UKDIVING
A six metre basking shark near the Treshnish Islands business , at the same time adding to our understanding of basking sharks .
I got to know some of the other snorkellers on his group , including Andy Clark , a dynamic BSAC member who runs his own podcast , ‘ Fancy a Brew ’, and his wife Ali . Also on board was environmental writer Jo White and Alex Diffley – a paramedic from Holmfirth , who had just joined Huddersfield BSAC . There were also two incredibly well-mannered girls in their teens , who had come to Coll equipped with a tiny tent and rudimentary supplies . I was wondering how they would cope with the coming winds when I heard Alex casually mention it was his third time at Coll , and he hadn ’ t seen basking sharks on previous trips . A horrified silence descended . “ None at all ?” Andy said , breaking the silence . “ Well , I hope your luck is going to change soon .”
I was sleepy from the early start and some precautionary seasickness tablets , but there ’ s nothing like my old 7mm wetsuit and 12 ° C water to wake you up . “ How d ’ ye feel ?” asked Shane as I lowered myself into the water for my shakedown snorkel . “ Well , I ’ m not asleep anymore ,” I replied , as cold water cascaded through the zip .
Shane had taken us to a set of islands protected from the wind at the north end of Coll , where we explored the sandfringed kelp forest under a sky so dark
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