Halton Ocean

Koln then Tabarka. They are going to get deja vue this week. Can you predict deja vue? I wonder.

Dresden then F2/Barge. The troops themselves are a mellow bunch too so the mood on the boat feels quite relaxed at the moment, perfect for a happy life but probrably less than interesting reading if you are glued to the blog.

Growing a beard at the moment, ready for the winter weather. Looks good from the inside, even though I say so myself.

Still mellow after the break so largely left the troops to their own devices.

Brummer/Karlsruhe cruiser double bill today. Weather good but forecast poor, vis “good”. They seemed to like the day so a result of sorts!

Somebody stole my camera to extract revenge but all they managed to get that was incriminating was this shot..!!

KPW the Karlsruhe. Quick day today as the troops are flying tommorrow.

KPW then Tabarka then back down for the Brummer.

Mgraff, F2 then Koln. Day started off dreigh but improved.

Busy day today:

Mgraff/Koln split wave first followed by a drop to swim with some seals then the Dresden and then a night dive at Lyness Pier.

Even managed a drop myself with a borrowed inspo. Would love one but need to agonise over it for a while longer.

Konig/Koln split am and planning the Brummer this afternoon.

Weather cracking. Vis a unifrom “good” today. Spit must have worked.

New group with split identity: battleship hard nuts and a contingent of scapa virgin softies! So Konig/Dresden split wave first followed by a Lyness lunch and then the Karlsruhe.

Weather clement and vis reports range from 20m- 3m. Think they need more spit in their masks.

Contrary to the forecast it was an absolutely beautiful day, flat seas and sunshine with that taste of autumn in the air that rounded off the week perfectly.

…..troops did a Mg/KPW split first followed by the Brummer.

James Barrie at rush hour and Karlsruhe to follow. J just on the ladder now, such is the speed of the internet.

the wind has died down and swung to the SE so less wobbly boat today.

The troops dived the KPW first, Lyness lunch then sat over the Dresden at the mo.

Just checked with the harbours wind guage: 40kts gusting 52 from the west. Everything is charged with energy, the birds darting at full speed, the tops of the waves ripped off and shredded in to spray. The boat starts to dance and things come alive. There is an absolute pleasure in being part of the weather sometimes. What more can you ask for? Brilliant.

Missed the first dive on the KPW and headed over to the F2 instead. Caution is still the best part of valour sometimes too.

Afternoon update. Still windy so off to the V83. Yes, I know it’s not the best dive in the world but sometimes needs must and I would rather be here with everyone happily in the water than tied to the pier wishing I was out. So there.

They do say that the wind blows the cobwebs away. Maybe that’s why spiderman stayed at home today.

Troops dived the Brummer then the Doyle. The threat of wind has receeded and the vis remains good. They seem happy enough…

Troops all dived up so hit the ground running: Koln then tide on Tabarka.

They were chuffed with the vis and flat calm to boot.

Between the tides and the weather we only managed a drop on the Brummer today despite trying for the Clam Mac first thing.

Such is life!

Headed further north, 24nm NE of Fraserburgh to dive the Astronomer.

She was a 8400grt steamship sunk 2/6/40 by torpedo in 71m.

Carried on to Wick for the night.

We managed to snatch a dive out from under a poor forecast and for safety’s sake repeated the Remuera.

early start from Wick to dive the Lynx, a 935grt destroyer sunk by mines on 9th Aug 1915. There are three distinct wreckage areas here and I managed to find the area around the bridge (fortuitous).

Troops enjoyed the dive though I suspect the vis is not quite as good as it should be, despite being a respectable 15m.

We were on station for both tides on the Clan Macinley off Wick but there was no slack either time so both dives were canned.

Not the best of starts.