Halton Ocean

Fresh off the overnight ferry, kit stowed and we,re off for ou first dive on the GWLADEMA,a wreck sitting in about 40m. Down shot onto boilers and finding vis of 15m . She’s sitting upright, though all the superstructure aft of midships has been swept. Went to the stern first which was dissapointing. Looked for gun over starboard side but it was not obvious.Followed propshaft forward to boilers and passed engine whih had somehow got in front. N/S time running out,trying to stretch it hovering over fairly intact bows and continuing back to line.

After a nice bacon bap and a lounge we headed for the lighthouse on BRESSAY for our next dive on the Russian klondiker LUNOKHODS.Free descent onto the kelpy remains. Immediately found a nice swimthrough part of the hull. Struck by the ammount of brass fittings and cocks lying around,better there for divers to polish and enjoy than crumbling in someones garage.Wreckage petered out and kelp returned, time to go. Whatched 1″ transparent jellyfish struggle in the watercolumn during our safety stop.

Simon Sat 22/7/06

Out of Uig Harbour on MV Halton seems likes ages ago. And here we are at the end of two weeks, having explored the

Shiants,Loch Roag, Gasker and Haskeir. Still flushed with the excitement of events last night, the final island

(Haskeir) where we were greetede by a large bsking shrk lazing around alongside us as we prepared for a calm and

gentle landing and an evening ringing Fulmars and Petrels and then an exhilarating and tempestuous exit as the sea

got up and the long drop to the dinghy over greasy rocks.

But as ever we were in the safe and capable hands of ‘captain’ Bob, Angus and Mary, whose skill in keeping us safe

while maximising the enjoyment and exhileration, we tend to take for granted. But riding that rib with Angus at the

helm - iron hand and watchful eye - as waves rise, fall, break, swirl and tear, must be experienced to be fully

appreciated. And then to be ferried to the protective lee of MV Halton.

We are the Sule Skerry Bird Ringing Group and friends. Twelve of us, mostly experienced bird ringers. Each year the

Halton is chartered for two to four weeks to visit the uninhabited outlying islands of the UK. Birds are surveyed

and ringed. None of the islands have established landings. Each island presents its own problems depending on the

state of the tide and the weather. All have rocky shores. So to get twelve people of various ages and genders onto

the islands presents its own special challenges. Sometimes we fail and have to run for shelter. But if its possible

the crew of the Halton have proved themselves willing to try and most times to achieve to get people and a ton of

equipment safely on shore.

We spent a week on the Shiants this year. Guest of Adam Nicholson, the owner, who was delighted to invite the group

onto the island to stay in the bothy and camp and live with the birds for a week. The boulder scree along the shore

of Garbh Eilean is teeming with sea birds and must be one of the seven wonders of the world. This is their place and

we were guests, a little intrusive but temporary visitors nonetheless.

If anyone is interested birds ringed 1,170
Fulmar 7
Storm Petrel 145
Shag 71
Great Skua 5
Great Black Backed 5
Common Gull 2
Puffin 355
Razorbill 591
Guillemot 160
Skylarks 1
Meadow Pipit 7
Rock Pipit 2
Wheatear 17

Of course that is only a fraction of the birds actually there!

Loch Roag - a beautiful spot, but the weather had cut up rough and we had to be content with walking around some of

the islands of the west loch. Pabay was the star.

Our visits to Gasker and Haskeir were shorter than intended but a burst of Mediterranean weather made the whole

thing a delight. Hard to believe that these islands are some of the most inhospitable places in the British Isles.
We look forward to next year.
Thank you MV Halton, our star of the sea. Thank you Bob, thank you Angus and thank you Mary

Margaret (Elphinstone) we really missed you loads. Lets hope we can share more Halton island adventures together in

future years.

At Guillemot cove/boulder slope

Puffin 7
Guilliemot 72
Razor 50

On the Galtas

Puffin 90 (chicks)/ 10 (adults)
Fulmar 1 (chick)/ 5 (adults)
Razorbill 1

Mick A’Court’s Solo Wandering, a lone hunter stalking thru the undergrowth. This man could track and then sit down next to David Attenburgh and the camera crew would not even notice.

11 Juv Wheatears
4 Adult Meadow pipits Males
1 Juv Meadow pipit

With Vicky on Garbh Eilean, different opinions on the best way up. The nearest path preferred by the sheep is very precipitous so we decided to try for a gentler climb up a grassy gully. Start off along the shore and up the gtully. Vicky found it difficult going at one spot and called Billy back to help. As I looked back I fancied Vicky would manage quite well alone, only to see a large sheep fall off the cliff above her plunge down onto the grassy slope and roll sickenly onto the shore. Bad enough, then it was followed by its juvenile lamb, which managed to keep its footing, and ended up trying to nudge its Mum back to life. Vicky totally unaware of all this, twigged the horrified look on Billy’s face and got even more terrified of her predicament.
Anyway all ended well with Vicky over the tricky bit and a groggy sheep lurching back up the slope.

Bonxies by the score up on the top of Garbh Eilean, spent hours trying to get a shot of Vicky being bonxed. Eventually succeeded. Also noted a colony of Common Gulls down by the old village on the shore.
Back late for rendez vous, but sharp eyes on the boat had spotted us well before we arrived and trusty Cap’n Bob snatched us from a rocky shore.

Just another spectacular day on the Shiants.
Hello Kerry. We’re in the Little Minch, don’t you know!

Diary entry detailing expedition undertaken by Mary and Becky searching out the lesser known and unusal cretaures of the Shiant Isles. We set out on our expedition taking the intrepid route along the boulder scree slope between the causeway beach and the Ringers station on Garbh Eilean. On route we were lucky enough to almost immediately come across a beautiful Larger Shiants Hedgehog! About half a metre in size and with a well developed beard. Feisty at first but once in the specific Hedgehog ringers grip it became quite placid, although tried to deter capture by shedding a musty dust! After releasing the Hedgehog back into the wild we moved on to seek out other Shiants creatures. After a short while we spied the tail of the almost extinct Shy Shiants Serpent and proceded to attempt capture. After a serious struggle the beast was finally subdued and once in the Shy Shiants Serpent ringers grip became passive. Our final attempt to track down rare creatures of the Shiants led us to call for the Horn-ed Toad, using a specific calling horn, whittled from the shed horn of the curly horned sheep found only on Garbh Mhuire. After several messages sent out to the Horn-ed Toad, we were disappointed to recieve no answer and assumed the Horn-ed Toad was no longer resident on the island.
And thats what non-ringers get up to on a bird ringing trip with various bits of flotsum and jetsum found on the beach! (For a more authetic version read in a David Attenborough style. Video to be released shortly!)

More than 1,000 seabirds were ringed on the Shiants in the first week of July by members of the Sule Skerry Ringing Group, who were visting the islands as part of a two week visit to try and discover where Leach’s Petrels are breeding in the Western Isles. Spectacular numbers of Razorbills have been caught, with 500 birds being ringed; only a few thousand of these handsome birds are ringed every year in the British Isles. Several of the ringers have scars to prove it! Razorbills and the other auk species are bringing little food to their chicks and it looks to be a poor breeding season. This seems to be the same for the Great Skuas; many of which seem to have failed to breed.

8/7/06 Jim Lennon

Ringing’s going really well; the beautiful calm weather has allowed us to put mistnets up most days and we’ve now rung close to 450 Razorbills and 200 Puffins. A few Guillemots and Fulmars in for good luck as well. We’ve been targeting Puffin chicks as well as the adults - Razorbill and Guillemot chicks are still too small to ring as the breeding season seems to be late again this year. This probably doubles the year’s total for adult Razorbills, as this is such an amazingly large colony. We’ve had a few birds that have already been rung - some of the rings have almost lost their numbers they’re so worn, so these birds might be 20 years old or more. The oldest Razorbill in Britain is over 40 and the Fulmar record is towards 50! Also had a reccie of Mary’s Island and found a handful of Great Black-backed Gull and Bonxie chicks to ring. Two nights have been calm enough to allow Storm Petrel catching - a total of 130 new birds and 4 that have been ringed previously elsewhere . Hopefully the wind will stay light so we can can catch plenty more birds before we depart for our next ringing destination.

Jenny Lennon

7 July 2006

Yesterday’s wind died away overnight so morning brought sunshine and flat calm seas.

Much sunnier with calm sea and transfer to Crossapol Bay more relaxed and efficient.
Mandered from bay to bay, eating and sleeping on the way. Passed through super dune landscape decorated with brightly coloured orchids and myriads of irises, buttercups and purple wild geraniums.
Angela initiated ’Throwing the Buoy’ game , resulting in Tony as overall winner and Fiona taking the Ladies prize. Espied the Halton crew doing a crafty dive, in our absence. Taxi driver surprised to find so many punters wanting a return to the boat.

Starting the day with a rollicking, nausea-inducing trip during which we saw Basking sharks, and a few unusual seabirds. We eventually disembarked in fours via a hairy transfer by the inflatable, half of us ending up with water-logged boots. Walked to the highest point of the island,then explored a few sandy bays. Moira excelled herself by falling headlong in a stream to all our amusement, but the rest of us caught up as we ended the day getting soaked while waiting for the taxi, which turned out to be a bus.

It was a tough choice … my 300th dive at the NDAC quarry in Chepstow, or on the SMS Karlsruhe, a 5,400 ton light

cruiser scuttled in Scapa Flow in 1919… hmmm. The wreck has been well salvaged, but there are still guns with

barrels wider than I could reach with my arms. We saw two congers hiding in pipe work. They weren’t small either.

After I’d dragged my buddy (the lovely Mark) back through a swim through to see it, the torch light and its owner

were looking like an easy target for lunch so I rushed Mark back out to open water and safety. I knew I was bigger

than it, but with a face ~6” across (the conger’s face!), I wasn’t going to test it in an arm wrestling match. The

girth of the eel didn’t compare to that of Elvis, a moray I met on my 100th dive 18 months ago, with girth bigger

than the Karlsruhe guns, last known resident of the disused oil platform off Mabul (near Sipadan, Borneo). This dive

in Scapa is high up in my list of faves. Anyone who likes cold water and interesting dives, get on up to Scapa and

see what this place has on offer. I’ve had a fantastic holiday, its just a shame that good things have to come to an

end…

The club trip to Scapa Flow was planned well in advance and the names rolled in almost as quickly as the trip was announced.

The make-up of the group meant that there not only some BIG personalities but also several BIG appetites to support.

Do we go for planned menus or just leave it to the whims of the day? From previous experience I decided that it would be best to at least partially plan ahead.

We based food costs at around £5.00 per person per day. That would give us a cooked breakfast, soup and rolls at lunchtime between dives and then an evening meal of a main course with dessert.

A mega pre-trip visit to Tesco’s saw the first £150 of the food budget well spent on basics and from there we would buy fresh items in Stronesson a daily basis.

After a long drive overnight we spent the first day sorting out and setting up.

Menus

Day One

Having travelled from South Wales for some ungodly number of hours, everyone tired and hungry.A big fresh baked Lasagna (a vegetarian tray for one of colleagues as well) with Baked Potatoes followed by Fresh Apple pie and custard and/or cream. were quickly devoured.

Day Two

Breakfast The day started well with a full cooked breakfast, using only the best of Scottish ingredients. I guess the empty plates were a testimony to the quality of the food – or was it just that everyone was ravenous??!?!

Lunch Fresh Leek and Potato Soup and rolls (between dives) were welcomed when everyone came into the cabin out of the cold wind. Of course, Bob the Skipper (Bob the Builders twin)!! just had to muscle in on the soup. Well I hiess you have to keep the skipper happy somehow – and for Bob a plate of soup seems to be the key!! Oh well – onwards and upwards.

A hot brew with Fresh Baked Sultana Scones polished of lunch nicely. Bob was in there again!!

Dinner Fried Chicken and Burgers with Lyonnaise potatoes and Garden Peas were followed by Bread and Butter pudding and/or Fresh fruit salad with cream/ice-cream/custard.

Day Three

Breakfast A full cooked breakfast saw Wayne have the appetite of four and we were lucky to have the glaze left on the plates. Today I convinced myself that it was definitely the quality of the cooking!!!

Lunch Home-made Scottish Vegetable soup was well received. Requests or more of this later in the week.

Two big plates of Fresh Baked Cheese & Mustard scones disappeared quickly. Huess where Bob was?!?!

Dinner Fajitas with Fried Chicken, Chille Beef and mixed Vegetables followed by Apple Crumble with cream/ice-crream/custard.

The vegetarian option was Steamed Mushroom and Onion Pudding.

Day Four

Breakfast There seemed to be smaller appetites around today. Maybe it had something to do with the pub last night)? However, a full cooked breakfast was enjoyed by most.

Lunch There was no lunch stop today but a freshly baked sultana sponge eased the hunger pangs. Strangely, the left over sausages and bacon disappeared throughout the day.

Dinner A good hearty Scottish Beef & Sausage stew with Mashed potatoes and cabbage followed by a Sultana Baked Rice pudding with Ice Cream was well received.

The vegetarian option was Pasta with vegetables in a White Wine & Cream sauce.

All this was followed by a fresh Baked Rice Pudding with Ice Cream.

Day Five
.
Breakfast Group decision to have Toast and Scrambled Egg

Lunch The really rich aroma from the Fresh Minestrone Soup had them clambering for the ladle after a challenging first dive – not to mention the bitter cold wind that Bob had ordered.

A request for more Fruit Scones saw 24 of them hit the oven and so kept everyone happy. Did I mention that Bob popped his around when the soup was ready?!?!?!

Dinner A really hot Chile with Baked potatoes, Rice or Spaghetti

…..Blog and cooking by RS. Thankfully not a naked chef. (BA)

It’s my birthday today and we awake to the best weather of the week so far; it’s sunny but with a fresh breeze that makes strolling around the deck in a drysuit very comfortable.

First on today’s ticklist is the Kronprinz, which I’ve previously dived only to see a wall of steel plate and rivets (which were less than riveting). As it was my birthday and Keith and I were armed with loads of gas, surely we were going to find the guns today.

Having agreed to dive on VPM-B tables, we descended to the seabed only to witness my HID torch make a feeble attempt to ignite. Note to self; buy a simple torch next time! The viz was awful but sharing Keith’s torch we started tracing our way along the periphery. It got darker and darker, we must have swum into the wreck I figured but neither of us was particularly concerned. Through the particles I could see the faint green glow of the way out and within a minute we were back outside. The rest of the dive was less eventful, but that’s how I like it with 30 minutes of ascent to clear. On the surface, Keith and I compared notes and agreed excuses. Overall it was a pleasant morning but a bit of a non-event in comparison to the previous day’s fun ferreting through the light cruisers.

During the morning’s dive the battery in Keith’s VR3 had expired and as a result of changing it lunchtime lost his RNT history. Also my single-gas Vyper was now bent and so this afternoon’s dive to the Gorbernador Bories would also have to planned on tables. Just to be on the safe side, we decided to limit ourselves to 30 minutes bottom time.

Even though the wreck was quite large, there seemed to be a particularly large number of swim-through traffic jams. The very enjoyable dive was concluded by a short wait on the ever increasingly lumpy surface. Fortunately Keith and I boarded before most of the others and before the sea and wind was at their worst.

First dive of the day was the Kronprinz Wilhelm, with Grant and Wayne. After some pretty spirited and frank discussion while planning the dive, we went the wrong way off the shot-line and missed the big guns we were aiming for. We even missed the smaller guns on the outside, while everyone else seemed to just drop astride them by accident. The main impression was that this is a huge wreck and it is pretty difficult to keep your head where you are on the ship.

The second dive was a really nice one with Marian on the Gobernador Bories, which is one of the blockships. A strong current here keeps the visibility pretty good at over 15m. There are some lovely swim-thrus which are really atmospheric, if a little tight in places! The wrasse are very friendly, almost as though they were expecting to be fed, and we found quite a few nudibranchs amongst the kelp. The current was really ripping when we finally ascended, and we encountered quite a few jellies populated with colonies of little fish. This is something we’d never seen before. Sadly, I’d been wearing two sidemounts for practise on this dive, and the surface conditions had gone to pot by the time we struggled back onto the boat. The boat pitched at just the wrong moment and I went down on my face like a 400lb sack of spuds! I was totally helpless, but thankfully nobody had the presence of mind to capture my humiliation on film.

Marian: …or so he thinks…!

Got him the next day! (BA)

First dive of the day and the deep dive for my advanced, the Brummer 462 ft 4,500 tons. Landed on a convenient platform at 30m, to carry out the skills. Time then to take a swim along the hull and came across one of the 5” guns. After the usual inquisitive inspection it was time to deploy the SMB and make the accent.

Dinner saw a visit to the Scapa Flow museum to soak up some history then off to dive the F2 249 ft 790 ton WW2 escort vessel. An advantage of this dive is you can also dive the YC21 a barge that sank salvaging the F2. Dropping down the line to the bow we were greeted by a huge cod under the hull. Following the hull along its starboard side leads to a debris field and the line leading to the barge. Marine life is in abundance here but time or the lack of it meant the retreat to the surface. Another great day and a privilege to be in such a location. The week will not be long enough, guess I’ll have to come back.

Daryl with Rob on his back. (BA)

Friday 2nd June
At 07:30, we headed out of Longhope with the vibrations of the diesel engines rousing the last of our late sleepers better than any alarm clock. Soon we were heading for the German cruisers, which have lain oblivious to the Orkney weather for ninety years. As the force 5 storm began to break over the wheelhouse, the crew snatched moments between the waves and spray in a game of ‘don the suit’ which the weather clearly won.
Arriving on site we fell into the familiar routine, and were swiftly kitted up, gear checked, and overboard heading for the security of the flailing shot line. Dropping down, we were returned to the familiar world of the calm sub aqua realm, with the wreck of the Koln, offering herself to our descending party like a dockside harlot. After the turbulence of the surface the contrast underwater was almost tangible and allowed us to relax for the first time that morning. The wreck was as spectacular as the one in our memories and the marine life watched us perambulate the wreck in the clumsy fashion adopted by mammon in the underwater world. All too soon we headed back up the line and remade our acquaintance with the Orkney summer.

Dive #2 Karlsruhe
After a bacchanalian feast in the lee of the harbour at Lyness, we set of once again into the overpowering Orkney swells for the short ride to the shot line. Bob, the skipper was able to indulge in his hobby of ‘candid camera’ as the waves and spray lashed the crew on the foredeck. Once again we dropped down into the calm of the flow and swam over the crumpled remains left both by salvage attempts and the ravages of time. The final dive went well and with a safe pickup we were finished both our 13th dive and our Orkney experience, our crew in unison eager to repeat the experience on the best boat in Scapa Flow.

IB

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

First dive Kronprinz Wilhelm
The day started early, a beautiful sunny morning, and all raring to go for the first dive. We kitted up waiting excitedly for the call from the skipper Bob Anderson. Go was the call and go we did, one by one we jumped, straight down the line a pack of divers like sharks on a feeding frenzy. We landed on the upturned hull, swam over the side and eventually reached the seabed. The wreck was covered in the most beautiful colours you can imagine, orange, lime green, white, violet, Plumose and Dahlia anemones covered the exposed plating. We explored the wreck and came to the huge forward gun, we swam up to and under it, in awe of its size. A strange feeling crossed over me as if a spirit was watching, and telling me to “look but please don’t touch”. The Kronprinz Wilhelm is a majestic wreck, prince by name and royal even in its current rusting state. Slowly we made our way up through the salvers entrance holes and arches, hung as if with decorations, up to the line and back on deck.
Awaiting us was a full English and lots of banter.

Second dive Tabarka

Once again we waited, Go, we all dropped in and straight down, no time for hesitation (or tea-bagging in Bobs words) glided like jets onto the wreck, the current splitting the group apart. We moved with the flow of the current, and swam and penetrated in and out of the Tabarka’s cathedral like passages. We passed through and beside both the traffic of divers from other boats and the endless stream of sea life. The wreck has not worn well in the strong currents and now appears to be very sensitive but still as beautiful. We decided to head off and had a last lap and on the way we found a lost diver who was looking for his buddy, at this point we decided to head home. Buoys went up and we gracefully flowed with the current passing a second wreck the Inverlane. A challenging and exciting dive.

Third dive of the day Roedean

This dive we decided to jump in and have a general play around. It was late afternoon, the wreck littered the seabed, wreckage scattered all points of the compass. The visibility was not so good, maybe because of the location. Wrasse were coming close to our faces and were following our every fin stroke, obviously looking for a free meal. We slowly made way through various parts of the wreck, looking for scallops on the way, (which were cooked by our special team of master chefs later in the evening, while we were moored at Lyness for the night). This wreck has had a good battering over the years; and you can see the pain that she has suffered, but she is still a good relaxing dive.

GB

Leaving Burray we headed South West into the sound, the teeth of a Northerly gale (Viking….. increasing to a force 8 according to Bobs Thery net !!) behind us. The white horses racing and out pacing the Halton as we made our way to the UB116.

The Dive (search for Horenbergs spoon).
En masse we descended onto the wreck, a large shoal of juvenile fish hung above like a living cloud. At 30m deep the breaking sun still lit the wreck, no real need for torches today. The wreck is well broken up lying shattered on the sea bed, remnants of the double skin pressure hulls still evident. A large conger eel hung concealed under the hull plating tempting us all to put our hands and heads where we shouldn’t. All to soon we were heading back to the security of the shot line, and a slow ascent saw us all safely onboard the Halton .

Stanger Head saw the fishing competition start, John the trained hunter was well beaten by 15 fish to 4 to me, but tomorrow will be another day.

The force 8(ish) eventually arrived pushing us into Lyness for a break and cutting our dive choices down. Limited as we were we eventually headed to the well dived F2. The visibility was very good, the bow standing proud as we descended. We all had a long dive and a good look around, investigating the wreck and following the rope out to the attending barge. Making our way to the surface we ended our 3rd day of diving.

Tonight we are moored safely up at Longhope anticipating a banquet at the Royal.

MB

Rain, hail, sun, two dives, shipwreck, island walks, home made soup, mars bar cake, evening meal, no more than three pints but at least 5000 calories, an everyday tale of diving in the Orkneys.

First dive of the day after a choppy ride through the fresh summer north winds to the dive site. Dropped down onto the Koln, stride entry in order by command of the skipper to descend into the green depths. The ship coming into view from the green gloom with all the respect and majesty that only Scapa can bring. Landed on starboard side for exploratory search along deck to bows before climbing onto anemone festooned sides which would grace any municipal garden but remain a secret known only to privileged divers. Return via shot line for slow safe ascent and recovery to the warmth of the MV Halton and that soup.

Long dive interval allowed for boat trip for an adventure on the uninhabited islands of Cava and Rysa Little and only the chosen few were able to witness the organ concert in the deserted house.

Second dive of the day through Orkney “freshening weather” to the site of the Brummer. Dropped down line onto the bridge before making our way to the stern passing guns, capstains, flora and fauna of perhaps one of the best Scapa sites suitable for both novice and experienced divers alike who can only wonder with awe and inspiration at these cathedrals now at rest. Another long exploratory search before long slow ascent to the warmth and comfort of our adopted home.

Another choppy ride to our resting place for the night to allow our skipper to show his new entry route into Burray harbour which also allows him to try out a new rebreather whilst having the opportunity to quietly check the keel.

Two days in…what will happen tomorrow.

After the success of the first dive, the crew were now bouyed up by their ability to keep it together underwater so once again we were soon kitted up and dropping into a smooth sea. The dive went well for most of the team but for one rebreather diver a Jeremy Beadle moment was about to open up. After swimming in nil vis’ due to a fogged up mask DM decided to send up his DSMB, however, King Neptune had other ideas and as the bouy surfaced a mysterious sea creature whipped buoy and reel from our gallant leader’s icy grip. Undeterred, he managed to release his back up buoy and reel before watching £70 worth of dive equipment fall to pieces onto the sea -bed. Luckily for DM he was buddied by a female of the species who, being able to multi-task, brought her (now blind and embarrassed charge) to the surface. Every one else reported a great second dive.