Forecast for 3m swell?!?!? Should we take our dive gear ? Good job we listened to Paul and not Richard !!!!
Despite the awful weather earlier in the week the weather was improving. So we drove up in sunshine full of hope. The never ending debate going on. Where should we get our Friday night fish and chips. Giacopazzi’s won, what a great choice http://www.giacopazzis.co.uk/
A very chill evening so taking all the wearable gear into the bunkhouse for maximum benefit in the frosty morning. A nice leisurely start to the day (courtesy of the tides). Paul was promising nothing except the ability to put us in and get us out.
So the first dive was from West Hurca drifting toward St Abbs. A really nice drift, visibility about 2m and not much life except the crawling kind but good to cover anemone gullies. Just over 30 minutes was enough for us all at 8 degrees.
Lunch interval, so a rapid traverse to the café for Cullen Skink (the best in Scotland).
After lunch the intrepid 5 (losing Richard) took to Black Carrs. It really was black, like a night dive, forcing focus on the torch beam but better vis of about 4m. The highlight being the anenomes out and feeding and their glorious colours – pink, white, mixed, reds.
Diane had done most of the dinner preparation so a quick round of spud bashing and we were ready for the New Inn (walk for the hardy). Then a return to a sumptuous Christmas dinner followed by who can remember what.
Lazy Sunday with breakfast in the café. Not quite the plan but it worked out well. So fully fuelled a few of us went for a walk round Gibside with the obligatory coffee (near Newcastle https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside). Well worth a visit.
