6th – 8th June 2014
by Richard Booth
One of the great things about being part of a large club such as the BSAC is the opportunity to dive with other branches and share ones knowledge and experience of local dive sites. In this case, Putney BSAC who had some spare spaces on Paul Crowes new charter dive boat, the MV Shore Diver.
First dive of the weekend was a late evening dive out on the Black Carrs. Sadly a combination of the setting sun and recent swell had combined to make this quite a gloomy and dark dive. Nor did we locate any wolfish, for which this site in past years has been particularly noted. Although we did find other interesting marine life to photograph.
Next morning, Shore Diver headed out along the coast to dive the letterbox site in Pettico Wick bay.
The relative shelter offered by this bay ensured calm water and plenty of time to explore the scenic gullies that are to be found at this site. Some of the group even managed to locate the boilers of the Peanut wreck.
This site also provided a great opportunity for photographing macro subjects, including two small fish that happily posed in their shell ‘home’.
Second dive of the day was on the Skellies. Here we enjoyed a lovely dive exploring the scenic gullies that make up this site. Indeed it was within one of these gullies that we successfully found a wolfish in its solitary lair.
Sunday dawned, and we again headed out for the final day’s diving.
First dive of the day was a gentle drift to Craigs Rock. Again, this site provided plenty of lobsters and colourful sunstars to photograph.
Highlight of the dive however was finding a fine specimen of an anglerfish.
Final dive of the weekend was the West Hurkers. The dive commenced with a gentle drift through the narrow ravine and then keeping the reef on our right we eventually reached the cave, before heading out over the colourful rocks and gullies out into open water to await pick up by the MV Shore Diver.
Thanks to Tim Watson of Putney BSAC and Paul Crowe, Shore Diver’s skipper, for a great weekends diving.
