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I joined Huddersfield BSAC after wanting to take up Scuba Diving for
many years. I knew nothing and had never even tried it out – I just
knew I wanted to swim with the fish!!!!! And my first dive (a
Try-a-Dive session with Andy Briggs) confirmed what I thought so I
joined up.
The first few months covered my Club Diver (now Ocean Diver)
training and included regular trips to ‘open water’ – primarily
Caperwray….a quarry in Lancashire specifically set up for diver
training.
Andy Briggs put the word out that he was organising a trip to Oban
and I wanted to go. The only problem was that I needed to be a
Sport Diver as many of the dives in Oban go beyond the 20 meter
limit imposed on a Club Diver. This didn’t leave much time to get
the qualification but I was told that if I pushed I should be able
to do it – nothing like a red rag to a bull!!!!
With everyone’s help (testimony to the spirit within the club), I
passed my Sports Diver Qualification one week before leaving for
Oban so I was still a very ‘novice’ Sport Diver, but at least I
could start my experience with a ‘real’ open water dive in the sea -
rather than a quarry.
Friday 7th February
11:30am----I suddenly realised that it was time to stop working and
start packing – I love last minute packing. Jacques was picking me
up at 1:00pm so all hell broke loose. As far as my kit is
concerned, all I know I need to take in addition to normal is a
little extra weight (the salt water increases buoyancy).
8:50pm----After a long drive (6 and a bit hours) we arrive in Oban
and locate the Jane R – our live-aboard boat for the next few days –
moored up at the docks.
My first thought was – crikey, it’s a long way down from the side of
the boat to the water. My second thought was – how the heck did
Jacques manage to knobble the top bunk so fast. Experience
obviously pays in these situations.
After getting all our kit onto the Jane R and parking the car, we
popped down to the local store for essentials – beer (and fags for
some)!!!!!!
Everyone eventually gathered and we went off to eat, but our pub of
choice wasn’t serving food by the time we got there so a rapid group
decision was made that led us into a Scottish Curry House!!!!
After several beers with the curry and several more at the Oban Inn
afterwards, we got back to the Jane R at around midnight.
Now, allow me to explain – the bunks are designed more around the
‘pack em in’ philosophy rather than luxury and with my slender size
(not!!!) getting into the sleeping bag was an art form that I sadly
lacked.
And then there is Jacques….or rather, his snoring. In my life I
have never experienced snoring like it and suffice to say, sleep
betrayed me for most of the night.
Saturday 8th February
3:30am!!! The curry decided to start working early and a
trip to the loo was in order….I must have been a sight – in my
pants, socks and shoes, groping my way to the toilet in pitch black
(must remember a small torch next time)….hmmm, glamour!!! And the
toilet is something that I should have received training on – there
are just too many levers and knobs.
8:30am After being woken by the engine starting up
(Gordon the skipper is a master of subtlety), we gathered in the
galley for breakfast (porridge, tea and toast) and briefings. We
were formally introduced to Gordon (the skipper) and Ann (Gordon’s
wife and chef for the trip). Our names were listed on the
blackboard and nicknames attached. Several of us (myself included)
hadn’t as yet been given nicknames but were promised one by the end
of the trip (see the end of the report for a full listing).
After breakfast, we set off towards the Sound of Mull aiming for the
Rhonda.
11:30am First Dive – The Rhonda. Dave Colley buddied me
and I was amazed….Hermit crabs, starfish, sunstars, crabs of all
kinds, ‘dead mens fingers’ a scorpion fish and lots more. We went
down as far as 30 meters and worked our way back up the wreck which
lies at an angle. At one point we swam through a tunnel created
between the hull and the sea bed. AMAZING!!!! Even the leap off
the boat wasn’t as bad as I expected although the climb back up the
ladder at the end of the dive was hard graft.
Once we got back on board, we filled our cylinders from Gordon's
onboard compressor in anticipation of the next dive.
2:00pm Lunch – a wonderful fry up, courtesy of Ann, hit
the spot.
3:30pm Second Dive – The Hispania. This time, Dave and
I were joined by Jill. Gordon’s instructions were clear – “the
current’s strong, get to the shot line and get down!!!” We jumped
in, swam to the buoy and got straight under water. At the wreck,
Dave Colley arrived with me on his shirttails and we assumed Jill
was behind…..but when we turned round the next buddy pair were there
and no Jill.
With some excellent hand signals, Andy Briggs explained that Jill
had had mask problems and that Andy had ‘sent her back up’. Dave
and I carried on with the dive, descending down the wreck and then
onto and out over the sea bed at 34 meters. Dave’s eagle eyes
spotted a ditched weight belt and we sent it to the surface with a
lifting bag for retrieval later.
There wasn’t as much sea life on this dive – only seeing a squat
lobster of any significance, but our slow ascent took us on a tour
of the wreck. On the surface the current was fast so we just
inflated our jackets and waited for Gordon to bring the Jane R along
to us.
Well, that was Day 1 on the Sound of Mull and the light was due to
fail soon so I dived into the shower and tried to return to human
again (no chance of that!!!). It was only once I emerged from below
decks that I realised that another dive had been planned at the last
minute – to go scalloping at dusk…..I almost went and kitted up
again but decided that I felt too human to do so, so I watched in
envy as 6 divers descended into the black water near Tobermory.
After we had recovered the scalloping divers, we moored up aside two
other boats in Tobermory harbour and our route to land required a
good clamber over these two boats. The evening was spent dining on
a three course meal and then descending on the neared pub to sit
around the fire. We were back on Jane R by midnight.
This time, Jacques could do his worst – I was going to sleep and
that was that.
Sunday 9th February 2003
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