The SS Nar was on route from Sunderland for Burghead on the shores of the Moray Firth carrying a cargo of coal when it foundered off Garmouth on the 13th December 1904. It is well broken up now, lying in 12 metres of water on a sandy bottom where its boiler, various plates, capstans, winches and other rusting remains have become home to a large variety of marine life. This was my first opportunity to dive the Nar during a weekend of wreck diving out of Lossiemouth with North East Dive. We also dived the San Tiburcio and the Unity, both of which I hadn’t dived in 6 or 7 years at least.
Continue reading “The Wreck of the Nar, Moray Firth – June 2014”
Tulamben ‘Drop Off’, Bali – July 2013
This was actually the first dive we did in Bali at Tulamben, our second being at the Coral Garden which was the subject of an earlier post. The dive starts with a swim across an area of sandy bottom where our guide pointed out several different kinds of brightly coloured Nudibranchs (Sea Slugs) dotted around. We soon reached the start of the wall that drops away to 40 metres and gives the dive site its name. Continue reading “Tulamben ‘Drop Off’, Bali – July 2013”
Farne Islands – August 2013
The last time I dived the Farne Islands must have been about 7 or 8 years ago, probably the year that I started diving. The islands make frequent appearances on television programs due to their bird colonies and also due to the seal population. It is the opportunity to dive with the seals that is the draw for divers visiting the Farnes and I didn’t have to think twice when an invitation to do so came from a friend.
It was an overcast day when we arrived at Seahouses to meet up with the others and board one of Billy Shiel’s boats the Glad Tidings VII. Continue reading “Farne Islands – August 2013”
Tulamben Coral Garden, Bali – July 2013
When we signed up for a day of diving in Bali we weren’t quite sure what to expect after our five days of stunning diving at Bunaken in Sulawesi. We opted to stay along the stretch of coastline on the North East of Bali known as Amed, partly because it was reputed to have good diving.
After a wander around the various dive centres checking out what kind of dive packages they offered, we eventually chose Jukung Dive whose dive centre was a stones throw from our hotel. This Dutch owned concern has a very impressive dive centre and a great cafe/restaurant where we had lunch each day after diving. The divesites were at a location further up the coast at Tulamben which is best known for the wreck of the USAT Liberty (where we spent our second day – the subject of a later post). It’s a very picturesque location for starting a shore dive, with the local outriggered fishing boats sitting at the top of the beach where you kit up. Continue reading “Tulamben Coral Garden, Bali – July 2013”