The weekend of 14/17th June saw a group of SAA divers along with others from across Britain venture down to the beautiful and picturesque harbour village of Abercastle, some 6 miles south of Fishguard, to participate in the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) underwater field school, based at the welcomingly situated camping, Caravanning and b&b setting of Garn Isaf.
The field school survey focused on the wreck of Leysian, which sank close to the cliffs, some 600 metres outside the harbour in 1917. Due to recent surgery, I personally could not dive but instead, I offered to coxswain for a group of trained surveying divers on their RIB, The Kraken.
Despite the fact that on both nights the South Westerly wind blew-up a real hoolie with thunder & lightning and rain like stair-rods, and that my tent leaked like a sieve, our club members who attended took part in two wonderful days of surveying the wreck as well as enjoying a good laugh with buddies both old and new.
Ian Cundyโs Pre-dive and post-dive briefings were informative, and useful in knowing the task-in-hand as well as helping re-focus minds on the outstanding objectives of the field school.
Our club members who attended all enjoyed the whole field school, sharing all their personal video and photography with the NAS, and all have committed to seeking to participate in further training to more fully take part in future NAS Field School events.
The whole NAS field school experience was made by Ian Cundy & the teamโs tireless efforts to plan, prepare and present a comprehensive package of activities for non-divers and divers alike, as well as the work put in by Richie Grice & Ceri Jones (SAA Regional Instructors). Thank you on behalf of all the SAA members who participated, and we look forward to the next such event.
Thanks also to and Anne and her gang at Garn Isaf, for their welcoming hosting of the NAS field school.
For more information on the NAS and their projects visit:
https://www.nauticalarchaeologysociety.org/
John Rice
Mersey SupaScuba Club
