West Coast of Scotland trip report – part 1

Rob Andrews · May 9th, 2006, 12:44 AM

I managed to grab a few dives during a recent family holiday to the west coast. Not really DIR but what the heck I thought I’d do a report anyway!

Last time I was up on the west coast I did a couple of dives with a friend I met up there a couple of years previous, so when we arranged to go again this year it was on the phone to James to see if there was any diving going on. There was nothing particular planned but we arranged to talk when I got up there to sort something out.

Once we arrived a quick call to James revealed that there was a trip organised by his local dive club, going out of Craobh Haven onboard a boat called the Farsain, to dive a reef off the Garvellachs. Great, kit organised and I was waiting to meet the guys at 7:30 the following morning. I was a little apprehensive as this was the first time diving with most of the people on the boat but it was unfounded as the banter soon started when they arrived.

Anyway out to the reef and it was decided that I’d buddy Rob from Glasgow as James had planned a dive to 40m (he dives a ybod) and I had 32% in the tins. The entry was a little interesting, a backward roll off the side of the boat which was 3 feet clear of the water in twin 12s means you invariably end up completely upside down, which was something I wasn’t expecting and quick finning was needed to right yourself before any air in your suit reached your feet with embarrassing consequences! After a little drama on the surface (Robs suit leaked when he first jumped in) we were heading down from the top of the reef in only 5m of water down to the base of it in around 22-25m. We had a great dive along the base of the wall which was alive with squatt lobsters, crabs and quite a few starfish. There was also the odd lobster right at the base of the wall. We wondered off onto the sea bed for a while where I found a HID light is great for spotting scallops! The vis didn’t disappoint either with 10-15m at 25m. All to soon it was time to head back up where we completed the safety stop at 5m in the kelp. Max depth 25m dive time 41mins.

The Lunch break/surface interval was spent in a quiet cove just off Eilean Dubh Beag (well I think it was looking at the map) watching seals on the rocks before the second dive on another reef/wall just off this island.

We had to get down quickly after entering on this dive as the tide had started running so in we went and straight down to the bottom of the wall at around 22m again. The vis was only about 10m on this dive with some suspended material in the water. The wall was covered with all sorts of sponges I think, with a few edible crabs dotted around for good measure. We drifted along the wall with the tide until I hit minimum gas where we bagged off for the ascent. After a short wait on the surface (skipper was on the radio when we surfaced) we were collected and on our way back to Craobh. Max depth 24m dive time 40mins.

All in all a fantastic days diving, I met some new friends as well and I can't wait to get back up there. If you’ve made it this far then well done, these reports always seem to end up longer then planned!

May 9th, 2006, 12:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
Rob Andrews(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wombourne, West Mids, UK Posts: 133	West Coast of Scotland trip report – part 1 I managed to grab a few dives during a recent family holiday to the west coast. Not really DIR but what the heck I thought I’d do a report anyway! Last time I was up on the west coast I did a couple of dives with a friend I met up there a couple of years previous, so when we arranged to go again this year it was on the phone to James to see if there was any diving going on. There was nothing particular planned but we arranged to talk when I got up there to sort something out. Once we arrived a quick call to James revealed that there was a trip organised by his local dive club, going out of Craobh Haven onboard a boat called the Farsain, to dive a reef off the Garvellachs. Great, kit organised and I was waiting to meet the guys at 7:30 the following morning. I was a little apprehensive as this was the first time diving with most of the people on the boat but it was unfounded as the banter soon started when they arrived. Anyway out to the reef and it was decided that I’d buddy Rob from Glasgow as James had planned a dive to 40m (he dives a ybod) and I had 32% in the tins. The entry was a little interesting, a backward roll off the side of the boat which was 3 feet clear of the water in twin 12s means you invariably end up completely upside down, which was something I wasn’t expecting and quick finning was needed to right yourself before any air in your suit reached your feet with embarrassing consequences! After a little drama on the surface (Robs suit leaked when he first jumped in) we were heading down from the top of the reef in only 5m of water down to the base of it in around 22-25m. We had a great dive along the base of the wall which was alive with squatt lobsters, crabs and quite a few starfish. There was also the odd lobster right at the base of the wall. We wondered off onto the sea bed for a while where I found a HID light is great for spotting scallops! The vis didn’t disappoint either with 10-15m at 25m. All to soon it was time to head back up where we completed the safety stop at 5m in the kelp. Max depth 25m dive time 41mins. The Lunch break/surface interval was spent in a quiet cove just off Eilean Dubh Beag (well I think it was looking at the map) watching seals on the rocks before the second dive on another reef/wall just off this island. We had to get down quickly after entering on this dive as the tide had started running so in we went and straight down to the bottom of the wall at around 22m again. The vis was only about 10m on this dive with some suspended material in the water. The wall was covered with all sorts of sponges I think, with a few edible crabs dotted around for good measure. We drifted along the wall with the tide until I hit minimum gas where we bagged off for the ascent. After a short wait on the surface (skipper was on the radio when we surfaced) we were collected and on our way back to Craobh. Max depth 24m dive time 40mins. All in all a fantastic days diving, I met some new friends as well and I can't wait to get back up there. If you’ve made it this far then well done, these reports always seem to end up longer then planned!