Cape Soucis / Okiwi Bay
20th August 2006
After scaring the hell out of Paul Newcombe, who thought we were burglars, we collected the club boat and Stu Pope, John Hornby, Irish, Bill Dabinett, Mark Hellewell and I headed out of Nelson about 6:45. After 30 minutes at the Okiwi Bay rest rooms we headed off. I need to say that after only 2 club trips and being asked to write up this trip, I face a dilemma: report the truth and risk this trip being my last versus writings that meet the team's approval and face the burden of having to write many more.
Regardless I do have to say, if half of Irish's sexual claims are true I fully understand why he had to leave the motherland.
Soon after exiting Croisilles Harbour we ran into choppy seas. We decided to get our scallops at the top end of Okiwi Bay with the hope the chop would settle and allow us to make route for D'urville Island. After just over half an hour we had close enough to quota of scallops on board. Irish also scored a flounder. There was a seal at the scallop spot that Irish claimed was playing with him down there; I didn't want to ask; he certainly is adventurous!
The sea didn't settle so we headed across to Cape Soucis where we had the rest of our dives. It was a great location, but with very few crays and only three smaller ones between Irish and John.
Just before heading in for my first dive I faced a safety/health dilemma. With John standing at the back of the boat wet-suit round his ankles; what presented the greatest hazard? The water that John was trying his best to warm or suffer the heavy Hornby cloud. If that wasn't enough by way of personal deposits, John contributed further to the environment by reaching deep for that special burley (more than once) yet the fish still didn't come. To be fair it wasn't only John who felt a little queasy due to the choppy conditions.
There were also a few complaints about the cold water worsened by the cool breeze. The sea didn't improve as the day went on and there was a noticeable lack of other boats in the area during the day.
We were back at Okiwi on dry land by 2:30 before heading to the Rai Valley Tavern and off home.
Overall a worthwhile day.
Thanks
Glen Goodman