Let There Be a Back Up Light - 28/06/2014

With the end of the month rapidly approaching, I found myself with a little spare cash and a need for a new back up torch since my last back up died a few months back involving an incident with concrete and a clumsy fool.

I went into Aquatron last week and had a look at a few and decided to do a little research in between watching football matches throughout the week. The main protagonist in my search was a Subgear Prolight Sp30. 500 lumens, 9000 lux, sealed head with 50,000 hour led burn time, triple o ring and a 14-18ht battery life. 

A number of shop patrons and staff had used and loved the Prolight for sometime. It's always good when complete strangers highly endorse a torch. Not that I don't trust the views of staff, but let's not lie - they have a vested interest in selling you stuff.

To many people it would be a primary torch, but when you dive with a Mares EOS 10R - a torch that fuses life into stone - even the above impressive stats aren't that exciting. :)

A brief look at the shop today and a very decent price match and the deal was clinched.

I should be a hand model.

Capernwray Capers - 28/06/2014

Kitting up

Today was my first diving foray outside Scotland this year. The venue was Capernwray Quarry in Lancashire, England. Capernwray is, in essence, a training site. However, it can be fun and frustrating in equal measure for the more experienced diver. I haven't visited in about two years. 

Joining me for todays capers were Captain Al, Merry L and the Vice President. Merry L doubled as my chaufeur and dive buddy for the day as we embarked on discovering all the underwater attractions.

Dive one took us down to one of the more interesting features - the plane. After a quick swim round we all took a turn swimming throught the plane before heading of to the Podsnap, the oil rig, the sump and a few other boats. Below, Merry L can be seen swimming though.

After a tasty BBQ Chicken Burger in the centre cafe Dive 2 was to take us to the Diving Bell. However, en route we got split up and while Captain Al and the Vice President went on to enjoy a gnome-tastic dive, Merry L and I headed on to the more comical exhibits - Lord Lucan, Shergar, the Devil, Thunderbird 4 and a few wee boats. 

After some more snacks Merry L and I decided to do a third dive, while Captain Al and the VP opted to call it a day. Our 'quarry' on this occasion was to be the legendary Holy Grail of Capernwray, the mysterious Pig Gnomes. We found them. I never photographed them. Nor shall I reveal what we found, in case someone else wishes to seek them out for themself. However, it's safe to some will love them and others will hate them.

Towards the end of the dive I successfully snatched defeat from the jaws of victory with some dodgy compass readings. I surfaced with 70 bar to find myself at the wrong side of the quarry. Cue long surface swim back.

Great fun, great company and another three dives in the log book.

Fast Ed couldn't be there today, but I think there's a likeness.

Merry L riding Shergar

Shergar

Merry L working off the toastie

Perch

The VP swims through

Preparing to land

Swim round

St Cats One and Done - 22/06/2014

Panoramic swwep from the shore

Sunday - another day another dive. I was meeting the diver formerly known as Mr Fallsoveralot (TDFKAMF) at Aquatron. He was getting a fill and hiring a tank. They were all out of hire tanks, so having just packed two tanks, we trudged back to mine get my other tank and headed off to dive a new site in Loch Fyne. However, as I waited for the overly enthusiastic barista in Starbucks, Milton to make my Chocolate Creme Frappe (or chocolate milkshake as we called it in the olden days) I realised I had DIN fittings and TDFKNAMF A-clamp. The plan to do two dives was out the window.

We headed to St Catherine's, Loch Fyne to dive one of the lesser dived sites in the village. There is some debate as to the name. It's either St Cats 1 or 3 depending on whether or not you number north to south or vice versa. For the avoidance of doubt we'll call it St Catherine's Pier.

I've never read a guide for the site, but a map of the area can be seen here - the pier is pretty obvious. Back at the shop the Moonster had given us a tip to dive in on the right hand side of the pier and then turn right. Our plan was pretty much just that.

After a brief chat with some fishermen we went in following the line of the pier down to 21m, then turned 90 degrees to the right before heading due south (taking us back to the shore and pier). In essence we were diving a right angle triangle - turns out trigonometry does have its uses. Mr Allen (my first year mathematics teacher), you have my apologies.

The dive was quite interesting with the usual array of life and an array of underwater objects. These included:

• a gnome
• a roll top bath
• a huge anchor

Even at the relatively shallow depth (though it was low tide) there were a couple of nice firework anemones, lots of langoustine, some dabs and the usual sealoch anemones, sea squirts and peacock worms.

I'm not sure what TDFKAMF thought, but it was 50 minutes well spent underwater. However, condensation due to high humidity at the surface and a very cool 6.0c bottom temp restricted my snapping underwater.

Langoustine

Grant in rolltop bath

Enjoying the sunshine

Tickled by seaweed

Highland dancer

Life on the anchor

Langoustine (2)

The Lure of the Village Inn - 21/06/2014

Since discovering the pleasure of blue water diving in tropical climates, Gillian (my wife) has been reluctant to don a drysuit and plunge into the temperate waters of Scotland. However, with the six month sword of Damocles hanging over her head G had reluctantly agreed to go diving, but with the promise of 'lunner' (the combination of late lunch / early dinner) post dive at the Village Inn, Arrochar.

The dive venue was to be the A-Frames, as we knew Captain Al and his Something for the Weekend crew were going there for dives and a BBQ. We arrived just as the group were scoffing the last of their charred sausages and getting ready for the second dive. Deep Blue Scuba were also at the site, causing parking problems. 

G and I kitted up and went in on our own. It was to be a pretty standard dive down to the big frame, then a wee play in the shallows. The silt had been kicked up a little, but for the most part it was OK.

I found a nice wee sea cucumber introduced Gill to its amazing disappearing act. She was suitably impressed. On the frame itself I also spotted a nice Bloody Henry. 

Into the shallows and I handed the camera to Gill.

A dive to 18m for 35 minutes and then a trip up the road to the Inn for a chicken burger and beef burger. Each was halved and shared.

Starfish Orgy - Gill

Us Selfie

Gill

Bloody Henry 

Tiny starfish on seaweed - Gill

The Five Dive Weekend Part 2 - 15/06/2014

With three dives bagged the day before, today was to be a more sedate affair. Two dives with Mr Fallsoveralot (name change coming soon as he didn't fall once - yet again). Previously, he had expressed a desire to try out Drishaig Reef, Loch Fyne and as I hadn't dived Loch Long in a few weeks I fancied one there.

With my tanks filled at Aquatron, we headed up later in the morning. When we arrived at Drishaig there was a car there already. Our initial thought was that there must be other divers there but we soon learnt that they were fishermen. I went down and chatted and explained that he was wasting his time as there were hardly any fish in this bit of the loch, and told him of my dive plan so that I wouldn't get snagged in his line. He was really nice and really thankful for the information on the underwater terrain. When we got out the water he was gone.

We followed the same dive plan I've done the last few times at this site. Dive down to 30m turn right and swim to the right until you find the firework anemones and then slowly work your way up and back. It worked a treat. Grant was delighted to see, and photograph, the anemones. My own camera wasn't doing so well, as I'd cased it up in quite a humid environment and as I dived it condensed on the inside. Few pics were taken.

Once done we dekitted and headed for the Caves, Loch Long, but on arrival all the spaces were full with fishermen. So we headed round to the A-Frames. Rumours of poor visibility over the last few weeks had obviously discouraged people, as the place was empty.

We kitted up and headed in, attracting a lot of attention from Sunday drivers who were all keen to know what we were diving for. "Fun" was typically my answer.

The visibility was great around 5m, loads of great life and plenty of fish. Cuckoo Wrasse, Corkwing Wrasse, Cod, etc. Navigating from frame to frame was easy. We had a rare tear.

Though we surfaced quite far from the entry/exit point as my compass was literally spinning all over the place towards the end. Thus ended (from a diving perspective anyway) the Five Dive Weekend.

Mr Fallsoveralot

Celtic Feather Star

I loved this wee guy. See the video below.

Mr Fallsoveralot

Coiled Firework at Drishaig

The Five Dive Weekend Part 1 - 14/06/2014

This weekend I had agreed to go diving on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was to be a three dive day, at three different sites with West Coast Divers on specific photo dives. We were visiting three sites for three different reasons. All on Loch Fyne, they were:

1. Furnace Quarry - photographing deeplet anemones
2. Drishaig Reef - photographing firework anemones
3. St Catherines - for BBQ fun and general reefy fun

Let me start by saying all three dives were good, but for me dives one and two were brilliant.

At Furnace Quarry we entered with the Mermaid buddying with the Bog Snorkeler, while I provisionally buddied with a BSAC diver from Dundee whom I'd never met. Pleasant chap, called James.

I lead the dive down to 25m to begin the deeplet search. We found them, but I forgot proper photographers like to take their time and take test shots. So when I looked back I could only see some flashes in the distance.

Once I retrieved them, we took some time to snap the deeplets. On the return journey the Bog Snorkeler got snagged in some fishing line. Meanwhile, after the dive we were told the fishermen were going mental and throwing bricks into water. Towards the end of the dive we encounters a school of pollock with a few corkwing wrasse mingled in between.

Once out the water we met another diver who told us about brick-gate. The Mermaid wanted to make an issue of it (she's feisty!), but instead we dekitted and headed to Drishaig for a cup of tea and the second dive.

James and I again buddied up and headed down to 30m to find the firework anemones. We were both starting to think we'd missed them. Then, just as we were about get shallow (deco was just 3 minutes away), we found loads - both fully extended and curled up.

As we got shallower we started to see large nudibranch eggsacks, and then James spotted a huge highland dancer nudibranch. Great find - I'd never seen one before.

Post dive we said farewell to James and headed to St Cats for burgers, square suasage and potato scones. The Mermaid put on quite the spread. The Bog Snorkeler was moaning about the midgies, but we had explain that they weren't that bad compared to what we were used to of late.

For the third dive it was just me and the Bog Snorkeler as Avril's drysuit had leaked and soaked her undersuit. It was a pleasant enough dive with a lot of things to keep  B-Snork happy, but I was miffed I never found a Scorpion fish. Anyway, I've got two more dives before this weekend is over. :) 

Drishaig - Highland Dancer

Furnace - Deeplet Anemone

Furnace - Deeplet Anemone

Furnace - Gaslamp Sea Squirt

Drishaig - Stickleback

Drishaig - Firework Anemone

Drishaig - Firework Anemone

Drishaig - Firework Anemone

Cooking at St Cats

Adventures in Biff - 10/06/2014

Biff  - Adj used to describe someone with little intelligence or something that requires little intelligience. E.g. Sam got a biff job at a warehouse yesterday.

The site was a midgie infested, but beautifully calm Furnace Quarry, Loch Fyne. While the runners and riders included The Zookeeper and The Announcer. It was a bit of a biff affair. Between the Zookeeper and myself we had a lot going on/wrong. I was test driving some new gloves - flashy expensive 4th Element 7mm mittens. which seemed reassuringly lobster like and epic. 

We kitted up and made our way through the midgie clouds to the entry. By the time I entered the water I was roasting but the mittens were so thick so as not to let any cool water circulate (I'll be glad of this come winter).

Until we got a bit of depth where the neoprene was compressed, I also noticed that it had hampered my dexterity. Not because of the mitten but because of the thickness of the glove. 

We swam along enjoying the deeplet anemones, wrasse and young cod reaching a maximum depth of around 26m - the girls went a bit deeper.

Me by the Zookeeper

My real problem was that my mask strap was too loose and as such my mask kept flooding. Hampered by the fancy mitts, I was unable to fix the problem. As a result, after 18 minutes I was already willing this dive to be over. Sadly, it had another 34 minutes still to run. On the way back, Laura papped me underwater and as well as my hoses looking like they've been dragged through a bush backwards you can clearly see my mask 1/3 filled with water.

We stopped numerous times to help entangled crabs. Last time at this site this was a source of great personal satisfaction. This time it was just another thing stopping the dive from being over. 

Having fists for fingers meant I never took that many photographs. I mainly took deeplet anemone shots.

Four learning points arose from the metaphorical ashes of this dive:

1. The midgies now mean that I don't want to dive in the evening again until September unless there is a strong wind.
2. I had a little bit of mask trouble on my last dive. Why didn't I remember to tighten it? It's done now.
3. The mitts will be good come the winter, but even then not for photography dives.
4. The rush to avoid midgies at kit up meant I didn't take time to properly arrange my hoses how I like them.

Nature likes beer

Pink Deeplet Anemone

Pink Deeplet Anemone

Deeplet Anemone

Plumose Anemone

Plumose Anemone & Seaweed

Shark Tracker - 06/06/2014

Like many other divers, I dive because I want to see and encounter the rich variety of marine life. Here in Scotland we have relatively few shark species to enjoy - although some of the species we do have are beautiful and spectacular. So it was with some excitement that I followed the story of a tagged great white on the BBC News website. The shark came within one thousand miles of the UK coast before heading south.

However, I didn't realise you can track the path of a whole variety of sharks at http://www.ocearch.org/. This is amazing stuff - check it out.

The Lion's King - 03/06/2014

The Usual Suspects

The Mermaid had asked the Zookeeper and I if we wanted to dive on Tuesday. Naturally, with pleasing weather and some flexi-time from work I was unlikely to say no. As per usual we met at the Sealife centre and headed north from there.

Our destination was to be Drishaig Reef, Loch Fyne a site that none of us had ever dived. The dive guide made it seem quite a sedate affair (it was) but we were hoping for Firework Anemones and maybe some other interesting critters.

As always when diving with the potent combination of the Zookeeper and the Mermaid you have to keep your wits about you - you never know when you're going to get snapped. As such, I kept my trademark look - Smoulder™ - on at all times. I can be seen Smouldering™ in almost every shot. It's safe to say that antics weren't in short supply.

We kitted up in a relatively midgie free environment  entered the water and headed straight down to 29 metres turned left and pottered about. Firework anemones by the bucket load. It's a great site if you want photograph them. Moving back to the shallows, there was the usual assortment of life including dabs, squat lobsters and brittle stars. 

Team Biff (1)

Team Biff (2)

The dive highlight for me was as we reached around 5m at the end of the dive. The sunlight streaming down into the seaweed made it seem almost tropical, then as I looked up I saw something I haven't seen since my earliest days of diving - even then, back in those days I was too scared to approach it - a lion's mane jellyfish. It wasn't a massive one, but it's tentacles were easily 2m in length. I swam around it being careful not to get stung. It was beautiful. 

Heading in at Drishaig

Once out of the water we quickly dekitted as the midgies were massing and we jumped in cars back towards Conger Alley on Loch Long. We wanted to see if we could find the octopus again and the Zookeeper had some old squid for luring out the the conger eels.

Once there we encountered the full wrath of the Highland Midge -  it was unpleasant - so quickly kitted up and entered the water. The visibility was very poor and not a patch on the 5-7m we had encountered at Loch Fyne. I estimate that in the first 10m it was probably less than 1m. However, by the time we reached our destination (20m) although it was pitch black, the visibility was around 4m or as far as your torch could penetrate. It was also noticeably colder. 

We lured out a conger and took some pics before setting off in search of Paul the Octopus. We found him lurking in his usual place. I never took any pictures, but the Zookeeper force fed him a camera lens - it doesn't pay to be shy in this game.

At this stage the Mermaid of Kilmarnock signalled that she was four minutes from deco. We safely headed up, and out, to the waiting ravenous horde and bolted to McDs for a late night hot chocolate.

Another hour and half of diving in the bag.

Firework Anemone 1

Firework Anemone 2

Firework Anemone 3

Firework Anemone 4

Safety Stop

Lion's Mane 1

Lion's Mane 2

Seaweed

Bloody Henry

Sea Cucumber

Filming

Lured out

Octopus by Laura