New company will help divers explore wrecks off Wirral’s coast

Aug 4 2010 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

A WIRRAL businessman is behind a new company promoting the region as a diving destination.

Discovery Charters was set up by Gary Flint and his wife Lynne.

Mr Flint, director of an electrical company, said it was his dream to set up a company based on his hobby of 23 years. And he insisted the diving conditions off Wirral was “as good as anywhere in the world”.

Their boat Discovery, a 33ft catamaran, is now undergoing final modifications to enable it to carry divers.

Mr Flint said he had already been contacted by people hoping to charter the vessel for trips and that fishing enthusiasts and wildlife fans were also interested in hiring the boat. The coastline is one of the country’s main sites for wintering birds – plus a great place to see dolphins.

He added: “When you see the dolphins you would not believe where you were – once you get a couple of miles out it’s brilliant. We were coming in the other day and saw gannets diving and getting fish – it was something you would expect to see on television, not on your doorstep.”

But Mr Flint’s main passion is diving and exploring wrecks. He has spent years diving off Liverpool Bay himself and has identified and visited dozens of wrecks off the Wirral and North Wales coast.

As well as the famous Resurgam submarine, which lies off the Welsh coast, Mr Flint has explored the remains of the Munster passenger motorship which was sunk in 1940 and the City of Brussels steam liner.