National Maritime College of Ireland

Thursday 19 April 2007

A total of 16 members, including a number of new trainees and two instructors from Cork Sub Aqua Club, travelled to Adrigole, West Cork on the morning of Wednesday 11th April all set for a fantastic few days of diving in the Beara Peninsula.

The trainees managed to squeeze in a qualifying snorkel on Wednesday afternoon, while the other members checked out the life below water at Zetland Pier. On Thursday morning, following some much needed sleep in Hungry Hill Lodge; our aim was to get 3 dives in during the day. With the weather certainly on our side, we knew it was manageable.

Again, the trainees completed the last of their qualifying open water snorkels and the group split into teams to go exploring the seabed at Zetland Pier once again, to good depths for shore-dives of 8 metres . Dogfish, Sea-Urchins, Plaice, Crabs, a seahorse, Sand-shark, plenty of Sprat and even a big ole’ tractor tyre were to be seen by all. With two dives completed at Zetland Pier on Thursday morning/afternoon, a move to ‘Dave’s Pier’ just outside Adrigole was to ensue. Here, a pleasant and rocky shore-dive was had by all before it was back to the lodge and more importantly to the bar to celebrate Mika’s birthday – much to all of our surprise.

Friday morning, the grand finale took place by shocking everyone with the practical exam!! Taking place back at Zetland Pier, everyone was tested practically by Dave of Cork Sub Aqua Club, in order for everyone to receive their certificates for 1* Diver. Kara even had the chance to fool around in her Kayak before we hit the road for home. A fantastic 3 days was had by the NMCI Sub aqua Club, but couldn’t have been done without the weather, Dave & Renes from Cork Sub Aqua Club, Patrick & Eileen from Hungry Hill Lodge and more importantly the members themselves for devoting their time and lungs to the sport of Sub Aqua Diving. Well done – see ye all in Allihies.

Check us out at: www.nmcisubaquaclub.blogspot.com

-Gary Jordan, NMCI SAC