Arfon 23rd May
Last Updated on Tuesday, 01 June 2010 21:20 Written by david Monday, 24 May 2010 13:45
Illustration courtesy of Max Ellis & DiveNet
7 Divers visited the Arfon on Sunday 23rd, Clear skies, and a slight sea made the conditions perfect to venture the 7 miles out from Kimmeridge, we arrived 93 years and 23 days too late to be of any assistance in the rescue of the crew of 12. Of whom 9 sadly lost their lives when the armed trawler hit a mine and sank in a minute
The wreckage appeared on the sonar standing a few metres above the seabed and the shot weight was dropped . For a short period the shot buoy appeared to be making good way, but the current slackened off and 7 of us journeyed down the line into the plankton rich gloom to reach the wreck, it was dark and visibility greatly reduced, but it still proved to be an interesting and atmospheric wreck, We arrived on top of the boilers, a hole revealed some of the steam tubes.
We adjusted our trim before continuing toward the stern along the prop shaft to inspect the propeller which was richly covered in anemones, and surrounded by schooling Bib. The rudder had fallen away and lay on the seabed.
Because of the depth and the temperature of the water we had a short tour and we returned to mid ships and found ourselves on top of the triple expansion engine, this seemed like a good place to fire off the delay and ratchet our way back to the surface and into the warming sunshine.
As the Arfon quickly disappeared into the gloom below I thought I heard her say ‘Thank you for visiting, do drop in again soon'.
Well, we certainly shall, Eddie'll be after that generously proportioned Lobster he allowed to escape,
Once back in the boat and with his DV eased out by tapping gently with a wieght (well it was cold!).he vocalized his disappointment
'bejazzer's oi had da perfect pot fer dat lobster now I've only got dem 2 onion sacks full of scallops fer moi tea! he said.