Since the June Pwllheli weekend has now been cancelled we have been looking around for a suitable replacement dive. Since it might be difficult to get B&B this close to that weekend we have been looking closer to home. Instructor friends of mine from a now closed dive club in Blackburn have been investigating some of the industrial buildings along the Leeds Liverpool Canal and have found a pair of interesting dives rich in history but still with some excitement for divers looking for a bit of a thrill.   

The first dive is along the canal outside the large mill in Nelson and back through the mill race. The millwheels have now been removed and the dive is open to the air at all points so does not need a cave diving speciality. The race drops around 3 metres through the area under the mill so a good drift and some white water is obtained. A lot nearer to Preston than the Falls of Lora as well!

Once back through the mill race marker buoys will be needed in the main canal to warn narrow boats for the ascent.

Certain points on the dive reach 10m within the mill area but no real problems with dive limits here.

The second dive is more leisurely back in Blackburn.

This one is a swim along the canal to the West of Blackburn town centre. Many artefacts can be investigated along this section of the canal and since there are few divers, plenty of opportunity to find an item of value. 

A buoy has been provided for the descent and this dive will be led by a local diver/historian.

Since the opening of the Leeds Liverpool Canal to the Ribble through the River Douglas there is now a path to the sea for fish and recently salmon have been found as far up the canal as Blackburn. Around June time we may be lucky enough to see the young salmon, whitling, spawning along this section of the canal.

A third dive is sometimes done around Eanam Wharf in the middle of Blackburn. Arrangements are made for one of the bars in the Wharf pub on the canal side of the building to be available for drinks to divers in drysuits and wetsuits.

A small charge will cover the British Waterways license, lunch and the guide.

What's it like? The trip is rated for Open Water divers since both dives are within the 10m range there should be no problems with experience. Temperature in June will be around the 17C mark since the water is stationary and the sunshine hours in the Nelson and Blackburn areas are particularly high. It is possible to do these dives in a 7mm tracksuit or two piece. Note that is is preferable for divers to have a current immunisation for Tetanus and have some Diarese or Tantodabril tablets to hand in the unlikely case of an upset stomach. For non-divers? Blackburn is home to Ewood Park the ground of the world famous Blackburn Rovers. www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk/ Burnley has a noted shopping centre with many fine shops www.burnleycitizen.co.uk/ Pendle Hill is nearby and has great views of the surrounding area Where is it and how do I get there? www.multimap.com Other Stuff www.great-salmon-recipes.com