Scapa Flow September 2009 - interested?

[Helen F H]

Ok then chaps, i will try to answer the questions

Weeks -

anything in september from the 5th onwards (getting on board on the 5th and diving until the following saturday) is currently not booked.

October - only one week booked in october (10th - 17th) so any other week would be ok.

Shetland is 13 hours steam away and we would have to charge extra to go there to cover the diesel (which has doubled in cost in the last 6 months). That late in the season i seriously doubt we would get there as the weather has to be good for several days to avoid the huge swells that can roll in. Getting out of the flow may well be possible - there are some corking caves up near Row head where the BBC did their filming for Coast in 2006.

Three dives a day is fine, but there is a small cost attached to this as Hazel has to pay me extra

We can dive whatever you want. If you are wanting to dive the blockships a lot, i would suggest having a look at some tide tables online and working out when neaps/springs are. You want to book the week closest to neaps to get the longest slack (i will try to remember tomorrow to have a look for you).

Food - i can do anything from breakfasts to full board. Fussy eaters and restricted diets are no problem.

What wrecks you do is entirely up to you guys. We will reccomend what we think is best for the conditions if they are bad, but Scapa is as deep, dark and scary as you choose to make it. We do not have to be based in Stromness which makes access to scenic sites easier. All of this can be discussed when you get here as it is pretty much weather dependent.

Hope that helps

Helen

[markbsac]

scapa...i just want to dive it let alone take a camera...but already i can almost see this is gonna be hard for me to fit in..there always seems to be complications..this is why i take the easy option and go to sharm...sad but true...yes i would give anything to dive scapa....fitting it in with family shifts...and how i get there is another thing........i would be happy to pay more and have a stop over half way for the night..........i hope it happens but i cant see me ever doing this its easier to dive egypt than scapap thats in the uk !!!!!

[Cerianthus]

come on mark: it is a long drive, but very doable. I'm a foreigner and've been there 2 times....

did it first from Aberdeen (uvie there) in Scotland by train with a group from Dunnstafnage in Oban (they advertised an open place on an internet forum (that was in 95...). (excellent journey by the way, great views). Dived with Houton diving (steve), now no longer active. Stayed in the appartment in Houton, I used a wetsuit then ....

second time it was part of a three week Scotland tour, around 2002-3. Hopped on the Ijmuiden Newcastle ferry and literally drove around Scotland (including around the orkneys). dived with Scapa scuba (in the former liveboat house), we were the only ones living on the boat, the rest used B&B's.

[Cussy]

Originally Posted by markbsac

scapa...i just want to dive it let alone take a camera...but already i can almost see this is gonna be hard for me to fit in..there always seems to be complications..this is why i take the easy option and go to sharm...sad but true...yes i would give anything to dive scapa....fitting it in with family shifts...and how i get there is another thing........i would be happy to pay more and have a stop over half way for the night..........i hope it happens but i cant see me ever doing this its easier to dive egypt than scapap thats in the uk !!!!!

Mark,
You know I'll give you a lift and surely this is so far in advance that you can book a week?? You know you want to......
Rob

[Cerianthus]

My buddy can't confirm his availability that far in advance (he is a doctor in the navy and could be treating std's on a ship by then ). So I would be traveling alone.

I had a look: the best airport to get at seems to be Glasgow, most north and also around the route you would take up north. If I could get a ride from there, that would be great. Only disadvantage of the flying is the weight, but hopping over alone by car might double the traveling cost (not even counting gas).

I suppose the boat has tanks and lead available ?

[Mike W]

I'm still waiting for some info from the Valkyrie team, in the meanwhile here's their website (MV Valkyrie), the info on tanks and weights should be on there.

I'll sort tidal info later on my home computer - apparently HM Gov't feels this is Crown Copyright so I need to buy the info so they can get their cut, and I'd like to be able to print what I get.

From what's been said so far I'm thinking w/c 5th September (Subject to tides) wreck dive in the morning, shallower (Blockship or scenic) in the afternoon, and maybe a day or two outside the Flow. Third/night dives dependant of how people feel.

[Cussy]

Originally Posted by Mike W

I'll sort tidal info later on my home computer - apparently HM Gov't feels this is Crown Copyright so I need to buy the info so they can get their cut, and I'd like to be able to print what I get.

That will be to pay for the 300 job loses at the Hydrographic Office! (just read that in my Union newspaper).
Rob

[Helen F H]

Cylinders and lead are no problem. If you want anything specific tank wise, please let me know and we can sort it out. Currently have tall 12's and 15's. Can organise a twinset if you need it

Flights - you can fly direct to Kirkwall from Edinburgh or Glasgow or Inverness if thats any help. We can pick you up from the airport which is around 20 minutes from the boat.

Hazel is just sorting out the reply to your email Mike

If you want to see some pics of what we get up to and the boat (even in its current state of chaos ) you can look here - Picasa Web Albums - Helens Photos

[Mike W]

Thanks, Helen,

I haven't had time to go into the appropriate email account or tide tables today, but assuming all is well I'll get to it tonight or tomorrow and put together a proper post...

[markbsac]

i would need to know the exact dates and i cant book it yet as next years rostas are not out and we may have a rosta change if i still have a job ...as rob will tell you redundancies are rife at the moment where i work......if i can make it i will go..if not no worries im sure you will fill the space.

mark