After working for many years as commercial diver in the oil and gas industry, Ken requested that we dive a specific pipeline that he had an interest in. So, for the second dive of the day we travelled 11 kilometres up the coast just off Bacton in search if Kens pipeline.

The wind had picked up in the afternoon and it was a slow and choppy journey up to the dive site. As we approached the GPS coordinates we saw a small bump on the sea bed. Once we had secured the grapple the first two divers started to kit up as the tide was slack.

• Divers: Jane, Julie
• Max Depth: 14.2 metres
• Dive Time: 23 minutes
• Water temperature: 17 degrees C
• Viz: 6 metres
• Dive details:  After descending the shot line, the sea bed, grapple and pipeline were all clear to see. As first pair of divers down, we checked the grapple was secure, before attaching the wreck line and reeling off. Julie led us along the pipeline which was just 4-5 metres from the grapple. Visibility was good, and the pipeline had created a natural reef with plenty of starfish, crabs, sea anemones and sun stars, as well as some little fish to be seen on the rocky mound. When the reel ran out we made a gradual return to the shot and untied the wreck line. Surprised not to see another reel attached to the shot, we were unsure what to do. The grapple was wedged in tight, and normally the last divers would release and turn it over for retrieval. I decided to simply release it in case the second pair of divers had aborted for some reason. Julie and I began our ascent and soon saw Nigel & Ken. From this point onwards, we noticed considerably more movement in the water, and found it challenging to do our 6m safety stop (it took nearer 5 minutes), and on the surface it was also a little tricky to de-kit. The dive was pretty and very calm at depth, with lots of sea life to enjoy.

• Divers: Ken, Nigel
• Max Depth: 14.3 metres
• Dive Time: 31 minutes
• Water temperature: 17 degrees C
• Viz: 6 metres
• Dive details from Ken: Interesting dive on one of the Bacton pipelines about 11km north of Sea Palling where the RIB is kept. Simon, the Lowestoft Diver RIB skipper, expertly dropped anchor about 5m off the pipeline which was lying in about 12m water. The visibility was good at around 6m but the tide was starting to run as we descended the shot line. The pipeline was half buried with variable marine growth typically comprising star fish and sea anemones. Swimming seaward, the pipeline was covered by a “rock dump” consisting of angular pieces of dark blue Norwegian granite typically 15cm to 30cm in size. Beyond that the pipeline was fully buried. The two divers became separated in the increasing current flow (~1knot) and according to procedure surfaced independently to be recovered by the RIB. An excellent dive!

• Dive details from Nigel: We followed the grapple line to the sea bed. The grapple was about 6 m from the pipeline. I reeled my distance line off. The pipe was encased in concrete and was just above the seabed. Some sections were covered with granite blocks. This formed a reef full of life. Numerous daliah anenomes, Elegant anenomes and common star fish. There were edible crabs, velvet swimming crabs, hermit crabs and squat lobster. On the return to the grapple unfortunately the current built up and I was separated from my buddy. I turned the grapple and surfaced. Ken was already surfaced a short distance away.