nov 07 - norway - jane R

[jorawley]

Right, are we siting comfortably – okay please bear with me.

14th nov flew from aberdeen to Bergen with SAS. £140 return which gave me baggage allowance of 20kg and for 15 euro’s more bought me another 20kgs sports allowance which for cold water dive gear was definitely needed. 2 weeks in the red sea i only used 20kg’s but for this long weekend tipped the scales at 35kg.

After the rather short 1hr 20 min flight with clear blue skies and stunning scenery as we came into land caught the flybus from the airport to tourist info near the fishmarket in Bergen – about 40min drive, and wandered down to the harbour – argh no boat! Got through to skipper Gordon on his mobile and due to the past week of bad weather in the north he was hoping to be here by 7 in the evening – okay its 1 in the afternoon.....
A few mins from the market is a busy ferry terminal for the fast ferries going to the local islands and thankfully had a left luggage storage facility for 40 norwegian krona (about £4) so bags deposited and local map in hand off i wander.

On a bright clear day such as today an absolute must do is the funicular railway taking you high into the hills surrounding Bergen with stunning views complete with snow on the ground for about £8. Lovely watching the sunset set from up there at about half 3. Rest of the time spent sampling hot chocolate and wandering through the city park and shopping streets.

By 7 the jane r arrives and i get settled on board – gear all set up (a range of 15’s, 12’s and ponie on board – just bring your own clamps / straps) , bags unpacked and settled down to a beer with Gordon and his ex crewman andy who has moved out here permanently last year. 1130 at night at the remaining 11 divers arrive part of the north sea wreckers club in Norfolk. Bags dumped and off to the pub. Its expensive - £5.40 for a pint, just as well we brought plenty of duty free with us. Me and a few others called it a night around 2, with many not getting back till 4 ish....

First dive was the Spring, starts at 6m and goes past 35m. Viz was at least 15m and a really lovely 9 degrees!! An iron barge carrying coal from Newcastle to trodo sunk in 1914. Loads of cushion stars and wrasse. Relaxed and easy start to the weekend.

4hr steam north to the server wreck which only sank 12th jan 07. Incredibly exposed site usually makes it undiveable but only a slight swell so that was the second dive – surprised how much life there was on it. The photo’s are bad but you can clearly see both lettering and sea life. Through cabins with everything pretty much in tact. An immersion suit floating in the swell in a cabin caused a lot of bubbles and frantic hand signals from the guys infront!! lol

Day 2 - Now the dive that has been in recent magazines and is classed as one of ‘the’ Norwegian dives to do – SS Frankenwald. Current really running so a fast decent to the decks at 30m. Easily 20m viz with masts and bridge looking pretty spectacular. Headed for the stern and the steering colum. Loads of life and so much structure to investigate – easily one you could do 5 dives on and not see all of it and i was only staying at deck level.

Because the first one was sooo good, we did a second on the frankenwald so again took advantage of the nitrox on board – rather strange being at 30m and seeing other divers clearly doing their 5m stop. Yes its rather dark but crystal clear. Saw my first monkfish on this dive too – again photo doesn’t do it justice but it took up the width of most of the corridor. Again headed for the stern and made more sense of the structure i was seeing – rack of bottles, steering system. Bathrooms in the bridge. 10 mins of stops and have to admit i was feeling the cold! 8 degrees at depth.

Moored up for the night in a tiny harbour in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. So we decided a night dive was in order, we being the grand total of one. Slope at 5m and i think im seeing things – nope definitely reindeer legs with starfish on them, at least 10 of them... so finning swiftly on. Slope seemed endless with viz only as far as the torch been 10w HID (thanks to mr&mrsniknakes). Plenty of lobsters, squatties, flat fish, large Pollack and scorpion fish. 40 mins in 9 degrees for a 3rd dive was long enough and well worth doing.

Day 3 – Ferndale and Parrat – again another must do for Norway sank in 1944. Parrat sits in 60m pretty much flat, with the Ferndale being at an angle similar to that of the rondo hard up against the rocky slope. Down the shot to 36m near the stern of the Ferndale and the parrat is clearly visible. Maybe if i had mix, more than a 15 n pony and a buddy i would of gone further as it looked so very tempting but that was far enough for this trip. Steady ascent zigzagging up the Ferndale (loads of life and rust – an ideal dive for all) to its bow in 6m, with stops being done round the rock base and drift round to the boat.

Final dive of the trip before the 6 hour steam back to Bergen was the solvang 2. Only sank in 95 but plenty of life, radio found further out and some even though im not one for scenic dives some really beautiful anemones and other stuff. 45 min dive and i think the cold is getting to me, sinuses a bit blocked and hands an interesting shade of pale / blue ....mmmm

Back in Bergen for 2200 after an unscheduled stop for an engine repair on the way, and the nato minesweeper fleet is moored up on their 5 month detachment just back from Russian waters so the city was packed and rather chaotic. Long story short, in bed by 0500!

Sunday afternoon and the guys head off for the airport, i help clean down the boat ready for the next lot and off for more exploring round Bergen. Flight back to Aberdeen Monday morning.
Definately a place to return to – in fact im looking at the northern route for 2008.
Costs for the trip – boat fully catered incl air £240, spending £100, flights £140 - £480. money well spent.

i'll links and photo's shortly

[jorawley]

Bergen from the funicular railway:




Server wreck

[scott.l.]

Good write up Jo!
Glad you enjoyed it.
I have done 2 x week long liveaboards on Jane R and both have been fantastic.

Did you get in the Jacuzzi?

Keep me posted with your plans for heading North on Jane R.

Who are the ''north sea wreckers club in Norfolk''? Would be keen to find out as Nina and I are still looking for a club in Norfolk area.

Scott.

[jorawley]

Frankenwauld:





Night dive - yes its a reindeer leg...



Solvang:

[StevenSeagull]

Originally Posted by jorawley

viz only as far as the torch been 10w HID (thanks to mr&mrsniknakes).

Ah HAR! I new there'd be incriminating evidence in there somewhere! and you tell me not to by gucci gear.

a salvo!?!

wouldn't catch me shopping for one of those

[StevenSeagull]

..... and why didn't you salvage the reindeer leg.

Would've been a great talking point to add to the wall of chez Jo

[telsa]

I did a similar trip last week. M S Galten out of Narvik. Recommended.

[onthetrain]

nice report Jo, brings back memories of my trip earlier this year. Really superb diving...

[Jenkins]

Dived with Gordon last summer out of Narvik, 3 flights and a per kilo excess baggage charge with SAS meant that I did (somehow) manage to get within the 20kg allowance - although the b/f did travel wearing his undersuit!

Bergan is certainly on our list for the future, although we were planning on driving so we can take twinsets/stages and (unlimited?) clothing etc. I must say one mistake I made was in not taking enough clothing and was unable to get fully warm between dives - it didn't help that my suit was leaking badly for the first 2 days (untill I found and fixed the leak!), which in those temperatures wasn't fun.

[jorawley]

Originally Posted by Jenkins

Dived with Gordon last summer out of Narvik, 3 flights and a per kilo excess baggage charge with SAS meant that I did (somehow) manage to get within the 20kg allowance - although the b/f did travel wearing his undersuit!

Bergan is certainly on our list for the future, although we were planning on driving so we can take twinsets/stages and (unlimited?) clothing etc. I must say one mistake I made was in not taking enough clothing and was unable to get fully warm between dives - it didn't help that my suit was leaking badly for the first 2 days (untill I found and fixed the leak!), which in those temperatures wasn't fun.

To be honest i'm glad i spent the extra on baggage as a lot of the things i took were too bulky to fit in one bag unless it was a super huge fit the kitchen sink in dive bag.
Took 2 undersuits with me, in case i got wet.
sleeping bag as bedding is not provided.
A fair amount of spares for regs, straps, suit patches etc etc as its rather remote up there with no dive shop in easy reach.
Huge yellow coat (which is seen in most of my yd trip photos) which was great as the third n 4th day it chucked it down but really worth standing outside for the scenery).

I know for 2008 theres a few boats from scapa and scotland going to be operating out of bergen but it will be their first trip so my honest advice is stick with the ones that know what they're doing and have been out there for a few years...
welcome