St Abbs - 'Splash In' Weekend

St Abbs - Photo 'Splash In' 2009
August Bank Holiday Weekend

You couldn't have asked for better conditions for this years St Abbs weekend. The sun was out, the sea was like a millpond and the tides were just perfect! The only thing I was missing was my SLR CAMERA - My life spoilt yet again because of the person that cannot be named :silent:

:?: What is a 'Splash In' - well this is a underwater photo competition held over one day. Everyone entering as to take pictures within the geograhical area of the event on the same day! Then once you have taken your images you then submit 3 for judging. The St Abbs competition is judged on the Sunday by the general public.
:star: You have 3 catorgaries to enter: Marine Life Portrait, Reserve Atmospheric, Most Humorus.

So here the three I entered this year - Then below then are some more general ones from the same dives.



These were not the best images i've taken (would blame the tools, but I blame someone else!!). When the pictures are 15 foot high on a screen they still do look quite good, but so do everyone elses. This year their were 38 entrants in the competition. The hall were the the judging could only accomodate 110 people, which is going to addressed by Squirel and the ProScuba tech team next year ! Voting was with the usual bias to those have more people in the room. So this year I didn't win anything - but i did appear in the best beginner winning shot so at least i'm an award winning model now

A big thank you to My my buddy Squirrel and to the back up team of Emma. I'm sure they will post some nice pictures, especially from my unfortunate misshap with a rock

fab ice cream!!!! smudge had a fight with a rock!!! and this is what the boys did to the weather when they got the kites out!

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Fab weekend as normal.
But As normal a poor turnout by the gang yet again!!!!! I have no idea why people never turn out for this event from our lot, the few who go year in year out are now part of a big family of folk which dive this mecca every year. Next year we are providing technical support to the Marrine reserve, to help the local community, and divers a'like.
This year marked the 25th birthday of the marine reserve. So hopefully next year will be bigger and better, and a bit more supported by the Proscubca folk.

here :cheers: here :cheers:

At st abbs there is always the same faces every year over the Bank holiday weekend. This year was no exception. The Buxton BSCAC dive possy were there over 30 of them!! There were divers from the South, South West, Manchester, Yorkshire and just about everywhere.

The North East of the UK attracts divers from all over the world. This part of the world is rich in marine life, offten more diverse than even tropical waters!

Then there are the ship wrecks.. in the last fives years this stretch of the coast to 30 miles out to sea as seen over 70 new wrecks found!!! including 4 german u-boats.

How can we ignore all this..

Again, I agree with the Squirrel - where were you all.

Agne and meself didn't go up for the splash-in but went up on Sunday for a dive. A big thank you to Smudge and Squirrel for leading us to Cathedral Rock. For those who have never been (that'll be most of you), this is one of the best dives in the UK. A nice steady dive with 14.5m max. The arch is a double arch covered in anenomes and sponges. We were met by the usual group of Ballen Wrasse. The was also a good sized group of Pollock. Some stunning wildlife, although, the Ballen Warasse do become a pest when you are trying to take photos of other fish and stuff. :!:

It is a long way to go but the dives are worth it. If enough are up for it next year it might be worth looking at doing a boat dive.

For all you new divers, especially those who have the dry-suit training this really is a must for next year.

we was at anglesea

We would all like to have been there but bank hols are spent with the family and other non diving activites as well!!!
I have'nt been in the water for over 3 weeks but work and other things get in the way.

keep putting on trips away and i will try and get out before my next hols in October

OOOOH you make me feel so bad.

We wanted to come too, but its really dificult with kids or dogs even.

I did enquire about what you did about accom and costs etc, but no one responded!

Theres no way all four of us can sleep in the car, so we need a campsite; and even if St Abbs is not suitable for kids i still need enough notice to be able to find someone who will have them for a weekend.

Its not fair to farm them off all the time and they are really interested in the diving so we are trying to make as many family diving weekends as posible untill the tadettes can get wet too.

Hope you understand.

So here is a thought.....................

Why not next year let us all get organised and get a campsite booked really early, Im happy to help out with the organisation, sort out car sharing and blow out the friday night pool for one week so we can get up on the friday, get settled and have an absolute scream with tic toc dancing naked round the tents!!!! or rich modeling the pink bikini!!!!

If we make it more than just diving some of the non divivng partners may come along to which is always more people to shout for proscuba at the voting! And it will allow us to cook from a tent or caravan, not have to pay out for prepared meals and stuff!

I am up for that, I enjoy camping so the idea of booking and going up in the Friday seems like a good plan. I would hopefully be up to a standard that I could dive next year but even if not I would still go for the laugh!!!!

hear hear

Thank you emma at last someone understands those with children DO want to DIVE, but need to consider their taddetts or loved ones (other halfs) who dont dive.

Yes lets get organised for next years splash in , and prepare NOW then we will ALL be there to support proscuba and have a really memorable time for all divers and those who dont yet dive . Remeber the taddets are the future frogetts .

We used to camp up at St Abbs - thier is a holiday camp (Scoutcroft) which used to allow camping.. but unfortunatley idiots were using the camp site and getting drunk and causing trouble.

For a popular tourist family holday area, there is no longer any site alowing camping within close proxcimity.

Scoutcroft is still usable, they have statics for hire and holiday chalets. Theres plenty for people to around the area. The beach at 5 mins away is ideal for surfing and playing on. There are several play areas for kidz.

Over the weekend me, andy and emma did diving, kite flying, archery and some beautiful walking. You are only 50 mins from Edinburgh too.

I'm in a simular situation to those with kidz in that I live on my own with 2 dogs. I dont like to leave them in the house all day on their own and I too dont like taking advantage of others to dog sit! Bringing them with me is not always an option due to the thought of leaving them in the car when I'm in the water and one of them being too old to keep up with the pace.

Albeit, it sounds like we have a plan for next year then!
I dont mind helping to organise too. Lex x