Mid Lancs Sub Aqua

As we reached the end of the 2008 “summer” (and I use that term very loosely) we planned to take Little Mo out for one last time, and dive two of my favourite wrecks around Anglesey – The Sigontium and the Kimya.

 

The weeks leading up to the dive, we watched the weather with baited breath, would it stay remain calm, just for one more weekend, please… Our offerings to the weather gods had been accepted, and the forecast was fantastic.

 

We met up at our usual meeting point and then onto Rhosniger to launch, where a very nice man with a tractor would oblige by taking the pain out of launching such a hefty rib on a shallow sandy beach.

 

As we arrived and were preparing to go it seemed like the weather gods were having one last bit of fun with us, as just out of the bay the ‘gentle breeze’ was creating a few white tops on what was a very lumpy sea. But in a ‘true grit’ style we would pressed on.

 

After pushing through the waves we arrived over the wreck some 45 minutes later, the weather gods smiled on our perseverance, and the wind dropped to a very gentle breeze leaving the sea like a mill pond. The shot line was quickly deployed and eventually we got it near enough to the wreck to dive.

 

Kitting quickly over the side we went, descending down the shot, what was going on – where had all this plankton come from, where was all the light going, where had the 10 metre viz gone, more to the point where had the wreck gone… We managed to spot the trench in the sand the dragging shot had made, and Nick Grady and myself tried in vane to move it back to the wreck to give everybody else a fighting chance.

 

After giving up on that idea, we followed the trench which led us straight to the Sigontium. On route I managed to find a very nice reel and DSMB which had been lost a few months ago, so a good day for me… As we arrived at the wreck Nick’s regs developed a serious fault, so there was only one way to go, up.

 

Discussing the underwater conditions with Sophie and Jamie, they decided to pass on this dive (given the opportunity I probably would have too). So we waited for the others to return to the surface. Mark and Haley surfaced some 15minutes later having found the wreck and having had quite a pleasant dive.

 

With the shot recovered we headed for the Kimya, an oil tanker which capsized in the early 80’s. As we headed across a now calm sea we were all enthralled listening to the drama of a May Day call unfold, as a dingy had capsized in Silver Bay.

 

We quickly found the Kimya and the shot went in, unfortunately it wasn’t one of my best shots, but at least most of the divers found the wreck (sorry to those that didn’t). Thankfully the visibility was a little better, but not brilliant, however I think those who did find the wreck enjoyed it, as the marine life was as good as ever. There was a little moment for one of our hi-tech re-breather divers, thankfully not a serious one and one that will be talked about for a long time to come.

 

As we headed back for the nice man to recover the Little Mo, I couldn’t help feeling a little sad as this was another great day out but unfortunately the last one of the year and we will have to wait another 5 months before we will be in the sea again.

 

I would like to thank everybody who came on Saturday for making it a great day out, but more importantly I would like to thank everybody who has helped to make all of the outings on Little Mo so memorable

 

Andy.