07 Nov, 08

Trip organiser Jeff

Doc Dave, Bob, Glen, Guy, Mark and Dawn

Non divers Jane and Cheryl

Jeff travelled through the night towing the 5’1’’ and we travelled at a more respectable time from 6.00 am towing the 5’3’’.
We had a great journey up; the weather and traffic were all kind to us. We arrived at about 2.00pm just in time for a cuppa with the Darby’s who were staying in the caravan opposite Glen, Dave and Bob.
Guy and Cheryl had a luxury caravan with sea and hill view. Mark and I had a tent pitched with fabulous views too.

The weather was warm and sunny and the water was calm – as soon as the tent was up we launched the boats and had a tootle around the islands, Jeff insisting we all work to build on our boat handling skills.

Sunday 25th The first dive of the trip was the Breda – A steel steamship laying at about 30meters, she was bombed by German Heinkel 111 bombers on the 23rd December 1940, although not directly hit, the effect was as bad. She was carrying 3 Hawker biplanes, 30 De Haveilland Moths, military vehicles, cement and other general cargo including 10 horses thought to belong to the Aga Khan (who swam for their lives to shore) Mark and I were the first divers on her, the water was clear; there was lots to see, such as dead mans fingers and coloured anemonae, I particularly remember a stack of cement bags stacked really tightly that it looked like a brick wall.

For our 2nd dive we tried a new “scenic dive” to the west of Islay. There was some nice life on the bottom that we gazed upon whilst we drifted along. As there was a bit of a run and we were travelling quite a distance we did not stay down too long.

Monday 26th Our first dive of the 26th, another warm, sunny and calm day was “The Shuna” a steel steamship, carrying coal that ran into a bad

storm, on the way from Glasgow to Sweden, Captain Elsper was relieved to reach the fairly sheltered waters of The sound of Mull but in poor visibility ran onto Grey Rock. The crew rowed safely to Tobermory. The Shuna sits upright at about 30 meters, about 200 meters off Morvern shore, she is a fantastic dive.

Our 2nd dive was the Hispania, a steel steamship that sank in December 1954 carrying a cargo of steel that has since been salvaged. Her captain, Ivan Dahn, chose to go down with her.

Glen said this dive alone has made his whole trip worthwhile. She is known as one of the best scenic wreck dives’s in Scotland and although one of the most dived is still virtually intact with companionways, handrails and doors still in place – highly recommended!!

Tuesday 27th Well here I am, first dive on this perfect morning just off Inch Island saying I will go but I am only going to look and before I know it I’m scalloping – we only took enough to eat ( now I’m reasoning) I feel hypocritical – as I would buy them from Sainsbury’s!!!

Mark, Glen and I had a pleasant 2nd dive along a wall, not dived by any one on this trip before - it looked ideal on the sounder – but did not have too much life on it; there were sandy/silty ledges along the way which stirred quite easily.

Wednesday 28th The following day every one but us climbed Ben Nevis – Mark and I walked up Glen Nevis, (which has the highest waterfall in the country) along with Jane and Toby, the views are stunning. This was the only time it rained, I think it rained a weeks worth and afterwards Mark and Jane had to run into Fort William for replacement clothing.

Thursday 29th We were driving up the sound of Mull – heading for the Rondo and I’m having the most wonderful time – the water is like glass, I’m even taking photos of it!! I asked Jeff if he would accompany me and Mark down to my first 50 meter dive, I had the agreement of all other divers, so he agreed. It was like following a yellow backed turtle but at least I could see him – I was bit narked at that depth but fantastically excited I had done it – on my return I saw all the other divers behind me, this made me smile to say the least. The Rondo is an ideal wreck to do the first few 50 metre dives as she sits vertical close to the north shore of Dearg Sgeir and her rudder post is often visible from the boat at just a few meters below the surface, there is lots of life on her down to about 30 meters. I think every one else enjoyed it too.

Our 2nd dive was the Breda. We spent lots of time mooching through the holds, we saw 2 conger eels and a multitude of fish life, what a perfect dive for me anyway, to finish on, I just sat there looking around, perfectly happy and not really wanting to come back up!! But hey it was Thursday night at the pub which made it ok. – much the same as all the other nights!!!

Friday 30th Cheryl and I had a fabulous day’s horse riding through the hills of Scotland on wonderful appaloosa’s – coincidently whilst all the other’s prepped the boats for travelling on Saturday.

Dawn

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