BSAC TRAVEL CLUB - Trip Reports

TRAVEL CLUB

Our Haven - Newhaven !

by Richard Nokes

Nestled nicely between Eastbourne and Brighton, Newhaven lies quietly on the Sussex coast and offers all the amenities needed for essential British Diving.

Very much put on the map by the Seacat, that operates a service to Dieppe, Newhaven's convenience at just over an hour away from London makes it ideal for our club, Bexley Sub Aqua Club, BSAC branch 982. For the last several years we have made Newhaven our home, - not without good reason.

Facilities
There are two slips at Newhaven, the one we use lies just yards away from Simpson's Chandlery [01273 612612]. They have a wide concrete slipway and offer a launch and recovery up to an hour either side of low water, between the hours of 9am until 5pm. Parking in this area is free.

Nearby, you also have Newhaven Scuba Centre [01273612012], here local up to date diving knowledge can be gained as well as anything you may require from a well stocked dive shop. Cylinders can be charged with either air or Nitrox. Hire of equipment is available and their RIB can be chartered to dive locally too.

Diving
The waters surrounding Newhaven offer wrecks in the 18-35m range and some of the best shore diving available in Sussex waters. Outside of the harbour, a short RIB ride out lies the famous Seaford ledges. These 'underwater gullies' run parallel to the shore in depths of 10 metres. Here all the usual inshore life can be seen along with the occasional wrasse or cuttlefish. The ledges have the added benefit of being diveable at most states of the tide. To the west, the substantial Newhaven outer breakwater wall is good too - at the base in amongst the huge blocks of stone, Crabs and Lobsters have many crevices in which to hide.

Further out, there are some noted wrecks. Club favourites include the 'City of Brisbane', a First World War casualty and a well know wreck to anglers - as the abundance of lost fishing line will testify. Other wrecks in the area are the smaller Lancer and the Clodmoor, a wreck noted for its upended stern with 6 bladed screw, still suspended on the shaft. Most of the wrecks in this area are covered in mussels. The Devon Coast is an old pre-war wreck but can suffer from low viz as it lies out from the mouth of the Cuckmere river. Slack is usually just over the hour before high water for most wreck in this area.

Accommodation
The Habourside Inn, formerly a well known pub has rooms, as does the Villa Adriana (01273 513976), this well-kept B&B overlooks the Ouse and has a dozen or so rooms at reasonable rates. The Villa is well kept and clean and attracts all types of passers by including tourists who visit the nearby historic Newhaven fort.

Hardboats
Several Hardboats operate out of the Marina. One of the dedicated diveboats is 'the Mistress' (01444 451093), skippered by Ray Leriche.

Richard Nokes, Bexley 982