Halton Ocean

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.

Up to Fetlar to do some split wave spotting on a number of new sites: Snap/Likilk and the SE point.

Round and thru Colgrave Sound to do a drfit on the Jane and up to Balta Sound for the night.

Managed to get a sneaky drop on the Tonis Chandris myself: well chuffed.

Gwladmena then off to the Rumble and Grif Skerry.

The group are ardent scenic so rust was little appreciated on this occasion!

Angus tried to dive the Pacific but failed. Let you work that one out for yourselves.

The new Zodiac driver passed with flying colours.

Inside Out Skerries for the night. (couldn’t resist!)

Off we go again… new bunch straight off the ferry and down the Giant’s Legs and then thru the Orkneyman’s cave.

Troops did quick drop on the Valkyrie and then we headed in to pack up, cry and wail and wave white knotted hankies as they sailed into the distance and back to their homes south…

Maybe they were not such a bad bunch after all…!!

Just a black cape and a long wait needed to complete the picture….

Curacao:

“right, go down and tie the shot to a cannon”

splash

“..no cannons.. bollox.. there are 27 of them.. in an area of 40sq m… under weed?.. start grazing then..”

Try again.

And again.

And again.

The old saying implies success with this strategy.

Sunniva.

“Right. Go down and tie the shot to the prop”

Splash.

Big grin.

He’s got his mojo back. Back out the pond and sitting on the log to bask in the sun.

“You saw a ballet of pipe fish..??”

“a what?!”

“a ballet“

FFS. A ballet?

He wasn’t on the log long.