Kilkee Report - Click here for images

Glamorous, glitzy Kilkee was the venue for the ‘08 June Bank Holiday trip with a whopping 27 members heading west for the weekend.  Those who departed Dublin late had a relatively traffic-free run and still managed to make last orders in The Kilkee Bay Hotel.  On Saturday we were joined by “Easy Rider” Gary while Maciej, Julia and Artur popped up from Limerick to join us for a couple of dives on Sunday and Monday.  John Phillips, an old friend of PSAC, also joined us on Saturday for a couple of dives.

On Saturday morning, those on the early dive (or on towing duty) rolled out of bed for the short trip from the hotel to Pikey Central to launch the boats.  We had two dives at 10:00am and 12:00am at Middle Rock.  Although given the dense fog, it could have easily been the Middle East.  Upon reaching the surface after the dive we found ourselves enveloped in the fog with no RIB in sight.  Thankfully Georgina’s sobbing and plaintive cries (”I’m too young to die”) alerted the boat to our location and we were soon aboard and heading back to the pier.  Thankfully the fog lifted in the afternoon and both RIBs headed to Ilaunabaha for dive #3 of the day.  A couple of shots of a stunning sunset over Kilkee and a few al fresco beers in O’Neachtain’s Bar rounded off the day.

On Sunday the first dive was at 10:00am BST (British Standard Time).  The second dive was at 2:00pm PWT (Portmarnock Western Time) which is the appointed dive time plus two hours.  The delay was exacerbated by the dry coxswains insisting on sandwiches before taking to the water again.  (Historical Note For Dry Coxswains:  In 1916, Ernest Shackleton, Tom Crean et al sailed for fourteen days in gale-force winds from Elephant Island to South Georgia Island without sandwiches).  Having capitulated to the demands of the revolting dry coxswains, Leah agreed to fetch lunch and soon returned with pan-seared gujons of salmon panini garnished with a paprika and lentil pesto and accompanied by an amusing Chateau Margaux ‘82.  Our coxswains having been suitably sated, fired up the engines and headed off for Donegal Point in sun-drenched conditions with a full complement of divers for an interesting swim-through dive.

On our return to Kilkee, we filled some tanks while our dry coxswains had a chicken ceasar salad followed by tiramisu and Irish coffees.  At 5:30pm we departed the pier for dive #4 of the day at Chimney Bay.  Gary undertook his Club Diver test here…..and passed with flying colours.   Congratulations.  Later that evening we descended on an exceptionally busy Stella Maris Hotel and managed to secure a table.  In a feat of logistical brillance, eleven of us dined at a table for four by organising three concurrent sittings.  On the positive side, we all got fed; on the negative side, our waitress had a nervous breakdown.
 
On Monday morning the RIBs were launched with the assistance of Kilkee Rescue’s tractor unit such was the exceptionally low condition of low water.  At 10:30am we headed south to Diamond Rocks where Colin saw a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, big lobster.  It was, like, really big.  On our return, M2 was pulled from the water for the trip home while M1 stayed put for dive #2.  Those not diving headed for The Pantry for lunch before the trek eastwards and home.  Thanks as always to all towers, DOs, coxswains, bottle fillers and of course, Leah, for organising the trip.

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