ANGLESEY Part 1
05 May 2009
Trip report by Alex Soubeyrand
Or how BSAC number one jumped in the
This first May bank holiday weekend saw a few irreductibles from our beloved
This first invasion of the island is in fact only an avant gout of things to come, as Diving Officer Jim and Chairman Keith have now gathered enough information to launch a total assault from Percy Too; Assault planned during the second May bank holiday weekend.
On a bitter-cold Friday evening we arrived one after another at Tyn Rhos camping site, having cursed the M1 the M6 and the A55 along the way. First on the crime scene was David, followed closely by Andy; Keith and I arrived a few hours later and Jim and Chris finally made it just before midnight. A few minutes of tent-wrestling later and we were all happy to have made it at all before sunrise the following day, and were talking about the weekend to come around a few cans of our favourite brew: Isn’t life wonderful?
The plan for Saturday was for Chris and Jim to reach the dive centre in Holyhead to get some training in twinset diving. The rest of us will spend our time trying to explore the many local shore diving possibilities. Unfortunately that weekend, high tide was a little bit on the early and late sides of the day. Fortunately the weather was very good (well at least on Sat and Sun) and after a lot of kelly-kettle-boiled-tea fuelled brainstorming we were all kitted up for what would be my first shore dive ever. We were to dive the site also known as the Ghost House, named in reference to the grim grey huge Mansion house looking down the beach (aren’t all houses in Wales grim and grey?). It was a nice little dive. Perfect for Andy to try is brand new dry suit and David is brand old one. David is a new addition to our platoon, having served for many years in difficult and technical diving conditions. Maybe most of you will have met him through Chris at one of our club’s social Tuesday evening. As an outsider, he fitted to our small group like a glove, and was admitted as one of us straight away. We did not see much life on that dive and spent it most doing exercises; however, when going through some deco simulation drills, I suddenly noticed dancing right in front of my mask the most fantastic little tiny creature I had yet seen: not bigger than a chestnut, almost invisible and 
absolutely extraordinary. I have now found out that it was in fact a Ctenophore and watching this tiny creature was a great way to finish the dive.
The second dive that day saw Andy and I again teamed up with Keith as a support cover. We drove just 2 minutes from the camp site and kit up along the little beach just opposite Diving Services. The idea was to dive along some rock formation that sheltered the beach. This dive was actually very good with a lot to see: crabs, lobsters, prawns, pipe fish, dog fish etc. Unfortunately on this occasion the surges were too much for us once we passed the sheltered part and we had to turn the dive. However we returned the day after with Jim and Chris with a vengeance and were luckier with the weather. We managed to complete the circuit and had a cracking dive just before supper.
By that time I had started to really enjoy the idea of short diving: just ride along the coast line, find a nice spot or beach, stop, kit up and dive. Simple! Isn’t life wonderful!
Monday, the last day, never came. It was obvious that two sunny days in a row was too much for Britannia and a rubbish one had to follow. So we packed up our tent and stuff and left. The weather was so miserable that David was very tempted not to bother with is old leaky tent at all but to leave it there as it was on the camp site. The idea was received with great enthusiasm especially from Chris who suggested running over it with a car first… And so Chris, Jim, Keith and I said goodbye to David (Andy having left the day before not willing to spend one more night in his under suit –sorry Andy ;-)-).
This is when Chris suggested spending some time at the Gwledig Padarn Parc (Padarn Country Park) in the village of Llanberis on our way back towards the civilisation, where:”… we could certainly get some breakfast and maybe also get some training done at the Vivian Diving Centre and quarries...”. I was not too thrilled about that one as I was still drenched from the earlier tent removal business, still cold from a freezing night in an inadequate sleeping bag and we still had at least 6 hours driving ahead. Oh yes, and the rain was still falling pretty heavy. I believe Jim was 
thinking exactly the same way and Keith was adamant he would not get any wetter today. However, once at the site some of Chris’s craziness must have washed off and stained on Jim and I as we decided finally to give it a go. It has to be say that the place is stunning: access is through a little arch where the small quarries is locked and surrender by high dark slate cliffs which suck the already poor daylight and transform it unto some sort of unreal atmosphere. “Being a slate quarry means clean, clear water with very little sediment.” says the web site and also kept repeating the friendly chap at the dive centre. Well we were in for a chock, as exceptionally clear the water is indeed. Everything was still and quiet. It was like to be at a secret ceremony:”… and so after a few minutes of self-underwater-harm the Golden Yoyo is at unanimity given to… –drums- …Chris and Alex! And the Silver one goes to… -again drums-Jim!...” Jim's acceptance speech went something like that:”… apart from poor techniques I like to thanks the exceptional visibility which makes neutral buoyancy impossible and also inadequate weighting adjustment from sea to fresh water, also...” Too soon it was time for me to wave good bye to the pair of them as I was then low on air.
It was again a very enjoyable weekend spent with London Number One and I had a wicked time!
Thank you Keith for organising the trip, it was well worth it!
Posted byAl at 5:04 PM
Labels: anglesey, may, shore diving
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