At last the weather broke just long enough for us to get some “Salt to go with our Water (rather than just our Chips)”, and with that small window of opportunity we were off to complete our first coastal dive of 2006.

The venue, after much deliberation was finalised as Anglesey, ok yes it’s a whole island we know, so in actual fact we pinned it down as “Porthdafarch”. This ideal little bay just down the coast from the main Trearddur Bay, was absolutely ideal for our sea diving virgins, as it is well sheltered; easy to navigate and not effected much by tide or current.

Once assembled, in two completely different groups at totally different bays (Doooooh !), we set about the important task of taking the pee out of today's group leader Dave C. Well after all when you were the one who decided the venue, its always best to be at the venue, but hey-ho on with our day.

Gathered on the slipway, huddled together the briefing commenced, and a plan was formulated. The plan however seemed to revolve more about getting Mark to dive than anything else, and that is easier said than done (unless the water happens to be above 30 degrees that is !) … After a quick divvy up of divers, the separate groups began to get ready.

Hannah, from the Cannock store, got geared up with Joe; Dave; and Big Dave (no don’t ask why he’s called big); Dave C rounded up the Hyatt and Fern clans from Stoke; whilst Mark brushed the cobwebs off his gear before getting ready to take Nigel from Stoke and the “Doleman 3” in.

So away we went the intrepid groups of underwater explorers, with SMB’s a flying. All the groups, including Ben and Steve who were brave enough to go it alone, headed off down the left edge of the bay. In and out of the rocks and crevices, under and through the kelp we went, each group making its own route out of the bay. Camera support and evidence recording courtesy of Andy Doleman and Ben (the frog) Hathaway.

There was plenty of life around, you just had to look a little harder than you do in the Red Sea to find it. With plenty of sightings of Wrasse; and assorted Crabs and a lonely Jelly Fish everyone was quite content with their first salty dip, albeit the general consensus was that “you don’t half float in this salty water”.

After a generous offer that Mark and Matt would whiz round to the dive centre in the van with everyone's cylinders, the van was soon inundated with tanks from every direction – Silly offer if ever I’ve heard one.

So weighted to the gunnels it was off for the second dive, and this time pretty much everyone went it alone, in their own little buddy groups. The life on the right hand side of the bay, and just out of the bay around the cliffs, was much better and more plentiful. Steve and Jody even had to wrestle one of their weight pouches back off a friendly lobster, and others recounting sightings of flat fish and little rock blennies.

So “well done” to all that attended, and thanks for the photo record Andy and Ben, we’ll see you all next time !