Falkland Islands Diving.

[ACT651755]

Has anybody ever dived from the Falkland Islands? I'm going to be spending four months there from November '10-March '11 and I've been told to take my gear. It doesn't strike me as somewhere I'd normally take a diving holiday but as I'll be there it seems like I'd be missing out on a rare location.

Anybody know what kind of marine life there is to see out there? A friend said he saw a (big) shark as he was flying off the coast but he's not too knowledgeable about them so couldn't identify it.

The thought has also occurred to me that there must be at least a few wrecks to dive from the Falklands War 1982. The Belgrano?

What kind of insulation will I need? I'll be there over the summer months so hopefully a 5mm will suffice (it's all I have), perhaps with a thermocline vest underneath.

Any information would be well received as I've not really heard anything.

[RoatanMan]

I made one abortive attempt in the last century.

Have at it: Falklands Underwater (http://www.falklands-underwater.com/)

Not much other competition of which I am aware.

[randini]

I've never been, but I can tell you that the Falklands are down off Tierra del Fuego, and that's subantarctic. Think along the lines of diving off newfoundland. I can't imagine average summer air temps being over 60 F, and the water I'm betting might warm up into the mid 40's in summer near the surface. More what I'd call drysuit time. Your 5mm should work out great if you want to surfing there though.

However if you do get a drysuit and bring gear, I'll bet the diving will be truely rewarding. I'll bet the water's pretty clear and I've heard that there's plenty of marine life diversity, especially invertebrates. I also remember reading or hearing something spectacular about the kelp forests there, but it was so long ago I don't remember the details.

[RoatanMan]

By the numbers, then: http://www.climatetemp.info/falkland-islands/

Check the "climate" section at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkland_Islands

[ACT651755]

Great stuff guys, but so much for diving in a 5mm!!!

[Arturo]

The Belgrano was sunk a few hundred miles south of the Falklands. A bit difficult to get there, not to mention the depth at which the wreck must be resting.

[Arturo]

I google it. It's sitting at about 14.000 feet (4,200 meters) Geographic Expedition Seeks Argentine Warship <i>Belgrano</i> (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/02/0226_030226_belgrano.html)

[diver257a]

Has anybody ever dived from the Falkland Islands? I'm going to be spending four months there from November '10-March '11 and I've been told to take my gear. It doesn't strike me as somewhere I'd normally take a diving holiday but as I'll be there it seems like I'd be missing out on a rare location.

Anybody know what kind of marine life there is to see out there? A friend said he saw a (big) shark as he was flying off the coast but he's not too knowledgeable about them so couldn't identify it.

The thought has also occurred to me that there must be at least a few wrecks to dive from the Falklands War 1982. The Belgrano?

What kind of insulation will I need? I'll be there over the summer months so hopefully a 5mm will suffice (it's all I have), perhaps with a thermocline vest underneath.

Any information would be well received as I've not really heard anything.

There is a report about an expedition (i.e. BSAC for dive trip) undertaken in February 2008 on this link - Expeditions | Simon Campbell (http://simoncampbell.com/expeditions) ?

[ACT651755]

I google it. It's sitting at about 14.000 feet (4,200 meters) Geographic Expedition Seeks Argentine Warship <i>Belgrano</i> (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/02/0226_030226_belgrano.html)

Nitrox? ;)


There is a report about an expedition (i.e. BSAC for dive trip) undertaken in February 2008 on this link - Expeditions | Simon Campbell (http://simoncampbell.com/expeditions) ?

Very good find mate, made for enjoyable reading.

[Groupie59]

You should read Tony Grooms book called DIVER. Or at least take it with you. He was part of the Navy bomb and mine disposal divers down there during the war. Look at his reviews.
Diver: Amazon.co.uk: Tony Groom: Books (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Diver-Tony-Groom/dp/1906266069)






Has anybody ever dived from the Falkland Islands? I'm going to be spending four months there from November '10-March '11 and I've been told to take my gear. It doesn't strike me as somewhere I'd normally take a diving holiday but as I'll be there it seems like I'd be missing out on a rare location.

Anybody know what kind of marine life there is to see out there? A friend said he saw a (big) shark as he was flying off the coast but he's not too knowledgeable about them so couldn't identify it.

The thought has also occurred to me that there must be at least a few wrecks to dive from the Falklands War 1982. The Belgrano?

What kind of insulation will I need? I'll be there over the summer months so hopefully a 5mm will suffice (it's all I have), perhaps with a thermocline vest underneath.

Any information would be well received as I've not really heard anything.

[devilkitty]

Nitrox? ;)


Took 14000 fsw as a nice round number and did the O2 calculation for a bottom mix (and for s&g)...

To stay at or under 1.6 atm ppO2, you'd need a blend with <=0.3876% O2.