Thursday 1st June
The first day of June dawned with gale force westerlies and fine mist and rain, excellent Orkney diving weather.
Set off to dive the site of the Markgraf, a German battleship scuttled with colleagues in June almost ninety years ago. Ploughed through the sound, in ever worsening weather, in our spray lashed but confidant boat, until reaching the site in developing swell.
Stride into the Flow to drop down an insignificant marker to this mighty wreck. Down line into ever darkening gloom before reaching the seabed overcast by shadows from the massive sides of the upturned hull. Exploratory search of the awesome wreck found massive cod lurking in the darkness under the threat of the now resting side mounted guns. Depth allowed only a short stay before we were able to make our way up the side of the hull and commence our return from the historic silence to the crashing waves of today.
After dive interval at Lyness while our intrepid skipper waited for the weather to worsen, we set off for Burra Sound to dive the block ships. Standing in line sheltering from the wind and spray we leapt into the sea on command of Skipper Bob, assured we only had to “keep an eye on the line”, very easy to say from the wheelhouse but by tremendous feats of strength and almost brotherly love, all divers were able to drop safely down the line. Leaving the boiling surface and dropping down revealed a new world of peace and tranquillity that only divers can visit. The Gobernador Bories now lying upturned, and at peace, providing shelter from the storm. Entering its cathedral like structure we were privileged with views of marine life including undisturbed giant lobsters and ancient cod whilst looking through the picture windows into the kelp and pebble strewn sound. Returning to boat via SMB in a current can be tricky at best of times but add a gale force wind and it gives new meaning to “challenging”.
Return to spend another evening of fine on boat cuisine at Longhope. Another exciting day in the history of the MV Halton and Bishop Auckland SAC.
RB
