Ran Maglione joins the liveaboard MV Valhalla for a voyage to dive virgin wrecks at the Faroe Islands , midway between Orkney and Iceland
Expedition |
Faroe Islands |
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Faroes |
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Orkney Islands
UK
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Norway |
Don ’ t forget your hat !
Ran Maglione joins the liveaboard MV Valhalla for a voyage to dive virgin wrecks at the Faroe Islands , midway between Orkney and Iceland
What would you do if someone offered you a once in a lifetime dive trip ; an expedition that won ’ t be repeated , offering unique sites and a chance to be part of the first team to lay eyes on previously unidentified wrecks ?
I finally know what I would say : “ Do we get a personalised hat ?” After an exasperated look from the expedition organiser , I followed with a “ yes ”.
Fast forward five months . I am packing my rebreather for my first expedition ever ,
42 looking forward to a week of deep diving in the Faroe Islands with my trusty partner in crime , Andy . The destination , as it turns out , was a source of confusion for some people who seemed to think I was either going to Portugal ( Faro ) or Northumberland ( Farne ), rather than halfway between Iceland and Shetland .
The diving platform and skipper for the expedition were going to be MV Valhalla and Hazel Weaver ; they were the reason I did not hesitate to say yes . Hazel and team
The Valhalla liveaboard and a spectacular sunset had been planning this expedition since 2008 , with extensive research on local history , potential wreck sites and likely areas of interest . Once Andy and I were let loose out of Vagar airport , MV Valhalla had already spent two weeks surveying the area . By the time our deep team arrived on board , we had a list of potential sites to explore over the course of a week .
Arrival and preparations
Hazel , her partner Helen , and their vessel Valhalla have been a pillar of the diving scene for years , and their calm and efficient expertise were in evidence when we arrived . Each team member had an assigned spot on the dive deck , cylinders and weights were quickly divvied out , drink requests logged and gases mixed . When you are diving as far from home as you ’ ve ever done , cutting down on uncertainties is always great !
With eight divers on board , we were well spaced apart on the kitting-up benches . Once you factor in two Ali80 stages per diver , you would be surprised at how divers will immediately take up all space available to them ! The ever-patient Brandon – our deck crew member and photographer – definitely had his work cut out looking after us . The group was an eclectic mix of Divesoft Liberty CCRs , X CCRs , JJ CCRs , Kiss units , APs and one hardy diver on open