August bank holiday saw the club head north to ‘sunny’ Scotland. Our destination was Lochaline and accommodation was ‘Old Post Office’ which is exactly what it was…. an old post office suitable for most of us to eat and sleep. The weather could have been a little more kind but with spirits not dampened a few of us arrived all raring to go but other members were having a few problems of their own with broken vans and blown tyres – OK so things can only get better…… or so they say!

 

   

 

 

As dawn broke over the converted ‘Old Post Office’ in Lochaline a few of our members were still missing and last heard of heading back south on the M6 and back to Belper on the back of a tow truck!!!!!!!!! A change of van is not an easy task when it was the one that was towing one of our club boats…! A team effort by phone and family members back in Belper ensured they would be heading back north in no time at all albeit a little later than expected.

 

The rest of us who had made it were getting out of bed, eating breakfast and getting our other boat ready for the water and loading up the diving gear to start the most important bit of the holiday…. Diving.

 

The diving was excellent with wrecks sunk in the strong currents making the marine life spectacular and prolific, one dive, the Hispania, was so good we decided to do it twice! Oh yes it really is that good and in British waters too!

 

The missing boat and its dedicated club members turned up looking ‘jaded’ to say the least but not willing or wanting to miss out got the boat straight in the water and headed out to join the rest of us. Well that’s not strictly true they did set the barrel of beer up first before heading to join the rest of us – I guess they has their priorities in place although no drinking and diving that’s definitely against all club rules.

 

You would think the club had finished its run of ‘little hicups’ but there was more to come and in great style. The master plan was a lovely days diving then a trip into Tobermory for a quick pint and bit to eat before the drivers (non-alcoholics amongst us!!) drove us and the boats back to Lochaline but ….. ‘the engine is issuing a fault warning’ said our trusty driver as we entered Tobermory harbour. This is before you even get anywhere near the pub! Quick conversation by experienced members of the club decided the safest option was to head back to Lochaline without stopping in Tobermory so after a brief wave at the colourful houses scattered along the shore line we turned around and began to head back. The engine began to slow and then…. Stop (great!). The tow back to Lochaline began, one boat towing the other….. engine now completely unable to start and all hands on deck helping with moving equipment and cylinders to enable the tow to be more efficient. But the fuel gauge needle was moving before your very eyes, anchor in the water and the one good boat headed back to port to get more fuel and return to the stranded boat and its occupants to complete the tow home.

 

  

 

 

Back safe and sound but now one boat down for the rest of our holiday diving plans were quickly adjusted and contingency plans put into place. The rest of our time was filled with great diving, great company and fantastic accommodation. It will certainly be a holiday to remember for many reasons but we are all back home and getting prepared for the estimate for the repair bill…… oh feel another beer coming on!!!!

 

I would like to take a moment to say a special thanks to our two dedicated boat handlers who, without them, the diving for the last few days could not have happened so easily – thank you.