Halton Ocean

Bundled troops out of van and onto boat, down to Longhope, fed them and then set off for Wick ready for a dive first thing sunday morning.

Tides massive so touched 15.4kts in the firth.

Helen Akacrew has found a cure for anthrax.

Apparently it does work on cold sores too.

Personally I think it would catch on better as a cream.

Dear Bob,

Thank you for an excellent weeks diving, it has been great fun. All of us have enjoyed it a lot. We all love the boat and hope that we can have another trip with you again some time soon.
We have all enjoyed the diving and my (charlotte) favourite dive was the one on the Tabarka, whilst John and Emma’s favourite dives of the holiday were the Brummer. John and I have had another first on this holiday - diving with the porpoises although I only saw 2 of them whilst John assured me that they were circling around us and at one point even swam through us! Anyway, it has been a pleasure meeting you and we have all enjoyed your company all week. I can now proudly say that I am a “proper” diver after eating raw scallops that we prepared on deck. Thanks again for having us and we hope to be diving off the Halton (Hilton) again soon. We have all had an ace time and will be sad to leave tomorrow.
Lots of love,
the dive family
xxx
ps woof woof from jake

Gentle finish: Koln then F2. Weather perfect.

Another superlative dive brief by CH..

Blustery night in Longhope but managed to find shelter in the Royal Hotel. Food fantastic as usual.

Dropped troops on the Brummer first thing, Lyness and Wea Fea for lunch and now making slow amble towards Karlsruhe.

Today was organised by CH, who did a magnificent job. She and her buddy had the pleasure of Porpoises swimming past them in the water while they were after scallops near the Roedean. First time I have heard divers see cetaceans in the water in the Flow, so they were lucky, I guess.

An early start after a blustery night in Burray seen us headed for the Flow. Four managed the arduos trip from bunk to dry suit to do a drop on the Barrie and reportedly superb vis.

In to Lyness for lunch then F2. Saw porpoises on the way in.

Off to the Roedean/scallop run then Longhope for the night.

splash, duck.

Should maybe put skins on.

Splash. Duck.

Just do this bottle.

Splash, duck.

In a minuit.

SPLOOSH.

Should have put my oilies on.

KPW then Tabarka.

Windy from the SE as we head toward Burray for the night.

Dropped on the stern of the Dresden, then the Doyle.

Home for tea.

Gave the troops a gentle start: Dresden then Gobernador Bories.

They have worked out the international signal for “Tea, white with one”…..

which, to be frank, seems to work.

Finished cleaning the boat just as the ferry blew and another eager crew jumped aboard. A new group for me so all unknown faces, mostly Scapa virgins from the sounds of things. See if I can remember where to go and what to do..

Think this is the first day since July that I have not been out with divers.

Snuck thru the fog to sit on the KPW first thing followed by a bottle dive in the sunshine.

Home at last. Been living in a bubble for that long, everything seems a bit unreal at the moment. Now that the bubble has burst and the floodgates of reality have been breached, it is time for a touch of dispasionate thinking and some hard decisions. Not something that can be done with a head like mince, bobbing around on a 60ft boat in the middle of Shetland.

Oh well, off to push my cap back and have a scratch.

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!

Windy now in North Haven.

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!!!