Dive the Shipwrecks of D-Day (Normandy France)

[michael-fisch]

The Leopoldville, is not a D-Day wreck. It was torpedoed on Christmas Eve, 24 December 1944. Along with the 800 lives lost, it's sinking destroyed the combat effectiveness of the 262 and 264 Infantry regiments, 66 Infantry Division. Luckily my father survived and got a Purple Heart for a head wound caused by schrapnel.
The sinking actually may have been a blessing for the 60% survivors since they were unable to serve as reinforcements in the battle of the bulge.

Michael

 

[Chidiver1]

The Leopoldville, is not a D-Day wreck. It was torpedoed on Christmas Eve, 24 December 1944. Along with the 800 lives lost, it's sinking destroyed the combat effectiveness of the 262 and 264 Infantry regiments, 66 Infantry Division. Luckily my father survived and got a Purple Heart for a head wound caused by schrapnel.
The sinking actually may have been a blessing for the 60% survivors since they were unable to serve as reinforcements in the battle of the bulge.

Michael

If your dad is still around give him a salute from me. Reading about the ship just now, and see how the army did pisses me off big time. Im going to see if I can find the episode to watch about the incident.

 

[chrisch]

Not sure that Brexit is going to prevent UK boats diving French wrecks...the UK boats and divers comply with the local laws.

I don't think anyone is sure about anything at this minute! If the UK leaves without any agreement it is possible that UK boats might need a permit or similar and if you are entering French waters there is the issue of immigration to think about. It's quite easy to see the problems (and to hope they are not going to happen of course). Also do not overlook the issue of search and recovery and medical treatment. At present any boat nearer to France or Belgium will almost certainly be assisted by their respective coastguards and EMS. When the UK has left you will be presented with a bill for that. So DAN cover or similar is going to be needed to replace the E111.

UK divers - in my experience - do not comply with French diving regulations. This is one of the attractions of diving a UK vessel. In France divers must have an up to date medical, in UK this is not a requirement. Also to dive beyond 20m without an instructor a diver in France must be CMAS 3 star. I would say many UK divers don't even know this is a French requirement. As the rules stand at the minute they don't apply as the boat is UK registered and UK rules apply. This might (or might not) change, but who knows?

Maybe best not to leave, but that is another topic altogether

 

[KenGordon]

Not sure that Brexit is going to prevent UK boats diving French wrecks...the UK boats and divers comply with the local laws.

The Brexit I was promised had a Wall being built up the middle of the channel. Are saying this isn’t happening? It was written on the side of a bus. It must be true.

Anyway, this time round I have a boat booked for the 10th to collect supplies. I am pretty sure they’ll not have built the Wall by then.

 

[chrisch]

The Brexit I was promised had a Wall being built up the middle of the channel. ....

My kind of shore dive!

 

[KenGordon]

My kind of shore dive!

No shore, just held up by unicorns, obviously.