We were driven from home to Holyhead, across the Irish Sea to Dublin. On the Fast Cat service we were treated to a bridge visit, the array of Star Trek like equipment was quite mind boggling. Quite amazing that the thing is steered by no more than a Nintendo-like joystick. Our thanks to the master for his explanations. From Dublin the road is not exactly motorway standard all the way, in fact it's more of a wibbly-wobbly way. Seven hours later and we're in Dingle.

The sun shone for a good part of our trip to Dingle in the south western part of the Irish Republic. Amazing really when you think that this is the wettest bit of the British Isles. We did have a few breezy days and had a bit of a bouncing on the RIB but all in all little to complain about.

Using Dingle Dive Charters based in Dingle Marina we aimed at diving the Blasket Islands, these are the most westerly in Europe and in every way live up to their position. They extend eight miles west from Slea Head, are bold and precipitous with strong tides and overfalls in the channels between them. Owing to their rugged nature, exposed position and lack of safe anchorages they are rarely visited by the general multitude. The majority are steep to and offer a wealth of excellent diving, rated as advanced to extreme. In good conditions there is fine and majestic scenery to be enjoyed and an unrivalled sense of remoteness. In bad weather their appearance can be utterly forbidding and they should be avoided!

Over the week we dived all five of the larger islands, including some of the smaller offshore rocks and pinnacles. The diving was of an excellent standard, the faces and gullies plastered with life of all sorts including the usual mass of jewel anemones, sponges, starfish, crustacea and fish. Visibility was not as good as we have seen previously, around five to eight metres but well in excess the deeper you went!

The usual plan each day was a relatively civilised start around 10am (for that read 11am departure), often with a brief return to the marina for fuel, spare radios and Irish Department of Transport boat surveys. A blast out to the Blaskets, a dive, then into a hole for lunchtime fodder. Perhaps a short wander on the island and then out for a second dive and back to the marina usually by 6pm.

The accommodation was superb, two holiday cottages within a few minutes walk of the marina. Well equipped, spacious, clean and very comfortable, a real find and one to be recommended. We self catered most evenings, a variety of food, from onion bhajis and curries through to roast chicken. Dingle has a population of around 1800, and 52 pubs. Some of these aren't pubs as we know them, for example Dick Mack's, half a cobblers and half a bar. One of the party made more than ample use of the local hostelries and even got picked up by the 82 year old in the corner! The favourable rate of exchange made for good value entertainment, all in all a thoroughly good week and one which must be repeated. There is a wealth of diving remains to be explored and a return trip is already under discussion.

Thanks to John Wilson for organising the trip and for driving the sardine van back home safely. Thanks to all the diving members for an efficient display of no-incident diving with no reports to fill in.