July 2005
Built to our own specification, the Ocean Explorer is a superb long distance dive boat. With an overall length of 9.5 meters and an inboard 260hp Yamaha diesel engine, she is capable of reaching dive sites which would have been beyond our reach in the past. She is fitted with all the latest navigation and safety equipment including two 8 man liferafts. Her arrival in Dun Laoghaire brings our fleet of dive boats to three including the Oceandiver and the Seawolf. We will now be scheduling dives for all levels of experience ranging from easy shallow dives off Scotsmans Bay to adventure dives as far as the Saltee Islands.
We couldn't have got a better day for our annual Bar-B-Que on Dalkey Island in July, it was the first day of the heatwave and people who brought umbrellas were glad of the shade! The Bay looked like the Caribbean and we all lounged around in the sun till late in the afternoon.
The good weather continued here in Dublin for the next 2 weeks and there has been fantastic local diving as a result.
Jellyfish threat
The Heatwave has attracted one unwelcome visitor to the Bay in the form of the Lions Mane Jellyfish (Cyanea capillata), these large jellyfish can have tentacles that extend 6 meters or more and deliver a nasty sting. As divers we are protected from major bodily injury but watch out for the exposed area around face and hands. First aid treatment is early application of vinegar to the affected area and possible antihistamine treatment. If swelling and pain from more serious stings persists, prompt medical attention should be sought. Recovery periods can vary from several minutes to several weeks.
