Anchors Away! - 30/03/2014

Andrea & Big Al

Earlier in the week Andrea had suggested a trip to Anchor Point, Loch Fyne. I've never dived the site, but fortunately all my buddies had been there at least once. Accompanying me today were Andrea, Big Mack and Big Al. Fast Eddie and Grant (now dubbed Mr Fallsoveralot) had planned to come, but cancelled in the run up to our trip. So we set out, as a fantastic 4, if not the Fantastic 4.

As the clocks were 'springing forward' we met at the later time of 8.00am at Costa del Bonhill and drove to the site. 

The site itself is at a small lay-by on a single track road about 65 miles from Glasgow. From the parking spot, a small path leads to a very pleasant pebble beach dotted with a few large rocks ideal for sitting.

Big Mack lead us out for our first dive, aiming to hit a reef that dropped down to about 30m -  we began to fin. I think the poor visibility less than 3m on the first dive meant that we missed our target, but I still managed find a few things on the seabed that kept me entertainment including a nice catshark/dogfish hidden amongst the seaweed, scallops, the occasional nudibranch and two sea toads enjoying the beautiful McLovin.

Back on shore Andrea finally got my travel BBQ lit and we had rolls and sausage.

Dive 2 was to be a more traditional affair with us using the route mapped out in the Finstrokes guide. As we descended, it became clear that the visibility had deteriorated to around 1m. About 20 minutes into the dive while taking the photograph of the sunstar I lost control of my buoyancy for the briefest of moments and ascended quite quickly up. I recovered within a few metres, but once I got back down to my initial depth I couldn't find Big Al. I waited and looked around for the requisite one minute before safely heading to the surface. You can see how far I surfaced from the shore in the last picture. Alan popped up about 20 seconds later and 10m over. We swam back to shore against a strong out flowing tide.

Regardless of the bad visibility we all had a great day.

Travel BBQ

Lunch

Wall climbing urchin

Sunstar of doom

Surfaced

So Much Nature Part 3 - 27/03/2014

So with the arrival of Evolution Divers we vacated St Catherines (see part 1 and part 2) prime parking spot and headed over to dive Loch Long. We were deciding between the Twin Piers, which we'd drive right past or the Caves where Laura had previously lost a bag that we were going to look for. The Caves won.

We quickly kitted up, buddy checked and headed down to the water where a seal, probably Beryl, was waiting patiently for us. We entered the water and it quickly became clear that we were diving as a buddy three as Beryl swooped between our legs, crashing into us chasing fish and any other critter that came into view. A few wrasse dodged under rocks. Bottoming out at 22m, we probably had the best seal action at around 10m.

Aside from Beryl, sea life was at a premium. By way of contrast, thanks to Beryl, silt was not.

By the end of the second dive both Laura and myself were exhausted largely due to 'so much nature'.

Dahlia Anemone

Beryl

Laura filming Beryl

So Much Nature Part 2 - 27/03/2014

As I've mentioned previously I'm jealous of Ed's profile picture. So at the start and end of our first dive I got Laura to take some pictures. Here's my new portfolio, get ready for a whole lot of smoulder.

Shark Attack

Colourised

So Much Nature Part 1 - 27/03/2014

Sunset over Loch Fyne

As regular readers may know, Laura runs her own animal education business (Animal Magic). On a recent stint at the Caithness International Science Festival, a small boy approached Laura's stand and was amazed by the range of animals.So overwhelmed he declared, "So much nature!" When diving we have a range of catchphrases and it seems this has now been added to our lexicon.

This week I was fortunate enough to be able to take a half day off work on a day when Laura wasn't working, so we decided to head over the Rest and Be Thankful mountain pass and dive in Loch Fyne for the first of our two dives. Our chosen destination was St Catherines 2 (known locally as St Cats or Seal Reef). It's a nice site with relatively easy access and a great view across the Loch to the historic village of Inveraray.

On arrival the sea was particularly choppy, but we could see that it was calming and the weather improving, so before diving we decided to meander down the beach to explore the entry point of a lesser dived site that had long been blocked off to divers. Our investigations suggested there was now room for one or two cars. So we'll explore that site soon.

Once back at the car we leisurely kitted up in broad daylight and entered the ever calming water.After messing about with Laura taking a few Ed-esque pictures of me we headed down to around 23m encountering a nice big Conger who was reluctant to come out for a photograph and slowly worked our way up the reef. I never took many pictures, but it was a great dive with loads of colourful fish, crab types, and echinoderms. Just over 40 minutes later we exited to the sun beginning to set gloriously on the other side of the loch.

What next? We each had another tank, as we switched tanks we took the decision to head over to Loch Long and drive part way home rather than do a formal surface interval. Good thing too as a Evolution Divers (a local Sub Aqua Association dive club) turned up en masse. I should say, they are nice guys but it's better to have the loch to yourself.

Kitting Up

Going in

Sea Toad and Urchin

Though Shalt Not Covet Ed's Profile Picture - 27/03/2014

"You shall not covet your neighbour's house. You shall not covet your neighbour's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour." Exodus 20:17

I love Fast Ed, although while I like his car I have absolutely no designs on his house, wife, manservant, maidservant or donkey. However, his Facebook profile picture (left) is highly desirous.  It was taken by Laura some time ago at Twin Piers, Loch Long and while I don't exactly yearn to posses this image of Ed I'd really like some mean and moody dive shots of me - I seem to look gormless in almost every dive trip photograph. Today I have asked Laura to rectify this situation and take some cool pictures of me smouldering on the surface. Look out for them in the next post..

Bruce Willis Ruins All Films - 26/03/2014

On Sunday I offered to go diving with a friend of a friend, however by the time he got my message he had booked on a RHIB. As such I never went diving. However, my acquaintance's experience would be quite different.

He (Diver 1) was to dive with another diver (Diver 2). They kitted up and headed for their target wreck on the RHIB, a token buddy check - they were afterall experienced divers - and down they went to over 30m. On the return the second diver was starting to feel very 'floaty' and, while trying to deploy a DSMB, rocketed to the surface. Leaving Diver 1 at the bottom of the ocean and having to ascend safely on their own.

Meanwhile on the surface helicopters were scrambled, the coast guard was called and hospitals were put on standby. Another 'bent' diver was to be assisted at great cost to the taxpayer. The reason? At least one of the divers failed to do a proper check with their buddy and had forgotten to put on their weight belt. 

Diver 2, also an acquaintance, is out of the woods and back home recovering thankfully.

This is why we buddy check. Not because we don't trust one another to put their kit on, but rather because we do trust one another to ensure that we're going into the water safely.
As for the title of this post, that's how I remember it - I was taught it at my very first SCUBA pool session.

• Bruce   = Buoyancy  - check BCD and drysuit
• Willis    = Weights    - right hand release weight belt and integrated into BCD
• Ruins    = Releases - BCD straps / weight clips on BCD
• All         = Air             - have I got air? Is it switched on?  Check my pony too.
• Films    = Final OK   - mask, fins, etc

Finally, if my buddy refuses to do a buddy check it's simple - I'm not diving. Instead I'll go watch Bruce Willis ruin a perfectly good movie.

I'll Tell You What Really Bugs Me - 23/03/2014

On Facebook I 'like' Mares, Scubapro and Fourth Element. I like many of their products in real life too.

For example, I own:

• a Mares Abyss Navy Regulator
• a Scubapro Mk17 Regulator
• a Mares Dragon BCD
• a Fourth Element Arctic Undersuit
• Scubapro Seawing Nova fins
• Fourth Element Thermocline stuff

I also like hoods by Waterproof and my Oceanic Shadow mask, but I'll tell you what really bugs me are the string of professional film makers, professional divers and 'explorers' who endorse these products. When buying a product I'm not interested in 'celebrity' endorsements. I'm interested in how cost effective/efficient/comfortable/useful is it going to be for me?

How long does a drysuit take to dry hanging under my stairs? How expensive is the service pack? If it breaks, how good is your customer service?

Like the vast majority of people I have to pay for my kit and it has to perform and last. Wouldn't it be great if these companies, instead of expedition divers, used honest recreational divers to review and promote their products?

It would be amazing to watch a review of two products and hear the diver honestly say, that they can't tell the difference between the two regulators or after using these gloves my fingers were a wee bit warmer.

The current marketing of the big brands in SCUBA is a throw back to last century. Peer to peer marketing is the future it's time for the diving industry to embrace it.