The M.V. “Spinaway Isle” is a Scottish built converted M.F.V,
 67ft x 18ft x 9ft
( 20,4m x 5,5m x 2,7m).

The main engine is a Gardiner 8L3 8cylinder diesel with 153hp

The Vessel has MCA code of practice category 2, that´s means 60 miles operation from a safe haven.

There is a 300bar compressor in the engine room, nitrox and trimix can be supplied from a onboard mixing panel

There are five comfortably cabins for twelve passengers, all with central heating

On deck you have masses on space to kit up and prepare your rigg´s.

 

23.Oktober 2004,
north clyde coast,
55°53.178’N 004°53.974’W
(note decimal deg/min)

Our first dive was on the wreck of “Kintyre”. We doved in 4 teams. Two team with rebreathers and two with OC kit´s.
On this weekend we are doing check dives with a new HH electronic from juergensen marine.
The electronic was build in a classic KISS rebreather from jetsam.
The HH CCR controller consisted in a primary and secondary wrist unit, a solenoid and a head up display.
Now I really know what does it mean:
keep it simple stupid :-)

The Kintyre is an 94nt. Iron steamship, built by Robertson & Co, in Greenock.
Launched 1868.
Dimensions:
184,7ft x 22,9ft x 11,5ft
(56,3m x 7,0m x3,5m)

The wreck of the Kintyre lies in a steeply sloping seabed, depths ranging from 35 to 50 meters, bow to stern.

If you will read more about the wreck of Kintyre please look at “Clyde Shipwrecks” from Peter Moir and Ian Crawford.

2nd dive was on the wreck of M.V. Akka
55°56.750’N
004°54.417’W
(Note decimal deg/min)

The Akka is a steel motor vessel, built by Gotaverken, Sweden.
Launched September 1942
She had a gross weight of 5,409 tons and a net weight of 3,053 tons.
She measured 442.8’ft x 56.5’ft x 25,8’ft.
( 135m x 17,2m x 7,9m )

The AKKA is the largest diveable wreck in the Firth of Clyde today.

The seabed at the bow is around 30m and at the stern around 40m.
Main deck slopes from 16 to 24m, from bow to stern.

The deck, the corridors and cabins, everthing is covered with orange and white plumrose anemones and dead men´s fingers are everywhere.

After two dives and a beautiful sunny afternoon on deck we are going back to kipmarina, where we stay the night.

After dinner we find the long way to the inverkip pup, next door to inverkip hotel. Back on the “Spinaway Isle” we all are looking for the original apple pie from Jim Queen and we find it :-))