a nibble on the May, in May....

[jorawley]

The trip came about after a wee gathering invite i received for Saturday night, so with it being a 4 hour drive each way i thought it only fair to get the most of the weekend and book in a few dives with Dive Safari which is Pegasus skippered by Gary (who is currently teaching somewhere ridiculously hot) and Brian.

So Friday morning i head off for the bustling metropolis which is Dunbar, having found the harbour and dive boat (always pays to check your in the right place) off i head for the B&B. Only £27 a night which is superb for the places round here – some where quoting £60 a night for a single room which is almost the diving budget for the entire weekend.

Anyway Friday at 1800 theres 8 of us, me and 7 from Plug Divers loading onto the boat which i have to say is superb – not only is there a lift, plenty of practical bench and floor space for 12 divers, a cabin to fit all 12 from bad weather theres a loo and unlimited teas n coffees too. The sun is still out and only a slight hint of a breeze so the dive site is Bass Rock.
Up close it is rather impressive apart from all those bloody birds making a racket.
30 mins smooth ride out and what a cracking scenic site – covered in soft corals, anemones, at least 10 lobsters, lovely n chilled out dive for 50 mins. Kept shallower as i’ve rather blocked sinuses etc from 4 days diving on skye last weekend and fear i may have a slight cold on the horizon.... Anyway viz was 6m+, temp 8 degrees. Back to the harbour and B&B for lempsip and sleep.

Saturday was superb diving weather – ideal considering i was running a Conger Alley (scottish forum) trip consisting again of 8 – myself, richey, dj, dave, artur, paul, mike and YD’s own chris dundee.
Well you can only organise so much and then its up to the people involved so when all communications say Dunbar harbour for 9.30, ropes of 9.50 i was really impressed when 7 of us were sat ready to go on the boat by 9.30,
so we have a cracking boat, great weather and 7 divers – then the mobile goes... Richey ‘is diving still on as im at North Berwick harbour and cant see a dive boat or any divers’... cue lots of laughing – so he’s instructed to attempt redemption by putting his foot down and bringing hot chocolate with him as while waiting we appeared to have somewhat dented supplies.

So long story short we all did 2 cracking dives on Bass Rock, its thats big u could easily do 4 on it, one was a relaxed bimble the other a steady drift – loads of lobbies, butterfish, few seals in the water, hardly see the rocks for all the life on them. I mean i love my rusty metal dives, and i used to think there was nothing worse than fish fondlers – well there is... anemones admirer which i have to admit im rapidly becoming. My only saving grace is that many are a rusty metal colour...

Sunday and the wind has picked up with the sky looking decidely grey, the cold hasnt shifted and im feeling a little fragile – yes i know its all self inflicted but im setting the scene... Only 5 of us this morning as arranged by Plug divers, myself, paul, mike, bob and... erm.. well lets call him Bob as well. Destination is Isle of May – about 15 miles out from Dunbar with the latest forecast and current state being force 3-4, dropping later. About 80mins later we’re there and theres a fair bit of swell – drop in to about 10m and within a cpl of seconds a seal peers round the rocks at me.... cue camera faffing and by the time im sorted its gone – ah but wait... i spotted metal.
Viz is about 4m and quite dark but i’ve got seals and metal – then it happens, the first ever yet unmistakably tug on the fin. Turn round to see a huge pair of eyes staring at me, then poof its gone again... i stay on my back holding on to some kelp as im sure the swell has picked up and sure enough 2 young seals are back, circling me and one comes within touching distance nibbles the fin then goes again.

So many people have had seal interaction at the farnes, and despite over 20 dives there last year at varying states of the year they barely came close enough yet here i was bimbling with at least 10 different characters and how cute they looked too... 30 mins later and the swell was getting too much for me. I also missed the second dive thinking i’d pushed my sinuses far enough over the weekend and wanted to finish on a good note so we watched huge flocks of puffins, guillimots and shags all doing they’re thang, with easily over 30 seals in the water too.
Th etrip back was erm eventful with the sea state having really picked up and the boat and its passengers took a battering and over an hour longer to get back in – but all in all another great 4 sea dives, some new faces and old ones dived with too.

Dive Safari Scotland, North Berwick, Scotland

[jorawley]

[Sparky750]

Great report Jo thanks for writing

[jorawley]

[yazzyfooty]

When I dived the Isle of May last year I was really disapointed that not one fish was seen in fact we all made comment on how little life there was. Maybe because we dived it between December and January new year and it was too cold for anything.

The crossing on the club rhib was also something I am not sure I want to experience again. Roughest seas I have been on but I didnt throw up. It hasnt encouraged me to rush back there to dive unfortunately.


Nice pics Jo. Just proving there is life on May.

[jorawley]

Originally Posted by yazzyfooty

When I dived the Isle of May last year I was really disapointed that not one fish was seen in fact we all made comment on how little life there was. Maybe because we dived it between December and January new year and it was too cold for anything.

The crossing on the club rhib was also something I am not sure I want to experience again. Roughest seas I have been on but I didnt throw up. It hasnt encouraged me to rush back there to dive unfortunately.


Nice pics Jo. Just proving there is life on May.

Unfortunately my self control wasnt as good as yours and i was feeding the fish, however i wasnt the only one, and in my sort of defence Bob started first so of course i didnt want to be left out..... thats my excuse anyway..

The island itself is really impressive - reminds me of Hoy with the sheer cliffs etc but the bird life on it is amazing - never seen so many all clinging to the tiniest of ledges n cracks.

In terms of diving im glad i got the chance to dive May Island, over the moon with the seal interaction - in fact that made the whole weekend but in terms of ease of getting to, viz, life and all those other factors i'd say Bass Rock was the better of the dives.

[Gram43]

Glad you managed to get the diving in with Dive Safari.
Hopefully, you will have got my message re-trying to get in touch with them to see if they have space.
Do they actually pick up emails and messages? or is there a special way of getting in touch them that I perhaps haven't discovered yet.

[jorawley]

Originally Posted by Gram43

Glad you managed to get the diving in with Dive Safari.
Hopefully, you will have got my message re-trying to get in touch with them to see if they have space.
Do they actually pick up emails and messages? or is there a special way of getting in touch them that I perhaps haven't discovered yet.

Graham - sure did, jus working my way through pm's now.
The mobile number listed is Gary's and he is teaching in Oman at the moment - back this week.
A few ppl have been off ill as such with Brian taking us diving no-one has been manning the shop.

[Gogs]

Originally Posted by yazzyfooty

When I dived the Isle of May last year I was really disapointed that not one fish was seen in fact we all made comment on how little life there was. Maybe because we dived it between December and January new year and it was too cold for anything.

The crossing on the club rhib was also something I am not sure I want to experience again. Roughest seas I have been on but I didnt throw up. It hasnt encouraged me to rush back there to dive unfortunately.

It will be a wee bit rough in the winter months, but so will a lot of places around the UK at that time

Some good wrecks around the Isle of May though...

Gogs

[jorawley]

Originally Posted by Gogs

It will be a wee bit rough in the winter months, but so will a lot of places around the UK at that time

Some good wrecks around the Isle of May though...

Gogs

Yeah Brian mentioned the primrose i think it was in about 30m off the east coast of the island... be interested in hearing about more though - just to build up my rusty metal experience - never have too much rust