They really like to welcome you into Wales…
After queuing on the M4 for a while to get past Bristol, you then have the beauty of the new Severn Bridge to look forward, before the true welcome to Wales – the massive queues on a bank holiday Friday to get through the tolls.
Eventually we arrived at our home, the very nice Ferry House Inn, and after a quick drink were wrapped up in bed with fingers crossed for better weather than had been forecast. We’d already known it might be a little rough and with news that the South Coast was being blown out (including the clubs own Eastbourne trip), hopes were not high…
Day 1 saw the usual shenanigans of finding the boat and loading up, but the Steve & Howard on Blue Shark were always able to help out. The weather didn’t look great, but the skipper in his eternal optimism was confident we could make it to Skomer, a local island with wrecks and reefs a plenty. He was right… but it was a very bouncy journey and a few green faces developed on the way.
Fortunately we found a very nice secluded bay which protected us from the wind and so we split into 2 groups, one to drop in on the wreck of the Lucy, the other wanting something a little shallower to get into the swing of things.
The wreck itself was nice and very intact, if a little silty and even allowed for some light penetration (good finning technique a must!). Those on the reef enjoyed a nice relaxed dive, even if Kelly’s SMB proved that one with 2 holes is not very effective.
Dive two afforded everyone the chance to get a nice wall dive in, and it didn’t disappoint in terms of life with crabs, dogfish and some nice invertibrates a plenty. There was a bit of a swell though and so we got out before it caused too many problems!
The journey home was another long slog (2 hours), and conversation was at a premium as everyone concentrated on not losing their lunch, but we got home all in one piece and once in the natural harbour, things were much improved. All that bouncing around though, meant we had to rush to get back and change before heading off for a very nice meal in Pembroke Dock.
Unfortunately, day two was forecasted to be worse than day one and so it appeared as we arrived at the dock. Only 4 hardy souls managed to make it out (others went Zorbing!), but with Keith’s 50th Birthday being celebrated, Julian, Robin and Dave couldn’t leave him to dive alone! We decided sensibly to stay in the natural harbour and dived the Dakotian and the Behar. Both dives were great fun, even if the viz was challenging, but Keith’s special day was celebrated in style.
Staying in Milford Haven meant we didn’t get home too late and special birthday fun was had in the evening.
Day Three was always viewed as the better day for weather and so it transpired, with not much wind and an occasional glimpse of the sun to warm you up. We headed over to the island of Skokholm which even though a reasonable distance was a nice journey and had a great dive through the gullies and around the wreck (fairly broken up it was) – we’d never seen so many dogfish…
We headed back towards home and on the way did a very quick drop off for some Brass fittings (the skipper had a special spot where they always got washed towards), and then the final dive of the weekend. The wreck itself is very broken up, but the surrounding life was great and some of us got a little carried away on the dive…
We all got home safely (albeit a little later than planned) and despite a long drive home and arrival back in London at well past 11pm, everyone agreed it was another fantastic weekend away with the ADC. Many thanks to Ness for an outstanding job of organising, especially as she took over from the unable to come Whelans, and of course to all the great ADC people who made the weekend extra special!