Norway, 2002

In July, 2002 members of Warrington Sub Aqua Club and guests made the long journey from Newcastle across the North Sea on the MV Jupiter to Bergen in Norway to repeat their successful 2000 expedition. The team led by Martin Findlow comprised members from Warrington Sub Aqua Club, Jesters Sub Aqua Club (Chester) and Horwich Sub Aqua Club. Also on hand with his expertise in gas blending was Chris Cook from SDS Watersports, Sheffield.

The base and dive station for the week was the liveaboard dive boat Jane R, owned and skippered by Gordon Wadsworth. Diving began in earnest on the day of arrival and it was no surprise to the team when they were greeted with the usual 20m+ visibility. The overall aim of the expedition was to explore the numerous World War Two shipwrecks that litter the seabed in the Hordaland region of Norway. Diving was carried out over a number of days between Bergen and the town of Malloy, some 100 miles to the north. The team carried out an extensive range of dives using Nitrox and Extended Range Diving practices. Depths varied from 25m to 60m, however the average depth was around the 40m. Listed below is a selection of the wrecks dived, locations and depths.

Wreck	Location	Depth
Barenfels	Askoy	36m
Kilbulk	Fedjefjord	38m
Frankenwald	Outer Sula	38m
Havda	Lute Land	26m
Wilhelm III	Flora	42m
Elga Ferdinand	Froysternfjord	50m
Sterk	Fafgordenfjord	33m
Aquilla	Froysternfjord	50m
Inga III	Staffjord	38m
Ferndale and Parrat	Krak Halle	60m
Solvang III	Krak Halle	34m

The full list of team members were (Warrington unless stated):

Martin Findlow: Expedition Leader
Stafford Stuchbury: Deputy Leader
Chris Cook, SDS: Specialist Gas Blender
Steve Bellass
Roger Barlow
Karen Daelmans
Wendy Waters
Mark and Jan Caswell, Jesters Sub Aqua Club
Richard Bryant and Shirley Higson, Harwich Sub Aqua Club
Eddie Kwasnicki, General Branch
Carol Lowe, General Branch

Pictured below is the wreck of the Frankenwald at Outer Sula. The vessel sank in 1940 after colliding with rocks in poor weather. (Pictures © Dykking)

Pictured here is the wreck of the Helga Ferdinand which went down in Nov, 1944 after being attacked by British aircraft. The ship was part of a German convoy making its way to support the effort against the allies in Northern Norway. Note the clear visibility at 50m

Pictures © Dykking

Martin Findlow is pictured right leaving the water after decompression following the 60m dive on the Parrat in Krak Halle.

The Norway 2002 expedition was a great success for all concerned. Whilst the weather wasn't perfect, the diving and the company was, which is what counts after all. A further major expedition is planned for 2003 which will take the team to the far flung region of Northern Norway to explore the Battle of Narvik wrecks.

Further information about this and future Warrington S.A.C. trips can be obtained from any club contact.

Further information about the wrecks and diving in Norway can be obtained from:
http://www.skovheim.org

Further information about diving charters aboard the Jane R can be obtained from Gordon Wadsworth's Jane R web site: http://www.divescotland.uk.com.

Martin Findlow, October 2002