|
|
Farne Islands |
|
|
|
Back to Seahouses for a couple of days diving out on the Farnes on Wavedancer I. Due to circumstances out with our control we did not leave the harbour until 2.00pm on a blustery day.
|
|||
| 10 August The first dive was on the Blue Caps Reef an OK site but pretty 'surgy' with the swell and current; a wall and gully site with octopus and some seals.
|
|||
| After 90 minutess out of the water we motored over to Staple Island and dropped down a shot line onto the boilers of the wreck of the S/S St. Andre. After guddling about the wreckage we followed the keel and ribs to the west onto the vertical cliffs of Staple Island. These are more interesting than the previous site with seals, octopus and nice pink and white nudibranch Dendronotus frondosus on the kelp. |
|
||
| 11 August The Sunday was a much brighter and calmer day and we were away from the harbour at 9.30 am. Out at the Knivestone we dropped down into the lea of the reef onto the wreck of the SS Abesinia. The wreck starts at about 13 metres and lies down the reef to 20+. Although well broken up there was lots to see among the tangled metalwork and plates. Seals up close and inquisitive, hungry Ballan Wrasse and another 5 boat loads of divers made for a busy dive. Peace and some quiet could be found off along the narrow gullies radiating out form the wreck site parallel to the reef contours.
|
|||
|
|
For our last dive we moved across to Longstone, the island site of the Longstone Light. We dived on the north east 'corner' on a superb sloping rock face. The reef dropped steeply from the surface down to 15 metres and then out over a shelving boulder covered bottom to 25+. Everything covered in superb Dead Man's Fingers with small horizontal patches on the vertical walls, covered in red algae and bryazoan turf, home to dozens of little nudibranchs. |
||
|
|
|||
