Arabia & Wetmore - Tobermory

[rickydazla]

So, after my first venture up to Tobermory, I was pretty happy to learn that the weather over Labor Day weekend was forecast to be clear with minimal wind. As it turned out, it was GLORIOUS - the water was like glass from Friday through Monday and there was hardly a cloud in the sky.

We dove with Ken's Dive Locker again on their "Minimum 6 dives for $150" deal and although a bunch of the other divers did anywhere from 6-12 dives over the weekend, my wife and went to cherry-picked a couple and spent some quality time doing SFA in the beautiful surrounds.

The following pictures are from the Wetmore, which I particularly wanted to dive as there is a large pencil drawing of the wreck outside the bathroom in Bruno's Dive Shop that I see multiple times a day. It is a great wreck - shallow and easy to navigate, broken up but with plenty to see...

Jason with the anchor:

Sharon (on her 100th dive) and Kris over the anchor chain

Kris next to the boiler

By far and away my favourite dive up there was the Arabia and the day we dove her was perfect. I decided not to take my camera so that I could really soak it up and I'm glad that I did. The water was perfectly calm when we dropped in and there was a very slight current running across the deck from the port side stern to the starboard bow - we left the line at about 70' and drifted effortlessly over and around the bows of the boat, down to a maximum of 98'. Watching the bowsprit come slowly into view was a truly amazing experience that I hope you all get to enjoy one day and see for yourself with your own eyes...


Rick

 

[Notso_Ken]

So, after my first venture up to Tobermory, I was pretty happy to learn that the weather over Labor Day weekend was forecast to be clear with minimal wind. As it turned out, it was GLORIOUS - the water was like glass from Friday through Monday and there was hardly a cloud in the sky.

We dove with Ken's Dive Locker again on their "Minimum 6 dives for $150" deal and although a bunch of the other divers did anywhere from 6-12 dives over the weekend, my wife and went to cherry-picked a couple and spent some quality time doing SFA in the beautiful surrounds.

The following pictures are from the Wetmore, which I particularly wanted to dive as there is a large pencil drawing of the wreck outside the bathroom in Bruno's Dive Shop that I see multiple times a day. It is a great wreck - shallow and easy to navigate, broken up but with plenty to see...

Jason with the anchor:

Sharon (on her 100th dive) and Kris over the anchor chai
Kris next to the boiler

By far and away my favourite dive up there was the Arabia and the day we dove her was perfect. I decided not to take my camera so that I could really soak it up and I'm glad that I did. The water was perfectly calm when we dropped in and there was a very slight current running across the deck from the port side stern to the starboard bow - we left the line at about 70' and drifted effortlessly over and around the bows of the boat, down to a maximum of 98'. Watching the bowsprit come slowly into view was a truly amazing experience that I hope you all get to enjoy one day and see for yourself with your own eyes...


Rick

I'm glad you had a great dive weekend! I've been to Tobermory twice, and got in some great dives both times. The Arabia was a great dive. The pictures look good!


Ken

 

[kidsdream]

Glad you and the crew had a great time.

I stopped and talked to Bruno and Ken last week when they were taking the boat in (just down from my house) for the engine repairs.

 

[Divers Incorporated]

Glad you had a great time. I have been going up there almost every year since 1994 and both the Arabia and the Wetmore are two of my favorites. thanks for posting pictures

Rich

 

[sprange]

Nice photos! I've had many great dives in Tobermory, and in particular when the Dawnlight was still operating. My last dive on the Arabia was at 6:30AM one stormy day. I actually felt like I was an extra for the 'Perfect Storm'. London too was home, but with my Dad living in Wiarton my wife and I managed to hit Tobermory at least twice a month during the summer. Definitely good times!

 

[rickydazla]

Glad you had a great time. I have been going up there almost every year since 1994 and both the Arabia and the Wetmore are two of my favorites. thanks for posting pictures

Rich

Another Tobermory veteran told me after my dive that there's a third anchor on the Arabia that's in the fo'c'sle - have you ever seen it?

Rick

 

[Divers Incorporated]

Yes... its part of the briefing I do so people dont miss it.. its a smaller anchor than the two bigger ones its called a kedge(sp?) and when I was there last it sat on its side at the end of the bow sprit before the windlass. I was there last in 2007.
Here is a link to the picture I couldnt get it to post

http://www.diversinc.com/travel/past trips/Past Trip Images/Tobermory07/DSC05562.JPG

You can check out the rest of the pics we took on this trip at
Tobermory 2007

Hope you get to see it!
Rich