BASKING SHARK SWIM DAY 2

The next day after and evening of merriment and a couple of glasses of the red stuff it was time to get ready and head out onto the boat. New adventures awaited us today but what would they be!

The weather was cooler to start off with, cloudy and although there appeared not to be much wind, what wind there was, was playing with the water...time to test the sea legs i think. Lets hope it would calm down fast!! Again Cameron with that knowing smile stated that it would and that yes my sea legs would find themselves again....after the previous nights activities (stickley poetry reading and light refreshments...or was that lobster and red wine...!!) i was more worried about the sea belly. Time would tell!

Heading out of the safety of the harbour the waters appeared to increase in its rocking and rolling. all our eyes scanning the waters constantly for the big black fin that we had been promised...would the shark reveal itself to us today. The waves hitting the boat at times felt like they would break it, but Cameron had everything under control in that department, the swell of the water against the horizon played with the eyes, ears and brain and soon a few were looking a little green around the gills. Would we really be able to spot anything in the water as it was! We had learned our lessons from the day before and all of us were kitted up and ready to go...was it a premonition of what was to come? 

 

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D7P_nIQYFuUI%26feature%3Dyoutu.be&h=TAQFGE4wY

 

Learning to stay steady on a boat that is rocking is similar to patting your head and rubbing your belly (yep you are all having a go now aren't you!), the motion of the boat, the swell of the waves, the visual impact of the shoreline and waves....oh yes the stomach was doing flips!!!! Thankfully i was not the only one and slowly we all took on a green hue.

Picture taken by Jamie Openshaw

Cameron's shouts from the front of the boat soon distracted us, a pod of around 50 common dolphins were heading straight for the boat. These amazing creatures had the whole of the ocean to play in but they were choosing to come to us and show us their acrobatics. It was stunning to watch, this time we had time to grab the cameras and our wits and start snapping...and videoing. I think you can hear by our squeals how amazing it was. Like a wave they parted and surrounded the boat as the passed, literally within touching distance. Their speed and agility is awesome, pure power in the water as will be able to see from the link - 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o1lw0J8-9s&feature=em-upload_owner

These aquatic creatures, came and went in the blink of an eye, they were intent on their own play and boy were they playing, if only i could swim like them...even just for an hour, complete heaven. Then all of a sudden it was in the distance...a fin...the burbling s of the previous day were gone...the sightings of birds, seals etc that had us thinking they were sharks and which left us spluttering words had left us, this time the words came straight out...SHARK...oh yes it definitely was a large black fin, slowly moving through the waves. Wow, all breath suddenly left my body, a huge adrenalin spike kicked in and sliced through every part of me, these magnificent creatures where here in the water, and now all there was for us to do was join them! Whilst we were hastily getting the remainder of our kit on Shane kept an eye on where this magnificent creature was heading. It was a juvenile, but still a stunning size and appeared to be happily feeding on the plankton in the water. 

The first group enter the water, us in the second group stood in anticipation of the forthcoming event. For such large creatures they are very sensitive, the rules to not touch are firm, the creatures themselves, despite their size are very sensitive to what is happening in the water around or near them, this was proved as they headed towards the first group of swimmers, making a direct path through the waves, then at the last minute and with a flick of the tail heading off in a different direction. The speed that they can obtain with one tail movement is incredible and the flexibility in such a large body is stunning to see, and they make it all look effortless in the process. 

The shark seemingly not bothered by us and our adventures and will a few swishes of its tail soon out swam us, the heart by this point was pounding, what an amazing experience. The fins on the surface look large but the creature beneath the surface expels all thoughts that may enter your head. And all of this of our own coastal waters and available now for us to go and see. 

With shark gone from view (and quite how they can do that is a mystery, we tracked its passage for what seemed an eternity for it to dive and not return), the boat and it grinning passengers headed off to the other side of Coll and to calmer waters. The bays around Scotland are quite incredible with large impending boulders created with the most stunning colours but most impressive are the inlets with incredible white sands and crystal clear waters, a swimmers (and divers) dream. 

Time to head back home, what an amazing trip and well worth the travelling for. Never had i thought that i would see and experience so  much in two days. A quick trip into Tobermory for fish and chips (well it would be rude not to! The famous Tobermory cat welcoming us in with a flick of his tail before wandering off when he realised that we weren't sharing.

Food consumed and a wander round the shops and it was back on the boat, i am not sure what the locals thought of several of us who were still dressed in our wetsuits and had only thrown a coat over the top, there seemed little point in getting changed when i had planned to take Shane up on his promise of a last swim. And look at the waters he provided, breathtakingly beautiful and too good a spot for me to miss out on a last dip before heading home. Even Gemma could not resist getting in, a mum and daughter moment as the other chose to remain on the boat.

Dried and dressed with hot drinks in hand it was a slow meander back to Oban, sea eagle on rock watching our tail wave and the skies behind us closing in on what had been a glorious two days.

I was very lucky in that Shane managed to get some video footage of my trip and the link is here for you all too see - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTc9F73DeBk&feature=youtu.

Do i plan to go again.....YES. 2014 the trips will be made and more places explored and swam in. How do you book, well contact them via facebook - Basking Shark Scotland or their web page - http://baskingsharkscotland.co.uk/

ONE VERY HAPPY SWIMMER - 

GUEST BLOG - SPORTS DIRECT author Chelsea Potter

What to wear to open water swimming events and how to get warm quickly after

As the cold water season approaches, I thought now would be as good a time as ever to go through the proper attire for open water swimming events and perhaps more important, how to get warm quickly after.

Firstly lets talk about wetsuits. Many people avoid these as they believe they constrict their movements. However this couldn’t be further from the truth. Wetsuits help to keep you warm which is extremely useful for open water swimming events, as  they help you float better and reduce drag so you can swim faster. When choosing your wetsuit, ensure it is snug but not too tight. You need it to fit well so it doesn’t let water in but you don’t want it restricting you. Ensure you test it out in the water before any big event to avoid limitations.

People struggle with open water events mainly due to the cold. There are numerous ways around this and wetsuits are only one option. You can buy boots, socks and gloves and these are really useful. If you think about your hands and feet being in and out of the water constantly, inevitably it can be a shock to the body but gloves and boots help reduce this and provide extra warmth. If these are something you may be interested in, look out for neoprene materials as this has been tried and tested to prove it's the best.

Other accessories that may be of benefit this season include hats, goggles and ear plugs. Ensure hats and plugs are made out of silicone as this again is best suited for its purpose. Ear plugs are great preventing ear infections. When looking to purchase goggles, make sure they fit your face properly and are comfortable. You can buy tinted goggles for sunny days but at this time of year, opt for clear or yellow glasses.

All this is good while in you’re in the water but when you get out, how do you get warm quickly? One of the most common tips that people focus their attention on is foil blankets. These are great to throw on as soon as you leave the water. At this point it is also vital to have something to eat, albeit a sports bar or a sandwich. Food will create more energy and in turn keep you warm so eating soon after an event is important. Hot drinks are also great for keeping your hands warm and maintaining core body temperatures.

It can take up to ten minutes for your body to adjust to the conditions so the sooner you can get dry and put on comfortable layers, the better for you. After you are dry and have on your tracksuit, grab some hand warmers. The gel hand warmers are small and easy to carry but they warm up so quickly to suit your needs. They are great for swimming events.

One tip that is not as recognised but is equally as great is as soon as you leave the water, go for a run. It is a great way to generate some heat while adapting to the dry conditions and also acts as a cool down.

All these tips are great and are tried and tested to work but try them all and see what works best for you. For more tips and everything you could need for swimming events, take a look at http://www.sportsdirect.com/pages/swimming?utm_source=blog+post&utm_medium=seo&utm_campaign=swimming+attire+and+warmth