Tag: scenic dive

Sunday 4th March, Loch Leven and The Slates

On By suckingosIn Dive Sites / Trips

As Sunday approached various club member ruled themselves in and out of the weekend’s diving and it was very encouraging to see seven divers assembled at Burnbrae ready to depart at the appointed time.

The late season covering of snow made the Munro tops looked brilliantly clean in the crystal clear spring air as we drove across to Ballachulish to meet our guests at the Craft and Things Coffee shop as it opened at 09:30am. Today we were to be joined by Frank, Alistair, Robert and Paul, friends from the BSAC Southern Scotland regional training days. However with a total of seven cars, finding a site that had adequate parking was the first order on the agenda and it wasn’t a particularly difficult decision to select “The Slates” even though the Club had dived it the previous week.

With Fred, Maureen and Chris providing shore cover, the diving pairs quietly slipped into the loch to complete their plans. Some starting at the point, others in the bay depending on their requirements. Good life was reported on the point including dogfish and ling and a few scallops were spotted by Frank and Alistair as they explored the bay area. Gary and Izzy were first up quickly followed by Colin and John and once safely back at the cars took over shore cover.

The last team in started in the bay by the slate sheds and performed a simple profile that gave the opportunity for a good shake down and weight check. Maureen picked up a bit of mono-filament at one point which Chris wound around a stone before burying in a crack to stop it catching anything again. Returning the way we came, we surfaced in the bay with 45 minutes on the dial, not a bad shakedown dive by anyone standard.

Back at the entrance point the rest of the team waded in to rescue us and for once assistance was gratefully accepted as I wallowed in the shallows with a twinset. Back at the cars, the barbecue was going well with reports that a squall that had come through had caused the charring of the sausages as the charcoal burnt somewhat hot ! A likely story if ever I heard one, they will be telling us it was snowing as well! A very pleasant hour or so was spent nattering, enjoying the banter and getting to know our guests better but all to soon it was time to get back in the water for the second dive.

This second dip followed a similar schedule, with the first wave opting for a swim around the second smaller spit and Paul joining Frank and Alistair in the bay area as Robert had departed on official duties. Maureen decided to sit this one out so Fred and Chris went in last, this time off rightwards from the bay, finding more dogfish, scorpion fish and a small plaice as well as a couple of scallops. This was another enjoyable dive, once down past the sand, small reefs and large boulders supported a good deal of squiggy life. However brittlestars were in abundance, all in all very similar to Manse point.

Once everyone was safely out we headed back to the cafe for a final coffee and chat before heading off to various home locations after a very good and social days diving.

some more photos have been posted here by Colin

Sunday 26th, Shore diving Loch Linnhe and Loch Leven

On By suckingosIn Dive Sites / Trips, Training

Sunday diving, 7:00am at the Club hut, packing copious amounts of kit into groaning cars, all sounds a bit familiar really, but today there was a certain buzz about the affair as a group of enthusiastic divers converged at Burnbrae HQ for the trip across to the West coast. Five club divers and one guest made a good team and as soon as Harris had a bit of momentum we were on our way and with a short ‘coffee’ stop at the Green Wellie we arrived at the Picnic site on Loch Linnhe, just north of Corran Ferry to an over cast sky and a light drizzle, all part of the plan to encourage a quick change into drysuits…

The order of the day was a couple of shore dives to give folk a chance to have a shake down after the winter and the Picnic site offers a good venue with easy access in pleasant surroundings with some interesting life.

The obvious dive starts off the shingle beach onto sand and then gravel. A simple circuit of the rocky point can then be exited in the bay just to the south avoiding a scramble over slippy rocks. That was the plan and after retrieving an errant camera that decided to float off on its own, we descended into the depths where a carpet of multi-coloured brittlestars and the occasional scallop provided the majority of the life.

In the gravel these Imperial anenomes gave spots of color while towards the point a superb little wall gave the impression of depth with a dark void below before we surfaced and snorkeled to exit in the bay to walk out over seaweed and cobbles.

With all divers retrieved we had a little time for a social natter. Out with the barbeque and after a minor concern trying to light the thing with damp matches (Yes Chris they get wet if you have wet hands…) we pretended it was Spring as we munched hotdogs. It was a little worrying that once the food had gone a tight knot developed around the coals and out stretched hands searched for warmth. Was there going to be a second dive ?

It was decided to move down to Loch Leven and the Slates for the second dive to put Bethan and Kay a little closer to Glasgow where they were heading to catch a train later in the afternoon and after there short trip the we arrived to a full carpack and diver soup. Still it’s a big site and we were able to find some space and after navigating through the silt trails we found some depth and better visibility.

There was some good fish life today with a dogfish providing interest and well as this rather large scorpion fish that played possum. A good sized ling was reported as well as the proverbial saithe patrolling the edge of the reef and a nursery of small poor code that glinted silver and gold as we swam through them.

As we turned I spotted this nudibanch (Cadlina laevis) and a cluster of arctic cowries. A great shore dive this, it always has a good variety of life on show.

Conscious of the time we did not hang around and Harris was packed and shot off to Glasgow while the rest of us made our way back to Crianlarich for refreshments before driving home after a grand day out.

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Chili dip and salsa, 18th December 2011

On By suckingosIn Dive Sites / Trips, Underwater Photography

Cold and clear, a day for skiing, Glühwein or staring at a roaring fire. As thoughts go, this one seemed constant as icy roads led west to a rendezvous at ‘The Green Welly‘. Todays plan had been somewhat last minute as Christmas had taken it’s toll. Usually stalwart scubapros had slipped away to do their christmas shopping and things were getting so desperate that I had thought of golf!

The roads were partly snow covered and while additional care was required the drive was spectacular today. Snowy mountains, frosted pink in the early morning sun, Lochan na h-Aclaise frozen and Rannoch, a sea of white. Not surprisingly Glen Coe was busy with skiers and mountaineers. We arrived at Ballachulish with blue skies and turned into the car parking to find the place to ourselves.

Dive site today was ‘The Slates’, chosen for easy of access and while nothing in diving should be assumed, the site is usually a sure bet for conditions. The site provides a straightforward dive that can be extended to satisfy any recreational diving requirement. As far a shore diving goes, it certainly has a lot to offer.

Kitting up in the cold and then carrying the equipment across to the entry point had it’s own dangers today as sheet ice covered the car park and shore line, but with our buddy checks done we were off, to amongst other things test Gary’s new suit. Dropping into crystal clear fresh water we hit the halocline at 2m and descended into 3m vis and warm water and moved West to find the steepest part of the boulder slope.

The rocks today were covered in sea squirts, peacock worms and sea loch anenomies and all that was needed was a little light to make a very colorful dive, today however the low sun did little for us and at 10m we were in darkness.
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There is so much to see at this site, a particularly large fish hiding in the rocks proved additional interest today, it looked like a large poor cod or a haddock with spots. This encrusting sponge took my eye, takes a little time to work out what is going on but the sponge has grown around a Sepulid worm tube.

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After a relatively short surface interval the second dive went around the smaller spit. Surface water temperature of 3 degrees warmed up with depth and with Izzy picking up a couple of scallops as we descended into the blackness. Some very interesting life on this dive, a dragonette and a large scorpion fish that lay motionless as we passed. This Arctic Cowrie proved a challenge.

To avoid a walk back along the icy track we turned around after 30 mins having used up our bottom time and retraced our steps somewhat shallower and taking advantage of a good long safety stop. Within the bay the life is much poorer, due no doubt to the more brackish nature of the water, horse muscles appear here. As we were about to surface we found a small flatfish and watched it propel itself forwards using its skirt. We surfaced as it started snowing!

That was it, another day off the rocks and all that was left was to pack up and head for home. A quick stop in the Crianlariach Hotel to warm up in front of the fire before rushing off back to Perth before it got dark and the snows really started and the roads got blocked.

and that’s all folks!
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Alan’s reef, Kerrera Sound. Sunday 4th December 2011

On By suckingosIn Dive Sites / Trips

It was Steve’s turn to drive today and I got to ride in his suped up Subaru, pre-warmed on the chilliest start of the year. That was the plan anyway but having dropped the exhaust just before Lix Toll and having to wait for the very nice RAC man to come and provide a running repair we found ourselves frantically trying to contact Alan whom we were due to meet at Puffin Dive center to advise him of our delay and suggest we would join him in the afternoon. Four and a half hours after leaving Perth, we rolled into Puffin as Alan, Dave and Tam were returning from their morning dive off Maiden Island.

Alan reported 1-2m vis and Tam reported a squall that had come through whipping the bay into wall to wall white horses. Dave and Alan had been blissfully unaware of this as they enjoyed a rather productive dive. Tam’s plight sounded only slightly more fun than watching the snow flurries at the Lix Toll garage.

Lunch in the Crew room saw everyone warm up as general diving banter was hurled around and all too quickly it was time to venture out and load Alan’s boat for the afternoon trip. The plan was to dive a reef that Alan had found previously where a broken wall reached 45m some 20m off the shore. Located on the southern of two little points just south of Ardantrive Bay, east of Mount Pleasant farm and identified by a metal spike sunk into the rocks, Steve and I rolled off the boat into a layer of cold, fresh water. Final OK’s and we quickly sank to find warmer water.

The dive was dark but some light penetrated down to 15m but beyond that a torch was essential. The broken wall was silty grey and had a scarce smattering of encrusting life but turned out not to be as dramatic as some of the walls in the area. At the bottom we found twisted wreckage, possibly a gantry and set about picking up the odd scallop. I managed to drop my torch head (it’s an umbilical) and everything went black for an instant as the head came to rest in mud. As an exercise it was quite interesting as I fumbled with a goody bag, feeling lucky I hadn’t grabbed a crab! Looking around we had about 4m vis as I watched Steve illuminated by his torch, scarring the wildlife.

Conscious of the depth I was keen to ascend to eke out the air in shallower water, so we slowly ascended steep sand and gravel where we came across a pipe fish that was determined to play dead. Further up we found an enormous concrete cube, artistic in it’s architectural rococo style, clearly a mooring block of sorts but unattached and age unknown. Possible associated with the flying boats but who knows.

 

 
Interesting life continued to find us as we climbed the slope, small scallops and flat fish and a large Scorpion fish that was determined to avoid being photographed as it deliberately stirred up sand around itself. Further up the slope we reached coarse sand and contoured back towards our start point trying to stay just below the halocline in the warmer water. Finding a few more pieces of wreckage, rusting iron and discarded bottles, we eventually surfaced as the cold fresh water took it’s toll. Tam expertly recovered us from the water and that was it, not a bad dive and much better than weather of late would have suggested. Alan and Dave surfaced shortly afterwards having completed a similar dive and recovering another bag of scallops for Christmas.
 

 

 
Retrieval of the boat followed a well worn procedure and having washed it off and secured it all that was left was to have a quick trip to the dive shop for a natter, square up and head for home.  A big thank you to Alan for the days diving and Steve for organising.

 
Steve and I decided to say hello to the Badger and have a quick chat with Andy at the Crianlarich hotel. I am pleased to report that the quality of the Colonsay Ale is still excellent.

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Flying Castanets at “the Creran Steps”, 27th November 2011

On By suckingosIn Dive Sites / Trips, Training

With the planned trip to the Sound of Mull literally blown out of the water we were at somewhat at a loss for a dive. The inner lochs are usually dive -able even in the most stormy weather but when it is bad the viz is often atrocious.

Nevertheless Steve was able to muster a group of stalwarts, more in hope than anticipation and scheduled a training session or drysuit familiarisation dive for Kim our newest member. Having qualified and done several years diving in temperate climes, Kim was keen to get back into the sport and dive in Scotland.

So there we were, driving West along Loch Earn where three foot waves were destroying the wooden jetties of St Fillans, water was cascading down the hillside, filling the floor of Glen Falloch and wet snow clung to the Munro tops. Not surprisingly few people were out today. As we turned down Glen Lochy one particularly impressive gust of wind buffeted the car and lifted great sheets of water from Lochan na Bi sending sprites dancing towards Tyndrum. Prospects for enjoyable shore diving did not look good. The Strath of Orchy was flooded, Dalmally golf course being a series of islands, Lochawe was full and the sluices at Pass of Brander were open, giving an impressive sight.

Committed, we continued through Oban where white horses covered Oban bay to arrive at Puffin Dive center to a respectably calm sea but what could only be described as brown chocolate lapping at the jetty. Even the shop had not yet opened so we took our miseries into the Crew room and sat watching an unlit fire. Movement from the shop stirred us and we instinctively hid our credit cards. Still somewhat reticent about soup diving we chatted to the young lady behind the counter who encouragingly told us that their divers had been out the day before and that the vis was fine once out of the confines of the bay.

Kim hired a rather smart and well fitting Otter membrane and the rain stopped, a patch of blue appeared, and it was time to go diving!

For the first dive, considering the condition we thought we would keep it nice and simple so with Steve and Hamish providing shore cover, Kim and I did our buddy checks and finned out to the end of the pier where we slowly descended into 3m of water and 2m of vis. Basic buoyancy drills completed we swam further out to find better vis and at 10m we had 4m+, quite acceptable and more than enough to safely complete our drysuit buoyancy drills without any incidents. For the remainder of the dive we pottered around the 10m mark watching velvet crabs, hermit crabs and even finding an European Conch or Cowrie and a miniature scallop as well as various cracked cups, bottles, chains and concrete blocks. Not a bad first dive really.

Plan B for the second dive was to drive down to Easdale and dive the quarry which is both sheltered and has a bit of depth. Having discussed this idea with the Puffin staff, who described the quarry as an open cesspit, we changed our plans and took their recommendation for a site up in Loch Creran which turned out to be a good move.

The site, recorded as ‘The Steps’, provides a good shore dive incorporating a sandy slope, a small wall and an underwater pinnacle. More importantly today there wasn’t a ripple on the surface and the vis looked good. With Kim and I paired, Steve and Hamish led the way finding Queen scallops, Clabby doos and a small white skate which seamed healthy enough save for the lack of pigment. The dive rapidly got dark but with everyone well equipped with various light sabres we scarcely noticed that it was pitch black at 6m. Kim reported a large butterfish, that had wriggled snakelike under her torch. Finding the wall and pinnacle at about 12m added interest with encrusting life and swarms of queenies flying past as we disturbed them with our torches. Here Hamish found a group of Sepula worms which is really what makes this site special. (These delicate colonial tube worms can create large biogenic reefs. These structures are unique and have only been reported in two locations in Scotland, Loch Creran being one of them ~ thanks DT).

Squat lobsters, feather stars and minute ghost crabs and even a small poor code seems unperturbed by our presence as we slowly ascended eventually reaching fresh water at 2m to surface in the bay where we had started. A cracking dive.

All that was left was to return the drysuit to Puffin and head home making a brief pit stop to visit the badger at Crianlarich.
A very good day out that went some way to having had to cancel the Lochaline trip and saw another new member in the water, hopefully enjoying the delights of Scottish diving.

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SS Breda and Lismore Lighthouse, 2nd October 2011

On By suckingosIn Dive Sites / Trips

If it hadn’t been for a pair of lucky shorts we would have had the same dreich weather that we left in Perth, luckily someone was suitably attired and the rain and cloud stayed off and with an exceptionally calm sea, the sunscreen came out, on October 2nd!

First dive was the SS Breda, a site we had all done many times before. Today we decided to launch from Gallanach Sands and take the short boat trip across the bay. It transpired that the most recent experience of the site was with our newest member who had dived it within the last year. Personally I hadn’t done this site since 22nd June 1987 when I dived it with one Charles Bennett, a very competent diver who was training with Dundee University (had to look it up!). The plan was that Paul and I would go in first and stir it up, I mean use our twins to maximum effect, closely followed by Bethan “I don’t use any air” and Steve Incredible who were doing a planned decompression training dive, while Deep-Dancer, the club rhib, was minded by the remaining pair.

Paul and I descended onto the bridge area and swam to the stern where we had a look at the rudder post before continuing along the port side to find a fracture line in the hull, which gave us access to the aft holds and a couple of swim throughs. Swimming forwards we had a look at the bow before finding the forward shot line where we met Bethan and Steve and another team from a separate boat. We spent a few last minutes here in better vis watching large pollack as we burned of a little deco time before finishing our stops on the line at 3m.

Surfacing by the boat we swam and clambered back in to set the remaining pair off on their planned dive.

With everyone recovered and having sacrifice the ceremonial torch to the Gods of the Breda we headed off with Bethan at the helm, to lunch at the cars and swap tanks over for the afternoon dive across on Lismore Island.

Going in in the same order we experienced a very pleasant drift along a wall picking up the occasional scallop and taking photos. A forest of feather stars gave way to a carpet of brittle stars with the odd sun star thrown in for good luck.

A spectacular tidal race around the lighthouse point with ‘wind against tide’ provided Steve with some additional challenges before turning back towards Oban and speeding back to Gallanach bay where the boat was quickly recovered with the expedient use of a long rope!



A fancy survey of the wreck has been posted on Youtube here

Some of Paul’s photos here

Perth-BSAC diving the Slates, 18th September 2011

On By suckingosIn Dive Sites / Trips

Sometimes you just can’t get a big team together especially when special occasions, holidays or being unwell crosses you off the availability list. However a couple of folk got out with an invited guest and had a day of surprisingly pleasant weather across in Ballachulish diving the Slates.

First dive was from the end of the main jetty around into the bay deliberately exiting for the shortest possible walk back to the car. Today also gave me a chance to use my new toy after the disappointments of Bonawe quarry and was suitably impressed.

Loads of fish today, both big and small. Several highly colourful wrasse (Corkwing) as well as large Ballan wrasse and Goldshinnies, even shoals of small Pollack and lots of Poor Cod in amongst the rocks. Leopard spotted gobbies and a common ling with a few flat fish thrown in for good luck. Lots of colour too! This was a very good dive partly because we had decided to stick to about the 20m mark which was today where the life was.

At the gravel slope we ascended to 5m and completed the traverse back to the bay surfacing just on the hour.

Back at the car, a pack of sausages was brought out and a small barbecue sourced in the Glen Coe filling station was cranked up and we watched hot dogs burn as we degassed.

For the second dive we entered where we had previously exited and swam across the floor of the bay and around the smaller jetty. Arguably there was even better life on this dive or perhaps we just had better light. The highlight for me was a large dogfish and a couple of nudibranchs, one certainly the sea lemon Pleurobranchus membranaceus and the other probably Cadlina laevis both common locally. Reaching the end of our outward gas we turned and made our way back just below the kelp line, crossed the bay and hit the stone jetty where we found a log riddled with shipwork, a sculpture of Damien Hurst perspective.

Thoughts of a freshwater dive on the way home were put on hold as I had experienced a leaky neck seal and with water down to my knees was stoically enjoying wetsuit diving again. Well you can’t show any weakness in front of these guys or you’ll get hit by a shovel! The Orchy pools were set aside for another day.

A good day enjoyed by all

A small photo video here, haven’t worked out how to change the music so bear with me.

The wrecks of Bonawe quarry, 4th September 2011

On By suckingosIn Dive Sites / Trips

There was quite a lot going on this weekend. Hamish and Bethan went off down to Hawes to successfully complete a BSAC Regional PRM course under the watchful gaze of a National Instructor and other Advanced Instructors. This sets them both well on their way to completing their Dive Leader training. Worth noting comments that these events have been under subscribed and we should perhaps support these guys more as they invest a lot of their own personal time in providing this training.

Alan and family were across in Oban with a few divers and went exploring the Garvellachs where they found disappointing vis but exciting diving. Paul and I were planning on a quick shore dive.

For once the weather was kind and we had a glorious drive across to the West. Paul and I bimbled our way around to Bonawe quarry on the Northern shore of Loch Etive.

Paul parked up on the concrete standing close to the entry point and we kitted up for what was planned to be an extended exploration of the site with opportunities to play with photography lighting. As it turned out my new toy was being temperamental and had other ideas.

Entering the water we descended a steep slope picking up a cable that led us past mooring blocks and a derrick to the wreck of a small clinker built fishing boat in about 12m. The boat was sitting upright and had obviously been there a good while as it had been eaten away and was fragile to the touch. The wheel house provided some fun but I couldn’t get in with the tanks on. Having swam around the wreck and kicked up the silt we decided to explore elsewhere and continued the outward leg to look for some life, the floor of the quarry being bare save some worms, gobbies and a solitary gurnard.

Finding rocks at the mouth of the quarry we came across this little solitary jewel.

Eventually it was time to start the reverse leg and returning back to the entry point we diverted towards the western edge and came across an old car amongst the boulders. It looked a little like a A-series MG but covered in rusticles and brittle to the touch its days are numbered. No souvenirs to be found this time. Nearing the end of the dive we found a discarded net that gave an amazing spectacle, an underwater sculpture and the chance for a few more photos. I unfortunately picked up some fishing line here around my fins and Paul was able to demonstrate the value of a pair of shears as he set me free !

Hopefully Paul will add some on his photos

As it was a very pleasant afternoon and getting rather warm, we decided to follow the coast round past Castle Stalkers and try out luck on a new open water site opposite Balnogowan Island but first the surface interval. Paul had been planning and had brought a disposable barbecue and a couple of burgers so we settled down to enjoy a delightful hour or so in the sun overlooking Ardgour.

The second dive of the day was the Telephone Exchange site, neither of us had dived it before so we were both looking forward to something new. Parking through the gate at the telephone exchange on the old road, we lugged our kit across the main road, down a banking to a cobbled beach and a walk in entry. Sand with the occasional scallop gave way to mud and seapens at which time we turned and retraced our steps keeping an eye out for rays that frequent this site. None today though.

On the way back we had to rely on the compass as the tide changed and tried to push us along the beach across several confusing banks. Just below the kelp line we came across another delightful nudibrach busy laying eggs on its food source.

All that was left was to lug the gear back along the beach, up the slope, cross the road, through the gate to the car (pant, pant, pant!) and call it a day after a couple of really cracking dives.

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The Lochs, 28th August 2011

On By suckingosIn Dive Sites / Trips
"I don't do shore diving"

Another horrendous forecast had the East coast in heavy rain and strong winds so we thought we would try and sneak a dive in in the Lochs. Driving across the weather did little to impress us but apart from a few spots we remained rain and wind free all day.

Sea loch anenomies
The first site was the outer reef at Furnace quarry or what has become known as ‘Dogfish reef’, no dogfish today but sea loch anenomies getting ready to spawn.



The dive descended down the sunken concrete pontoon to the base of the boulders, out across the mud for a while then back to the base of the slope which we traversed until bottom time was exhausted and a diagonal rising line taken to reach the outer mark where we turned and made our way back to the entry point.

Limacia clavigera


As we completed a safety stop came across this little chap, a bright orange spotted nudibranch.




Back at the car we lit a small disposable barbecue and burnt sausages while we chatted the surface interval away. A pair from West Lothian SAC who were going in, asked us if we would be shore cover, which we duly did, hanging around munching hotdogs until they surfaced 2 minutes before their planned time.

It wasn’t one of those glorious afternoons we have got used to this year (ha ha!) and we had chilled down , so to get the ball rolling again I suggested a change of venue and we moved to Loch Long to have a look at ‘The Caves’.

The culvert entrance is a little daunting if you haven’t done it before but if you take your time it’s easy enough especially if a rope has been left in situ.

Entering into green oily water we rapidly dropped down the steep mud slope beyond the 30m mark where the visibility improved but the light had all but gone. A good torch was needed to pick out a field of Firework anenomies. All too quickly the bottom time was spent again and we moved diagonally up the slope to find the boulders and walls of Peacock worms that amused Bethan as they snapped shut as she waved her hand over them. About here my torch, the half sun one, went out, luckily just the battery running down but an interesting experience. My buddy, attentive as ever, thrust her spare into my hand before I could reach for mine. Excellent torch too.

Reaching the end of our outbound air we turned and ascended to the top of the boulders where giant plumose anenomies provided colour as we bimbled back to the entry point.

A couple of really good dives today and to celebrate we ended up in the Drovers Inn to introduce Bethan to the bear before travelling back to Perth.

Scourie weekend 29th -31st July

On By suckingosIn Dive Sites / Trips, Social Events1 Comment

This past weekend we had the first trip of the year under canvas with the team gathering on Friday night from various locations and directions at the Scourie campsite.








A relaxed start on Saturday morning saw Spike’s boat and Deep Dancer being launched without incident from the cobble beach next to the Scourie pier and after a few last minute holdups we were away to dive Bogha Mor, a skerry off the SW tip of Handa. A low Atlantic swell was coming in from the NW which produced local breakers on the skerries and made for some exciting pickups but had little affect on the dive itself. Going in, in two waves, both groups reported initially poor visability which improved with depth but this was made up for by the life encrusted walls and stepped gullies which continued beyond the 30m mark. With crayfish and lobsters in abundance and a veritable nudibranch city, all wildlife lovers and eco snappers were happy. Steve and I found a gully as we dropped in and followed it as it stepped slowily downwards to the SW until we ran out of bottom time and made a free water ascent well away from the skerries.

Taking the scenic way home around the North of Handa for those who had not seen the cliffs before we moored the boats against Scourie pier to lunch back at the campsite. Unfortunately the tide was still receding and we needed all hands to udge the boats and refloat them.

Steve and I encountered this nudibranch as well, Tritonia hombergii which can grow to enormous sizes and are reportedly poisonous to the touch.




The second dive was a scenic site to the North of Handa, a wall and gully system just off a small 10m pinnacle that stepped down to 25m+. Paul described it as like the top of a muffin and we found this to be a good description. Spike’s boat dived further to the west and closer into the cliffs. Deep Dancer’s teams reported a mixed appreciation with low vis and poor topography “Granite city and B***** all life” to amazing gullies and Crayfish. For my part, diving with Steve we had another good dive, that was possibly even better than the mornings, finding a gully system covered in DMFs and teaming with wrasse, pollack, saithe (haddies) and an enormous ling sheltering in a crack, this was that big that initially we thought this was a conger.

Steve demonstrating the underwater signal for “Impressive” at the sight of wall encrusted gullies






After a few technical problems we decided to call it a day and recovered both boats from the cobble beach.

Saturday night Spike had suggested a meal out at the Kylesku Hotel and Lynda booked a table for 11 which is not a bad turn out. Great food and good service. The team retired to the Scourie Hotel having driven back to the campsite to allow the designated drivers to enjoy a pint.

Overnight it rained and the canvas got a good shake. With the sea around Scourie looking a little exposed to shore dive we opted for shelter in Kylesku and struck camp and went to check out the South slip. The tide was on the ebb and a strong current made diving difficult but all went in and reported varying degrees of enjoyment sighting various cars, bikes and crayfish. Paul and I decided to wait for slack water and had a pleasant dive to the bottom of the wall and out across the gravel collecting a bag of scallops before returning to the east and surfacing in the bay behind the toilet block. Just before surfacing Paul spotted a pipefish, which was very docile. This one was a male and was clearly brooding eggs.

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To break the journey home, Paul and I stopped and had a bar-b-que at Rogie falls where the remaining sausages, burgers, bacon and a few fresh scallops were cremated. They were so tasty!

Scourie and Handa area

OSGB
Bogha Mor N 58 22′ 32″ W 5 12’43”
N Handa N 58 23′ 29″ W 5 11′ 9″
Kylesku jetty (S) N 58 15′ 29″ W 5 1′ 1″

a few more photos here