Finally after our summer of windblown, dive-canceling weekends a real trip to report!
Even then the East winds meant that the journey to dive St Kilda was not even attempted. But as the report from Rob W and Jonathan and the photos of most of the others will show, it was still a fantastic week.
First find boat. Jackie had Satnav to find her way, which Rob's truck-driving brother calls Twatnav - or "Rick" as Rob's navigation system was called.
After the news about St Kilda blowing out, disappointment soon lifted as our boat, the Hjalmar Bjørge, captained by Mark, wound its way around Mull, Skye and the Inner Hebrides - places like Canna, which would be a real effort to get to on a normal holiday.
At the first cry of "Basking Shark" everyone ran eagerly to the deck and leaned over the gunwale to view it, by the end of the week over fifty had been sighted
Dolphins, porpoises and minke whales were plentiful and several times dolphins played in the bow wave of the boat. Incidentally you can tell dolphins and porpoises apart usually because dolphins have a beak, porpoises don't and the leading edge of the dolphin's dorsal fin is curved, that of the porpoise straight, with the fin look like a shark's.
But in the Highlands the scenery is the star. Emptiness, long hours of low-lying sun, clean air and cloud forming around relief conspire to make it one of the most spectacular parts of the planet. Where better to see it than from a boat.
One of the highlights of the week was landing on "Puffin Island". The birds would let us get really close.
The food on board was terrific - weight gain all round - and far from the usual diver's stodge. Violin playing Lyndsey and chef Mark (two) being responsible.
PS Please can someone help fill the gaps!!! Ed
More people pictures here.
Oh yes, the diving. Also excellent. Wrecks and Reefs. Plenty of life, even though Jackie had to use Errol as her sunstar spotter.
More excellent pictures to view
So who wants to go next year?
With thanks to everyone on the trip who contributed the pictures. It was really hard to choose the best, from so many great photos. There are also some videos of the trip - they are kept for another day!
1 comment:
To fill in the gaps in the people photo: in front of me is Nev (Shropshire lad but diving with JJ from Rhosneigr club), sitting in the bow is Mark (skipper), with the purple t-shirt is Mark (cook), in a fond embrace are Lyndsey (crew) and JJ (from Rhosneigr club).
Fab trip all round.
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