PHOTO : DAVID BEWICK of the Norway wrecks , this was a great idea as it meant we could buzz about like hooligans , whizzing from interesting bit to other interesting bit without all that tedious finning . Visibility at depth is bonkers , at least 30m , to the extent where on the deco stop on the mast , it ’ s possible to get a bit of vertigo staring down at the rest of the wreck .
After the Frankie was the excellent wreck of the Welheim . A diesel ship carrying coal and now lying on her side , the bows are in about 20m and the prop sits at 65m , with the bridge and accommodation midships to explore and the engine room behind it , at about 45m to have a wander about in . While having a look at the stern , the French contingent aboard finned past in their little group of three , and made me wonder why I was sitting there with 100kg of scooter , rebreather and bailouts when one of them was on a single 15 of air and a deco cylinder of 80 % oxygen . Sacre bleu ! Post dive deck deco was , however , improved with the application of saucisson sec and a pastis . The Clasina should be equipped with a petanque court and boules to finish off the experience but Bob seemed reluctant .
The steamship wreck of the Sif is laid across the join between the sandy seabed and rock face , and is like an Airfix steamship kit with all the parts ready to be assembled . Anchors , hawse pipes , winches , condenser , boilers , engine , spare prop , prop shaft and rudder are all there with the rest of the thinner bits of the wreck long gone , leaving the skeleton of beams holding the parts together ready for the application of a bit of cement glue to make her whole again .
Clasina steaming back to Bergen
PHOTO : JEN SMITH
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