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simple! |
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Once
a suitable wreck-site has been located it seems a simple
matter to dive down, load a basket and send it up using an
air-bag.
The reality is, however, that the task is beset with a
multitude of problems and lurking disasters.
The problems are created by the action of the tide and
weather on the equipment and the divers, the
act of physically working underwater and its associated
decompression implications, the location and accessability
of the slates amongst the wreckage and malfunction of any
part of the equipment. |
A FULL
LOAD, ALMOST THERE! |
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BACK
AT THE SURFACE AFTER 2HRS |
The
baskets we use on the wreck of the Arthur weigh about half
a ton once filled with their compliment of 320 slates,
this is a serious amount of weight to play with in the
water and you certainly don't want to be underneath or
above it when it's rocketing to the surface
under a home-made 1-ton air-bag!
The next task is to pick up the diver and chase down the
basket to get it hauled up the side of the A-frame and
tied securely- the hauling stage is invariably the time
when the sea decides to get choppy |
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The
hauling task itself is fraught
with danger, currently we use a 1-ton electric winch and
5-ton 2" webbing for the job but add a slight swell
and it turns into a real battle- the lift-bag has to be
removed to prevent it getting damaged or upturning and
filling with an unwanted extra ton of water, this means
getting close to
the heaving mass of metal, rope and sharp-edged slate- on
at least two occasions a carabiner-failure has lead to an
almighty BANG! a huge SPLASH! and a stunned silence
amongst the crew, all thankful they were not snagged as it
plummeted back to the sea-bed. |
1/2
TON CRATE STRAPPED TO THE A-FRAME, SAFE-ISH |
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CRATE ALMOST UNLOADED |
All
in all a day of slate-salvage is probably as stressful as
a job can get- even the boatman's job involves sitting
waiting for two hours clueless as to the whereabouts or
state of health of the diver, since there are no tell-tale
bubbles to watch from a re-breather (without which
slate-salvage would be a waste of time).
The day always involves much swearing and lost-tempers and
if we have a charter booked the following day there is the
wonderful prospect of having to unload 2-tons of slate
once we arrive back in port- and the wife wonders why we
have to go for a pint afterwards! |
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