Dived the EGG again twice before heading south and back home.
…..left Fair Isle at 1500, got to Longhope by 0100 having just sneaked thru on the last of the tide in the Firth. Not even I can claim to have planned that.
going past Auskerry.
Windy today so the boat has not left the pier.
Still, we managed to get a few dives in caves etc off the Zodiac.
Found another cannon just round the corner, gawd only knows what from.
We even added another caveat to the footsie: the Jbindex, awarded in addition to the footsie to dives that show a certain curiosity above and beyond their normal asthetic appeal: an “amuse bouche”, if you will.
Todays tally AB 7/8 +1 BA 6/7/9 +2
So they woke me up, dragged me out of my bed kicking and screaming and then sat on chest, all the while pouring wine down my gullet.
I then had to stay on guard all night ready for the early morning coffee brigade so that I could let them back in the galley.
And all that included in my humble, meagre charter price. All heart, thats my weakness.
Day 5 began with the evening of day 4, well night, well early morning of day 5! - some decided to start their
celebrations of the week slightly early and managed to drag both Bob and Angus into their joyous (if loud!)
debauched session! (all down to a rather windy weather forecast that put all those still up off diving the next
day). ‘Hang the DJ’ resounded (or should that be strangle the cat?!) - Bob you need singing lessons! Also an
appearance from the village peaple in the form of CY in his skidders and riggers - not a pretty sight!! (Qu: why
were the socks left there?!)
7:20 arrives - Angus’ alarm goes off, wakes most except Angus - and no-one can enter the saloon due to Bob still
comatose in there - NO COFFEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!
A few hours later and most were up although not all fully awake! LF & PF decided to dive the harbour - well 5m is
better than no diving (sometimes!).
Found a cave - Bob then decides that LF needs intro to cave diving - then promptly swims off and leaves her in the
cave! (was good dive though! - others tried a bit later - all agreed!!).
Final dive of the day was in a bay off the south harbour. PF now ecstatic as he found another cannon in the kelp -
going to bed a happy bunny.
The 2 troglodites went exploring and were late for dinner (again! - nearly fed the fish!!) - although we’re told it
was worth it.
P.S. - MF has nothing to add as she was sleeping off the effects of the night before all day!
Overnight someone had moved Fair Isle from a warm and sunny spot, back to somewhere between Orkney and Shetland; and
the weather had changed to suit - overcast and bit of drizzle.
The coastguard gave out a force 8 gale warning for Viking; one of the team asked which sea area we were in - left as
an exercise for the reader.
The swell on the way out caused a couple of mugs to commit hari kari on the galley floor and made conditions under
the water slightly more interesting than the previous days. On site the viz had dropped to only about 15m.
It should be noted that of items noted as lost - all but one (one of the measuring sticks) had been recovered - the
English were begining to level the score. Add the fact that a swivel gun had been located yesterday and the result
was by no means a foregone conclusion.
And a note to prospective customers: wear something very warm when diving as it can take a looooooonnnnnnnng time to
get picked up!!!
Found….
1 1/2 Cannon
2 Cannon Balls
….second one next to a dead copper.
Lost
Iron bar
2 Measuring sticks
Weight pouch
Think the first half goes to the spanish.
So there we were, Bunny and me, gamboling and skipping thru the early evening mist having a laugh and a giggle in the hills of Fair Isle….
…..when we got to the top of the hill and smelt the hint of home carried north on the breese.
It was a slow melancholic meander back to the boat and dried out spag bol.
Troops dived the EGG again.
Lovely day….
Vis ok..
LF went down to measure the cannon and take pictures….
Yet another perfect day in paradise, well on fair isle.
During todays dives, a cannon from the previous survey 30 years ago was located in Leon Gulley and another at the end of Griffon Gulley.
The troops dive the El Gran Griffon.
We nipped over the other side of the bay and dropped thru the cuts. Footsie BA 8, AB 8.5.
First day diving on the El Gran Griffon site - flagship of the hulks (supply ships) in the Spanish Aramada of 1588. Conditions were PERFECT! (flat calm, sunny and 25m vis - we thought we’d been transported somewhere exotic rather than north Scotland!).
First dive was familiarisation with the site. Located the cannon (amazed at the amount of errosion to it by tides and storms) and the anchor (much better condition).
Other dives of the day started the survey of the site in earnest: a line was laid between the anchor and the cannon which provided our refernce line. The troglodites on the boat explored the caves on sheep rock (avoiding the big bad seals!) - those doing boat cover had just as much fun manourvering through the caves on the inflatable.
We are down in Fair Isle this week to dive the El Gran Griffon, a sailing ship that survived the rout of the Spanish Armada only to be wrecked in Swartz Geo on the SE corner.
However there are a few caves about too.
Thats us. Six weeks in Shetland and now it’s time to head south.
It feels a long time and there is a change in the air: a chill in the mornings and the plumage of the birds is different.
Left van behind for postage later.
Arrived in Shetland following 12 hour trip on the ferry (and 10 hours of drinking - heads hurting!!!). A six day expedition to Fair Isle meant a monster shop @ Somerfield (Bob’s van just coped!).
Left Lerwick @ 3pm with a 5 hour crossing to Fair Isle to look forward to - in the end it wasn’t as bad as we all thought (gave us time to sleep off the hangovers - well it worked for some!).
Arrived in North Haven to bright sunshine.
As Bob did his customary trick of hitting the pier he announced “we’re here then”!
Last day, last dive. Giants Legs. Troops sniffy about the 15m vis.
In for a sail on the Swan: poor JB, ferried AB about all week then the rest of the punters on the last day.
Missed out myself: loaded O2, fuel, supplies etc etc. Mind now on next week which is an interesting break from the norm. A week on the El Gran Grifon.
Fog came down in the night and was still lingering first thing so it was with some trepidation that we left in the morning: however it had cleared by the time we got to Gruney in the Ramna Stacks. Another footsie 9 and a 10 from AB from the outer most arch.
Quick drop on the East side of Lunna Ness on the boulder slope then home to Lerwick.
Round the top and the corner to do a drop just south of Muckle Flugga before heading further south again for the Clapper. Despite being chosen for it’s name, both dives earned footsie 9s.
Into Whale Firth for the night and a JB dive 2. Slighly disappointing cave this time but cathartic non the less.
Troops dived the Tonis Chandris (scenic wreck!) then round the top for a drop on Da Cave (or rather the wall there at) and at anchor in Burra Firth for the night.
I did a drop on the E49 to remove the shot: this must be one of the top 10 dives in the UK.
JB successfully completed her first cold water dry suit dive after dark in a cave, with a dodgy torch. Think that’s about 10 specialities in a oner. She coped with verve and aplomb despite being in my suit and with AB’s kit…. which is normally a recipe form some form of nasty infection.
