North Shields 2009

Anglesey 20 & 21 February 2010 by Lynn Pearson

Battling through a longer than average, near 3 hour car journey through snow, hail, rain, more hail and sleet it was a welcome sight when Scott & I arrived at the Dinorben Arms Hotel, Amlwch, to find the bar already propped up by our DO and seven other divers offering ‘refreshments’.
Slightly tired but comfortable enough the Inn offered a decent base for our weekends diving. Having the luxury of a 10.00 am breakfast on the Saturday morning, we naturally made the most of our surroundings, and interested in traditional village life, joined in with the locals in a spot of Karaoke with Al. In the meantime, Dave & Richard brought Jack D to ‘label level’, an apparent new dive term. Later, Scott vowed not to go out for a cigarette alone with his new friend Dav-id after he was nearly kept out for the night with a case of mistaken identity amidst a friendly little fracas outside the Inn.
Saturday morning, included in its price, the Inn offered a very reasonable choice of breakfast will full English or whichever variation you wanted on offer. Though the chef got slightly temperamental about a glass of orange juice, noting down the choosy ones for the next day, it seemed adequate by all to stoke engines ready for diving.
Arriving at the historical natural harbour at the port of Amlwch, we sorted our kit and transferred it onto the cosy Empress, skippered by Elfyn Jones of Julie-Ann Charters. For its size the ride was pretty comfortable and Elfyn’s knowledge of the dive sites was well detailed due to his own diving experience over a good score or more years.
Typically as the first dive of this year’s season various overlooked kit issues were highlighted at kitting up stage, such as two divers having computers with very low batteries. Thankfully due to group preparation, seconds and spares were found enabling everyone to dive.
After a good site brief from Elfyn and instructions from the DO, taking it in turns to kit up, each buddy pair attempted to descend down the shot one by one onto the wreck of the SS Kincorth. Losing most daylight at around 20 metres the remaining descent to around 33 m on the top of the wreck was pretty dark. With a decent torch however the wreck and coverage of soft corals and anemones could be made out with the odd fish for company. Circulating the stern of the wreck a few times the size and overhead arch of the back end of the ship could be appreciated. Dave struck tea-time gold when he bagged an unsuspecting blue lobster trying it’s best to hide in a hole. Unfortunately a couple of divers didn’t make it down due to a faulty suit hose and an underweighted buoyancy issue. Both divers decided to abort to resolve issues ready for the next dive so allowing their buddies to unite and continue with the dive.
The second dive of the day, the SS Dakota was just as dark though slightly more comfortable at about 20m depth. Following cylinder swops and decanting to twin sets, fun was had by all rummaging through the debris of silt and broken pottery in search of finds such as perfume bottles and wine. Unsuccessful in our plights, except for perhaps a lump of fishing lead, we returned to the surface in a pretty strong current. Thankful myself for the shot to hold on to, some practiced mid water DSMB deployment whilst remaining calm in the current. Not bad for Paul with just a year’s worth of experience, proving good teaching and plenty of keen interest and practice to be good advice for safe diving.

Returning to shore we cleared the boat of kit pending a formidable weather report for the next day. Rendezvousing for dinner at the Inn, an average choice of good pub grub with decent portions was eagerly consumed though Karaoke was shunned in favour of an early night due to the 6.00 am brekki with a 6.45 am start on the boat...with an optimistic view on the weather. However the big down side of the Inn was realised when karaoke continued again until the early hours with football on the telly at full blast to be heard over the noise in the tap room. After a none too gentle persuasion from Lynn the bar staff did oblige in finally turning the telly down, allowing some hours of sleep to be grasped.
I feel a special mention is needed regarding Paul Martin, who on this evening with his treasure trove of spares box and knowledge of kit fettling along with Ray’s spares saved the day for a couple of us.
The early morning and snow when boarding the Empress on Sunday sorted out the hardened divers from the wimps. With four out of nine divers diving though I think the figures speak for the conditions. On return to surface all divers reported better visibility than the day before however and despite the cold all were glad they had braved the icy water, diving to around 36m. The ratio of 1:1 boat bints helped de-kitting and circulation of hot cuppas all round. It was decided that it would be best to go out on a high and with a group majority we returned to port. Despite weather, temperature & karaoke a decent weekend was had by all.