View Full Version : Narked on the Nippo Maru - Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon - April 2009
Angela Robson
01-03-10, 12:24
This was our first dive on this particular wreck. There was myself, my husband, our friends, Tim and Liz and Estos, our dive guide. It was only the 5 of us on the wreck at this moment.
We had just come off the shot line, and were swimming along the deck where right below us was a tank. I tried to get my husband Paul's attention as he was the only one who had a camera. He turned and looked at me, so I pointed (using both hands) to below me. He shrugged his shoulders and turned round again, and continued heading towards the bow. I looked round to Tim and Liz, and they were also none the wiser. I was left thinking, "what the ???" Am I honestly the only one that can see this flipping tank???? Surely not!
From the bow, we swam round towards the stern, and into the holds. One of the holds held rounds of ammunition, bomb shells, boxes and boxes of loose bullets, drums, etc. We were in this hold and my husband decided he needed to rest, so he plonked himself down on a box of bullets. Tim tried to usher him up but Paul didn't seem to understand what Tim was trying to do.
From here, we exited the hold and on the way back to the shot line, Paul saw the tank on the deck that I had tried pointing out to him earlier. So he saw-tooth dived back down to the deck to take photos of the tank before returning to catch up with us on the shot line. As a result, he had clocked up extra minutes of deco, and as his buddy I was not best pleased as I stuck around with him for at least an extra 4 minutes after my own deco had cleared.
When we got back on the boat, I asked him what had happened, and he said he saw the tank and went back to take photos. I then pointed out it was the same tank I saw at the beginning of the dive. He had no idea. He could remember me getting his attention. He said he saw me pointing but didn't understand why, so carried on with his dive. Tim also mentioned the box of bullets he chose as his resting place, again, Paul was completely oblivious to this.
He just laughed, shrugged his shoulders and said, "I must have been narked!"
definately a bit narked at least he did,nt try to drive the tank :)thats the thing with narcosis recognising it .have enjoyed reading your blogs especially truk would love to go there .making it to scapa this year so happy enough :D
Angela Robson
03-03-10, 09:37
Scapa is great diving, we did Scapa in September 2007, with Scapa Flow Charters (MV Jean Elaine). We stayed on board the entire week. We had a fairly good deal with the Ferry people in Stromness. had our evening meals on land, but all other meals were provided for by the lovely Ronnie!
We paid a deposit, and they gave us the key code for the back entrance, so we could go in and use the showers whenever we wanted, and not just during opening hours. You have to pay £1 to use the showers, but we used it every night we were docked in Stromness as there was only 1 shower on board the boat, between 10 people, and it was accessible by walking outside onto the deck and then into the shower. So to get back and forth from the shower, you'd have to go outside on the deck briefly. It was freezing, well, you know what it's like you you just get out the shower.
Have you been to Scapa Flow before? It's not as deep, dark and dangerous as some people make out. If we had listened to half the stories we were told, we probably would've cancelled!
I dived Scapa with a single 15 ltr and a 3 ltr pony. I never used the pony once, and always ascended with adequate air, no less than 50 bar. There was no-one on board the Jean Elaine on twins (apart from twin 7's, but they don't count, as they work out less than a single 15 with or without a pony).
Regarding Paul being narked on the Nippo Maru, he's very lucky that no incident did occur, but how easy it could have! I didn't mention it in the blog, but he did actually accidentally hit a shell with his torch too.
I'm glad you enjoyed my blogs, that's what they're there for. I like to share my experiences (or lack of!) with others, and I like reading other peoples blogs too.
I hope you enjoy Scapa, and defo make it to Chuuk - it's soooooooo worth it!
Nice blogs, Angela ... but I'm starting to develop Lifestyle Envy :D
Angela Robson
03-03-10, 10:13
Lol. There's nothing to be envious of - trust me!
like the idea of a decent shower .do you just ask at the ferry office r.e . the key code ? .we are all diving 15s and ponys all the diving we do just now is in the same depth range clyde wrecks akka beagle wallachia etc .its the size of the wrecks i expect will be different .i was thinking about going to twin 12s for extended range ,but i think this is a bit pointless if you are diving with a buddy who is not using the same . more interested this trip in the scapa fill nitrox diving as you are doing repetitve diving all week .i don,t bother diving nitrox normally as we get our fills at the club quite cheap.
Angela Robson
03-03-10, 18:28
Andy, the skipper asked for us. He arranged a meeting for us with the ferry manager, we paid our deposit (I think at the time it was £10, but you get it back), but you don't get the £1 back for the showers themselves, it's kinda like a vendor machine, your insert you money and get about 20 - 30 mins shower out of it which is more than enough time.
If you ask to speak to the ferry terminal manager, or get the skipper (who will know them) to arrange a set up for you.
I wouldn't say twin 12s are pointless, but it depends on the dive group and their experience, and what type of diving you've booked with the charters, as I believe there are some deeper wrecks in Scapa, it's just that we only dived the wrecks that were in the 'recreational' range.
If you are diving the recreational range of wrecks, a 15 ltr and pony would be more than sufficient for this.
Also, I can't speak on behalf of anyone else, but the crew at MV Jean Elaine provided Nitrox on board, so you didn't have to drag your cyclinders on land for Nitrox fills.
we are on the sharon rose so will ask andy about it .think they have nitrox onboard .i,m not bothered about going deep more about what there is to see also staying in the rec depth range means you can get a decent dive time .my bud alastair dived a british sub off a greek island can,t remember the details but its 45mtrs said it was an excellent dive but short dive time ,as on holiday he was on a single 15 with no pony diving with people he did,nt know .the first time they tried diving it the shot was,nt on the wreck the dive leader signalled they would look around for it .as they were at 45mtrs alastair signalled NO and went up .the next day the shot was right on it . here i,m rambiling again . i will have to ask him to post a blog about it .
i,m not bothered about going deep more about what there is to see
I still think the best dive in Orkney is the Tabarka, about 12-15m max. We had about 90min on it then a drift on to the other wreck downstream... which I missed completely :D
Andy is a brilliant skipper, really good laugh.
Angela Robson
03-03-10, 22:47
I still think the best dive in Orkney is the Tabarka, about 12-15m max. We had about 90min on it then a drift on to the other wreck downstream... which I missed completely :D
Andy is a brilliant skipper, really good laugh.
I have to agree, the Tabarka is a lovely dive, tidal, but lovely. And it was about the only wreck in Scapa that we went inside, and it was a great day, so the sun was beaming through the slats.
Andy is a great skipper, and very helpful too. He would do his best to help, guide or advise you.
I have to agree, the Tabarka is a lovely dive, tidal, but lovely. And it was about the only wreck in Scapa that we went inside, and it was a great day, so the sun was beaming through the slats.
It was lovely the last time I did it as well, very atmospheric, went from one end to the other inside it.
He would do his best to help, guide or advise you.
Really? He usually does his best to take the piss and shout insults at us :D He's a great guy, my favourite Orkney skipper.