Mid Lancs Sub Aqua

As we set off on the long hall to Lochaline, had it really been 8 months since we were last there?

So many good places to dive and so little time!

There was certainly a great deal of excitement between everybody on the journey, with many phone calls asking "where are you" and others repeatedly asking me "are we there yet…"

We rolled into Lochaline around 4.30, just giving us enough time to prepare Little Mo for the adventures of the weekend, before checking into the dive centre and off to pub.

The following morning, there was a few bleary eyes around the breakfast table; some due to the strength of the local brew and others due to only arriving in Lochaline at 2.30am Saturday morning. All was remedied with a hearty breakfast and we were away

With Little Mo launched and the excitement building we sped our way down the Sound of Mull heading for our first site, The Shuna – a 1400 ton steamer which in 1913 ran onto Grey Rocks during heavy weather.

Unfortunately some 4 miles into our journey the same heavy weather was telling us ‘Not this morning guys’ so we headed back to the shelter of Artornish Point and diving for Scallops we did go (more on them later). It was actually quite a pleasant dive, not as many Scallops as I would have liked, but there was still some nicely coloured starfish, soft corrals, a few edible crabs (which we eventually returned to the sea) to make the dive interesting enough.

With our cylinders re-filled, and our hunger suppressed with Bambi burgers (sorry venison burgers) we were contemplating our options. Thankfully the reports of the weather calming down had not been exaggerated, so we headed back to the Shuna. This time there was not a white horse in sight, and when we arrived at the sight, we quickly kitted up and we where in. The Shuna sometimes can be a little dark and foreboding, and due to its location to the fish farm somewhat silty (a nice way to saying its covered in fish poo). But today the site was reasonably light and the visibility was in the region of 8m. Swimming from bow to stern and back, taking in the engine room on route had taken all our dive time and it was time to head back to the surface. Booo

We arrived back at Lochaline with just enough time to recover Little Mo from the water, get showered and head back to the pub for tea. With much merriment we tucked into our meals, and I distinctly remember somebody (Dave) saying ‘should we go to the social club later, there’s a band on’

It turned out that in this case "a band" was very loose description, two blokes with harpsichords was perhaps a accurate version of events, As the night wore on and friends greeted each other by slapping hands and saying "give me six" we headed back to the digs.

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It was at this point the Gordon Ramsey hats went on and started to prepare Scallops, with bacon, hotdogs and onions – on toast… I can’t see that combination winning any Michelin stars, however after copious amounts of the local brew, it rates along with meat & potato pies. Hmmm pies…

With the weather near perfect on the Sunday, we headed off to the Bread, a round trip of nearly 40 miles. It didn’t take long to locate the Breda and even less time to get ready, review the dive plan, buddy check and over the side. Its been over 10 years since I last dived the Breda, what an amazing dive the vis was a good 10 – 15m, very bright and huge cod / pollock swimming around the structures. All too soon it was time to head back, but not before swimming off the bow and turning back to face the wreck. Once we were all back on board Jamie opened the taps on the throttle and we started our journey home.

For the first leg of the journey the tide was against us causing a fair chop on the sea. But thankfully we managed to find some shelter as we ran in the wake of a large fishing vessel. As we approached the ship I remember telling people to hang on and saying to Jamie you will have to give her some power to push through the wake. We forged ahead and crested the first part of the wake, as we dropped into the trough between the two wakes there was a moment of realisation before ploughed head long into the rising crest of the second wake. I’ve never been on a boat before where it has been travelling 25kts and then stopped in 3 feet.

Thankfully apart from the odd bruise or two there was no harm done, and Bruce was able to recount his view of the underside of Little Mo….

I couldn’t do justice to the whole weekend in such a short account, however a fantastic time was had by all, and I would like to thank everyone for making it a very special trip.

We will return……..

Andy