Dive trip to Anglesey - 1st - 4th May 2026
Top Cat was prepped in the week before Phil towed her to Anglesey on Friday evening after work. A slow journey due to the volume of traffic.
Saturday
We met at 9am at the slip in Holyhead. This was to be Ivor’s first sea dive and Lois’s first boat dive. Both were diving with instructors. It was also the first time we deployed the BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video.) This is part of ECSAC’s contribution to BSAC’s Marine Champions’ project. It was put over the side on the way out to the first dive site. The plan was to retrieve it following the second dive. The Flint Wreck Area. Tim & Lois kitted up first followed by Ivor & Loz. The water temperature was 10C and the viz 2metres. Best finds were Cat Shark, Common Lobster and a nudibranch. Phil & I chose not to dive as we needed to get back to the slip so that the others could change cylinders.
North Stack Cliffs was the afternoon dive site. Both buddy pairs completed their second dives successfully. At this point Top Cat’s engine failed. Luckily for us a passing fishing RHIB stopped and towed us back to the Sailing Club slip. Steve and Helen having completed their shore dives at Newry Beach, brought the trailer from the allotment slip and recovered Top Cat.
We now had another problem. The BRUV was still on the seabed. Solution: Phil towed Top Cat back to Macclesfield and returned to Anglesey with Cheshire Cat.
Sunday
Ivor & Loz completed 2 shore dives from Newry beach. Phil, Tim and I went out with Cheshire Cat to see if the buoys were on the surface on a high-water slack. No such luck. We could see the lines on the plotter. We decided to look at a new dive site near North Stack whilst we were out.
We returned to the slip, went for a quick coffee and waited for low water. Finally, at 4pm, back out and Hey Presto, sighs of relief and smiley faces all-round, the buoys were up and on the surface. The BRUV was retrieved and we managed to get back in time to recover Cheshire Cat before the slip dried out.
Monday
We took Cheshire Cat back to the club, flushed the engine and washed both boats. Thanks to Steve and Helen, for their help. Well done to Lois and Ivor. Thanks to instructors Loz and Tim. Phil deserves a medal for going above and beyond. We are heading to the Shetlands for a well-earned rest aboard The Clasina. Hopefully the weather will allow us to get up to Muckle Flugga and around to the East coast. The diving, as always will be amazing.
Photos – Phil