The first time we used two boats, the Girl Mina, which when I booked the trip I didn`t realise was one of the less famous wrecks, however the skipper Terry was a great laugh, he had 12 ltr tanks on board (no test dates)
The other boat we used was Radiant Queen skippered by Ian Trumpess, boat was rather open with limited inside cabin space. Both boats moored at Stromness and we stayed in the Ferry Inn. None of us drank shandy for the week.
The second time we went we used two different boats, although we had a great week the first time we didn`t book the same boats again because the first time we didn`t have twelve divers (we paid fo twelve) on each boat and both skippers took additional divers and did not reduce the price accordingly.
The boats we used the seond time were the MV Triton, probally the best condition day boat in stromness, however skipper needed a sense of humour transplant.
The other boat was the
www.annette-rosenkilde.com
skippered by Neil Mcgibbon, the only(I think) skipper to charge per person and not x amount for whole week regardless of number of divers, he also gives you a choice of dayboat or livaboard/ part livaboard i.e. some of your party may want to stay on board and some on shore.
Large well kept boat with 12s & 15s & nitrox, and a great skipper.
The third time we used the Anette Rosenkilde again, some of us staying on board some in the Ferry Inn.
We travelled up from NW London, it is a barsteward of a journey.
It took one guy 14 hrs non stop.
Last time we decided to break the journey on the way up and stayed with puffin divers at Oban and dived the Sound of Mull for two days.
This year we are using The Annette Rosnkilde again and will be breaking the journey on the way back by staying at Seahouses and diving the Farne Islands for two days.
As for the question "will you be safe from the wild scotsman" that all depends if you avoid Glasgo and miss Peter K
We looked into all ways to travel up and the only realistic way is to drive either shared cars or hired minibus.
We will have spaces on our trip I will post on planned trips next week when I know excatly how many.
Another tip is don`t bother with suncream
I offered my daugher the choice of Red Sea livaboard or Scapa and she chose Scapa without a moments hesitation.
It is my favorite dive site.
Hope you have a great time.
I`ve gone back to one red ball and one post?
(Edited by Diving Dude at 1:16 am on Feb. 23, 2003)
Realised what it is, using different computer and entered my nick name starting with capital letters.
Howard
(Edited by Diving Dude at 1:24 am on Feb. 23, 2003)