Isle of Man, 3rd time lucky?

[Steve S]

Hi all,

due to the embarassment of green recieved for my last 3 trip reports [3 in total ] I thought I would share my latest with you.

We were due to dive the Isle of Man on a small liveboard called Mystique 01246-435081 she carries 4 on a liveboard basis and 6 as a day boat and is run very well By Anne and James.

As the title suggests this is my 3rd time trying to dive the IOM and when I saw the forecast on friday morning even with my limited meterological skills I knew it would probably not happen this weekend either but hope springs eternal and as I was just coming to terms with this fact our postie delivered a recorded letter with 2 tickets to live 8 for the day after, dilemma do I bin the dive which I hate to do or should I go anyway? I chose the latter and my divorce is now pending with unreasonable obssesive behaviour in regard to the briney being sited.

After an uneventful journey we arrived in Holyhead to wind, rain and our worst fear confirmed "we will get you in somewhere around Anglesey "

James cooked us a splendid curry [apparently Anne is cooker phobic ] and after a couple of beers in the yacht club we retired.

THE DIVING,
as anyone familiar with Anglesey knows South westerlies are bad and couple that with the ferries and the remmnants of the recent plankton bloom and the viz was "traditional" being that from 8m it was lights out and at 22m it was like being in the inside of a lump of coal I did scrabble around some wreckage for 30 mins before bagging off.

Dive 2, mutiny in the ranks so I volunteered to check the viz on the Harold, yellow for come on down red for stay away, they stayed away being insane I managed 20mins before getting bored and wrapping my dsmb around the shot for an excuse to come up.

Dive 3, scalloping I cant believe the thrill of hunter/gathering I managed nearly an hour and got enough to comfortably feed 6 people.

SUNDAY,

Dive 4, due to the wind increasing again we dived the Ammundsan? a good rummage for 50mins with loads of lobsters and crab knowing exactly how long divers arms are

Dive 5, scalloping for the family this time wasted on SWMBO though as she hates the sea and anything remotely connected with it but the kids love 'em

All in all a great weekend, James and Anne ensured we were fed and watered better than at home and the boat at first glance seems a bit small but it is well set out and is a bit like the Tardis, the ladder is easy to climb and they have all the usual electronic and safety stuff.

The inshore and offshore Lifeboats were very busy that weekend including one which sounded very serious, a big up to those guys and gals.

I guess the only way to ensure diving it is to fly over there but I will do it one day, 4th time lucky?

Safe diving,
Steve

[Paul Oliver]

Nice report

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by Steve S

The inshore and offshore Lifeboats were very busy that weekend including one which sounded very serious, a big up to those guys and gals.

Safe diving,
Steve

Probably this one Steve, although there were a couple of ILB ones as well

13-00 PM JULY 2005

Holyhead ALB launched to multi hull lost her mast local area lifeboat quickly put crew members from lifeboat on board to cut rigging away vessel made her own way into Holyhead with lifeboat standing by her weather wind 6-7 good vis sea mod

Everyone sounds OK, well done Boys and Girls

[Steve S]

Originally Posted by Fiona

Probably this one Steve, although there were a couple of ILB ones as well

13-00 PM JULY 2005

Holyhead ALB launched to multi hull lost her mast local area lifeboat quickly put crew members from lifeboat on board to cut rigging away vessel made her own way into Holyhead with lifeboat standing by her weather wind 6-7 good vis sea mod

Everyone sounds OK, well done Boys and Girls

Hi Fiona,

we saw them towing the mast in from that one the serious incident I mentioned was around Puffin island saturday pm

Safe diving,
Steve