Porthkerris 2002

A most enjoyable Jubilee Bank Holiday was spent diving with Porthkerris Divers in Cornwall. Nicky Deeley Ian Dorward, Mary Ball, Richard Thrale, Nick Oatridge, Mike Wilkinson, Catherine Gillespie and Jo Crook were diving. The "boyz" ruffed it by camping near the dive site (with TV for the footie) and the girlies + Ian (who gained a reputation with one of the dive marshals by carrying Nicky's pink and beige handbag) stayed in the B&B in St Keverne.

Porthkerris Divers is in a great location. The office, shop and café overlooking the bay with the unusual addition of a field alongside with ostriches (proved an amusing silhouette on the coast from the rib - the ostriches outlined against the sky on the brow of the hill!) The ostriches provided no end of amusement for Mary and unfortunately for some (the ostriches that is), a tasty burger at the café.

All involved with the diving set up at Porthekerris were extremely

One of the skippers became a favourite of Mary's - he said he had never quite heard such language before (Mary's unique variations of the more usual swear words!). Finally, a very cute looking gofer became a favourite with the other girls. His gofer duties even extended to going and fetching Nick from the comfort of his Beemer and moving his kit along to the correct spot on the beach whilst Nick kept up with the football until the last minute!

All the diving was great except the first day, which claimed a few casualties (one name not to be mentioned in this instance! - head over the side of the rib for the whole of the return journey) [oh, go on, name and shame - ed] and unfortunately Catherine hurt her knee. We started the first morning feeling disappointed as there was a large swell and we overheard in the office that afternoon dives were being cancelled. We did manage to do the one dive that day but not under the best conditions! The Porthkerris team were super efficient and arranged for help per person in getting into the rib and also loaded and unloaded on our behalf. We were literally held upright with our backs against the waves and guided into the water until it was deep enough to swim to the rib. The rib unfortunately had some fuel problems and although a loose fuel pipe was pointed out by Richard it wasn't acknowledged by the skipper; consequently the water in the boat was full of diesel which not only

On hitting the water however, the seasickness dissipated and the sightings of an enormous jellyfish during the ascent made it all worthwhile. The jellyfish were like something out of a sci-fi film! They were at least foot wide. The main body was a deep orange and the 'skirt' a yellow. We also saw an unusual fish with a 'dislocated' jaw but this turned out to be wrasse that had suffered injury from a fishing hook. We were desperate to land on dry land at the end of the dive as the waiting around to pick up divers was exacerbated by the smell of diesel. Nicky and Jo staggered on to the beach and a diver sharing the rib with us had to be carried ashore as she had fainted. Somehow this did not deter the next boatload!

On returning to St Keverne, the air was (again) full of fumes but this time from a huge bonfire roasting Oxen. The only place to get away from it was by sitting upwind on the churchyard steps. Mmm, lovely, London air was beginning to seem clean!

The square had filled up with stalls and a brass band played in the early evening. Union Jacks and St Georges flags were draped along the houses and pubs and added to the 'English village' atmosphere.

The early evening was spent (by the less experienced divers & so setting a good example!) in rinsing out kit in order to rid it of the smell of diesel (to no avail). We were so thorough we were scared Nicky's BCD would bubble up in washing up liquid as she rolled back into the water!

We were pleasantly surprised on day two as the weather had improved greatly and diving conditions were much better even though we had been inspired by Mary to buy kites in the local village shop in case the diving was called off. As it was the wind was so low that they wouldn't have flown. Unfortunately we were on the same boat but this time even though the engine stalled a few times it did not smell of fuel.

Nicky asked the dive shop for a solution to the smell of diesel and was advised that lemon juice and coke [coca cola I assume - Ed] would get rid of it. We rinsed our regs in coke and it worked! Remember that one.

The diving got better and better as the conditions became calmer.

We dived the Mohegan, a luxury liner that came to peril in 1917 on its 2nd voyage. The bell from the Mohegan is claimed to be in the Southsea BSAC clubhouse.

We dived the Volnay, a British steamship that sank in 1917 carrying ammunition amongst its cargo - Nicky collected some shot.

We dived the Spyidian Vogiano, a Greek Steamer built in Sunderland that was approaching Falmouth with a cargo of barley from Novorossivsk when it struck the Manacles at mid-day on 8th Feb 1890. Only 8 survived.

The last dive on Tuesday morning was a deeper rocky dive. We spotted five dogfish and saw a beautiful patchwork effect of jewel anemone.

In-between dives we lazed on the grass in front of the dive centre enjoying our lunch and sunbathing with the beautiful view of the bay in front of us. Fantastic galleon sailing boats added to the picturesque scene as white yacht sails dotted the background along the coast.

The stodgy puddings in the local pubs provided well-earned extra calories after our diving exertions. Driving back to the B&B each evening was fantastic: hedgerows rich with wild flowers and trees interlocking above us.

I thoroughly recommend this trip. Thanks to Mike for all his efforts and to Richard and Nick for ferrying those of us around who didn't have cars.

Maybe we should dive the Scilly Isles next year?

Jo. …with thanks to Nicky for the details of the wrecks from her exemplary log book!