A planned weekend on the famous M2 submarine wreck presented Yo-Han Cha and fellow Clifton members with a dive site dilemma.
The first time I dived the M2, it was a beautiful summer’s day. There was sunshine, blue skies and not a breath of wind. Underwater, the visibility was a fantastic 10 metres. I couldn’t ask for better conditions!
Four years later, I had another opportunity to dive the M2. My club, Clifton SAC, currently run their RIB out of West Bay and our Diving Officer, Steve Lamyman, was keen to make the most of every potential weekend to use it.
So, using the M2 as bait to entice the members, he said he’d be willing to organise a weekend where he was planning to dive it on both days. Needless to say, he quickly filled the boat with divers eager to dive this famous submarine. As West Bay is within easy striking distance from Bristol, most people only signed up for a day (except me), so Steve divided the boat handing duties up between himself on the Saturday and two other members, Lewis Hope and Alex Elwood, on the Sunday.
despite the less-than-optimal conditions we both had a fantastic dive on the M2, as did the rest of the group
The one very big question mark hanging over this weekend was that it was in the middle of October and the week’s weather preceding the diving weekend was less than ideal. There was lots of wind and rain, including a massive rainstorm on the Saturday morning as we were kitting up. It was almost the exact opposite of the conditions in which I had previously dived the M2!
Nevertheless, the wind had died down, but with the weather forecasts predicted that it would be back later on that day. Steve decided that the journey back from the M2 would be too perilous and he (very wisely) pivoted to our plan B, which was the wreck of the St Dunstan. I’d never dived the St Dunstan before and found it to be a lovely wreck with plenty of conger eels. The visibility was only a few metres though, so we all decided that one dive was enough and we got back well before the wind returned later that afternoon – validating Steve’s decision.
The following morning was still grey, but it was drier and most importantly, less windy. With calmer conditions, Lewis and Alex decided that the M2 was on! It was quite an experienced group from the club that day. I was paired up with Emily Griffiths, who, I was delighted to find out, already knew a lot about underwater modelling having previously dived and modelled for my fellow columnist Kirsty Andrews (thanks Kirsty!).
As we descended, the calm conditions on the surface proved counter indicative to what was actually happening underwater. It was pitch black and the visibility was just a few metres, which I was expecting after the previous day’s conditions, however Emily and I were not expecting a large swell at 30m.
Thankfully we’re both experienced divers and despite the less-than-optimal conditions we both had a fantastic dive on the M2, as did the rest of the group. I felt that weekend epitomised a lot about what UK diving’s all about. It’s so rare that we get perfect diving conditions, especially on a meticulously organised weekend! But we adapted to the changing conditions and made the most of an opportunity to enjoy what we have on our doorstep.
Article ‘Should we stay should we go’ by Yo-Han Cha first published in SCUBA magazine, Issue 153 March 2025.
Author: Yo-Han Cha | Posted 19 Mar 2025
