jorawley
05-06-06, 10:49
a copy of my trip report from YD:
Am just back from a fabulous week on board the MV Stormdrift with our very own Hazel (Divebiatch) and Helen (Deck Bitch).
Unfortunately the only YD divers were myself and Phil (Recurve) but on the plus side, we managed to be first in the water, first to be picked up, first for the teas n hot chocolates and oh yeah first for the bacon butties and soups :)
The week started with lovely weather and constant texting on staurday to locate each other at scrabster ferry port - you wouldnt think it would be that difficult with just 2 people would you???
Well we managed to get to Stromness and find Stormdrift - definately a boat set out with divers in mind - below decks is the wet room for all your suits, dry room and loo. With above decks being plenty of benches for kitting up, wheelhouse and cabin with kitchen and another loo with shower facilities! Comfortably fit 12 divers but Phil n I made use of all the extra space :)
The diving started on sunday morning with the F2 & Coal Barge at approx 18m. An ideal first dive having never dived together before and Phil being fairly new to this whole salt water / boat concept ;-).
Dive 2 Admiralty coal barge very sheltered and unfortunately a wee bit silty after a few divers ascended just before our descent - but well worth a dive for the life on it.
Day 2 saw us again with fair weather on the Dresden (light cruiser) down to 29m. An intact wreck with watch tower, chains, portholes and everything clearly visible. 4th dive was the Mara (an ex dive boat) who is actually listed as a dive charter service in the back of the older version of Rod Mcdonalds Dive Scapa book. A lovely wee wreck and then drifted onto the bottle run for yep u guessed it bottles and scallops. Approx 18m.
Day 3 and we're on the fleet again with the Koln although the sea is a bit more choppy, and the wind and rain have increased. Max depth 34m. Superb wreck absolutely covered with Pollock and a few big wrasse.
Dive 6 was the Karlsruhe which although is more broken up than the dresden and koln has good light swim throughs and plenty to keep us entertained for almost an hour.
Day 4 - wahey a battle ship - Kronprinz Wilheim - striaght down the shot, over the hull and hit the sea bed at 35m to come face to face with the big guns and look out tower further along. the size was immense!!!
Dive 8 was the F2 and drift as the first time we did the F2 we followed the rope line over to the Barge for most of the dive so this time we stayed on the F2. Fabulous dive at 17m - would happily do again.
Dive 9 was the V83 which is heavily salvaged and broken up at 7m but makes a fabulous colourful dive and covered in life, with an intact hull and stern at approx 16m.
Day 5 - the weather progressively getting colder, wetter and windier and we do the Markgraf! 42m. down the shot, over the hull and if you keep looking you can just see the sea bed before you land on it. Racked up a bit of deco time on this one but an amazing dive. Loads of life and she's really well intact - love to dive her again. Breathtaking.
Dive 11 the admiralty coal barge - viz was great this time and a nice relaxing shallow dive after the first one. Even treated to Helen in her rubber suit joining us for a bit of freediving!!!
Dive 12 was the Gobernador Borie - timing is crucial on this this due to tides and the next stop on the outgoing tide being america. Great wreck - crystal clear viz, full of wrasse, a real wreck to ferret around in.
Day 6 - the final day and weather is awful - Force 6 and miserable. We managed the Dresden again and this time headed for the stern and midships as opposed to the bow - great dive - would do again and again.
The final scapa dive for Phil and I and number 14 was the bottle run with a huge haul of scallops and bottles and phil managed a few bits of brass too we were very happy.
To conclude, Scapa is a must visit and must dive place for every level of diver. Phil and I, as scapa virgins and inexperienced divers were happy to stay shallow hence out dive sites and profiles.
I would recommend a surface interval at Lyness Scapa museum.
Hazel - a fabulous skipper - not many i can think of would still run a trip with just 2 divers, huge amount of knowledge and a knack for giving the divers what they want and need. A big thankyou.
Her boat, Stormdrift is ideal for divers and wildlife watchers and is extremely comfortable with Orkney weather - this coming from me who really hates boats and can get sea sick just looking at one was not even feeling sick once on the entire trip.
Another big thankyou to Helen, who is a super crewgirl, cook and wealth of information for all our questions.
Great spending the week with you ladies and Phil, hope to see you all soon.
Am just back from a fabulous week on board the MV Stormdrift with our very own Hazel (Divebiatch) and Helen (Deck Bitch).
Unfortunately the only YD divers were myself and Phil (Recurve) but on the plus side, we managed to be first in the water, first to be picked up, first for the teas n hot chocolates and oh yeah first for the bacon butties and soups :)
The week started with lovely weather and constant texting on staurday to locate each other at scrabster ferry port - you wouldnt think it would be that difficult with just 2 people would you???
Well we managed to get to Stromness and find Stormdrift - definately a boat set out with divers in mind - below decks is the wet room for all your suits, dry room and loo. With above decks being plenty of benches for kitting up, wheelhouse and cabin with kitchen and another loo with shower facilities! Comfortably fit 12 divers but Phil n I made use of all the extra space :)
The diving started on sunday morning with the F2 & Coal Barge at approx 18m. An ideal first dive having never dived together before and Phil being fairly new to this whole salt water / boat concept ;-).
Dive 2 Admiralty coal barge very sheltered and unfortunately a wee bit silty after a few divers ascended just before our descent - but well worth a dive for the life on it.
Day 2 saw us again with fair weather on the Dresden (light cruiser) down to 29m. An intact wreck with watch tower, chains, portholes and everything clearly visible. 4th dive was the Mara (an ex dive boat) who is actually listed as a dive charter service in the back of the older version of Rod Mcdonalds Dive Scapa book. A lovely wee wreck and then drifted onto the bottle run for yep u guessed it bottles and scallops. Approx 18m.
Day 3 and we're on the fleet again with the Koln although the sea is a bit more choppy, and the wind and rain have increased. Max depth 34m. Superb wreck absolutely covered with Pollock and a few big wrasse.
Dive 6 was the Karlsruhe which although is more broken up than the dresden and koln has good light swim throughs and plenty to keep us entertained for almost an hour.
Day 4 - wahey a battle ship - Kronprinz Wilheim - striaght down the shot, over the hull and hit the sea bed at 35m to come face to face with the big guns and look out tower further along. the size was immense!!!
Dive 8 was the F2 and drift as the first time we did the F2 we followed the rope line over to the Barge for most of the dive so this time we stayed on the F2. Fabulous dive at 17m - would happily do again.
Dive 9 was the V83 which is heavily salvaged and broken up at 7m but makes a fabulous colourful dive and covered in life, with an intact hull and stern at approx 16m.
Day 5 - the weather progressively getting colder, wetter and windier and we do the Markgraf! 42m. down the shot, over the hull and if you keep looking you can just see the sea bed before you land on it. Racked up a bit of deco time on this one but an amazing dive. Loads of life and she's really well intact - love to dive her again. Breathtaking.
Dive 11 the admiralty coal barge - viz was great this time and a nice relaxing shallow dive after the first one. Even treated to Helen in her rubber suit joining us for a bit of freediving!!!
Dive 12 was the Gobernador Borie - timing is crucial on this this due to tides and the next stop on the outgoing tide being america. Great wreck - crystal clear viz, full of wrasse, a real wreck to ferret around in.
Day 6 - the final day and weather is awful - Force 6 and miserable. We managed the Dresden again and this time headed for the stern and midships as opposed to the bow - great dive - would do again and again.
The final scapa dive for Phil and I and number 14 was the bottle run with a huge haul of scallops and bottles and phil managed a few bits of brass too we were very happy.
To conclude, Scapa is a must visit and must dive place for every level of diver. Phil and I, as scapa virgins and inexperienced divers were happy to stay shallow hence out dive sites and profiles.
I would recommend a surface interval at Lyness Scapa museum.
Hazel - a fabulous skipper - not many i can think of would still run a trip with just 2 divers, huge amount of knowledge and a knack for giving the divers what they want and need. A big thankyou.
Her boat, Stormdrift is ideal for divers and wildlife watchers and is extremely comfortable with Orkney weather - this coming from me who really hates boats and can get sea sick just looking at one was not even feeling sick once on the entire trip.
Another big thankyou to Helen, who is a super crewgirl, cook and wealth of information for all our questions.
Great spending the week with you ladies and Phil, hope to see you all soon.