Top diving

[Rob Meddes]

I've been in the Falklands for 79 days now (not that i'm counting) & yesterday i finally got to do some proper diving. The first dive (Seal rock) was around a reef in a giant kelp forest. It was ok but no seals????? The next was on a wreck called the John R Kelly. It's very old & well broken but i could still recognise parts inc. the steel mast & deadeyes. This however was forgot ar we rounded a towering clump of kelp to see a Southern Sealion less then 4m away (in 15m viz). He didn't even look at us but carried on playing with the kelp. The students i was with were edging behind me (just in case, you never know). It was a thrilling sight. On the way back to Stanley we were joined by about 3-4 Commersons dolphins which spent 20 mins with us coming within touching distance. What a top day. We all had huge grins. If only i'd taken my camera.
Good diving
Rob

[steve swift]

If you go to

<a href="http://www.rafsaa.org/clubs/falklands.htm" >http://www.rafsaa.org/clubs/falklands.htm</a>

you can see some of my pix from the Falklands incl a Southern Sealion less than 4m away, while

<a href="http://www.rafsaa.org/expedrpts/Ardentensign/ardent1.htm" >http://www.rafsaa.org/expedrpts/Ardentensign/ardent1.htm</a>

Is about our exped to change the ensign on HMS Ardent, which was sunk during the Falklands conflict in 1982

Safe diving
Steve