Today we knew there was a good chance we would be blown out, but being the intrepid explorers we are, most of us went down to the boat anyway. Skipper James was happy to go out and have a look, suggesting that a couple of the more sheltered dives might be okay.


Five chickened... er, I mean opted to find alternative amusements for the day, while the rest of us departed, determined to prove how ‘Ard we all were.

The F2 was an option again; however all the dive boats were headed out there, so we decided to look at the V83.

Before entry, we acquired a crash education in keeping one’s balance in full dive kit whilst being buffeted by a Force 5. We jumped in and went straight down the shot line amid strings of Lion’s Mane tentacles and weed.

The V83 was covered in wildlife, most of which seemed to be battling each other. We saw a large lobster and a small conger arguing over occupation rights to a hole under the boiler, which ended abruptly when they saw us. The conger hid inside behind the lobster who presented arms and that was that.

Pugilistic hermit crabs lived up to their name, whilst a crab stepped on a starfish and got thwapped in return. All in all, it was quite a bad tempered selection of wildlife aboard.

We came back up to find something approaching a Force 8, but Skipper James manoeuvred John L with precision to pick us up. It was in this weather that it really became clear that John L was and is a tug and incredibly stable. A second dive was out, so we came back to Stromness in increasing winds, well into Force 9 by the time we docked.

Feeling righteous, we got pizza, cakes and whiskey hot toddies for lunch; there was no sign of the wimps... er, I mean, those who chose not to dive today until well after the evidence was dispatched.