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St
Abbs 2001 – Official Report
How
did it go? – As smooth as a chocolate frog!
A
slight concern the week before we went, as one member hadn’t
confirmed his interest, nor had we seen him at the club since
he put his name down for the trip – but I managed to get in
contact with him and he confirmed that he would be going. This
made a full complement of 24 – a large party in diving trip
terms, all billeted in the village (apart from Steve and Jayne
Goodens + labrador, who were at Scoutscroft Holiday Park)
Our
main boat-skipper then rang to say that he had a funeral to
attend and could we go out later on the Friday pm dive. This
was actually helpful to us, as several people weren’t able to
arrive until later.
Arrangements
were to meet at the harbour at 1600hrs – I would have been on
time but I got stuck behind a Porsche (that’s my story and I’m
sticking to it!).
One
or two were asked if they wanted to be on the first wave – they
declined through a mouthful of sandwiches!
Eleven
people kitted up for the first dive and were getting ready for
departure when up rolled Simon Pickering, fresh from work. He
asked if he was too late to dive. No, I said, get your gear
ready-were leaving shortly (putting him on the second wave would
have meant a potential 13 on the boat – unlucky!)
He
put his gear on the boat and then we noticed – he had his work
clothes under his dry-suit (he’s a barrister!) – I half-expected
him to put his wig on under his hood!
Off
we went for Black Carrs – and the brittle-star beds (that’s
almost all Mark Hughes and myself found). Nevertheless, it wasn’t
a bad shakedown dive, with the weather and sea conditions being
very pleasant.
With
both boats safely back, it was time for a shower, Fish &
chips at Scoutscroft and then up to the pub in Coldingham for
a drink-or-two and a brief briefing from Ian Sibley-Calder (It
helps when the other Dive Marshall is present-pity he wasn’t).
Half
a good night’s sleep later, the first wave congregated on the
car park and were trying to ease their way into the day. First
complaint of the trip – the sun was shining so brightly that
the bedrooms of those staying in Springbank Cottage (on the
harbour) were flooded with light at around 4am. So much so,
they were toying with the idea of sleeping in sunglasses!
Anyway,
the first wave left aboard Peter Gibson’s new(ish) boat ‘Our
Phyllis’(unfortunately it has acquired one or two ruder aliases),
on flat calm seas, to dive the Craig (or so it said on the log
sheet).
Unfortunately,
the fog rolled in towards the end of the dive – which delayed
the second wave for an hour. The skipper decided that he was
prepared to take the second wave out and we all climbed aboard.
We had just left the harbour when the fog rolled all the way
out again – it was that sort of weekend. A magnificent dive
at the Skelligs ensued.
Before
we kitted up, the skipper told us that an aeroplane had crashed
in the vicinity, with two boxes of gold on board – and only
one had been recovered! I looked at him and said, “How come
we’re the only one’s here, then”. He just smiled.
He
then briefed us on the entry and exit procedure. Entry was by
rolling backwards over the side, to exit we were to hold onto
the ladder, lift our legs up and then he would take our fins
off, followed by a climb up the ladder and stride over the edge.
I asked him if he would mind mopping my brow as well, as I perspire
a little after exercise! This made him laugh! (a skipper with
a sense of humour is a rare commodity!)
The
afternoon dives took us to Wuddy Rocks and Tyes Tunnel respectively,
both excellent dive-sites.
Whilst
waiting for the second wave to return, four people decided to
have a shore dive around Seagull Rock!
Then
it was all back to the guest-houses for a shower and change,
ready for a stroll around the cliffs to the St Abbs Haven Hotel
for the expedition dinner.
This
was instigated a couple of years ago when it was found that
the pubs in nearby Coldingham are packed solid on Saturday evenings.
It also means a bit of social intercourse can take place.
It
was rumoured that Terry was swapping notes with Julia over the
telephone (she missed the trip to go to Gozo – bad planning!).
Various other conversations took place, including one that went
‘raffle tickets 50p each – all for a good cause’ (thanks everyone).
People
must have been enjoying the weekend, as some of them put their
names down for next year’s trip before they started the meal!
Some
food and a few drinks later saw us in a much better frame of
mind for the walk along the narrow, unlit path along the cliff
top (now you know why torches were recommended!) at midnight.
I decided to give my wife a ring from the phone-box on the way
(if I hadn’t then I might not have been allowed out for the
next trip), and got the usual banter “about time too – going
out enjoying yourself!” My protests that I wasn’t there to enjoy
myself seemed to fall on deaf ears.
Sunday
saw a repeat of the glorious weather – two people decided that
they had had enough sunshine and elected not to dive, others
had emerged from the campsite disco and elected to dive. West
Hurker and the Pinnacles (near the Skelligs) were the morning
dive-sites. The second wave started the dive by entering a cave,
which grew darker and darker (a fact not lost on one of a set
of brothers) and was inhabited by a giant lobby! It became stirred
up very quickly (another fact not lost on the same brother!).
Several
people dipped out of the second dive of the day, obviously concerned
about the journey time home. A pity, as they missed what was
arguably the best dive of the weekend – Cathedral Rock. We chose
sites that were quick to get to, in order to minimize delay
between waves, with the first wave going to Ebb Carrs (several
pinnacles with a couple of wrecks included). Cathedral Rock
was superb – ctenophores floating freely as we descended, an
archway that you could fly-dive through, plenty of marine life
to look at, a large Ballan wrasse that let you feed it, kelp
forests, small tunnel to swim through and a chance to see some
nudibranchs whilst conducting a decompression stop at 6 metres
(Nitrogen build-up still occurs – even there!). All this and
a cup of tea when you got back on board!
One
interesting feature of the dive was to be able to watch a fog
bank roll in – with a well defined ‘front’ to it.
The
weekend may have finished in the mist, but nothing could spoil
a truly excellent expedition.
One
true superstar emerged – our branch secretary had travelled
all the way with the intention of not diving (she’d not been
diving for a long time, so felt it best not to risk it), but
she went on the boat and marshaled every dive for the first
wave.
Take
a bow, Lucy! (also Ian, for not running over the car-park warden
this year – mind you, there wasn’t a car-park warden there at
all!)
I
must thank everyone who came on the trip – you all did your
bit to make it a pleasant and successful expedition. Some Club
Diver training was carried out and several members got there
first taste of sea-diving in the UK (it may never be as calm
as that again!). The rest of us got an excellent opening to
the diving season.
To
put the trip into perspective: The boat fees amounted to around
£800, accommodation amounted to around £900, 92 man-dives were
made (including the impromptu shore dives), zero diving incidents,
impeccable behaviour, super atmosphere and a bucket load of
enjoyment!
Have
I forgotten anything? – probably, but I shall be listening out
for some stories, so beware!
Watch
out for the T-shirts – Jayne Goodens has offered to create a
design or two.
2002
– same time (approx), same place? Let me know.
Phil.
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