Hmm, looks like I'm the first one to make it back today!
After last weekend's shannanigans at Lochaline with Jo's YD trip and convinced that the water is brackish rather than proper salty, I got invited to fill an empty spot on a Plymouth do, arranged by the Mad Monty person (Paramedic Paul's long lost 'son'), and just couldn't say 'no'. Also, realising it was the perfect opportunity to double check that seawater does indeed taste 'salty'!
So, after 4 days of work getting in the way, I headed down to Plymouth on Friday evening, arriving at half nine, to be greeted with 'let's go down the pub', and a group that I had never met before, apart from a couple from the club. I later found out that the group were mainly from the ambulance service, so I felt safe in their hands (yeah, right!)
Anyway, Saturday proved a bit lumpy out on the Scylla, so we headed to a more sheltered, coastal site, where I was buddied up with Bev, who had the disadvantage of putting up with my previous night's snoring! But the sight of a huge edible crab, spider crab, various wrasse put us in a better mood, but no lobsters! A 10m dive if you dug a hole, me in twinset and stage; got the mickey taken by the skipper! A bit OTT he said, but I was expecting Scylla, JEL, that kind of thing. But, you can never have enough Nitrox?
Second dive we went to Breakwater Fort, where previous sailers dump their rubbish. Again, a shallow dive (13m), apart from fish, I saw an encrusted fire hose, 2 little wrecks, a cannon and various bits of twisted metal (note to self, must get me a prescription mask!)
On Sunday (today), we managed the Scylla (yay! and my first time on/in it!). A little lumpy, and after stuffing our faces the night before (18'' platter, anyone?
) a few of us were feeling a little queasy! So, travel sickness pills went round, but not me, as being allergic to many of the modern antihistamines, it wouldn't be a brilliant idea! Kitted up, eventually rolled in and felt tons better once below the waves. We started at around 25m, searching out dead-mens' fingers, as these were Bev's favourite. Did the usual swim around and penetration only if can see a clear exit, seeing lots of pollock and a few wrasse. Also, we posed for a few piccies for divers whom we did not recognise. Note to self, get a camera!
Lovely dive, I didn't think the Scylla was as big as it was, so was pleasantly surprised when my eyes confirmed what the 'metal detector' chip that is implanted in my nose picked up!
We were going to do the second dive on the Scylla, but as it was getting a little rough, we opted to go back to Breakwater Fort, where it's alot calmer. Bev didn't do this second dive as she got a little <ahem> damp, so I buddied up with Ben D (yd'er from club, and yes, that's his real name) and rolled in. I got to see Ben's Kent Tooling reel in action (phwoar, phwoar!) and this time, we went around the fort anticlockwise, opposite from previous dive there. This time, we saw a bigger 'wreck', a bag of concrete and...... a Thornback Ray!!! We must have hovered for a few minutes just staring at it, and spotted Paul's group coming round. I waved my not-very-bright torch frantically trying to get their attention, and eventually caught the eye of Ken, the third diver in that group. So, out came the camera and a few shots taken. Yeah, am impressed as that is the biggest thing that I have seen in UK waters yet! And being Ben's 4th sea dive, I bet he's happy too!
And yes, to taste salt, I need to eat more salt. But apart from that and being the only twinsetted person on the boat, am covered in bruises, am knackered, achey (cos I've got knackered joints), I'm happy!
Cheers for reading this far, photos will be added as I receive them or when PP gets home...
Lou.