Daves' trip to Lanzarote
- Details
- Created on Wednesday, 22 October 2008 21:29
- Written by Adrian Kelland
Spent 1 week of October on holiday at Puerto Del Carmen in Lanzarote.
Intended to do 2 or 3 days diving so did some homework on internet and via club. Chose MA Diving on basis of professional website, recommendation of a club member and good e-mail feedback when contacted. Bad Decision!
1st day diving planned for Playa Chica in Puerto Del Carmen however weather poor so alternative site chosen by guide at the Temple Hall wreck outside Arrecife in more sheltered location. 43 minute dive to max depth 11m. 10m viz. Dive was not a pleasant experience:
No help with or checking of my hired equipment.
Guide and buddy in water up to neck depth before I had my fins on (they had previously dived together).
Had to stop descent to get buddy check done which was difficult in neck depth water.
No skills/equipment check etc at depth as e-mails had confirmed Guide too fast, at some parts of the dive he disappeared into distance and all I could make out were his bubbles rising as viz was poor.
Buddy was inexperienced (only 13 PADI course dives) he had major buoyancy and ear clearing problems which guide ignored/was not aware of. This resulted in many stops (including ascent to stop ear problem) with guide disappearing into the distance.
Dive plan not followed - at one point guide entered the wreck, we agreed not to follow and caught up with guide when he came out of the wreck some distance away.
Strong current that we had to fin against on return.
We had to surface at one point so guide could find way back to the shore.
Air consumption high as not happy with the dive Guide must have realised we were both uncomfortable with the dive as decided to abort the second dive.
On the positive side saw some baracuda, pipefish and sea Urchins.
Would not recommend this dive site as not much life to be seen (may have seen more if wasn't continually trying to catch up with guide) As for MA Diving, cancelled further dives planned.
This bad experience almost resulted in doing no further diving on the trip, however reconsidered after night of reflection and decided to try another dive outfit.
2nd days diving with Dive Shop of Matagorda. This was a smaller outfit (2no UK instructors). They were happy to take me to Playa Chica despite having other dives at another location.
Des was the guide and my buddy was a local English guy who lived in Lanzarote.
Dive experience was totally different to the previous one with help with equipment, proper dive planning, buddy checks, skills and equipment check at depth, slow pace with Des staying with us and making regular checks.
1st dive of the day - Playa Chica along wall to top of the blue hole. Dive time 34 mins max depth 21m. Viz 10-15m (not as good as normal). Gentle dive along sandy sea bed to top of blue hole then back along the wall to jetty.
Reasonable amount of fish in shoals and on sea bed including trumpet fish etc in rocks, Highlight was 6ft Stingray which glided past within arms length.
2nd dive of the day - Playa Chica to reef. Dive time 35 mins max depth 25m viz 15-20m. Gentle dive out to the reef accross sandy sea bed, shoals of fish on way. Lots more fish at the drop off including Charlie the large grouper. More fish at deeper depth but too deep for me (30 - 40 m).
Some current to fin against on way back.
For anyone intending to dive in Lanzarote I would recommend the Dive Shop not MA Diving. Whilst I had no experience with them, the holiday rep did recommend Manta Diving
No 3rd days diving as had to spend some of the holiday with Jackie!
