Once again a group of divers embarked on the yearly trip to St Abbs. With well managed expectations, previous years of poor conditions resulting in Edinburgh weekends, we were happily surprised to find ourselves diving on both Saturday and Sunday. This year’s intake of new members saw many crossovers, St Abbs would be their first club trip and many of their first sea dive in the UK. It was also a pleasure to see Tom over the weekend who made a last minute appearance, capturing some stunning drone shots and keeping us company on shore.
Friday saw seven cars stuffed with cylinders and gear make the long journey up the A1. The author notes that it is best not to consume triple the daily allowance for caffeine and nicotine on this journey if one wishes to sleep comfortably. On arrival the toasty caravans made for a warm welcome to Eyemouth. This was short lived as the group were in need of fish and chips and a strong drink, making their way to The Ship, a cosy pub with friendly locals. After tales of our respective journeys and careful avoidance of Scottish football rivalries we made our way back to the caravans for further merriment.
On the following day the bright eyed and bushy tailed newbies made their way to St Abbs harbour, ignorant of the pain they were about to endure. After kitting up in the carpark, divers made their way to the end of the harbour wall where they performed buddy checks and tip toed down the rocks and into the 8oC waters (ahem, it was in fact a balmy and tropical 12oC – Ed.). This shore dive would take (most of) the group through ‘Cathedral’: two scenic arches positioned vertically to one another creating an impressive ‘church window’.
The visibility was good and there were sightings of large wrasse, crabs, lobsters and one seal. The boulders and gullies approaching the arch supported lots of smaller squishy life as well as the obligatory fields of kelp. On our return it was obvious that some club members left a little to be desired in their navigation skills, many long swims ensued. After a warming lunch at Ebb Carrs café, the second dive saw rougher conditions. By the afternoon we were approaching high tide resulting in mild currents and light drizzle, summery weather compared to previous trips, and a less intrepid journey in as the sea had made its way up the rocky path.
That night we visited The Contented Sole, an even cosier pub with a jovial atmosphere. The bench outside was especially comfy, some club members even enjoyed an upturned crate. Once suitably warmed up the group made their way to the curry house where they munched on madras and had a good laugh about the day gone. That night we met a cowboy named Plymouth Gin Pimblett who introduced the gang to lots of silly games.
On Sunday morning the group alighted into the harbour car park bright and early, greeted by clear skies. After a swift return to the caravan park to retrieve a forgetful treasurer’s under-suit, the group lowered their gear into Pathfinder and Shorediver, our two vessels for the day. By ten AM the group reached their first dive site, a collection of gullies at around 15m sporting many large fish, anemones, dead man’s fingers and crabs. Swimming through the cracks made for impressive, scenic diving.
After a brief lunch the two boats travelled further around the headland where they were greeted by seals, a shoal of mackerel and the warm midday sun. Divers dropped in upstream of an arch near West Hurker. After navigating some interesting geology the current swept the divers through ten meters of tunnel and out into a shelf teaming with life. A few divers discovered a sandy bank NE of the tunnel exit leading up into a cave home to many crabs. Jem the seal whisperer made a second sighting near the end of this dive when she caught one nibbling her fin!
After the diving the group headed wearily to the chippy in Eyemouth where Pete discovered the wonders of deep fried pizza. His arteries scream to this day. Once the caravans were packed, the cars left one by one back to the kit room to finish our outstanding weekend.
– Stick
P.S.: a contribution from our resident poet Gareth:
潛旅·聖阿布斯編
Diving trip · St. Abbs edition
首英航潛宏域海
薄縷沉游灆冰入
First time boat dive and dive in UK’s sea
Dive with semi-drysuit into a clear and icy water
隨流尋物隙間堨
班魚螯殻藏滿彩
團友幸得海豹曖
踏岸寒去於嘆愷
Follow the current to find any creatures between the gaps
Full with crabs, lobsters and big fish
My prez was so lucky that a seal played with her
Stepped on the shore and cried out to get rid of the cold
晚酗船盒樂戲采
夜灘裸泳跟漫颽
At night we played boat game and box game
At midnight we followed to south wind and swam at the beach
時趨君代必替慨
阿斯加德之門開
引仙承統永社載
碧藍之海魂不改
An empire’s era must change over time
So the majesties open the New Asgard gate
Welcome us to follow the traditions of their everlasting society
As the soul of diving never changed
