The van left Winsford on a rainy Friday afternoon heading north for a late visit to Loch Long. VRSAC usually go up early in the year when the air is crisp and the mountain peaks white. October was no different – the rain was wet and the glens snowy! We seemed to go through a time warp as we arrived at our accommodation to find the1970s were alive and kicking with line dancing as the bar entertainment. Goldilocks Northway explored the chambers to find a suitable bed for the night as the boys tapped their feet to the C&W.
Saturday morning we rose early and set off for the caves. I had never done this dive before but heard about the entry. There have been outlandish tales as to the severity of access to this site which I would love to share but I took the blood brothers pact to never, on pain of death, divulge the nature of Steve’s Assault Course SDC. Suffice to say with a hop, skip and a jump, we all made it down the fairy glen. Mark provided shore cover as he felt a sniffle coming on. The dive was stunning. Not so much caves but large boulders plastered with delicate sea loch anemones, topped with plumose anemones on the ridges. Squat lobsters hid in fissures flanked by leopard spotted gobies. As it can be imagined, this was a popular spot with fishermen and there was plenty of monofilament present. Ariel had to free an edible crab which was tied up. As he freed the poor creature, it tried to take a swipe at his saviour – so much for gratitude! Getting cold – water temperature around about the 10ºC so a quick scramble out and back to the warmth of the Pit Stop Diner for a hot chocolate and a plate of chips.
The afternoon dive was a choice of Conger Alley, an old favourite, which despite its name, there are no congers (do you see a pattern emerging here?) or a reccie on a different spot. Ernie had a few thoughts and we opted for a new site – let’s just call it Ammo Alley in order to protect the individuals involved! A very easy entry was afforded and the terrain much the same as this morning, shallow mussel beds giving way to a gentle gravel slope reaching down to larger boulders with a thin covering of pink encrusting algae and keel worms. Common starfish and dog whelks grazed the turf whilst gold sinney and ballan wrasse swam around –again this was a popular fishing spot, evident by the discarded fishing line and the tinnies. Once more the cold curtailed the dive and this is where we put into practice the second half of Steve’s Assault Course SDC as we scrambled back up the bank. Loading the van which was parked next to a puddle, the lads weren’t laughing at my ’choice’ of footwear now – wellies which were the only comfy footwear I could don after a minor procedure on my toe.
A very pleasant evening was had at the Village Inn for some warming comestibles and refreshing beer then retiring back to the Hotel for some more diddly-eye music before hitting the hay.
Sunday morning and a lie in (breakfast served at 9am!). Eventually DaveG got his fayre and after scraping the windscreen we were off to the A frames. Our party had expanded to 10 as we were joined by the Farnworth clan who had the delights of their first UK open water dive. The site was busy with many divers but we were able to get in without any problems. Lesley expertly navigated out over a gravelly seabed. Tiny gobies darted beneath us and small spider crabs hopped over the sugar kelp. Finally we found the A frames, or a selection of them at least. More dog whelks, oaten pipe hydroids and squirts adorned the section. Massive hermit crabs inhabited old whelk shells as 2 spot gobies flitted here and there. We also spied a magnificent feather star reclining over an empty shell. Again cold got to us and Lesley once again followed the lodestone bearing back to base.
Dave and Ernie finished the 3 dive expo with a fourth dive then we all piled in the van and headed off to Helensburgh for a well deserved hot chocolate and cheese toastie before heading back to Winsford. Lovely company and some good diving was had. Music choices by some of the drivers left a bit to be desired but I think I’ll put my name down for next year! Wendy
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