Farne Islands May 2009(By Jim)
An early start of 7.30am saw five members of the club (Gordon, Andy, Sam, Kenny and Jim) setting off to dive the Farne Islands on the M.V Glad Tidings leaving from the harbour at Seahouses, “ropes off at 9.30am” the skipper Billy Sheil informed us. An hour and a half or so down the A1 with a pit stop at Berwick on the way saw us arrive at the end of the pier with time to spare.
Kitted up and gear on board we set off for the first dive of the day the Abbessinia and Knifestone Reef. We soon arrived at the dive site and after a briefing from Billy we jumped in off the end of the Glad Tidings into a calm sea full of seals keeping their distance.
Well most of us arrived !! Gordon had to wait in the water while repairs were carried out to a broken fin strap….no names mentioned!!
As Gordon and I were bobbing about in the water we were checked out by numerous seals below and seemed to be surrounded by others who had launched themselves from the rocks.
Once the group were together we went through the cut as Billy had instructed and we were no sooner into the surrounding kelp when Sam and I were met by an inquisitive seal, it seemed to look us straight in the eyes and came so close to us we were able to stroke its chin. It circled round us then off into the deep.
Amazing, too much excitement early in the dive we didn’t have our cameras ready !!
We carried on to the wreck of the Abbessinia which is pretty well broken up and mostly jumbled metal covered in dead mans fingers and anemones with small fish and crabs inhabiting nooks and crannies.
After a pleasant dive to 17 metres for 40 minutes in approx. 10 metre visibility we surfaced and were promptly picked up by the Glad Tidings. Cups of tea, lunch and chat about the experience during a trip round the islands followed.
Our second dive was at Blue Caps. Once again a lovely dive with plenty to see, starfish, urchins, lobsters and crabs.
After being picked up, Glad Tidings returned to Seahouses where we decided to have a bite to eat then visit nearby BamburghCatle. This was a trip worth the early start and one definitely to schedule again in the future.