MV Honeydew – Shetland Islands – July 2024
I’ve been discussing logistics with Sarah and we have come up with dates of 27th July 2024 to 3rd August 2024. We will make an overnight crossing from Aberdeen to Lerwick upon Northlink Ferries on the Saturday 27th to arrive early on Sunday 28th.
Itinerary
The itinerary will look something like:
- Sat 27th Jul : Depart Aberdeen 17.00pm
- Sun 28th Jul : Arrive Lerwick 07.00am and board straight away. Setup kit and two dives.
- Mon 29th Jul : Two dives.
- Tue 30th Jul : Two dives.
- Wed 31st Jul : Two dives.
- Thu 1st Aug : Two dives.
- Fri 2nd Aug : One or two dives. Return to Lerwick at 14.30pm to offload. Ferry check-in at 16.00pm for 17.00pm sailing.
- Sat 3rd Aug : Arrive Aberdeen 07.00am
We will still have six days diving, but only five nights onboard Honeydew as the incoming and outgoing nights are on the ferry.
Costs
[1] Sarah is quoting me a price of £840.00 per diver and as normal, will include all diving, air fills, accommodation and a full board catering. Albeit a little more expensive than our Mull trip last year and less two nights on board, it’s still reasonable and the additional cost is simply the transit from Dunstaffnage to Lerwick.
[2] I cannot quote ferry costs at the moment as bookings are not available yet. That said, two people and one car departing Aberdeen on the 21st October and returning 29th is coming in at £362.00. Various options for accommodation on the ferry range from £142.00 for two in an sea view Executive cabin to £3.50 per person for a reclining chair. There are 10 inside cabins with four bunks for £109.00. Pods (think of a business class seat on British Airways) come in at £18.00 per person. Accommodation prices are “each way”. Calculating a crossing for two people, one car and two pods, the total is £434.00 or £217.00 each. Additional options for lounge access and dining are available.
[3] Thinking of the Scrabster to Stromness crossing, I will need to enquire with Sarah and Northlink as to whether dive trollies are available to save taking a car. One option is that maybe we take one big van and all divers travel as foot passengers? Personally, I think I would like to take my car and maybe stay two days at the end as I have never been to Shetland before and may like to do some sight seeing? What I am saying is, I cannot give you an exact price as there are two many variables for the crossings.
[4] That said, working on two passengers in one car and sleeping in pods, that’s £434.00 for two. Prices maybe a little more for summer season 2024 travel, but divide by two and add £840.00 for Honeydew and I am ball-parking £1,057.00 per person as I type. Fuel to and from Aberdeen, alcohol while on board, Nitrox and other incidentals excluded.
Dive Sites
Akin to the Mull trip, this will be a non-technical week and diving within recreational limits to both a varied wreck and scenic sites. Sarah has said that like Mull, we may not return to Lerwick each night. She says we will start the week and return to Lerwick, but will look to get out further to Unst harbour or even beyond for overnight stays during the week. She says there are lots of wrecks, some that may possibly suit are:
- SS Gwladmena [+1918] @ 35m to 38m (https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?5069)
- MV Pionersk (M-27852) [+1994] @ 2m to 22m (https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?59898)
- MV Samba [+1956] @ 20m (https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?130140)
- MFV Lunohods-I Stern [+1993] @ 2m to 45m (https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?10577)
- MFV Lunohods-I Bow [+1993] @ 2m to 45m (https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?10583)
- MFV Fraoch Ban (LK 966) [+1999] @ 32m (https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?1173170)
- SS Tonis Chandris [+1940] @ 6m to 18m (https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?59918)
- HMS E-49 [+1917] @ 32m (https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?16076)
HMS E-49 is a definite and maybe we can go and find the SS Dovre [+1913] that was lost 16th January 1913? For those with any Dover history, you will recall this is the ship that hit and sunk the SS Cuvier some 13 years prior in 1900! Apparently she was wrecked on shore, but with three different locations identified, it may need a lot of research.
Payment Schedule
I am only taking payment for the Honeydew charter. You will be responsible for your own travel and ferry bookings. We can liaise and discuss travel and ferry logistics as soon as crossing bookings open and maybe make a group booking. Payment schedule for Honeydew will be:
- Initial Deposit : By 30th September 2023 @ £240.00
- Interim Payment : By 31st January 2024 £300.00
- Final Payment : By 30th April 2024 @ £300.00
- Total : @ £840.00
As per normal club rules, upon payment of the deposit you are committed to paying the whole £840.00 total. Should you find you cannot make the trip for whatever reason, I will be happy to try and find a suitable diver to take your place. Once they have paid as your replacement, I can refund you.
If I cannot get 12 club members by 30th September, then I will offer this out to other divers within my peer group. I will not confirm or pay any deposit to Sarah until I have 12 divers and £2,880.00 paid diver deposit.
And Finally
Having never dived the Shetland Island before, I cannot talk from experience. However, reading the recent Ghost Fishing Lerwick week, hearing previous dive reports and speaking to Sarah, I think this will be a cracking week that you will not normally find on any dive charter itinerary. Sarah says if anyone wants to stay an extra night on Honeydew at either end of our week, that can be arranged but there may be some hanging about waiting to board on arrival and/or waiting for the ferry on leaving as we would have to disembark for cleaning for the next group. That may be a nice idea and reduce the rush of kit fettling, so we can discuss that nearer the time of ferry booking.
Date
- 27 Jul 2024 - 03 Aug 2024
- Expired!
Time
- All Day
Cost
- £840.00
Location
Lerwick
- Shetland Islands
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Website
https://www.shetland.org/visit/plan/areas/lerwick
Organizer
-
Mark Lewis
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Website
https://seahorsediveclub.uk/members/aurigator/
Next Event
- Vobster Christmas Dive and Dine – A Festive Lunch
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Date
- 06 Dec 2024
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Time
- 8:00 am - 4:00 pm