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Thanks to all for their thoughts! We went ahead as planned on Sunday, calm seas, almost got too warm on deck. Although the orcas were still around we never saw them, however we were treated to 20 or 30 dolphins in the sound, presumably herded there by the whales. The dive was superb, the plankton bloom of the last few weeks finally dying off, it was murky in the top layers, but had improved to an acceptable 10-15m or so below. The wreck, a 1903 steamship,is in two halves, the break being just forward of the boilers with a gap of about 10m between the two halves. We came down onto the forward winch, wandered aft into the holds, and onto the debris field, pausing at the helm to look for the compass, all we found were bits of it, the rest having corroded away. The bridge area has all collapsed onto the seabed, we are slowly working out which bit relates to the photograph of her, helped by the numbered portholes. It was clear enough to swim over to the stern section, only the second time we've done it, and have a better look at the break and the engines. The cochran boiler and two larger main boilers standing clear, the decking all caved in around the engine makes it look bigger - we must shot this section next time and spend more time just on this bit or the ship. All too soon it was time to turn and head back, over a bit of mast, sections of decking, and assorted bits and pieces to the forward section, and a quick look down in the focsle stores, where the spare porthole glasses, bits of navigation lights, bottles, spares for cargo handling all still lie. Leaving the wreck, the tide starting to run slightly, we all kept a wary eye out for stray orcas - as the lowest pair of divers I felt very vulnerable, irrational really... but having watched them taking seals off the rocks 2 days earlier... I tried really hard not to think about it(and failed). We still managed a head on collision with a lions mane at the 6m stop - ouch! At a balmy 11 degrees the water was warm, and the time passed quickly. Its so much easier handing off stages when you've still got feeling in your hands - maybe I could manage to be a warm(er) water diver after all. Orcas are summer transients here, they first started coming inshore about 5 years ago, mainly around Sumburgh head, where the big seal colonies are, but they are becoming more common, so we'll probably encounter them more often over the coming summers F -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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