Well this was to be my first trip with YD, so wasnt really sure what to expect...(This is also my first trip report, so please be gentle....)
We knew the Resurgam was off as Elfyn had told us earlier in the week that the winds were against us. Never mind, we still fancied a day out.
We were going to leave Macclesfield at 5.45 am, but as Scotty slept in, we finally got away at 6.30. Elfyn wanted us in Amlwch for 8, so the stress levels were rising..... After much frantic texting to tell him we would be late, we finally made it at about 8.30 to find Elfyn and Peter-L onboard the Empress.
We were late as hell, so I was confused that nobody else was there. Elfyn then told us that this was it, nobody else was coming, so off we went. Everyone has paid up front, so we now had the luxury of a fairly roomy boat for just the three of us, grand! The sun was now belting down, its flat calm, and I'm going diving
. Elfyn suggested the "unkown tug" in about 30m as a first dive. When we arrived at the site, the wreck was still bouyed much to his amazement, so we kitted up and dropped in as a threesome. Water was a pleaseant 15 degrees.
Viz was looking good at about 5-6m on the line, and the light levels on the wreck, even at 30m, were excellent, with viz again at about 5-6m. The wreck is split in two amidships, but we spent all the dive on the stern section. Still very much recognisable as a ship, the graceful lines of the stern are clearly visible, with the rudder and prop disappearing into the sandy bottom. The wreck is absolutley plastered in orange and white plumose, a riot of colour. We also spotted three lobsters (one was pretty chunky with barnacles all over his claws), a few congers, and huge shoals of bib and pollock hanging over the wreck. There were so many fish at times that we couldnt see the wreck through the shoals. A very slight current allowed us to drift over the site and have a look at the remains of the superstructure, then a quick nosy round the engine block. During the whole dive, I kept thinking to myself "Whats going on, Anglesey is supposed to be rubbish, but this is great??!?"
Reluctantly we headed for the shot, then back up to the Empress for a brew, then back to Amlwch to pick up Jen and have a cup of tea in the sun.
Second dive of the day was the Dakota, just outside the harbour wall in about 18m. Jen and Peter buddied up for this one. We dropped on to the shot, and the viz was ok, but not as good as the morning, maybe 1-2m. This was more of a rummage dive, although there are still some fairly upright bits of the wreck visible. We had a good look around, and there was plenty of life to see. Loads of shrimps under plates, and tompot blennies galore. Scotty also managed to find a stack of broken crockery. After an hour, we decided to call it a day. Back on board, Peter had some spidge, a trowel that Elfyn had lost when diving on the wreck a few days previously.
Within about five minutes, we were back in, and unloading was dead easy, with the car parked about 25 yards away. We had a quick pint with Jen and Peter, then headed back home.
A great days diving, with warm, sunny weather and excellent company. Very impressed with Elfyn's operation, we will be back!
Great to meet you Jen and, Peter, fingers crossed that you and Billy get to the Resurgam in two weeks time.
Ray