St Abbs 15 - 17 May 2009



The weather forecast had been grim but then there was a hint of sunshine, although still a bit windy, according to some of the predictions. Then on the Thursday the forecast was even gloomier. However, once booked on the trip, you pays your money, you takes your chance. There’s always something else you can do (the backup plan).

Ever the optimist I thought that even if diving wasn’t advisable we could still take the boat out, giving the existing boathandlers a go at handling our RIB with its brand new engine, and also allowing others to gain some experience ready for when they do their boathandling course. How wrong was I!! There was no chance that boat was moving out of the harbour on the Saturday.

Not to be deterred (backup backup plan) we set off for Pettico Wick to eye up the prospects of a shore dive. Yes! The bay was calm enough, so the intrepid seven (who felt fit enough to tackle the trek down - not too bad -, the clamber in across slippery boulders, a reasonable, if somewhat shallow, dive and then to cap it all off the exhausting climb back up) decided they were going to do that all-important first dive. What a sense of achievement, particularly for Paul Green who managed his first sea dive. Well done, Paul!

The prospects for Sunday were much better. We agreed to be down at the harbour for 9am to weigh up the situation. But before 7am we got a message from Duncan – conditions good enough to go. We’d have two waves, first wave to be down at the harbour RTG (ready to go) at 9am. Sure enough they left at about 9.02am.

Back before 10.30, a quick change over so the second wave could go and do their dive and be back before 12 noon to get the boat out before the tide was too low. And again, precision timing – they appeared from behind Seagull Rock at 11.50, giving just 10 minutes to unload the boat and get it out before the tide had fallen too far. Another first for Paul – his first dive from the RIB. For Alex and Aidy it was their first sea dive ‘let off the leash’.

Thanks to everyone for making it another enjoyable weekend away for Bury SAC, particularly to Alan for organising it, Duncan for towing the boat, MonaLisa for doing a lot of the boathandling and to Elaine for organising the quiz.