Last of the Summer Wine - 26/08/2018

Despite being a bank holiday somewhere in the world, but not Scotland, it certainly felt as though Jester and I were enjoying the last of the summer wine at St Catherine's. What had promised to be a very pleasant turned out to be pretty wet and miserable. To the extent that we decided one long 1hr+ dive to 38m and then on Gill.I.Am's request we headed for lunch at the old Inverbeg Hotel.

The dive was quite unspectacular but for a couple of scorpion fish. I paused briefly to take a couple of snaps.

Eastbound And Down - 29/04/2018

Since the turn of the year I have been the "Expedition Officer" for my dive club. I'm selfish and like diving, so it is well suited to my interests. The better the diving, the better it is for me. So it was without hesitation that I booked Pathfinder for a few days throughout the year. This was the first of those days. 

Myself and Gill.I.Am had arrived the night before in the van to save me getting up too early in the morning. It's a pretty decent deal as you can park a campervan overnight for a £10 donation to the St Abbs Harbour Trust. 

In the morning I awoke to sunshine and an eerily quiet harbour. However, soon enough the troops had arrived along with groups of day trippers. I had agreed to take responsibility for a club Branch Diver and, if she felt comfortable after her first boat dive, a little instruction on the second. 

Once on the boat it all went swimmingly and the only thing that let us down was the visibility which was pretty poor (2m). However, we endured the cold for 41 minutes which meant Sarah could log her longest ever dive. 

After a quick trip back to shore for snacks and some chat we all headed out again. This time Sarah was going to finish her Sport Diver compass work before enjoying a little pootle around rocks.

It was reciprocal heading. Pretty basic stuff. It did mean that we were unlikely to get back to our starting point, but with improving visibility I could see the Black Carr Rock that was enough for a pass. From there, Sarah and I just went from rock to rock looking for the famous wolf fish residents of St Abbs. We never found any, but we did find a nice scorpionfish, beadlet anemones  colourful bloody henry starfish. Not bad for a training dive.

Parked up for the night

Setting up for the day

Add caption

My buddy

Pathfinder

Scorpionfish

Northern Exposure - Part 4 - 01/05/2017

With the end of the bank holiday weekend upon us Freeflow Bob, the Barrman and I headed back down south to the Slates where we were going to meet Jester. The original plan had been for two dives but a general unwillingness both from our reluctant shore cover and a couple of our divers meant that we called it after one lengthy 61 minute dive. A 61 minute dive that proved to be yet another record breaker for Freeflow Bob.

 

Diving in buddy pairs, Barrman & Jester and myself & ol' Freeflow. We limited the dive to around 15m. this proved to be a nice turn as neither myself nor Jester had ever navigated the point at this depth. It proved to be worth the effort.

 

The first nudibranch was a very pleasant sea lemon, before more followed, mostly flabellinas. It was a pleasant dive ending with a scorpionfish.

 

We all enjoyed it, but it was cold (4c). From there we kitted up and headed to the Clachaig Inn for the win.

Wet 'n' Wildlife - 12/05/2016

After the weekend's heroics it was back to a more sedate shore dive with the Zookeeper and Jester. We piled everything into The Beast and headed west. In the end we lazily plumped for St Catherine's, which on a fine night is ideal for high jinks.

Having kitted up quickest, I was getting hot. I headed into the water and waited. The vis seemed promising, around 4m. Once all were ready we headed down. The Zookeeper thought I was narc'd when at the deepest point of our dive when I started knocking my malfunctioning camera off a rock. In fact, the memory card was malfunctioning. Naturally, banging it on a rock resolved the situation, though made me look crazy. Them's the breaks, but you get to enjoy a 2nd rate photograph of a northern/purple sunstar.

We worked our way back up nice and slowly seeing a few nice creatures en route.

As we surfaced, the discussion centred on those who emerged wet. Jester it seemed emerged cold and wet enough that he feared he'd lost an appendage while the Zookeeper was also had a wet bum. I felt relieved that I was dry. I smugly smiled internally.

Sunstar

Nudi

Scorpion fish

Nudi

Cushion star

Jade Green Seas - 09/04/2016

Leaving Port

So with another holiday, this time to Viet Nam, I was presented with the opportunity to go SCUBA diving at the Cham Islands just off the coast Hoi An.

The vast majority of Viet Nam's diving can be done south of Saigon / Ho Chi Minh City near Viet Nam's border with Thailand and away from the endless series of river deltas that punctuate much of the Vietnamese coast. As the area wasn't on my itinerary I made do with Cham.

Cham is a developing destination with just two dive operators, but it has recently been designated a UNESCO protected biosphere for the number corals that exist around the islands.

The guys at Cham Island diving were pretty relaxed, taking everything I said at face value and didn't bother to check my log book or certs. According to the owner, "people don't lie in diving". I certainly didn't.

All the gear was on the boat waiting and seemed in average condition. A-clamp, basic Cressi regs, Mares basic BCDs and decent mares 3mm steamers and 2.5mm shorties. With the water temp being a little above 20c I doubled up and took both.

It was still cool, but tolerable enough for a 30-40minite dive.

For the dives I was teamed with Myrthee from Montreal and Ian (our guide) an instructor from Ontario. Myrthee was pretty inexperienced but once properly weighted coped admirably.

Dive one was down to 20m to a garden of what the guide described as Cauliflower Coral - although it looked suspiciously like a variety of plumose anemone to me. In addition the dive was punctuated by the odd parrotfish, anemonefish and a selections of nudibranchs. It was fun, but the vis was like an average day back home and without a torch photography was always going to be challenging.

The second dive threw up much of the same, but with a nice scorpionfish, but by that time I was getting cold so I cut my dive short (30 minutes) while the other two pottered about at the bottom of the line.

Afterwards, we headed to a very decent beach for lunch before the boat trip home.

Now, I wouldn't discourage anyone from diving anywhere, but I wouldn't come here to dive. Instead, if you have a day to kill in Hoi An and fancy getting wet then give it a go.

Relaxing beach for lunch & dive boat

Nudi 1

Nudi 2

Lionfish

Sea Cucumber

Anemone fish

Starfish

Coral

Scorpion fish

A Window of Opportunity - 03/12/2015

So the weather has conspired to keep me from the water in the last few weeks. I'm not bitter, I'm just not wet. A look at the detailed weather forecast on Tuesday saw me catch sight of a rare 4 hour window of opportunity. Jester decided it was worth the gamble too.

We met at Costa Coffee where, as chance would have it, some members of Eastwood SAC were also meeting. We decided to join them, although Grant and I dived separately.

As we got close to Seal Reef the rain stopped. We made it, the weather window! 

We kitted up and plopped in heading down enjoying the usual nightlife. As we passed back and forward we caught glimpse of the other divers and their silt clouds, but it didn't affect us. 

It was a great 63 minutes, but the action didn't start until we got out the water and discovered that Pat G had fallen foul of the famous St Catherine's stairway to heaven to the detriment of his knee - we later found out that he's broken his shin. 

So Campbell, took him to hospital while I took his kit home in my car. 

Sepiola Atlantica

Small Scorpionfish

Larger Scorpionfish

Pipefish

Cuttlefish Boulevard of Broken Dreams - 08/10/2015

Tonight's post work adventure with the Zookeeper was a trip to Seal Reef, St Catherines. Upon arrival we met some of the guys from Clydebank Sub Aqua Club, they provided a nice backdrop for the dive. One of whom was leaving his newborn of a couple of days and wife in preference for an evening with a slightly motley crew of divers.

We went in and headed down. We were immediately joined by loads of small shrimp that fluttered around our torches like moths. As we made our way along to the reef it became clear that tonight was going to be mostly about Cuttlefish. I reached six before I stopped counting how many I'd seen.

Onto the reef we found two scorpion fish. Both of whom seemed delighted to be eating a torch-fuelled shrimp smorgasbord. We came up from the dive, glad theat we'd been of service to the scorpionfish.

At the surface the milky way was out and the water was filled with bioluminescence.

The Phallacy - 10/07/2015

Being off work and not going on holiday for a significant chunk of this time has its benefits. Diving! Friday saw an unusual cast assemble to dive Seal Reef. The Zookeeper, DLA, Hagrid and myself.

The trip started badly with a heavy infestation of midgies. Fortunately, Hagrid had brought some midge repellent and was happy to share. I can't lie, I was delighted to midge proof my arms and face.

We dived, enjoying the usual life with the highlight being a nice Scorpionfish, but it was the surface interval that provided the most entertainment as young DLA found what can only be described as a stone phallus (side profile). He was delighted with himself. He even took it home as a souvenir. He liked to think that it was a life size version, but that would be a phallacy. The rock was the stuff his dreams are made of.

The wind had also gotten up and passed the 6mph required to dissuade midges from flying.

Dive two saw me put the camera away and lead the troops over to the sites deep reef. A feat made possible by the low tide slack water.

On the way back the Zookeeper and I had a deep discussion about the best diving movies. I'm insisting it's Sanctum.

Camo scorpionfish

Up close

Stone phallus by Laura

Langoustine

Adventures in Roofing - 20/06/2015

With the promise of decent tide times and higher than 6mph winds versus a midge Forecast of 5 (the highest it gets), myself Jester and Dave Lee Arbuckle  headed up to Loch Leven with the intention to dive the Slates and Manse Point.

Now according to the Finstrokes guide, Manse Point should be dived at slack water and we had planned to be there by 7.30pm to dive it at that time. However, the traffic up the side of Loch Lomond and through Glen Coe was so bad that we couldn't do both dives. Instead we plumped for two at the Slates with a BBQ in between.

Dive one saw us enter at my usual exit point and exit where I'd normally enter. With the tide on a flood it was great as it meant that we a had a gentle current carrying us round the point. The visibility was good with a nice array of the usual critters. Including:

• Cuckoo wrasse
• Catsharks
• Sunstars (northern and common)
• Ballan wrasse

With the wind making for a nice midge- blasting breeze we started up the BBQ and enjoyed a feast of rolls 'n' sausage and burgers with cheese, spring onions and DLA's favourite chilli mayo. Apparently, it's the 'every meal' mayo of choice.

Dive two was meant to see us dive round the second point, pausing to photograph the wrecks of an old barge and rowing boat, but a muddle at the dive shop had meant that my second tank hadn't been filled and only had the 100 bar of air left from my previous dive with the tank. As such I plopped in with the guys for 5 minutes before exiting the water and leaving them to enjoy the rest of the dive. A bit of a wasted trip for me, but the guys had fun.

As we dekitted the wind died down and the Highland terrors descended en masse. We made a quick exit.

The Dive That Never Was - 03/02/2015

Today was going to be a special day. TDFKAMF had reached 99 dives. Tonight would have been 100. We were also diving with The Kingmaker, who was diving in Scottish waters for the first time since returning from the Red Sea where, apparently, he was swimming with an Oceanic Whitetip, but as we always say, if there is no picture then it didn't happen. We met up and headed over to Seal Reef, Loch Fyne for the event....

About two thirds of the way there I heard TDFKAMF utter an expletive. He'd forgotten his weights. I sincerely offered mine and I'd sit it out. He declined - he's a gentleman that way.

So it fell to The Kingmaker and I to kit up and head in. His girlfriend had wondered if he was fit* enough to be diving in Scotland. He said he was. *coughs*

We headed in and went down passing a number of Highland Dancer nudibranchs. We bottomed out out at 32m  and headed along to a secondary reef that I'd never been able to find before. I suspect my inability to find it was because I'd been told that it lay elsewhere. The visibility was good. As was the life. 

Now, I can count on one hand the number of Highland Dancers I've seen - 3. Once at this site, once at the St Catherine's Pier and once at Drishaig. Tonight we found four highland dancers and numerous nice scorpion fish. 

In addition, I'd add that it was warm. The coldest temperature recorded by my computer was 8c. That's five degrees warmer than it was just four days ago.

We returned to see TDFKAMF standing sentry with my head torch on. The 100th dive that never was.

* Caution: Euphemism alert

Highland dancer

Scorpion fish

Scorpion fish

Highland dancer

'S'no Laughing Matter - 17/01/2015

The drive to Loch Long

The weather so far this year has been a bit, erm, dismal. Add to that the fact that Turkish Airlines had the cheek to lose one of my suitcases containing my regulators and you'll understand why diving hasn't been that high on the agenda. However, my football team had a week off so I resolved to dive....no matter what.

Despite the snow we had swithered about heading across the Rest & Be Thankful to Loch Fyne, but some heavier snow overnight convinced us to stay local and visit Loch Long.

The route to Finnart took us over what is known locally as the Military Road. The road climbs a not insignificant height and by the time we reached the top, the road was a whiteout. Fast Ed led the way as he was the car most likely to have to turn back (Captain Al and I both have 4x4s). We made it safely to the site. Where all five of us (The Merrymaker and TDFKAMF were also there) kitted up.

I was using a makeshift kit of hire regs and a borrowed torch and to be honest I couldn't get comfy - it just wasn't my usual set up. Regardless, TDFKAMF and I buddied up and headed down. I won't lie, it was cold (head hurtingly so) and the visibility was pretty poor (1-3m). Despite that, we saw some nice things:

• Scorpion fish
• Bloody Henry
• Dragonet
• Macropedia rostrata
• Nudibranchs

On the way back up, the safety stop was grim. The temperature bottomed out at an optimistic 5c.

I decided to duck out of the second dive. Which, with hindsight, was a great decision. By the time we headed home, the roads had beenl ploughed and gritted - that made Ed's life easier.

Scorpion fish

Fan worm

Bloody Henry

Surfacing

Starry Starry Night - 14/11/2014

In my final installment before I head to Egypt myself, the Announcer and Fast Ed headed up to Loch Fyne and the Council Yard. 

As regular readers will know I had been here once before with the Zookeeper as part of an exploratory dive back in August. However, a chance encounter with Lobsterman in Aquatron a couple of weeks ago meant that I had a conversation about the site. He explained about the main boulder reef and a wall to the right. My own experience had taken us down, but in the opposite direction to a shallower smaller reef. My resolve was set I was going to find this reef and wall. Moreover, Aquatron's very own Ace, suggested that there was some fun rubble and a table to be found also. Sadly for Ed and the Announcer they were my virgin site buddies.

We kitted up in some pretty miserable rain and headed in veering slightly to the right. Hitting the table just as Ace had said. We pottered about looking at various edible crabs and dabs then headed down deeper. The visibility incidentally was excellent (6m).

Following a rope we stumbled across the lobster creel and tail of the small reef I'd encountered on a previous dive. Then trusting Lobsterman's advice we went along, staying at 20m I led our band out into the nothingness of the seabed hoping for the boulder reef. Then just when it I was getting a little forlorn I saw it. It was actually quite impressive - far bigger then I expected. We pottered about it until one of his hit 100 bar and then we worked our way back to the shore.

Saw some nice stuff too, Brittle stars, scorpionfish, mackerel, cod, scallops etc. Worth some more exploration. I've made a crap map of what I now think the site looks like.

However, the real highlight came at the end/ As we finally emerged, the clouds had cleared and we enjoyed an unspoilt view of the Milky Way and numerous shooting stars. It was spectacular affair.

Kitting up

The Ace Table of Sacrifice

Edible Crab

Toilet Dabs

Encrusted Cone

Creel

"Dude, get that light outta my eyes!"