Scapa Flow Sep 2008

rik · Newbie Joined: Sep 30, 2007 Posts: 3

Van loaded up with loads of kit (mine plus others), pick Mike up from some dark lane looking furtive as though he'd just done a 'job' on a house Razz

. Set off on the 'long trip up' (Ewan and Charlie look out the dvd will be out in the shops in time for Christmas). Fairly uneventfull drive even though Mike subjected me to 5 live and the golf (joke mike joke), forgotton just how bad mw reception is Rolling Eyes

. Several stops later and a few calls to Julians answerphone we got them to reserve a room at an inn in Thurso (didn't realise when I planned the run how quick I could make it). Nice run through the east of Scotland with only the last hour and a bit in the dark - ace.

Next Morning kit loaded into buggy things for the ferry we all made our way onto the ferry with a rumour circulating that the chuckles (sorry Paul I know how you hate it but if I'm stuck with 'tufty' you've got chuckle1) had made it up somehow.
Finally met up with the rest of the group on the ferry and sat down to catch up.

Ferry docked find boat and load kit aboard, go find accomodation. Ferry Inn denying ever receiving a booking from Barry and Julian, Howard and Andy off to there bothy, and Mike off to find his tin shed (caravan). Oh and we met Jason the 12th man from Ayelsbury (film rights are mine in case Antonio Bandarras is reading this Razz

)

Sunday Morn 1st dive:
SMS Brummer 32m, I dived with Jason (nice guy good diver) Viz was about 4-5m poorer than I was hoping so it was difficult to get an idea of scale, strobe had thrown a hissy fit and didn't want to play so I left the camera behind. Lots of life in the way of anenomies and star fish but not much else.

Sun 2nd dive:
The Spoil Ground 20m, I took the strobe of and just took basic camera down and terrorised the hermit crabs. Mike set up a competition of who could bring up the best artifact. Various bits of stuff having been brought up I pulled out my 'find' Rolling Eyes

a german submariners cap badge. perhaps I should fess up that this was an elaborate set up between me and the skipper Andrew, but it definately got the group going for a bit.

Mon 1st dive:
Coln, german cruiser 32m deep viz 4-5m similar to brummer

Mon 2nd dive:
Karlsrhue, strobe working properly now after thump or two. Took a few piccies 26m still mediocre viz

Tues 1st dive:
Dresdon, 30m mediocre viz, found a gun and continued in my 100% record of finding the shot line on return

Tues 2nd dive:
F2/Barge 16m, bit of partner swapping going on now (due to divers going down with colds you pervs) Few swim throughs on the barge made it entertaining, communication misunderstanding ment Steve finning of to show me a gun when I thought he wanted a picc taken Confused

Weds 1st dive:
James Barrie 40m, a certain amount of unwillingness being expressed by a few divers as it was 'only a trawler' but it had been recommended by Barry the ships cook and rebreather techie instructor as a good dive, so I took a dictatorial view and said were doing it. I don't think anybody who dived that wreck came up disappointed, viz 20-25m amazing. Had a slight issue on coming up though I picked the wrong shot, it stopped 8m short of the surface - I was totally convinced that some herbert had nicked it. Anyway in the process of getting out and deploying my smb the current lifted me to the surface so I had to go back down and complete my deco stop plus a 10m penalty. On the plus side though I now have a plan should I find the shot short of the surface again.

Weds 2nd dive:
UB116 30m, german sub salvaged but the salvage charge set off a live torpedo so the sub is a collection of twisted metal scattered over a sandy seabed. Lots of life (bit like the baggy) but with 15-18m viz. I really really enjoyed this dive.

Thurs 1st dive:
Kronrinz Willhelm 36m, Battleship upside down. You have to go underneath to see anything viz 3-4m and dark. Mike bless him obsessed with guns so under he goes, I'm just hovering at the edge (scared of the dark you see Laughing

) starts pointing so I go in closer and sure enough he's found the main 12" guns but not really enough viz to appreciate the scale.

Thurs 2nd dive:
Tabarka 15m, probably over hyped by the last aqua blue trip so I found it a bit of a let down. The viz was ok but only about 10m and the current on exiting was a slow 1knot, hardly exhilerating. Its one of the best things about diving the conditions are rarely the same.

Fri 1st dive:
James Barrie 42m, again by popular demand. Viz not quite so good about 15-18m this time. Good dive even better coz I got to poke fun at mike whilst doing our deco stop coz his computer had reset itself to air meaning his dive pc gave him 15mins more deco than required for the 29% nitrox we were on - oh how I laughed even flooded my mask Razz

Fri 2nd dive:
SMS Brummer 32m, very nicely navigated by mike, got to see all the availbale guns and most of the ship, cheers mate.

Sat: Ferry then the long drive down - home about 2am.

All in all a good week with a generous dose of micky taking with possibly the best one being Howard getting caught with a practical joke that left him covered in talc - but I'll let someone else tell this tale as I didn't see it 1st hand. Tempremental fire alarms that we all learnt to ignore in the ferry inn, and a few arguments about the passionate support of football teams (or any team/band etc) sorry Mike I just don't get it Razz

Cheers Gill for organising this trip cracking time Very Happy

MikeShaw · Dive Club Member Joined: Jun 03, 2008 Posts: 3

Thanks Rik,

Wonderful report. Or should I say thanks Tufty!!!!

Bouffant.....