (can be more or may eddies or boilings. Otherwise it is not flatties of all types, pollack, pouting, by the French. Constructed of granite, well be less). Best at low slack water, as bad as it looks, but the boat could lobsters, crabs, lumpsuckers,John Dory, concrete and armour plate at an otherwise an uncomfortable fast lateral easily be banged by the swirl against angler fish and the occasional bass. average cost of £200,000, they had current (3 knots or so) (which has the concrete. This is a favourite fishing mark so garrisons of up to 120 men, and were already produced some interesting watch out for boats when surfacing. originally fitted with 18 ton and 39 effects at the base of the concrete and CHURCH ROCKS. One of four rock The original Priory Church of Hayling ton guns. They were part of the ring the tops), has too much power to make reefs in Hayling Bay, Church Rocks is together with most of the hamlet of of Palmerston's Follies, which included it comfortable diving. There is a small the name given to the eastern end of a Eastoke was inundated around 1390 the forts on Portsdown Hill. So wreck further out where the tops have long narrow reef running roughly East- and many historians have indentified successful, they were never used in their been removed and nothing shows except West, along the line of the current, these with Church Rocks, so you may original role, but proved most valuable a swirl at high water, which amateur about two miles out from the Coast- see some signs of the old buildings during the 1939-45 war as A.A. and boatmen occasionally charge and re- guard cottages at Eastoke, which is one whilst on the bottom. L.A.A. sites covering the Solent Fair- move the bottom planking in the ways against the low flying Heinkels of process. Relatively safe, therefore, from 1X Flieger Corps. They are now speedboats. demilitarised and for sale. H.M.S. Sheba Diving Team THE NAB. Concrete base in layers Average depth at low water is 10 feet like a wedding cake, topped by a steel 1965-1966 (except St. Helens, where it is nil), tower nearly 90 feet high. The whole although on the edge of the navigation is slightly tilted and has a big crack in T all began one hot sticky morning Andy Clyde was lowered down a well channels depth may be 90 feet. Jumble the concrete underwater. Depth about last year when I turned to and found in the Sheik Othman District looking of old junk at the bases. Well weeded 75 feet at low water. Its present position IS.-Lt. Carr and his gang setting up for arms and explosives. He almost and in season, holding lobsters. Vis- was never intended. In 1918, it was shop in the old buffers caboose. Appar- qualified for Josephs coat of many ability 5-15 feet (can be more). They planned to stop 'LP Boats entering the ently they and six sets of S.A.B.A. plus colours. provide protection from fast fairway Channel by placing six such towers spares and their 'Gemini', had been currents and also strong winds. Good across the Straits of Dover, linked by flown out to Aden on a priority one The day dawned, when with smiling diving targets when conditions are poor, boom nets. Their concrete bases were crash draft. Being an ex-pupil of Taff faces, they had to leave by fast jet for or impossible elsewhere. hollow so that they could be towed out Packer and Red Ashton and fresh from U.K. They were relieved by L. Hewitt, into position and then sunk by flooding the Empire State Building of Chatham C.D., J. Smith, S.D. and Pole, S.D. THE BLOCKS Concrete construction, up. Two were laid down at Shoreham Dockyard, it didn't surprise me to see Operationally, there was a short pause built 1909 as a fixed barrier against the and one was completed when the war Andy Clyde knocking down walls and whilst S.-Lt. Parks, C.D. joined and new fangled torpedo boats and sub- ended, but what to do with it was the foraging in the Naval Base to produce a things then returned to their normal marines. Iron tops were added at the problem ? Replace the old Nab Light- fuller operational team in a few days. hectic pace. The equipment was stand- start of World War II. Demolition of ship was the decision. So in 1920 the S.-Lt. Carr got things moving very ing up pretty well to the usage so far, these began in 1960. In both wars they mystery Tower was towed to the Nab quickly by relaying Sheba's moorings with temperatures up to 90°F. and no effectively closed the Solent, the en- Ledge, an extension of the Bembridge and a night exercise with three C.M.S's air-conditioning. trances to the deepwater fairways being Ledge, and flooded up. At first, it cleared in six minutes. Pretty good protected by floated booms operated tilted alarmingly, then settled down not considering that some of the divers were S.-Lt. Parks also departed being from the forts. Depth at low water 8 to quite upright. The water in the base turned in and others in a bar two miles relieved by S.-Lt. Stewart. Diving 10 feet from 100 yards out, bottom, a was then forced out and concrete poured away at the time. continued with the rigging, unrigging jumble of old junk and cables with some in. It has no foundation therefore, and repairing of the Tarshyne Shark dangerous projections. The whole area but merely sits there. It is not advisable The highlight of their stay came when Net, moorings and the everyday jobs, 18 19

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk but alas S.-Lt. Stewart soon left, leaving searches in the book plus a few of our FurtFurtherher to Volume 13, No. 2, here are some more Facts on Condensation and L. Hewitt in the chair. own we managed to salvage a third of a by Jim Wardle from a Dolphin's Underwater Club News Letter. local Sheik's aluminium aircraft hangar ED. Here we had a pause, then one day a but no small craft. member of F.O.M.E's staff walked in and told us to pack our gear for a On returning to bomb-happy Aden, Condensation and Penetration of Humidity flight out. U.K. ? — not likely, but in a things bucked up with the arrival of Lt.- fast Argosy to a dusty village called Cdr. Olsen, S.D. At this time Hewitt in Water-Resistant Watches Salala on the Trucial Coast. To our and his gang had done seven months on credit, we managed to have our gear the station and were looking forward to ready in the short time allowed us returning to England. This they did, ONDENSATION presents one of In the course of laboratory tests, the before the flight. 4 o'clock in the morn- after a small delay caused by a Force 9 the most controversial problems in weight and diameter of the water drops ing, we were winging our way across the sandstorm, in a shiny V.C. 10 from Cthe manufacture, servicing and forming this moisture deposit were desert to Salala. For myself a staunch Khormaksar, Hewitt, now a shiny new wearing of water-resistant watches. measured and the scientists concluded R.A., it was a bit of a holiday, but we P.O., Jim to do a C.D. course and the When a misty deposit forms on the that this kind of condensation was not ended up in a horrible hut on the edge rest just bronzy. crystal of a water resistant watch, it sufficient to cause parts of the move- of the desert with the working site So here we are holding up the fort, raises a very disturbing question. Is the ment to rust. The air contained in the 20 miles away. The Army Liasion Sam and Ben the diving men. Although mist due to the penetration of humidity watch acts as a protective screen be- Officer took Hewitt away along a road our team is small our total diving time from outside, or has the water in the tween the damp deposit and the metal that had to be swept for mines at six is about three times as much per month air inside the watch case been deposited that is liable to rust. every morning, stuck him on top of a as a Frigate in commission. A few on the crystal ? small mountain and pointing to a site divers from any of the ships that visit Condensation of Humidity from Pene- that resembled Portland Harbour, ex- Aden will always be welcome. At the Condensation Without Penetration of tration plained that they had lost a small craft moment we have H.M.S. Kent and Water Very often mist will form on the three weeks previously and could we Bulwark plus a few Frigates to do the It is a scientific fact that the humidity crystal when the outside temperature find it. Four days later, bronzed as job here in Aden. of the air varies according to the rises quickly. For example, you may Greek Gods, with a few crayfish in the So from bomb-happy Aden, see you temperature. The higher the temper- wear your watch when you go swimming deep freeze, and after using all the soon. C. ature, the more water vapour the air is then lie on the warm sand afterwards. able to hold. If a watch undergoes very If the crystal becomes misty, it is not rapid cooling, the humidity content of due to condensation of the moisture the air outside the case reaches the deposit normally found in the air in maximum amount the air can hold at this case, but to penetration of humidity the lower temperature and a fine mist from outside. With a rise of temperature is deposited on the crystal and case. the air could hold more water than

n'101,11 before. TO HER ILVESTY 1HE QUEEN The average water-resistant man's BRICKTIOODS LID. DREVIIRS PORTSMOUTH watch contains about two cubic centi- Exchange of Humidity Through the meters of air. If the case is closed at a Watch Crystal temperature of 77° F. and a relative What makes Brickwood territory People often assert that unbreakable humidity of 80% (rather damp), the air crystals are porous and that water can contained in it will hold 0.037 milli- even better? therefore penetrate into the watch. grams of water. This is not quite correct. The Material If the watch is cooled to 70° F., the used in the manufacture of unbreakable so-called 'dew-point' is reached and the watch crystals is not porous. It does excess humidity begins to condense on exhibit the phenomenon known as the watch surface. When the temper- `Swelling', i.e., it adjusts its own ature is reduced to 41° F., the air can humidity content to that of the sur- hold only 0.013 milligrams of humidity. rounding air. BRICKWOODS BEST BITTER The difference of 0.024 milligrams is deposited on the case and is sufficient Whereas an ordinary breakable in amount to be visible as mist. crystal or sapphire crystal will insure 20 21 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk hermetic sealing, unbreakable organic the temperature falls quickly, this is The team at present consists of P.O. of the year), L.S. Malham, Evans and crystals (usually Plexiglass) will give rise normal. Simply warm the watch and the Bray (C.D.1.), (the younger — and due Coote, and A.B. Deakin, Eastwood, to a change of humidity. This exchange deposit disappears. On the other hand, to leave us for the Far East at the end Briggs, Harris, Dunkley and Williams. may take several days to complete but if condensation occurs when the temper- it is not harmful to the watch movement. ature rises, it is very likely that water has Since this exchange of humidity does penetrated into the watch. Only a occur, casing the watch in an especially watchmaker can correctly repair the Exercise Seasnail dry atmosphere is of little practical damage. ITH the general increase in it at intervals, was a Perspex underwater value. underwater activity in the Army, station. This was originally produced Summary Wthe Royal Military Academy, for a display at the International Boat If a slight condensation occurs when Sandhurst has formed a flourishing Show, Earls Court. The undersea Diving Section, and it is rapidly be- station is basically a Perspex cylinder, 7 coming a tradition for them to carry out feet 6 inches diameter with a domed The Home Station Clearance Diving Team

T is an accepted fact that winds of completed but commodious residence change are continually sweeping on the ground floor of Hecla block. Ithrough all parts of the Service, and indeed, that hoary corollary that 'It Official policy now decrees that the don't blow like it used to blow', has team is based ashore and is available been very true as far as the Home as a highly mobile clearance diving Station Clearance Diving Team is team for use anywhere in the United concerned in recent months. Kingdom. Our mobility is achieved by a lorry which was converted from a After a hectic period of exercises and Bedford troop carrier chassis by the a protracted search for a swimming energetic and efficient services of aircraft and its associated bits, during Devonport Dockyard. Fitted with a which period several members of the one-man compression chamber and its team augmented their not inconsider- associated compressor we are still able knowledge of certain portions of experimenting with just what stores we Great Yarmouth, the Dingley staggered shall carry. In March next year this through a force 8 gale to berth for the vehicle should be augmented by a long final time in Vernon Creek and only just wheel base Land Rover. in time for summer leave. So far we have had a ten-day ex- A new management took over for the cursion to Falmouth where we relieved last throes of Dingley's life while the the Plymouth team who were required boss went into Vernon to become a to go and look for yet another swimming student for the second part of the first helicopter. In addition we have a M.C.D.O. course before heading south- steady requirement from Portland to . . . The Underwater Station was established with 8 tons of pig iron ballast. wards to a most desirable appointment exercise with the ships working up in the Mediterranean. The ship's under the Flag Officer, Sea Training. an expedition during their summer top and open bottom. Within this is company coped with de-storing and Of course, having just come ashore one vacation. Last Spring the Diving Officer placed a free standing metal floor-frame de-equipping and in addition the divers of our main problems is to keep fully approached the R.E. Diving School for covered with glass reinforced plastic. moved ashore to temporary accom- employed without poaching on the ideas for the 1966 expedition. Entry into this station is through an modation in Vernon. For store and bread and butter jobs of the highly opening in the floor. The whole office we were scheduled to take over the skilled teams which abound in the Locked away in a large shed at structure is held 3 feet off the sea bed by regulating offices from 30th August, but Portsmouth area. However we have no Marchwood, and largely forgotten ex- means of a metal ring fixed around the to date we are still waiting for the doubt that we shall be able to cope and cept by storemen who dutifully checked Perspex at the junction of the wall with present occupants to move to their un- survive. 22 23 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk the dome. Bolted to this ring are six The party arrived in Malta on 6th tubular steel legs loaded with sufficient August in one Beverly Transport, and ballast to counteract the buoyancy of the equipment went out in a second A SINGLE ALLOTMENT the air filled dome. aircraft. By this time the priority of the Since this was available, it was exercise had somewhat improved and WITH BERNARDS decided that the aim of the expedition we were given a Army Air Corps Scout should be to establish and maintain the helicopter. This was also flown out Bernards of Harwich provide a first-class Tailoring and Outfitting undersea station, and that the most inside a Beverly, and was to prove in- service for the Senior Service, whereby every Uniform and Civilian suitable location would be Malta. After valuable as a 'deluxe' taxi for men and clothing requirement may be met expeditiously. a preliminary reconnaissance, it was equipment between Malta and Cominotto. Additionally, there are many other Bernard Departments through decided that a camp would be estab- which practically every need of the Serviceman and his family may lished on the Island of Cominotto, and The first job was to set up the base that the station would be sunk just camp and establish the station on the be obtained, including: Fancy Goods, outside the 'Blue Lagoon' which lies Toys and Games, Clocks, Rings, Watches sea-bed. These tasks were carried out between Cominotto and a larger Island, simultaneously. Whilst tents were being and Jewellery, Cameras and Cycles, Comino. At this stage the R.N.P.L. and erected on the Island an Army craft Radio, Television and Record Players, the Medical Research Council became loaded 8 tons of pig iron ballast and Electrical Equipment, Cutlery, Household interested, and it was agreed that while delivered it to the site. This was then and Nursery Furniture, Musical Instru- down the station should be put to good dumped over the side where the station ments, and Chocolate, Biscuit and Floral use. It appeared that the generally was to be placed. The site had been accepted theory that decompression Bouquet Services. chosen very carefully, being in exactly illness cannot occur above 33 feet was 34 feet of water and 250 feet from the The Bernard Bulletin is published fre- considerably suspect. What was even shore. The lip of the station, and there- quently, and a Gift Catalogue annually, to more surprising was that nobody had fore the pressure within, was at a dpeth keep customers fully informed on prices, remained at this depth for any apprec- of 31 feet. style trends, etc., while illustrated cata- iable time 'in the wet' without carrying The station was then assembled in logues and leaflets on various items are out some form of decompression pro- cedure. This generally consisted of the water and sunk close to the shore. freely available. breathing pure 02 before the ascent, Divers man-handled it into position Where preferred to paying cash, a such as in the case of Cousteau's underwater and loaded the 8 tons of Credit Account may be arranged for experiments. It therefore appeared that ballast on to a prepared grillage of rail- settlement by monthly Admiralty Allot- the expedition could be put to a really way lines. This whole operation went useful purpose. remarkably smoothly, and the station ment or Banker's Order and full details of was firmly established after one day's this facility will gladly be given on request Before the exercise the Sandhurst hard work. We then blew the dome dry at a branch or through Head Office. Cadets who were to take part were by venting compressed air cylinders into given a two week course at Marchwood. it, and connected up telephone and air You really do BUY BETTER at BERNARDS As well as giving them a little diving lines from a control tent on the shore. experience this also had the effect of In the time available we were able to getting them 'on net' as regards what carry out seven 12 hour exposures in C. H. BERNARD & SONS LTD. was to be expected on the expedition. the station, and two 24 hour exposures. They all now agree that when their 8 Queen Street, Portsmouth Telephone 23535 These experiences will certainly never instructor told them that diving is be forgotten. After a few days the Branches at : Chatham, Southampton, Portland, Deal, Grimsby, Londonderry, `90 % humping kit and 10% underwater' activity had attracted literally clouds of Harwich, Helensburgh, Dunfermline, Gibraltar, Valletta and Sliema, Malta, and he was not joking. Throughout the fish which became extremely tame. They at Lossiemouth, Arbroath, Brawdy, Culdrose, Yeovilton, Corsham, Lympstone, exercise the Cadets all worked extremely H.M.S. Dolphin and H.M.S. Pembroke. were regularly fed by hand, and one hard. Unfortunately it was necessary diver swears he had the hairs stripped Officers' Shops at Plymouth, Portsmouth and Southampton for a lot of the most interesting work to of his legs by a swarm of hungry Head Office: Anglia House, Harwich, Essex. Telephone Harwich 2281 be left to the R.E. Diving School divers, sardines! who were responsible for placing and manning the station. Our Diving Doctor collected pages of 24 25 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk information on this exercise and became to have been a success, and also a very quite incoherent with joy when a classic enjoyable experience for all concerned. Sea Jeep joint bend occured after one of the 24 We gained a great deal of useful diving hours exposures. This was successfully experience and also learned the advan- HE 'SEA JEEP' is probably the latest ejectable ballast. In the event of a power dealt with in the chamber on Manoel tages and limitations of this particular Tin the now numerous list of sub- failure, or should the 'SEA JEEP' exceed Island by the Fleet Clearance Diving station. In addition a lot of medical mersible research vessels produced its operating depth, the ballast is Team. information was gathered which may in America. This particular submersible automatically released. well prove useful has been described as a hovering type The equipment carried includes a The expedition can certainly be said vessel, and the principles in its design sonar telephone for submerged use and have been simplicity, ease of operation, a V.H.F. radio set with aerial for use on and small enough to be easily trans- the surface, horizontal and vertical ported. The result is a 5 feet diameter sonar sets which give a 30 second sphere housing the two operators, a warning of an impending collision, and Recovery of Diving Equipment lost cylindrical battery container slung under a floodlight fitted on an arm extending the sphere, two buoyancy tanks, one on in front of the vessel. A C.0.2 absorbent each side and the upper half of the unit keeps the cabin atmosphere `clean' in Lake Windermere sphere surrounded by a float. Two and self contained breathing sets are electronic driving motors are mounted provided for emergency use. on either side of the sphere, and a ONSTABLE James of this force considerably. The only other damage stabilizer is sited above the buoyancy The vessel can operate to depths of was engaged in practice dives in visible to the naked eye was small spots tanks. A 2 foot entry hatch on top of 2,000 feet with a maximum horizontal CLake Windermere using a twin of corrosion on the part of the bottles the sphere houses a fixed periscope, and speed of 2 knots, and a vertical move- cylinder breathing apparatus with a full which had been submerged in the mud. below the floats, on the bow of the ment of 100 feet per minute. It can mask, when he was obliged to make a The terylene harness, buckles, backplate, sphere, is a plexiglass viewing port. The remain submerged for 5 hours, and can `free ascent' and leave the set below. cylinder straps, etc. were in excellent buoyancy tanks normally carry sea- hover over a position with an accuracy Several attempts were made to recover condition, the only other noticeable water but can be blown by compressed of 1 to 2 feet. Trial results indicate that the set without success, and this was thing being that the colour of the air in an emergency, thus providing the `SEA JEEP' may be applied to a probably due to the depth of water in terylene webbing had faded. The full additional buoyancy to the craft. Two variety of deep sea research projects which they had been dropped. face mask had collected a quantity of marker floats each with 3,000 feet of including visual surveys, bottom samp- In April 1965 a new diving team was very small fresh water mollusca and line can also be released in an emergency ling, underwater photography and sonar formed, consisting of Constables these were easily removed. No rubber and used to lower a mechanical clamp phenomena studies. Telford, Nicholson, Andrews, Fair, components showed any signs of on to the vessel. The clamp will lock A possible future development is for Ward and Slater, and myself, and perishing but it was deemed advisable on to a clevis on the sphere and will the use in submarine rescue work, when throughout the summer of that year the to replace the rubber diaphram in the enable the vessel to be lifted. Between it would be fitted to lock on to the team concentrated in deep water exer- demand regulator. the sphere and the battery container distressed submarine and lift personnel cises. there are electro-magnets that hold to the surface. G. A. F. The air bottles were later sent to a On Wednesday 15th September 1965, local factory, where they were X-rayed the team visited Lake Windermere and initially, cleaned internally, hydraul- H.M.S Vernon Autumn Road Race succeeded in recovering the twin set ically tested, and found to be satis- from a depth of approximately 70 feet. factory. HE race was run on Tuesday 18th third. After a lot of discussion the other When found, the set was in an upright October at 1530. The weather was runners said the division had an advan- position with about one-third of the air Since November 1965, the twin set Tdull and very windy which did not tage as a lot of the course was swept by bottles submerged in mud, and the full has been in constant use, in some help the runners in any way at all. The heavy waves coming over the seawall. face mask floating above the bottles to instances at depths of 85 feet, and no course took the runners along the sea- The positions of the other members of the full extent of the high pressure air adverse conditions have been encount- front as far as South Parade Pier and Deepwater, who won the team event, line. The valves of both bottles were in ered. then around the Rock Gardens and back were as follows:— L.S. Brayne 6th, along the same route. Only six teams A.B. Kidman 8th, L.S. Smith 1 1 th, the open position, and were half full of INSPECTOR L. THURSTAN, water. A set of lead weights was still turned out of a possible eleven. The A.B. Gosling 13th. As a matter of in- attached to the set, but the canvas bag Preston Borough Police. race was won by E.M. Mitchell of terest the last four mentioned are on and the webbing strap had perished Weapons/radio, the first Deepwater course for C.D. 2. Well done all con- man home was L.S. Dadd who came in cerned. J.H. 26 27 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk Divers' Dinner 1966

ND many were the lamentations men from the Western world sent us a that resounded through the hal- message as follows: Alowed halls of the Diving School the morning after. When all the empty Like bedouins by God forgot, gallon jars of sherry had been stowed We divers of the Western grot, away and the heads finally encased in Once more debarred from the Annual their skulls it was decided that the Dinner dinner had been a success. 162 people By Vernons' Council of the Inner sat down to the dinner, the guests Who chose the date with greatest care, being Surgeon Rear-Admiral S. Miles, To make quite certain we were not there. R.N., Captain R. E. Lloyd, R.N. and Commander P. A. White, R.N., these We send you fraternal greetings, numbers being swelled during the In hope one day to attend your drinking afterwards by divers who meetings could not make it in time for the dinner. Please next time may date be right There was however a noticeable low Let us with you be joined that night. number of ratings, it seemed as if all Oggie, Oggie, Oggie. the work of beating the ears of the civies and the hierarchy had to come And so, with a fervent thanks be that from the older stalwarts. it's all over for another year, we will try to fix the date more suitable to the Bewailing their many sins the gentle- lads in Oggie Land next year. J.H.

PROMOTIONS AND ADVANCEMENTS

To C.D. II: L.Sea. Timberlake P.O. to A./Sub.-Lt. (C.D.): L.Sea. Lambert A./Sub.-Lt. J. Cook M. (E.) 1 Gill A./Sub.-Lt. B. Martin M. (E.) 1 Jackson L.Sea. to P.O.: M. (E.) 1 Henderson A./P.O. F. Newman M. (E.) 1 Allison A./P.O. L. Hewitt M. (E.) 1 Ramsay N.A.M. Garner To C.D. I: A.B. Williams Elder Brethren in "Wet" Suits P.O. R. Fraser A.B. Dunkerley P.O. B. Cornick R.E.M. Ward L.Sea, Fellows A./L.Sea Framingham

28 29 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk P. Kirkham's Patented and Designed `SEAFIRE of 1945 has made possible Naval Air Command Sub-Aqua Club the Expedition — Isles of Scilly 1966 KIRKHAM HE sixth annual expedition of the ments before tabbing the creat- Naval Air Command Sub-Aqua ures and returning them to the TClub sailed from Penzance Harbour sea. VIXEN for the Isles of Scilly on Saturday 9th July 1966. Under the leadership of (4) Record underwater conditions, Lt.-Cdr. A. Baldwin, R.N. (R.A.E., features, wreck information, etc., "SALVAGE" as found and forward this in- (PATENTS APPLIED FOR) Farnborough), the expedition included 19 divers, two scientific officers of the formation to the Hydrographic Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Department of the Navy. Food, two Wren officers and one Wren Its conception and development was influenced by the rating. The 19 divers had been selected X.S.V.Puttenham sailed alone for the following KIRKHAM innovations :- from applicants representing all the Isles of Scilly on the 9th July, since KIRKHAM Naval Air Stations. All personnel were M.F.V. 93 was required for other duties PAT. No. with the Falmouth Tall Ships Race. CUTS accommodated on board the R.N. Non Feed Shield 636242 Auxiliary minesweeper Puttenham and This arrangement meant that the entire expedition had to be accommodated on Successful 2 Hose Cutter STEEL M.F.V. 93, these vessels being com- manded by Lt.-Cdr. P. London, R.N. board the one vessel for one night. 611720 However, Nozzle Mix 2" (Retd.), and Lt.-Cdr. E. Barter, R.N. M.F.V. 93 joined the exped- ition early on the Sunday after steaming Balanced Pressures THICK (Retd.) The two vessels were manned by a total of eight R.N.X.S. personnel over-night and the equipment and 59481 1 Automatic Shield Feed (PLUS) from the Penzance Division. divers settled down to less crowded Diver Controlled Striker Plate 603958 conditions. This Expedition had four basic Low Pressure Cutting objects, which, in order of priority, Within a few hours of arrival at St. were as follows:— Mary's, the first crawfish was caught, New Shield Feed and Cut Out tabbed and duly returned to the sea, (1) To provide advanced sport diving but there was a noticeable decline in facilities and experience not nor- their numbers on previous years. mally available at individual air Normally plentiful between 60 and 120 THE NEW CUTTER IS AVAILABLE FOR DIVERS WHO stations. feet, this years observations showed HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF STEEL THICKNESS TO COPE there was a decline in numbers of about (2) To search for, and if possible 60%. WITH. THE ADVANTAGE OF LOW PRESSURE CUTTING locate the wreck site of H.M.S. INTRODUCED WITH THE STANDARD MODEL 'VIXEN' IS Association. This warship, a At the first suitable tidal period, both RETAINED TOGETHER WITH ITS UNAPPROACHABLE second rate, 96 gun vessel, the vessels headed out for the Outer flagship of Admiral Sir Cloudisley Gilstone situated about two miles from FUEL GAS ECONOMY OVER THE FULL RANGE OF Shovel, sank on the Outer Gilstone the Bishops Lighthouse. A strong CUTTING. THE 'VIXEN' SALVAGE MODEL INCORP- Ledges on October 22nd 1707, south west wind was blowing, about ORATES EVERY REFINEMENT THAT MODERN along with three other vessels force 4, and once clear of the smaller and the loss of some 2,000 islands, the sea conditions made any MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUE MAKE POSSIBLE. officers and men. diving quite impossible. The expedition, therefore, had to return to a more It may be possible to modify your (3) To catch, by hand, as many sheltered area in the lee of the larger existing cutter to Vixen standards• crawfish as possible. These were P. KIRKHAM & SON islands and pursue other activities. Please forward date of purchase and to be handed over to the scientific 4 RING ROAD cutter number for particulars and officers of the M.O.A.F.F. who The duration of the expedition had LANCING quotation. • would take various measure- been timed to coincide with the most 30 31 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk suitable tidal period, i.e., a neap tide, of eleven. Great interest was shown in Were visited or found which included the Some assistance was also given to which limited the times we could expect the tabbing of the crawfish by Mr. following :— members of the British Museum and to dive on the Gilstone. Once Thursday Hepper and Mr. Simpson. Only adult departments of the Birbeck College, 14th July had arrived, the expedition crawfish are caught off the coast of (a) The location and measurement of London who were engaged in a number could expect very unfavourable currents Cornwall, Devon and South Ireland, a number of iron cannon in the of activities concerned with tagging of some 2-4 knots in the area and very the average female weighing some 3-4 Menawethan area near St. and marking sea-urchins. One of the Martins. (Thought to be from the little slack water. lbs., and the males 6-7 lbs. This has expedition divers accompanied the lead to much speculation as to where Naval brig Forester sunk Feb- Birbeck College students and took Weather conditions worsened on the the creatures breed, since in that area ruary 13th 1833.) a number of underwater photographs Monday and Tuesday, with fog and one will find the baby crawfish. The (b) The location of two, very large of marine life, etc., that they wanted drizzle reducing visibility to a few answer to this question will assist in and very old, anchors. Both were but could not obtain themselves. The hundred yards. In addition, the gyro solving the differences between con- wooden stocked at one time and negatives and prints of these photo- compass on board Puttenham broke ventional fishermen and skin-divers who the shanks measured some 15 graphs have been sent to the British down, followed by one engine starter, earn a living catching vast numbers of feet in length. These were found Museum authorities. the radar, and echo sounder. However, crawfish by hand. Conventional fisher- in 100 feet of water close to the majority of these were fixed, at least men insist that divers are depleting the Newfoundland Point and no Further attempts were made to for a time, and diving continued, al- stocks of crawfish, the divers say they doubt mark the site of some lost dive on the outer Gilstone area, but though on a limited scale. Finally, in cannot be since for every one they catch wreck. The anchor rings, to the wind and sea conditions made it desperation, the expedition attempted a they miss four others. To quote some accommodate a marathon sized impossible. At one stage, when turning dive on the Gilstone, after the morning figures, a professional diver can catch eye splice, were some 3 feet in to give some shelter to the 'Gemini' has been spent transferring fresh pro- about 3,000 crawfish in a season, lasting diameter. craft before launching with divers near visions from a Culdrose helicoptor of about seven months. The overall total the Gilstone Ledges the inshore mine- 707 squadron. for crawfish landed in Cornwall by all (c) Complete survey of the wreck of sweeper Puttenham was rolling her types of fishermen and divers alike in the steamship Italia, sunk on the gunwales right under — causing havoc Using a service 'Gemini' inflatable one year exceeds 1,200 tons. Wingeltang Ledges, May 14th in the galley. 1917, Cargo — coal. dinghy fitted with a 15 h.p. outboard Finally, the expedition had to return engine, four divers and a cox'n managed The crawfish caught on this expedition (d) Inspection of the wreck of the to Penzance without having really even to reach the Gilstone, and anchor to the were marked in two distinct ways. One S.S. Lady Charoltte, sunk near looked at the area in which the south-west of the actual Gilstone Rock. method was by means of a yellow, Porth Hellick the same night as Association probably sank. Its location Two divers commenced a bottom search plastic dart with a number, driven into the Italia. and isolation is obviously why it has lain using a bottom line and actually covered the second joint of the tail, the other undisturbed for all these years, and is a wedge shaped area some 150 yards, being a white disc wire locked to one of (e) Inspection of the wreck of the liable to remain so for a long time to from the Gilstone Rock. Conditions the antenna. With some fish it was S.S. Plympton, on Lethugus Reef, come. A final dive was undertaken on on the surface were far from good, with necessary to sew the white tag to the sunk 14th August 1909. the way back to Penzance, off Boscawen a swell of some 5-6 feet, and a very tail by using a surgical suture. It is Point. Here, six divers went down on strong wind. Upon return of the first (f) Inspection of the wreck of the interesting to note that the expedition the wreck of the M.V. Juan Ferrer, one pair any further diving on this area was divers managed to catch one crawfish German steamer Harthor, sank 2nd December 1920. The wreck of the more recent losses on the coast abandoned in the interests of safety. too large for the M.O.A.F.F. standard of Cornwall. Had the 'Gemini' broken adrift or the scale, and one too small. Needless to of the Harthor lies right across engine failed to start the entire party say, the baby crawfish received better the Plympton and the mass of the two vessels, with a total Overall, the expedition was a success, would have been swept into the rocks attention than its human counterpart although weather conditions could where nothing could have been done would have done. It is hoped that the tonnage of 12,000 tons has to be seen to be believed. One of hardly have been worse. The advanced to assist them. tabbed crawfish will now roam the seas diving facilities were available at all and eventually turn up in someones pot the divers recovered the ships chronometer from the Harthor, times and good use made of the oppor- Diving therefore continued to the or net, whereupon their growth rate, tunities, all divers carrying out at least north and east of the islands, the total distance covered, size, etc., can be a pure luck find amongst tons and tons of twisted steel. two good dives a day. The conduct of of crawfish steadily rising as the divers re-checked and hence form the basis of the divers both in, and out of the water found better grounds. In the areas of some concrete knowledge of their (g) Location of the wreck of the was excellent and at no time did either Porthellick Point and Newfoundland movements and life span. early Russian steamer, Aksai, the Expedition Officer or Expedition Point they were much more abundant, sunk on White Island, on 26th Diving Officer have any cause for con- and one particular dive returned a total A number of interesting wreck sites October 1875. cern. During the entire duration of the 32 33

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk expedition, not one diver had cause to made this expedition possible. Special give a 'distress' signal which speaks appreciation is due to the Royal Naval American Influence highly of their training and ability. The Auxiliary Service (Penzance Division) expedition was invaluable experience in and Cdr. Gabbett-Mulhallen, Senior XPLOSIVE Ordnance Disposal.' slight but the effect on morale appears small boat handling, seamanship and Officer R.N.X.S. Plymouth. It is hoped 4 EHow very American and how to have been considerable. In an small ship life — opportunities not that this will not be the last opportunity descriptive. We have to hand it article in the Naval Chronicle the follow- normally afforded the Naval Air Com- afforded the Naval Air Command Sub- to our friends across the 'herring pond' ing remarks appears :— they can certainly think up good ideas. mand. Aqua Club to look for the wreck of Sir "Fulton's schemes are revolting to Cloudisleys fleet, and trust that the next In this case, it is poetic justice since it every noble principle and he is a The Naval Air Command Sub-Aqua expedition will be favoured by better was they who started off the mine war- crafty and muderous ruffian'. Club Chairman and Committee would weather. fare business! (I know some erudite Those who supported Fulton were like to express its appreciation to the scholar will attribute this to the Greeks— described as 'openly stooping from their many individuals and departments who rightly, but many years lapsed before lofty stations to superintend the con- the mine was used again). struction of such detestable machines In 1776 an American gentleman that promised destruction of maritime called Robert Bushnell originated the establishments'. The writer goes on by idea of using floating mines against `protesting against the policy of en- British shipping in the Delaware River. couraging inventions that tend to Although this appears to have caused innovate on the triumphant system of some damage to morale, if not to naval warfare in which England ex- shipping, Mr. Bushnell's idea was not cells'. pursued. However the American He finishes with the following inventor Fulton tried to influence the prophetic statement :— British, French and American govern- "Guy Fawks is got afloat. Battles in ments to adopt the mine as a weapon of future may be fought under water; war. Only Napoleon and Pitt supported our invincible ships of the line may Fulton, the three Navies' reactions were give place to horrible unknown quite different! The French are on structures, our frigates to cata- record as stating that the proposals 'are marans, our pilots to Divers, our dastardly and cowardly methods of hardy dauntless tars to submarine warfare, only likely to be of use to assassins. Coffers, rockets, cata- Algerines and Corsairs'. Lord St. marans, infernals, water-worms and Vincent voiced the Royal Navy's fire-devils! How honourable! How opinion that:— 'Pitt was the greatest fascinating an enumeration ! How fool that ever existed, to encourage a glorious, how fortunate for Britain mode of war which they who com- are discoveries like these! How manded the seas did not want, and worthy of being adopted by a people which, if successful would deprive them made wanton by naval victories, by of it'. The American reaction was a nation whose empires are the seas." similar, they reported on Fulton's `cheap contrivances' that `they have In spite of all this, development of the found, to say the least, comparatively mine proceeded and in 1841 Colonel of no importance at all, consequently Colt, the inventor of the Colt revolver, they ought not to be relied upon as a went a long way towards perfection of means of national defence'. the controlled mine. Every war since has seen systematic improvement of the In spite of this barrage of abuse, mine and of methods of disposing of it. " The Marriage Market " drifting mines were again used against British ships in the war of 1812, the only Now if only Mr. Fulton appeared in success was against H.M.S. Plantaganet the E.O.D. Facility! who knows ? (a two-decker of 74 guns). Damage was A.G.W. 34 35

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Brighton 1966 in the initial stages but it becomes an hydraulically operated hands and arms engineering problem which even at the that exactly follow the movements of A Report by Lt.-Cmdr. S. A. Warner, D.S.C. present state of the art we know can be the operator within the capsule. Unlike solved. Closed circuit television can the science of diving physiology, the duplicate normal vision — even sonar knowledge of which is comparatively Conversation Internationale. Com- operating dives in the future at what we can replace vision under some circum- sparse, the engineering and electronic mandant Jacques-Yves Cousteau and now consider to be fantastic depths. A stances. External manipulators can be sciences are at a stage where we know le Directeur en Charge de la Plongee figure of 1,000 metres was mentioned at operated as delicately as one's own that, given the money and effort, we can Sous Marine `Grand Bretagne' (S. of D.) one stage! fingers or as a ten-ton grab. Man's get to every part of the ocean floor. The together with members of the B.S.-A.C. This was, of course, basically a diving thinking can, with practice, be linked obvious cry is 'where does the money conference and I suppose that the with the operation of these external come from ?' and I think that at this natural emphasis was on man as a instruments without the inherent prob- stage I must say that everything in this HE International Conference on diver, but time and time again I heard lems of breathing gases under pressure. article is very personal. Underwater Activities was once the statement that 'This particular task Several years ago I used the term Tagain held at the Dome, Brighton, `encapsulated diver' in a paper that I I believe that in the future the sea will can only be done by man'. be producing hundreds of times more during the weekend of the 2nd, 3rd and read at the Brighton Conference and I protein and minerals than is even 4th of September. In my opinion it It is on this particular aspect of diving still think that the long-term future and considered at the moment. The term surpassed all the excellent conferences research that I am doubtful. certainly the very deep future, lies in this `undernourished' could be removed from that have been held in the past, and if approach. One of the problems of this the world's vocabulary. old Father Neptune had been casting I would disagree with the emphasis is that people's minds immediately fly his net for a haul of `Sub-Aqua People' that the acknowledged experts in this to the 'articulated iron man' when the Let us withhold some of the millions he would have had a good catch. With field put on men living at embient encapsulated diver is mentioned. One of pounds sterling that we give each year the possible exception of the World pressure in the undersea environment. should instead, think of the remote- to other nations. This money could be Conference of 1962 I don't think that I controlled manipulators used in the There is no doubt that both Captain invested in the Exploration of the Sea have ever seen so many experts of atomic industry for handling radio- Cousteau and the U.S.N. are proving with the aim of assisting the entire world International repute gathered together active isotopes. techniques that can be employed to in the future, and Britain in particular. in one place. allow man to live for long periods at These could be pressure-balanced, J. W . The details of all the papers that were tremendous pressures. They are also read, and the discussions that followed proving that man, given the benefit of would fill several complete magazines, these new techniques, can carry out a and I have no doubt that these will be fairly useful job of work. It is probably produced elsewhere. It is probably also true that man is the cheapest and enough to say that almost every under- most versatile machine with which to water subject was dealt with in the experiment. Only time will tell if, in fact, programme. In particular, the R.N. there is any long term effect of these long team led by the Superintendent of exposures to pressure. Diving, discussed the Navy's deep Without any way decrying these diving trials and the R.N's possible role tremendous pioneering efforts that are in the future. Capt. George Bond, being made into the exploration and Director of the U.S. Navy's 'Man in the exploitation of the underwater world, I Sea' programme and Edwin Link, held would very much like to see the same the floor with Captain Jacques-Yves amount of effort being put into a Cousteau discussing their respective programme of underwater vehicles experiments of SEALAB and CON- designed to simulate the activities of SHELF. All this was most entertaining man, but retaining man in an environ- and indeed very enlightening, but I ment of atmospheric pressure running sometimes lost touch with the eventual parallel to the man-in-the-sea projects. aim, in spite of the fact that almost every speaker was dropping hints about This approach is obviously expensive "Shall we eat it now or would you like it stuffed ?" 36 37 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk Summer Holiday

N spite of the fact that divers are Finally we come to shelter, and within accused of being complete individ- the term shelter I include one's solid BENSON and HEDGES Iualists, and that it has been stated food requirements. that there are as many views on any particular problems as there are divers, For me, shelter should include a Could anything I think when it comes to the require- bedroom with one's own toilet and be more luxurious ments for a holiday, most divers have bathroom, which is all the more than this the same basic desires — Sunshine, Sea, important if the weather is warm. I also superb gold box? Scenery, Sustenance and Shelter. require three meals a day with, prefer- ably, a change from the usual English- I have carried out practical studies on mans diet. This is of course not im- the subject of holidays over the last few possible in Britain, but if you can find a years and have come to some very firm place which fills these needs, the bill is conclusions. First of all let us consider going to knock you sideways! the Sunshine requirement. I am not a typical Englishman, who will sit on a The all important question is how beach and enjoy himself, in spite of the and where can you fill these require- fact that it is pouring with rain and ments within a comparatively small bitterly cold. I like to bask in the warm budget ? sun, and swim in the warm sea working The answer I have found is quite up a jolly good thirst. This auto- simple. About this time of year, at matically produces an index error Christmas, having had a surplus of against holidays in Britain, because as a turkey, Christmas pudding and wine; general rule we don't have a reliable you browse through a collection of climate, we just have weather! `Package Tour' holiday brochures. We then come to the sea, like most divers, I feel lost when I am very far First of all cross out all of those which away from the ocean, and I thoroughly are beyond your budget. Then you make enjoy having a busmans holiday pot- a list of essential requirements. Mine go tering around with a snorkel and face- rather like this:— Small town or fishing Yes. The cigarettes inside mask in warm clear water. I strongly village essential, small hotel essential, object to swimming in the discharge of close to the beach essential, private bath go•ww*%*ft• •••••••-• • town sewers as is unfortunately the case and toilet essential, absolutely no night on many of our own beaches. club in the hotel, absolutely no claim to produce English cooking. At this stage Good scenery is a logical follow on my scope for selection is reduced to a from sunshine and warm water. It is few places on the Spanish Mainland true that one occasionally sees the plus a few in Majorca or Ibizia. I then beautiful girl in a bikini on English delete those which require overnight beaches, but more often than not that travel and those which depart from beauty is spoilt by goose pimples and remote parts of Britain. the blue flush of coldness. Although it is not my intention to British sustenance is good if you can advertise any particular travel agency, I afford it, but the high cost of liquid must admit that I have found that THE BOX IS GOLD —THE PLEASURE PRICELESS nourishment makes it prohibitive for `Everymans' which are part of the Polly- Imported from England the average Joe! Lunn group, which in turn I believe is a

39 38 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk subsidiary of British Eagel, are absol- Bottles of champagne and fundador The pattern of activities continues with as 10 pesetas (1/3), champagne is from utely first-class in producing the type of brandy appeared from nowhere and we a swim, sunbathe, swim, sunbathe until 25 pesetas (3/-) a bottle, fundador holiday I enjoy and within the cost started the routine which was to continue about noon when the body liquids need brandy from 3 pesetas a glass (4d.), region that I can just about afford. for the next fifteen days. replacing with a, bottle of champagne, coffee 4 pesetas (6d.), entrance to a There is no better time of the year than cold lager or perhaps a Cuba Libre night club is normally free if there is no now to look forward to the warmth, the I have found that it is wise to take followed by more sun and swimming. floor show and about 25 pesetas (3/-) if there is one, drinks in a night club are fun and bottled sunshine of your next things comparatively easy on the night At about 1.30 we wander back to the summer holiday. of arrival, so that after unpacking, generally a little more than the average hotel for a shower and lunch at 2.30 to 3. hotel, but not very much more. Beer bathing and changing, a quiet noggin A four course lunch is always served At the risk of boring you, let me before dinner (about 9.30 to 10) is the is about the same as U.K. but Scotch and is delicious. If I have a complaint and English Gin are prohibitive. The briefly describe the kind of holiday that best approach. This is followed by about the food, it is that it is not is now becoming my routine. dinner with a couple of bottles of wine, moral to this is surely, to leave one's completely Spanish. The reason for this U.K. habits behind at London Airport followed by coffee and fundador. I then is that the English guests tend to hesitate . take the family to call in the local Having overcome all the problems of in enjoying real Spanish food. The Talking about morals, I am often paying the bill (which incidentallly you fisherman's bars where we renew our manager explained to me one day that asked if I would recommend young have to do about two or three weeks acquaintances over champagne, and 'so he had to modify the delightful people going on this kind of holiday before you go) and having taken all the to bed' at the reasonable hour of 1.30 Majorcan Paella that he used to serve unescorted. My answer is 'yes'. I have seamanlike precautions of being vacin- or 2 a.m. This may sound rather hectic because the English guests tended to never seen as much public petting and ated, etc., the great day arrives when you for U.K. but as a general rule the leave the delicacies such as the prawns snogging anywhere, as one sees in this present yourself at London Airport one evening festivities do not start until and mussels in their shells. This, of country. There is of course an added hour before take off. At this stage I about 11 p.m. course, is a tremendous shame, but I handicap inasmuch as many people get always don my straw hat which is a sunburnt to the point where close con- The daily routine follows a fairly suppose, understandable. The fact that clear indication to everybody, and my tact is quite uncomfortable. The credit simple pattern. A leisurely breakfast all the meals are taken with good family in particular, that I am on leave. squeeze has of course introduced between 9 and 10 followed by an even supplies of local wines goes without It means that I have left the world of another factor; can one get by on £50 more lesisurely walk to the beautiful saying. The local water is perfectly fit telephones, unusual diving incidents, allowance ? assuming that there are still beach situated between two rock prom- to drink, but who wants to drink water! decompression problems, and that I am people left who try to comply with the ontaries. My first impressions are al- The afternoon is for siesta and I always almost human again. Deposit the government edicts I would say that the ways the same and always remain look forward to my one or two hours luggage, a quick drink in the duty free answer is once more yes. On a package throughout my stay — the beauty of sleep after lunch. After this our routine lounge (but very expensive), board the holiday, one will still have in the region the brilliant blue sea with the golden tended to vary very little, but we would 'plane, take off. A very large whisky of £30 per head spending money on a sand imprinted with the brilliant colours almost invariably start this phase of the and soda (the laSt until the return flight) fifteen day holiday. This is certainly of the various sunshades on the sand, day with either a swim or a quiet game plus a very pleasant meal served by a more than my family average. In fact, and in the sea, the finest collection of skittles, then change for dinner which charming hostess, and I reckon that I 30/- a head per day is good living. If of scantily clad models of absolutely was always a leisurely meal. After am once again completely human, and you still have qualms about foreign perfect females I have seen. And by dinner, at about 11 p.m., came the time in fact on holiday. To a certain extent currency, I should not worry because models I do not mean the flat chested, to visit a night club, the local fishermen's this also applies to my family except, of during the height of the season, you tubercular looking creatures that pose huts or even to the beach for delightful course, they are generally more human can't help, with notable exceptions, in the grotesque, inhumanlike poses of moonlight swimming. As a general than I. tumbling over vast numbers of M.P's the fashion world. Even my wife has rule, bedtime was not considered until of all parties at the more select foreign been heard to say 'Wake up Jackie or about 2.30 a.m. The flight to Palma takes about two resorts. This of course may indicate the you will miss this one'. I suppose that I and a half hours, followed by the usual At this stage of the article I am sure old Padre's motto of 'Don't do as I do, should add that a vast majority of the passage through customs and immigra- that the readers impression is 'My God do as I say'. As for narrow-minded, visitors to this particular area are tion, where one is dealt with very quickly what a lot of cash ? how can anyone frustrated old spinsters that scream about Germans and Scandinavians. in a most charming manner. Our afford it'. The answer is simply that police states, etc., my answer is that courier then showed us into the correct everything is so much cheaper than `That is not my business', I have always coach for the forty-minute trip to our Anyway, once on the beach we U.K., possibly because there is no found them to be very happy, cheerful, hotel in Porto Colom where we were establish our site fairly close to the Welfare State. The cheerful and happy and extremely charming, nation. met by all the hotel staff who welcomed beach bar, which always manages to attitude of the local people costs nothing us with open arms as they remembered produce the most amazing selection of but is very refreshing. A bottle of wine J.W. our party from last year. cold drinks from a tiny thatched hut, served at the hotel table can be as cheap 40 41 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk BOOK REVIEW

From the New Scientist — 25th August. an authoritative exercise in applied physiology which surveys the very roots DIVING WITHOUT AQUALUNG of the science of underwater physiology. It uses as its subjects a select group of COINCIDENCE Physiology of Breath-hold Diving and the individuals, mostly female Japanese Ama of Japan. skin divers, engaged in a very specialized occupation. N recent years there has been a The environment in which they work growing interest in military, academic is both hazardous and stressful, and they Iand recreational diving and a con- siderable amount of research effort, achieve their object without artificial particularly in Britain and America, has aid. To obtain the maximum benefit been devoted to this subject. from underwater activity their aim must be to work for the longest possible The photograph shows what Most people look upon diving as a period and greatest attainable depth happened when an airbolt fired from a relatively new development, entailing underwater. The time of submergence Cox's Gun during training hit a punch the use of complicated, expensive and is limited by breath-holding ability. bolt fair and square, that was in the elegant apparatus necesitated by the fact Experienced divers can prolong this to sand-pit beneath the plate and had been that man's unaided endurance under the several minutes by will-power and fired five rounds previous. This occur- water must be limited by his breath- training. It is also increased by the red at the Welding Tank, H.M.S. holding ability. practice of preliminary hyperventilation Vernon. which, by washing out residual carbon It is, therefore, salutary to reflect that dioxide from the lungs, delays the for 2,000 years skin divers have been breaking point of breath-holding. This operating in the islands round Japan practice has been strongly condemned with great success and no breathing in skin divers as endangering life, but it apparatus. is acceptable in this experienced and- In any study of man's endeavour, the controlled group. natural starting point must be to The depth to which unaided diving Gamesmanship investigate the effects of the environ- may proceed is strictly limited by the ment on the individual in his or her effects and chest volume. The diver begins in your NAAFI shop natural state. So important is this who enters the water, as is the practice, concept that the National Academy of with lungs full, will find that the volume where you can buy the best Sciences and National Research Council is reduced by pressure from a position of the United States, in conjunction with sports clothing and equipment. of full inspiration to full expiration at a the Office of Naval Research in assoc- depth of 100 feet. To go beyond this iation with the Inter-nation Union of depth would result in damage to lung Physiology and Sciences, organized in tissue and lead ultimately to collapse of Whether you prefer to kick a ball, or Autumn 1965, a symposium on the throw it or hit it Naafi can set you up the chest wall. Worthwhile periods on Physiology of Breath-hold Diving and the sea-bed can thus only be achieved with the ball and the outfit the Ama of Japan. This publication is you need for the game—all of it. by rapid descent, which will be aided an account of the proceedings of this by carrying a heavy weight or rock and symposium which was attended by repeating the dives. You'll discover this for yourself when underwater physiologists from many you see the Naafi Sports Catalogues parts of the world. Herman Rahn who It is also interesting to note that in your Naafi shop. has edited these proceedings is, in his women are more often used than men Ask to see them today. own right, a leading authority in this in this occupation due to the more field. The contributions thus represent adequate insulation of their skin. In

42 43 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk spite of this they live a full married life, harvest which they gather. The basic even though it may mean the husband economical reason for the occupation Letters to the Editor staying at home to do the housework. is primarily to obtain food, mostly Dear Sir, since been allowed to lapse through Detailed accounts are also given of in varieties of seaweed, though in lack of commercial interest, and in such basic physiological problems as addition there is a worthwhile bonus Volume 13, No. 2 The Principles of Diving, pages 26-28, alveolar gas exchange, adaptation to in the gathering of mother-of-pearl published by Stanley Paul, 1965. cold, cardiovascular and renal responses and the artificial pearls themselves. I noticed with interest that a corres- and metabolic considerations, such as The more efficient of these women pondent of yours follows up the report energy costs, when diving. The major are extremely well paid, receiving previously noted in the New Scientist I would also mention that, contrary adaptations achieved are found to be an as much as 28 dollars per day, a large and Science Journal of the use of to what your correspondent states, increase in lung volume and maximum reward in this part of the world. electronic apparatus in America to directional hearing appears not simply breathing capacity. Finally, an account is given as to how enable divers to sense the direction of due to phase differences as he seems to , a noise underwater. In 1956, while I infer, but to a complex process of Comparisons are also made with other even this ancient trade is moving with the times and more modern equipment was with a trials team, I produced an signal matching, association, amplitude groups of skin divers and include extended ear base for 1/9, consisting of discrimination, and behaviour patterns. detailed accounts of the occupational is being used, particularly in the develop- ment of protective clothing. two pairs of 3 inch plastic filter funnels Incidentally, the time interval between hazards such as decompression sickness joined with a short length of rubber the arrival of the same parts of a signal and chronic otitis media (inflamation of It is rare to find such as admirable hose and fitted into a 'C' type hood at each ear are the same in air and the middle ear). combination of scientific information, Not only is this book to be recom- colourful drama and fascinating history; mended for its physiological value, but as such, this volume may be given the it is attractively illustrated and contains highest recommendation to any reader fascinating accounts of the daily life of with any scientific interest. the divers, and a full account of the By Surg.-Capt. STANLEY MILES, R.N.

I'm all right Jack !

1 deal with JACK BLAIR OF PORTSMOUTH

with the outer end of each pair covered water, it is the instantaneous comparison Naval and Civilian Tailor and Outfitter with a rubber diaphram, as shown in of phase that is different. the sketch. Despite considerable . The important point underlined by departure from the ideal ratio of the this article seems to me that we have to 48 QUEEN STREET, PORTSMOUTH relative speeds of sound in air and await the development of a clever water, the increased ear base length and electronic system for achieving a result Telephone 25046 acoustic insulating properties of a hood before we can be convinced of an idea were sufficient to give good results in that can be demonstrated with string, Horsea Lake and enabled all but one sealing wax, and logic. Member of Intelport Naval Traders Association. diver, and he was tone deaf, to home onto a source. The system was des- Yours faithfully, cribed in Patent No. 832113, which has MARK TERRELL, 44 45 www.mcdoa.org.uk 0 www.mcdoa.org.uk

Dear Sir, Dear Sir, for a great deal of diving. At one time portable P.T.C./D.D.C. was deck loaded Perhaps you have heard of me and One of my Divers had an endurance we had upward of 100 divers eye- on the fantail of the Fleet Tug Apache. my nation-wide campaign for the cause in S.A.B.A. of 106 minutes in Horsea balling, inch by inch, the inshore waters. The ship lay in a four point moor, in the of Temperance. Each year for the past Lake. Is this a record endurance at 30 These included many of Lt.-Cdr. Red lee of San Clemente Island, over the 14 years I have made a tour of the feet or not ? Mooney's Explosive Ordnance Disposal prospective site of Sealab III: depth 450 Unit (E.O.D.U. 2) men; some from the feet. The first working dive was 17 country and delivered a series of Can anyone cap this ? ED. lectures on the evils of drinking. Atlantic Fleet Underwater Demolition minutes at 450 feet. Total time from Teams; a number of the Sealab Team ; P.T.C. lift off to landing again on the On these I have been accompanied station divers from Rota, Spain ; divers deck was 34 minutes. In less than 10 by my assistant Norman Fortescue. from the main salvage base in Norfolk, minutes, mating to the D.D.C. had been Norman was a pathetic case; a man of Dear Sir, Virginia; and divers from the two affected and a second dive could have good family, of excellent education, Submarine Rescue Ships (A.S.R.), two begun. During one of the dives, Chief whose whole life was ruined by excessive In reference to your issue of the Fleet Tugs (A.T.F.), and one Fleet Boatswains Mate Villasenor carried indulgence in whisky, gin and other R.N. DIVING MAGAZINE, VOl. 11, No. 1 Salvage Ship (A.R.S.) which were down a carefully prepared sign and strong drink. How much better would Spring 1964 and in particular the article employed at one time or another. erected it on the bottom: WELCOME it have been had he spent his life in a on the Passing of the Copper Helmets Lt.-Cdr. Red Mooney was in charge of SEALAB III — FROM HARBOUR CLEAR- more useful way. by J.W. On behalf of four Admiralty Divers two of which are ex-pusser, we all diving. Chief Warrant Boatswain ANCE UNIT ONE. This office had the Norman would appear with me in my cannot agree with the statement that David McCafferty (born in Glasgow), good fortune to sponsor this dive and lectures, and sit on the platform steamers are finished. who, at the time, was on temporary duty the development of the P.T.C./D.D.C. staring vacantly at the audience with in Pembroke Dock, Wales, preparing for our new salvage ships, but the people bloodshot eyes, whilst I would point him Being an ex-corkhead I can appreciate two of your 750 ton lift craft for tow to responsible for the work were Cdr. the advantage of self-contained equip- out as an example of what drinking the Phillipines, was also dispatched to Eugene Mitchell, Pacific Fleet Salvage ment but, faced with an arduous task could do. the scene. •Officer, and Lt. Moose Kohl who is in on the bottom during summer and charge of Team of H.C.U.-One. Unfortunately last July poor Norman winter, it has been proved beyond The beach at Palormares is un- died. doubt, that for warmth, comfort and doubtedly one of the cleanest in the Again congratulations on your deep A mutual friend has just given me reliability there is no replacement for world! dive on the Buccaneer. I hope some of your address and I wonder if you know standard equipment. your chaps will pay a visit to Lowestoft You have no doubt read in the anyone who would accompany me on Apologies for quoting one of your in the next year or so and take a look at my Spring tour and take poor Norman's shipping journals that our newly de- our A.T.S. While we will be coming back numbers but we have been signed Large Salvage Tug (A.T.S.) will place 7 swamped with work and have had to do over from time to time to take a look, be built at Brooks Marine Ltd. in there's no substitute for being Johnny Yours sincerely, regular stops (in the local). Lowestoft. She will have all the latest JOHN FAIRTOALL, D. D.* on Top of it. Perhaps we should employ Yours faithfully, in diving gear, including a two-man Mr. Peter Flett and his troops to play Personnel Transfer Capsule-Deck Com- proxy for us. Any offers! ED. FOUR STEAMERS (Admiralty). pression Chamber (P.T.C./D.D.C.). In August the deep salvage divers from Very sincerely, Harbour Clearance Unit One, our W. F. SEARLE, JNR., principle salvage unit in South-East Dear Sir, Dear Sir, Asia, came back to California to make Captain, U.S.N. Why Fins Medium ? when there Your summer edition is in hand. 'Tis some training dives. A completely Supervisor of Salvage. appears to be only one size. As a a fine one as always. The Buccaneer normal big footed S.D.O., swim fins Salvage 1966 is a particularly good medium play H - - - with my toes and article and beyond that, a superb piece invariably I take cramp in my feet as of ocean engineering. Please express to soon as I get out of the water. What are your fine deep divers our congratu- the prospects of Naval Divers who take lations from this side of the pond. size 10 or over in shoes, getting fins that fit ? We have had a few deep ones of late V.M.T. TOM BRYDON. too, but not so deep as that off The Lizard. The Spanish Bomb business, Any more opinions ? ED. though not a deep dive job, was occasion

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