Farne Islands 2004

[Ben Burville]

Anyone interested in diving with seals off the Farne Islands, Northumbria is welcome to contact me asap with a view to booking suitable dates early in 2004.
The most knowledgable skipper that I've come across there is a William Sheil who has just launched a purpose built dive boat with hydraulic lift - a large capacity craft for fully kitted divers offering a very stable dive platform.
I have spent much of 2003 diving at every opportunity with the seals there and have developed a good understanding of their behaviour underwater and the best methods of getting really close to these beautiful, inquisitive creatures.
If enough people are interested then we can endeavour to book with William over the same weekends and I will endeavour to share what I've learnt. Dives will be tend to be long (60mins min and upto 90mins + ). Dives will be shallow as seals don't enjoy "playing" at depths greater than 12m. If people would prefer to dive on their own and simply would like to have a chat about getting really close then feel free to e-mail me on <a href="mailto:bburville@hotmail.com">bburville@hotmail.com</a>

I want no money for any guidance/ advice. All diving costs are to be arranged directly with the boat skipper although I am happy to arrange a rate that is a "special" for such seal diving trips if enough people are interested in diving over the same weekend. I will not be liable for any diving activities during such weekends and all divers should arrange their own dive planning. Clubs are most welcome. I am there simply to help facilitate seal/diver interaction.

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to all,
Safe diving,
Ben.

[Andy Wade]

Anyone interested in diving with seals off the Farne Islands, Northumbria is welcome to contact me asap with a view to booking suitable dates early in 2004.
The most knowledgable skipper that I've come across there is a William Sheil who has just launched a purpose built dive boat with hydraulic lift - a large capacity craft for fully kitted divers offering a very stable dive platform.

Billy Sheil?
Good lord, now that's a name I haven't heard for some time.
Many years ago (1970's I think) there were major problems with diving around the Farnes, and in particular, launching from Seahouses was banned by the local Harbour authority as the 'Divers steal lobsters from fishermans lobster pots' saga raised its ugly head.
IIRC BSAC took them to the High Court for discrimination (on behalf of all divers)and won the case.
ISTR that Billy Shiel was involved somewhere amongst this and some bad rumours abounded that he'd tried to run divers over with his boat.
It was utter tosh of course.
I never believed it as I'd always found him to be an extremely courteous and helpful man who let us through the nightly locked gates on more than one early morning occasion to launch for a slack water dive on Whirl rocks.
Just goes to show you shouldn't listen to rumours.
It's really good to hear that he's still plying his trade around there, he has a wealth of knowledge about that area, and he has run seal and bird watching trips to the Farnes for donkeys years.
If he's running dive trips then I'd recommend him.




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