UKDIVING
PHOTO : KATH HUTT
Edible crab eyes up the camera
PHOTO : KATH HUTT
Spider crab on kelp
PHOTO : KATH HUTT
Hermit crab with brittlestars
Purple sunstar
PHOTO : KATH HUTT hard not to be excited . The torches lit up the wreck like searchlights , with teams quickly disappearing in different directions . Onboard computers were still present , along with furniture , clothing in the accommodation , equipment still intact on the bridge , first aid kits , navigation lights ... you name it . The more we searched , the more the wreck came alive . We were helping tell the story of the wreck , bringing it back to life by passing on its memory .
The feeling onboard , once everyone had been picked up after their deco stops , was one of measured excitement . We were on top of our game as a team , we were executing smooth dives and we were working really well on a self-sufficient vessel away from any external dive support . The weather had also been on our side for the most part . It certainly helped that the quality of the food onboard never missed a beat , with a nod to Helen and Fiona for planning the logistics so thoroughly . The supply of post-dive hot chocolate also never disappointed . The Faroese weather decided to revel in
44 its vagaries just after the midpoint of the trip , with a fog bank delaying our diving . Once we had our opening , we headed for another unknown wreck at 61m ; this one was more broken up , suffering from a siltier bottom and a more dilapidated look . Based on what the teams observed , we identified it as a fishing vessel , with an educated guess that it may have been the ‘ Brimness ’, but it was not conclusive .
With three undived wrecks documented , and a couple of known wrecks visited , we allowed ourselves an easy final day . The last day of any trip is never a time to push any limits , so we visited previously known wrecks at around 40m to unwind and simply take in the sights – the Havfarid and Asa 2 were becoming a familiar sight , which is not a bad thing . Some members chose to forego the diving and get ahead on their packing . Sadly by now , the weather had become drizzly and windy , but spirits on the boat were still very high ; eight divers , previously unknown to one another ,
had become a solid team . Some good friendships were made that week .
Once Saturday arrived , the groups all trickled off the boat . The crew of Valhalla would swiftly get to work on preparing the vessel for its transit back to the UK as soon as weather allowed .
The crew of Valhalla pulled out all the stops for this trip . The crew arrived two weeks ahead of us – one week to scout the Faroe Islands and one week to host a recreational week of shallower diving . By the time we arrived for our little mission , the crew had a very solid handle on the local situation . Hazel confidently took us to the sites she had identified , while Brandon would shot the wrecks on his first attempt and keep an eye on eight encumbered tech divers throughout the day .
Helen was always on hand for just about any unforeseen circumstance . This can be a lifesaver when you ’ re somewhere like Scapa Flow or Shetland , but when you are in foreign waters away from any dive support , she is a real godsend . Finally , none of this would have really happened without Fiona ’ s organisation , logistical preparation and foresight . It took a lot for Valhalla to make its way to Faroes , and I am so grateful for taking the opportunity to join this expedition .
So next time someone asks you if you want to jump on a once in a lifetime trip , bear this in mind – and don ’ t forget your hat . �