Anglesey Dive / Snorkel & BBQ Weekend - 2nd - 3rd August 2025
The aim of this weekend was to provide a Club diving and snorkeling trip, to give newer members experience of the sea and RHIB diving, and to provide a BBQ and social evening for all members. There was a lot of interest with 16 divers and 6 snorkelers signing up, as well as 4 dogs!
The boats were prepared on Thursday evening by the coxes with help from the divers. Dave & Clemmie set off at lunchtime on Friday to tow Cheshire Cat to Holyhead Sea Cadets, which was to be our base for the weekend. Pat & Phil towed Top Cat and arrived Friday evening after work. We left Macclesfield on Friday afternoon in glorious sunshine with a good forecast for Saturday but with wind and rain forecast for Sunday. However, although it was a neaps weekend, the tides were against us! Therefore, Phil devised a cunning plan involving two waves of divers on Top Cat, taking into account the high and low water times, so that all divers got two dives on the Saturday and the boat was recovered in time for the BBQ. Cheshire Cat took the other six divers out independently.
The weather on Friday was glorious and some of the snorkel team checked out their planned snorkel site on the way to Holyhead. The criteria for selection was: a dog-friendly beach, a sheltered cove, favourable forecast for wind speed and direction, car parking, toilets and coffee!
Saturday the 2nd of August
The Divers
On Saturday morning, the divers were up bright and early ready to meet Phil and launch Top Cat early from the allotment steps for the first wave of diving. Top Cat took the Ocean Divers out to the North Stack and carried their spare cylinders for them. They enjoyed two dives with a surface interval at sea before returning to the launch site for the second wave of divers to repeat the same process. Divers on Top Cat were Vladimir, Alex, Phil, Ian H and Barnaby (Wave 1) and Jon G, Pat, Anna H-H, Tim and Will H-H (Wave 2). Well done to Barnaby on completing his first sea dives and first RHIB dives too.
Dave and Clemmie took Cheshire Cat to meet their experienced divers and launch from Trearddur Bay. After a challenging launch, they had a gentle dive on the Missouri in the nearby bay of Porth Dafarch. They then returned to shore for their surface interval and cylinder change before a long passage to dive the lovely wreck of the Kimya. After some trepidation around the shot placement, the divers were relieved to discover the remains of the Kimya as they descended. Everyone had a fabulous time exploring the site which was teaming with marine life, including shoals of fish, and one of the oldest lobsters anyone had ever encountered in Anglesey. Divers on Cheshire Cat were Dave, Clemmie, Steve, Helen, Doug, and Ruth.
The Snorkelers
The snorkelers meanwhile, met at their chosen snorkel site (Porth Tyn Tywyn) at 9.30 am to ensure car parking, and got kitted up in a leisurely fashion waiting for a rising tide just after low water. Whilst this is a long sandy beach, there are rocks and a couple of sheltered bays which were perfect for snorkeling. The snorkelers, dog walkers and watchers found a nice spot and enjoyed chatting while the dogs played.
After low water, Loz gave the lesson brief and then the trainee snorkel divers completed their final practical lesson (planning and leading a snorkel dive and towing an exhausted buddy to safety). We all enjoyed a lovely relaxing snorkel out to some submerged rocks, covered in red and green sea weds where we saw Ballen wrasse and several spider crabs. After the dive, Ed and Max took turns in towing their “exhausted” buddy to safety. Congratulations to both on completing their practical training. Snorkelers were Loz, Max, Rob, Ed, Anthony, Sue and Alison. Thanks to our dog watchers, Janet, Dave L, and Emily for surface cover. After our snorkel, we enjoyed coffee and cakes from the refreshment van and relaxed in the sunshine.
Club BBQ
During the afternoon, we experienced a number of technical issues at the Sea Cadets: a power cut and loss of hot water, plus no gas for the BBQ. These were finally sorted out by the Commanding Officer and, with the help of Rob, Loz and Doug, we got the BBQ going. Janice arrived with all the food which had been pre-cooked and so it was relatively easy to finish the food off on the BBQ.
Saturday evening was warm and sunny and it was lovely to see so many Club members and old friends enjoying the chance to socialise and for new members to get to know one another. Many thanks to Janice for the fabulous BBQ food, to Doug for taking charge of the BBQ and to Janet and Rob for all that washing up and general cleaning!
Sunday the 3rd of August
Sunday dawned with the forecasted rain, grey clouds, and the steady approach of Storm Floris threatening to curtail our plans for the day. The divers set out with both boats to get an early launch from Treath Bychan before the wind picked up. The rain eased as they set off, and everyone had a wonderful drift dive at Dullas Island under the watching eye of the nearby seal colony. There were catsharks galore! Divers on Sunday were: Cheshire Cat: Dave M, Clemmie, Helen, Vladimir and Alex, Cox was Steve W. Top Cat: Pat, Phil, Ian, Anna H-H, Tim and Will H-H. Coxes were Phil and Tim. We then all met for coffee and pizzas before starting our journey home.
Trip Report – Alison
