Filling bottles
Scot Free III
Frank & Anne
Tue 17 Sep 2024 14:00
Neither water, nor wine, but gas!
Have tracked down the one place in the entire archipelago where dive bottles can be recertified and filled. F’s dive tank, for emergency use only, is stamped 2015 so cannot be refilled until certified as safe. São Roque on Pico island is the place but anchoring there is tricky and has known to require divers to free the anchor! Could be expensive and not to be attempted without a newly filled certified bottle! Decided on Madalena, although this too is not very inviting when you read the pilot book.
Had a lovely sail across, entered the harbour and anchored in rather rolly conditions, well away from the ro-ro ferry and other big ship docks. The chap we were in contact with kindly offered to pick the bottle up from the local dive shop and drop it off on Thursday.
Madalena is an attractive town, the church being prominent.
Booked a rental car for Thursday, then had a well earned beer overlooking the numerous dive boats and shops.
Acquired a beer buddy, reminiscent of “Harry” in Death in Paradise
He was very chilled, nibbling on cheese and ambling up and down, undisturbed by us.
Now for the domestic gas bottle.