[Mark Davies]

Loose Planning

Ever since Tim moved over to Ireland for work it's been on the cards that I'd go over there some time to do some diving. He popped over here last month and we had some lovely zero viz diving in Anglesey so we decided it was about time we sampled Ireland's west coast and made a commitment. We'd both had a dreadful run of bad luck with our diving (hasn't everyone?) so were desperate for some good dives. To gives us the best chance we settled on a neap tide weekend, that happily coincided with me having some days off work.

The date was set, just had to get the travel arrangements sorted. I wanted to get my own kit over there so it was the ferry for me. I happened to have a friend going over to Ireland that same weekend so originally we planned to go together. But then we couldn't decide whose car to take as we both wanted to drive on the other side (and in completely different directions!). In the end, I got the ferry on my own and he flew. This was going to make it a particulary expensive weekend for me, but frankly, at the promise of some decent dives I would have paid any money!

So the final plan. Tim had arranged our weekend's diving with Scubadive West at Renvyle, Co. Galway. I was going to get the ferry and then drive over to Dublin airport where I was going to leave my car for the weekend. Tim was going to pick me up, coming from work in Dublin, and we were going to head straight across country.

Different Worlds

So, the Thursday night before departure I was working. I often do this - it means I can make the most of the three days off after my run of night shifts. But it means working all night and then getting straight on the road. Sounds tough, but you get used to it.

Well, what a night at work! It deserved to have a full moon but didn't. Almost everyone I spoke to I ended up detaining to go and be assessed by a psychiatrist. That's all except the lad going on a rampage with a chainsaw - but he got away with it as he was only 10 years old! I think I'm getting too old for this shit!

Anyway, shift over. Back home for a shower and change of clothes and then the car was packed and I was off on the two hour drive down to Holyhead. An easy journey and then the wait for the ferry.

It was over 30 minutes late arriving. The sea was a bit choppy and it was running one engine short. It was a lumpy crossing but I managed to doze for a few minutes being gently rocked by the swell.

As we came into Dublin Bay my phone went. It was Tim wondering where I was - I was now two hours late. We had to make a quick change of plan. I was now arriving in the middle of Dublin's rush hour so getting to the airport was out of the question. We arranged a new rendezvous and crossed our fingers that I could find it. I'd never been to Dublin before, let alone driven around it.

Irish Drivers - A World Of Their Own!

Never seen anything like it! Not the amount of traffic - I live in Manchester after all - just the way they drive. Clueless! I came out of the port heading for the M50, the only motorway in Ireland. It goes nowhere, just circles the city of Dublin. Before long the signs dissappeared. Tim had warned me this might happen. I asked three people how to get to it and none of them knew!

A phone call later with the concierge at a hotel where Tim was waiting and I was on track and on my way. Eventually, about two and a half hours late I met up with Tim. We decided to leave my car in the poshest hotel in Dublin (at least it would fit in!) and hope that it didn't get clamped over the weekend.

Finally we were off!

Big Country

You never realise just how big Ireland is until you try to drive across it. It doesn't help that there are no decent roads and everyone drives as if they've nowhere in particular to go! It was a long journey, but through some beautiful countryside. We knew we were going to be arriving late, so Tim phoned the dive centre and asked them to tell the B&B (right next door) that we wouldn't be there until about midnight. Unfortunately, we could only leave a message on the answer phone.

We stopped off in Galway to get some food. Very lively on a Friday night - friendly crowds in the street with lots of buskers and entertainers giving the place a real buzz. Looks like it's well worth a visit. Fuelled up with fish and chips we set off on the final leg.

It was late and dark by now. It was a reasonably clear night, the light of the moon reflecting off wisps of clouds. In the dim light we could see the dark shapes of hills around us, hinting a promise of some spectacular scenery.

The dive centre and our B&B were stuck out in the middle of nowhere, so in the dark we had trouble finding it. Eventually we arrived, on midnight as predicted, and were met at the door by the landlady in her pyjamas. The message hadn't got through to her from the dive centre but she graciously accepted our apologies and showed us to our room. I'd been up for 35 hours and had been travelling for the last 15. Needless to say I was asleep the moment my head hit the pillow!

And in the morning, we'd be diving!