The Easter bank holiday is here once more and its time to wash the cobwebs off divers and boats and head north for Oban and a well earned break. On our arrival in Oban at 8pm we found Pete and Leslie tucking into a Indian takeaway . No sign of Terry and Sharon with the club boat! Lucky for Paul and Steve sending there tent up with Paul Hanson enabled them to crawl straight into the pit leaving Ray to put his tent up in the dark. Friday morning we awoke to sunshine and a brilliant view down the sound of Kerrera. Terry, Sharon and club boat had arrived at 6am after a grueling journey that started Thursday lunchtime, But Ill leave Terry to tell you about that. So we now had a full team of ten people and two boats and the plan was to meet down at the slipway at 9am. And in order to ease Paul and Steve into boat diving and salt water we would concentrate our days diving to Kerrera sound and Oban bay. Anyway it didn’t take very long to find out that there was quite a few empty cylinders about. So by the time we had launched the boats and fed a sack full of £ coins into the compressor and a bag full of “o” ring’s a good hour had been wasted fannying about. A good job we did not have to catch slack water. At last we were on our way to Heather Island (With me muttering something about Ill whip this lot into a team if it kills me). Anyway on with the first dive. I was to dive with Paul , Peter with Steve and Ray, Paul and Terry were to dive together .Me and Paul were first in and followed a cliff face down to 20 Meters that lead onto a steep mud slope. We had a interesting dive with lots to see sea urchins, squat lobsters scallops and star fish were in abundance. And Paul also managed to get his S.M.B. exercise out of the way at the same time. So with dive no one out of the way it was back to the slipway for a de-brief and some lunch. It was here that I discovered that Paul had come away with no food whatsoever not even a chocolate biscuit muttering that it was Ray’s fault for picking him up to before he had time to go shopping .So it was time for bollocking no two. And I was even more determined to mould them into a team.

Dive No 2 was under the yacht moorings in Oban bay. Being early in the year there was not much boat traffic about so it was a good time to dive there. You never know what you will find. Again I dived with Paul this time I thought it a good opportunity for him to get his compass exercise out of the way. He was concentrating that much on his compass and swimming like a man possessed (No wonder he uses so much air) that I nearly lost him. I couldn't keep up with his express pace trying to drag my bag of scallops and old bottles behind me. Anyway he had the sense to stop just before he disappeared into the gloom. Anyway we all assembled in the boats to compare our treasure I found a old ships lamp and Terry found a old Victorian stoneware cream jar (nice one Terry). Then it was back to the slip where we left my boat on a mooring and put the club boat back on to its trailer. That left just enough time for a quick shower before meeting up in the Argyle Hotel for our evening meal. Then it was off to bed after agreeing to meet up at the slip at 8am the following morning.

Day two we met according to plan but there was still a bit of fannying about filling cylinders that should have been done the night before. We set out for Loch Buie on the south of the Isle of Mull. The plan was to dive the wreck of the SS Meldon a 1,700-ton collier sunk after hitting a mine during the First World War. The previous evening in the pub I had stated in front of everyone that I was certain I could find this elusive wreck. But in the cold light of day I was not so sure. Not having dived it for ten years or so. With this at the back of my mind we left Kerrera sound by the southern entrance and steered a course of 250 degrees. The 20-mile journey would take the best part of an hour. We had a full team in the boats today with six in my boat and four in the club sub. The sea was calm and the sun was out. The journey proved un eventful until we arrived at Lord Lovat’s bay were we stopped for a while to watch the wild goats and four legged ostriches wondering round the cliffs. After a few minutes it was on with the journey, as luck would have it when we arrived in the area of the Meldon the landmarks came back to me and it was not long before the wreck was showing on the echo sounder.

 With the boat anchored we were soon in the water after getting permission to dive from the wreck’s owner (Peter). Once on the wreck Paul and me headed first to the stern to have a look at the huge propeller and rudder, which is most impressive. We then swam down the port side of the ship past the engine and boilers and had a good rummage in the bow of the ship before returning along the starboard side to our anchor. Back in the boat Paul was very impressed with his first wreck dive.

While Pete, Terry, Paul and Anne had a couple of hours to explore Tobomory, Steve, Ray, Paul and myself, went out into the bay to do some sports diver rescues. After this it was time to think about heading back and with the club boat re-fuelled we were on our way to dive the wreck of the Shauna on the way back. This time I dived with Steve we found the shot line to be tied into the wreck near the remains of the funnel and after a look round here we proceeded further back to the engine room. This we found to be full of copper pipe (waiting for Grumpy). From here we swam down the full length of the ship past the bridge and forward holds to the forecastle before returning to the shot for a simulated decompression stop. After tiding up two boats that were strewn with gear (I am defiantly fighting a loosing battle trying to mould Paul). It was back down the sound of Mull passing Torasy and Duart castles on to Lady’s rock and across the Firth of Lorn back to Oban.

The plan for Monday was to dive the wreck of the Breada and then return to pack up the tents for our long journey home. Record we were out on the water for 8am and moored above the wreck soon after. Today Paul and Steve were to dive on their own for the first time. So this enabled me and Ray to get in the water first. We had a good rummage in the first four holds and we really stirred up the silt for those divers who were to follow us. (Sorry chaps) I found a brass trumpet type of thing an extension lead and a bottle of white stuff possibly pump whitener and with a bottom time of 40 minutes it was a most enjoyable dive. Then it was a short journey back to the slip were we hauled out both boats and washed them down along with the diving gear. Once done it was like a le-Mans start to see who could load up first and be on the road for the long journey home. But some of us still had boats to re fuel and make ready for a seven hour journey on a bank holiday. An excellent weekend was had by all.

To give you some idea of the cost

Martin.