Northern Isles
Live-Aboard Experience
Aboard the MV Halton
12th – 19th September 2009
This is our first visit to the dive the Northern Isles of Orkney.
The week will start in Scapa Flow with 2 dives on the wrecks of the German Fleet, then heading out of the Flow to dive the wrecks and scenic sites of the Northern Isles, then returning to the flow and spending the last day diving on the German Fleet.
The cost of £695-00 includes, ferry crossing, 7 nights aboard the MV Halton, breakfast, lunch, snacks while in the Flow and full board while out in the Northern isles. Nitrox is available and is payable locally at the end of your holiday. You will also have the option of 12 or 15-litre cylinders & air.
Trip deposit is £200.00 payable cash, cheque or debit card; please note that credit card payments are subject to 2.5% surcharge.
For this trip we recommend you operate a car share system, splitting the fuel cost between you, this worked well when we went to Scapa in 2007. This allows for a more comfortable and faster journey to and from Scrabster, where there is excellent parking. Please indicate on the booking if you would like to take a car or be a passenger.
Here’s is a bit of info about the week:
Those catching the ferry we will meet at the port of Scrabster, the crossing will take approximately 90 minutes. (Times will be confirmed a little nearer the time) When we dock in Stromness the MV Halton is only a couple of minutes walk away.
For the Northern Isles trip - Breakfast and lunch & two course evening is served aboard the boat while diving in the flow and evening meals are only included while visiting the Northern Isles, for the evenings we are in Stromness we will eat at local eateries and you need to budget for this as it is not included in the trip.
Food aboard the boat will be a simple menu: porridge, toast and cereal for breakfast; burgers, bacon and sausage rolls for lunch and a two-course meal in the evenings. If you have any special dietary requirements please make these known at the time of booking.
If we do not make it to the Northern Isles - Breakfast and lunch is served aboard the boat, for our evening meals we will eat at various eateries and you need to budget for this, as these is not included in the trip.
Please budget £10.00 to £25.00 for your evening meals in the event we do not make it to the Northern Isles and for our last night if we do, as these are not included in the cost of your trip. We will sit at various harbours or sheltered moorings at night.
Staying aboard the boat we have six days diving to complete between 10 and 12 dives, weather depending.
The boat has an on board compressor and cylinders are easily refilled after each dive.
You will need warm clothing, wind proof jacket and a hat. Don’t bring loads of footwear you just need a decent pair of shoes/boots suitable for aboard the boat and for climbing pier ladders.
In September the water temperature will be approximately 12/13oC, the weather can be typical Orkney weather, variable with rain, wind & sun. The underwater visibility in the Flow should be approx 8 to 10 metres, in the Northern Isles we expect on some dives in excess of 10 to 15 metres. A decent torch is highly recommended.
The boat has 6 x twin cabins, each bunk is equipped with a duvet and a pillow for everyone's comfort, bunks are allocated and you do have to share. The on board Rayburn also heats the onboard radiators that keep the Halton warm & dry.
Worst case scenario and we do not make it out of the Flow due to the weather conditions and we do not make it to the northern isles not a problem as we can enjoy a full week diving the wrecks of Scapa flow and the cost difference between the two trips the trip cost for Scapa Flow is £595.00 the difference will be returned upon our return.
Please note costing that fuel this far ahead is difficult and there may be a fuel surcharge for the Halton.
To book onto this trip you should be comfortable diving in the 30 to 35-metre depth range in a buddy pair and be confidant in deploying a DSMB. If you are unsure please check with Elwyn or Lesley prior to booking.