The distinctive aroma of the malt distillery, the famous highland hospitality, wrecks galore and clear Atlantic water – all the perfect ingredients for a Billericay SAC Club Trip, well almost…
This year for the annual Wilson expedition I chose Oban, a place I have wanted to dive for years (there is a list as long as my arm) and there were quite a few others in the club who wanted to join me. We arrived on the Sunday afternoon and picked up the keys to the Puffin Cottage where we were staying, at the same time finding where Puffin’s centre was and getting to know the lie of the land.
First morning we arrived at 7.15 in the pouring rain and dutifully got our kit together for the first day’s diving. It was a blessing that Puffin provide cylinders and air as part of their dive package, so that helped with the kit haul and time spent filling. Puffin provide a 15 ltr and 12 ltr every day, fills were a bit sad at an average of 200 bar, but I always had plenty of air for all my dives. That Monday we dived the Breda followed by A scenic dive around Heather Island. The Breda is the sister ship to the well known Thistlegorm in the Red Sea, it is very interesting and covered in life. The many holds are full of all sorts of goods. The seabed is at approx 30m and the top of the bows around 12m. Heather Island is closer to Oban but sadly a bit average. The weather was rainy and the sun just refused to show its face!
Second day we dived the Thesis in the Sound of Mull, this was a very scenic wreck, about half the length of the Breda and a good wreck where you can see it all in just the right amount of time. On a bit of a slope, this was my favourite dive of the trip and the way you could swim through most of the holds (much like a large Countess of Erne) made it very satisfying. Lots of plumose anemones and dead men’s fingers all over the ribs of the wreck. Depth was 32m, rising to 18-19m a the bow shot line. Weather had deteriorated a bit from Monday with a bit of wind making the rain more horizontal!
Wednesday was the Breda again, this time we dived it twice, stern then bow as two dives. The weather had improved with some sunshine which improved spirits.
Thursday was the Shuna back in the Sound of Mull. Very silty, but very intact wreck near to a fish farm. Very large spare prop on the stern deck at 28m. Weather held up reasonably well that day too.
Last day we dived was Friday and we dived a rocky wall first as the second dive was on a shallow wreck. The wall was south of Mull and called Columbus Reef and at one point the shear wall dropped vertically as far as I could see, possibly 30m below me at 20m and beyond – awesome! The wreck was the Meldon and is shallow at a max depth of 14m with the stern post just breaking the surface of the water. Very pretty and bright and lots of stuff to see – well worth a dive.
The accommodation was adequate at best, the bed linen and towels all required washing and there were a few essential items missing from the kitchen which were replaced, but we managed.
On Friday night we went to McTavishes restaurant in Oban where we had traditional Scottish fare and they even had a Scottish show with a fiddler, piano accordion and pipe player along with a singer and a young Scottish dancer. The night went very well with a fine sunset over the harbour.
Thanks to Andy, Pete, Marie, George, John, Steve, Diana and Caroline for making it a success. Next time I must book some sunshine!
