Well after packing up the
car on Friday morning and getting
everyone sorted out with transport off we went heading up to Scotland at about
9.00am. The traffic was quite light and we made good time and were quite
surprised by the weather which was bright sunshine and hardly any wind at all.
However we were gutted to see the state of the sea when we arrived at the
harbour. All our plans of a steady shore dive in the early afternoon were
wrecked when we saw the waves crashing over the sea wall. Some of the more
optimistic members of our merry band stood gazing longingly out to sea and
trying desperately to convince themselves and everyone else who they could get
to listen that the sea state was settling down and if we gave it an hour we
might get a dive in. Sadly it was not to be and an afternoon in the pub was
already being mentioned. However the urge was resisted by all and we spent a
couple of hours doing a reccy mission on the conditions up at Petticowick. The
sea was just as bad here so it was then off to the digs to get our kit sorted
out.
Saturday morning saw the sea much calmer however there was still
a bit of a swell on and concern over the state of the visibility was being
voiced. After kitting up and boarding the dive boat Pete the skipper took us
to
Black Carrs and we went in a couple of drops. Our two student divers came in
with
Donna and Me and although the viz was only around a metre they both coped
very well with the conditions and completed the dive very well. During the
surface interval spent eating a very fine meal of hot stew followed by the
worlds biggest trifle some of the party decided to sit out the second dive due
to the poor viz. The rest of us boarded the boat again and dived in slightly
better viz with our students again coping very well with the conditions. We
still saw all the usual St.Abbs wildlife such as crabs, lobsters, wrasse,
urchins, sunstars, soft corals etc.
On Sunday the wind direction changed and this flattened the sea
out quite nicely. After boarding the boat
we set off to dive the Skellies which
are a group of gullies running out from the foot of the cliffs. Some of our
party were sadly unable to enter the water as they were struggling to stay in
control of their breakfasts. Those who were able to get in found the gully walls
were totally covered with soft corals and large anenomes. There was quite a
strong drift running and this made the viz better than it had been on Saturday.
I dived with Donna and used about 50 bar of air as I watched her wrestle the
'GIANT CRAB OF ST.ABBS!!!!!' Anyone who meets Donna MUST ask her to recount this
epic struggle. After a 50 minute dive it was over all too soon and we had to
wave goodbye to the sea life until next year and head back to the surface.
All in all it was a great trip despite the viz. Everyone got
on and had a good laugh, good diving and a couple of good nights socialising. To
see all the pictures just ask next time your in the dive centre.
