Aboard the MV Halton
7th - 14th August 2010
This is simply the best mixture of UK Wreck & Scenic diving we have ever experienced, and we've been twice now!
The cost of £760-00 for this Shetland adventure includes: ferry crossing, 5 nights full board aboard the MV Halton, 6 days diving & a choice of either a 12 or 15 litre cylinder & air.
The ferry departs from Aberdeen at 17.00hrs on Saturday 7th August and docks in Lerwick 07.30hrs on Sunday 20th August. For our return journey we will catch the ferry from Lerwick at 17.30hrs on Friday 13th docking in Aberdeen at 07.00hrs on Saturday 14th August.
Hiring a minibus ( if everyone would prefer that we did travel up in one vehicle) the cost is an additional £80.00 (approx.) per person. Otherwise our plan is for everyone to travel up and load their kit on to the Seastyle van prior to boarding the ferry.
Here’s is a bit of info about the week:
Travelling by self-drive to Aberdeen to catch the ferry to meet the MV Halton at Lerwick. Cabins are available at an additional cost; prices provided are for one way only, inner 4 berth £88-00 (£22-00 each one way if 4 people share 2009 prices). If you would like us to book a cabin this must be paid for along with your trip deposit. Alternatively, we can book a sleeper seat at no extra charge, if you would prefer.
Staying aboard the boat, we have six days diving to complete between 9 & 13 dives weather depending. The weather is very unpredictable and can change very quickly.
The boat has an on board compressor and cylinders are easily refilled after each dive. There are 12 litre standard, 1 x dumpy 12 litre & 3 x15 litres & 2 x twin 12's available, please make your selection on the booking form. The Halton also has plenty of weights on board so you only need take your ankle weights and empty belts/integrated pouches.
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.
In August, the water temperature will be approximately 12°C, the weather is typical Shetland weather; variable with rain, wind & sun. The underwater visibility should be good at over 10 metres. To get the best from the diving we recommend that you have a decent underwater torch.
The boat has 6 x twin cabins, each bunk is equipped with a duvet and pillows for everyone's comfort. The on board Rayburn also heats radiators that keep the Halton warm & dry. Cabins are pre-allocated.
The dives are a mixture of wreck and scenic with depths ranging from 20 to 40 metres and viz. 15 to 25 metres.
Who can join us? Not sure if this trip is for you please contact either Lesley or Elwyn to discuss this further.
Prior to booking a Seastyle holiday please ensure you read our terms and conditions of booking. Then return your signed booking form along with your £200.00 deposit.
Diving Shetland ~ we had such a fantastic time here in 2006 & again in 2008, that our plan was to return once again sooner rather than later. If you enjoy diving in the UK and are up for an adventure, this week is definitely for you.
Our plan is to dive the wrecks around Lerwick and weather permitting head back to Mucklefugga Outstack, the most northly point of the UK, for more wrecks and some simply stunning scenic dives.
Here’s a little taste of some of the wrecks on offer.
Wreck Info:
Gwladmena
This 928-ton steamship foundered and sank following a collision with the SS Flora of Denmark in January 1918. She now lies on sandy seabed, sitting on an even keel with the stern at around 40m deep. She is reasonably intact; certainly all the main parts of the hull and engine room are recognisable. All in all a very pleasant dive.
Glen Isla
The 1263-ton steam ship Glen Isla foundered and sank following a collision with SS Glenelg. She now sits on an even keel in 45m of water in the main entrance to Lerwick harbour. Similar to the Gwladmena in both the way she lays and design, the Glen Isla is another good dive.
Lunokhods
The Lunokhods-1 was a Latvian registered Klondiker that dragged her anchors and was blown ashore in a severe storm on 9/11/93. She now lies in a geo (small gully in the rocks) at the base of Kirkabister Light, the distinctive lighthouse that marks the entrance to Lerwick Harbour. The bow broke away and slid down the slope and now lies in just over 40m. She was blown into the geo stern first so the stern now lies tightly wedged into the gully down to about 18m.
E49
The E49 struck a mine laid by UC-49 in Baltasound on 10 March 1917 and sank without survivors. This is Elwyn’s favourite UK dive with viz. at 25 metres plus and depth of 35 metres. This is a spectactular dive and much more of the wreck was exposed in 2008, we cannot wait to dive it in 2010
Pionersk
Continuing the theme, the Pionersk was another Latvian registered Klondiker that managed to pull off the same trick. She too dragged here anchors in a severe southerly storm and was blown ashore at Gulberwick on 31 October 1994. The Pionersk was a large ship, at a length of 180m, and lies in a depth of 22m. She makes for an interesting dive though, due to her size, it is easy to get confused as to where you are: gold coloured tin lids litter the area making for a curious distraction.
Jane
The Jane was an iron steamship of 840grt that ran ashore on 19/07/1923 due to a navigation error. The wreck now lies on a sandy seabed in 20m of water in an area of strong tide, keeping her clear of silt and covered in marine life.
A little bit about diving Shetland ~
The west side from Scalloway is predominantly scenic but is sheltered from the east. Bob’s states “I do not use scenic dives as a poor excuse to throw you in the water: the flora and fauna is superb but I do accept that it is not everybody's cup of tea” There are wrecks but they tend to be more broken. Atlantic swells can persist on this side also limiting diving.
Lerwick is exposed in the east to south quarter, with even relatively mild conditions from this direction potentially preventing diving.
It is easy enough for the divers to travel overland from Lerwick to Scalloway, if the boat was on the west side due to bad weather conditions. Bob Anderson, skipper of MV Halton, has provided all the information, so we have some superb diving on offer either way.
Many of the dives Bob did during his 2004 Shetland trip were done off the Zodiac, with short runs from the Halton to the dive site and back. It is easy to get the Zodiac into a cut or cave, unthinkable for the Halton that draws 3m, saving time spent swimming or opening up areas that would otherwise be unobtainable. The safety aspect also comes into play as surface cover can be provided much better (even in a cave). Again I accept that working off a zodiac is not everybody's cup of tea (kitting up is a pain) but the benefits often outweigh the hassle.
We did not complete any dives from the Zodiac in 2006 or in 2008, as Bob knows how much Elwyn dislikes them but it may have to be a option depending on the weather, the decision of dive or no dive is only yours to make.
In summary: the diving is superb in Shetland waters but, as there is so much unknown territory, Bob has stated, “it is hard to work a schedule or itinerary." But when we return in 2010 this will be Bob’s 7th season of diving these waters, so he now knows the area really well. The weather is the main factor deciding sites, but if divers are happy to go with the flow, then a lot of ground can be discovered. Bob states “I hold the veto and will not put you in the water if conditions are dangerous. It can be a complicated consultation process, but a compromise can always be reached to get the best possible diving from any set of factors! These points may seem overly harsh but I think that it is better to make them at this stage rather than in Shetland when you are a long way from home”.
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For further information or to request a copy of our 2008 Shetland DVD please do get in touch.