Divers in need of a hearty meal to set them up for the day will enjoy the full breakfasts. Food is plain but there are never any complaints about the quantity. As with most dive boats operating out of Oban, the most popular site is the Sound of Mull, but Kinsella is happy to make two or three trips out to St Kilda per year. The basic price is £340 per week or £400 for St Kilda. Nine-day trips to St Kilda cost £500.

Nevertheless, he is a firm advoate of the reefs between Land’s End and the Scillies, which are ‘full of wrecks’. The McGregor has an efficient drying room (which utilises the boat’s heating system). Eating is an equally civilised business on the McGregor (the breakfast alone could sink a ship), and in fine weather a large table is lowered on to the D-shaped deck at the rear of the boat, to accommodate the pleasures of alfresco dining. A one-week trip is £399 per person.

In another incarnation, it was used to patrol Scapa Flow, and so has become a small piece of history itself. Kempton says the wreck sites tend to be far more popular than scenic dives on his charters, which attract a great deal of repeat custom. ‘The scenics are still fine, but it’s getting a lot harder to find lobster and crayfish,’ he said. Meals are cooked by his wife, Trish, who provides a continental breakfast, snacky lunch and a traditional three-course blowout for dinner. A week’s charter, departing and returning on Saturdays, is priced £375.

Rumour has it that 11 bars of the precious cargo were never recovered, so a lucky find would more than meet the cost of the trip! Another popular stop-off is the wreck of the Templemore, famous for its population of conger eels, which were featured in the BBC programme, Sea Trek. The boat also visits the Isle of Man, and is fitted with stabilisers to ensure a relatively easy journey.

Don’t expect health-farm cuisine – the galley is equipped with a deep fat-fryer for traditional fish and chips, and anything else the crew feel like throwing in there. They are also more than happy to cook up any lobsters found by the guests, but don’t expect anything too sophisticated. BSAC National Instructor Clare Peddie is leading a 10-day expedition on board the Salutay in August this year. Charters for a group of ten cost £650 a day from May–September, with the price falling to £500 in April and £400 in October. Prices quoted are for ’99/’00.

The Maureen was the first to open up Normandy diving in 1990 and Rowley was arrested for his efforts at the time. Now he runs regular trips there and he claims to have more experience of these sites than any other charter boat. Brittany offers reef and drift diving on the north coast, with impressive visibility. Chef and co-skipper Penny Rowley provides three cooked meals a day, but hot drinks and fresh fruit are always available. The saloon is a vision of varnished teak and has a dining area that can accommodate a dozen ravenous divers. Standard price is £370 a week per person.