Submarine Present
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Fri 28 Nov 2008 19:14
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Submarine
Present
Thursday we really got stuck into our
prep jobs on Beez. Friday we got up and as neither of us have ever been in a
submersible, (although we know quite a bit about them from Miffy, the Royal Navy
Submariner) so we booked on line to get 15% discount from the 52 Euro price and
said the 44.20 Euros was our Christmas present to each other. It feels very
festive here at the marina now with all the lights and Poinsettias about the
place.
   After a safety briefing we walked to
the submarine pontoon. Bear settled, the rear of the boat and behind me a
tourist with razor sharp intellect, our guide told us when we rested on a shelf
at 30 meters "to watch out for a fish in glasses" razor sharp said to his wife
in a certain accent "I bet he means a diver" indeed one fed the fish for us to
see a gaggle.
 
 The bottom
of the harbour as we left. Out to sea. Compliant
fish.
   I went forward to picture the "Flight Deck" Skipper to the left, just resting us down for
the feeding show, First Mate had said he was going outside for a fag???.
Instrument panel and returning a photo of Bear sitting
beside our viewing window.
Designed and built in Finland, Sun
Fun Tres is Spanish registered. Costing approx 3 million Euros she is 18.5
meters long, 4 meters wide and 6.5 meters high. Total weight 106 tonnes. Maximum
operating depth 60 meters (I know Miff, not in your league). Capacity 48
passengers and crew. Viewing is from 22 - 11 per side (800mm diameter)
viewports. There are 1600mm large viewports, one at each end. You see Miff
submarines CAN have windows !!! Even if it's not
right. "Keep taking the tablets Bear". Propulsion 6 x 15 k/watt
electrical motors providing 3 dimensional movement. Safety features - all
systems are duplicated. Surface control boat maintains constant contact with the
sub. People rarely feel seasick due to the smooth motion of the journey.
NOT for the Claustrophobic though. Dive time 50 minutes just into the
dysphotic zone at 50 - 1,000 meters.
 Usual fish to seen are Wrasse, 2
banded Bream, Octopus, Sting Ray, Cuttle Fish, Guelly Fish and Bogues. We
saw urchins, many Barracuda, an Angel Shark, Parrot Fish (male and female),
Garden Eels - that can poke out up to 1.5 meters, grey and red Mullet, dusky and
Island Grouper, Sandsmelt and Sea Bream. The strangest thing is NO seaweed or
plant life of any kind, this area will be barren for hundreds of years to come
because of the 'recent' in terms of history, volcanic activity.
   A very different
view for us to see underneath a boat as we are going along. Bear back into the sunshine again
 
 Someone wanting to keep their craft floating but dry. We waited ten minutes to see
the next trip out, Skipper supervising and looking
very chuffed with himself.
   I still cannot get over the fact that
the first manouvre I did getting into the marina was to go round the sub, Bear
missed it completely. Next it was back to the office to do the Grockle thing,
get the photo and certificate.
   Still feeling festive we went to
celebrate 6 months away (actually on 6th December but likely to be at sea) with
pasta lunch and Champagne Strawberry Grenandine. This
Ring-necked Dove, sitting above Bear waiting for
tidbits.
   No matter where we are a cat will always find Bear "You are a proper pussy-magnet,
you are" Keeping absolutely silent after the last Janet
and John episode, the photo looks like I am inspecting my hand cuffs
again. WATCH OUT BEAR - SEE DANGER SIGNS, Bear hastily pours another
glass for Pepe and just about gets away with it !!!! Walking back to Beez past
the shops. Water feature with marina behind. First time I had ever seen a bra at 350 Euros, some of the shops are 'top drawer' with
prices to match, the usual marina sorts - Helly Hensen, Hugo Boss, LaCoste,
Raymarine etc.........
  Nipped into our local supermarket for
a bottle of Grenandine, Just to continue the mellow
festive feel, you know and some Cava at 2.40 Euros. A lad threw in
one chunk of bread and the grey Mullet looked like
boiling water. Pigeons about to rest on the black
sand. It's wrong I tell you. "Don't start
that again, no goats you'll be fine, just keep drinking and maybe the pink
elephants will come to see you".
All in all a smashing
afternoon break from chores.
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