Lochaline Diving
Submitted on 19-Feb-2010 00:36:27 by Rod Reeves. Updated on 22-Feb-2010 13:12:13 by Adrian Colegate
Welcome to Lochaline
www.lochalinedivecentre.co.uk
Situated in the small village of Lochaline, 44 miles west of FortWilliam on the West Coast of Scotland, our mainland position on the Sound of Mull offers a unique get-away-from-it-all location. Staying with us you will have easy access to the clear waters of the Sound, which boasts some of Britain's best-known wreck dives, in addition to an abundance of drift, shallow, scenic, and shore dive sites. The Centre also offers access to some of the most beautiful and tranquil scenery in Scotland, with an abundance of local wildlife. Wildlife trips, with an expert guide, are also available via the Centre.
There are two properties available for accommodation - the newly refurbished Dive Lodge, which can cater for groups of up to 24 persons, and the Old Post Office, which sleeps 10 and is ideal for smaller groups. Both properties have large communal areas, allowing groups to socialise and plan activities. All linen is inclusive.
New for 2009 is the Dive Centre's new charter vessel "Sound Diver", a spacious 12.5m Offshore 125 fitted out for diving with deep benches onboard, a compressor and a hydraulic diver lift at the stern.
The Centre can supply air (to 300 bar), nitrox and trimix (on request). Two other popular hard boats are also available for charter in the village.
The Centre offers catering for residents: cooked breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals, plus a new Café O2, where you can relax with a coffee or a snack. Self catering facilities are also available.
They are always happy to provide local knowledge or helpful advice - if you are not sure, just call.
Some dive sites in the Sound of Mull
Sound Diver
, our new dive vessel allows us to offer extended dive trips around Mull.
Hispania
This Swedish merchant vessel (644 net tonnes) sank in 1954. The wreck remains fairly intact, and although she is gradually disintegrating with time, she remains one of Scotland's finest wreck dives. The amount of marine growth over the hull during the summer months is quite exceptional. A slack water dive.
Shuna
Wrecked in 1913 while carrying a cargo of coal, the steel steamship Shuna, built in Holland (880 net tonnes), was discovered in 1991, and lies intact and upright in 30 metres (16 metres to the deck). The wreck can be dived at all states of the tide.
Rondo
Wrecked in 1935, this tramp steamer (2363 gross tonnes and 80 metres in length) lies bow down in 54 metres on a steep slope with the stern in 9 metres. The ship is still reasonably intact and there is a route between the keel and the rock face at about 27 metres. A slack water dive.
Fuinary Rocks
An interesting scenic dive inside of the navigation marker amidst a series of reefs and gullies close to the shore. Plenty of life among the rocks and sandy bars, including sea lemon (photographed), and snakelocks anemone. Sea pens can be found beyond 20m depth. This shore dive is easily accessible from the car park immediately prior to the Wishing Stone on the Drimnin Road. Entry to the water is easiest at high tide.
Pennygown Quarry
Running out from the shore, the sand slopes down to 20 metres before hitting a sheer cliff face to 70 metres. Rock strata here run diagonally, forming lots of crevices for marine life.
The John Preston
The wreck of the Welsh schooner John Preston, built in 1855 in North Wales, lies on a ledge in 14-18 metres of water. This scattered wreck, and the steep wall nearby, make for an interesting dive at all states of the tide.
Lochaline West Pier
This is an excellent shore dive on a drop-off to over 90 metres. Sponges, anemones, soft corals and lots of fish make this a very enjoyable dive (for more about the sea life, see the link from the HotelBeach, below).
The site is well known as a deep dive training location. Please note that this is a working pier, and is also enjoyed by rod and line fishermen - beware of entanglement in old lines.
Lochaline
Hotel
Beach
The sandy beach in front of the hotel shelves gradually off onto a steep wall, offering contrasting environments and consequently a diverse range of life all in one dive. The shallow lagoon area, with its sandy bottom and interesting marine life, makes a good training site for inexperienced divers.
Avon
Rock
A shallow reef inshore of the red navigation marker directly opposite Lochaline. Boulders, crevices, and a steep slope to 50 metres on the outer side provide an interesting scenic dive.
Ardtornish
Bay
Often a productive scallop dive where gravel and mud lie on the flat gradual seabed gradients of the inner bay. For a good scenic dive, follow the boulder slope inshore from Ardtornish Point towards the bay. Be aware that strong currents can occur around the point and plan any dive here carefully.
The Evelyn Rose
The Grimsby trawler Evelyn Rose (130 net tonnes) was wrecked on Ardtornish Point in 1954 with the loss of all but two of her crew. This wreck lies in deep water, and was rediscovered by the Centre in 2004 as part of a series of side-scan sonar studies on wreck sites in the Sound
Scallastle
Bay
Marked on old charts as an Admiralty Anchorage Area, this bay is littered with wreckage, including the cannon photographed left. Somewhere in the bay lie the remains of a wartime bomber (Lancaster or Shackleton) - there are still witnesses in Lochaline who remember her going down.
SS Buitenzorg
The structure of the SS Buitenzorg remains largely intact, lying upright on the seabed. The hull remains semi intact, with substantial raised forecastle and poop structures, four or five holds with associated winches, and intact masts, cranes or davits. The midships bridge and engine superstructure remain semi intact.
Lying between 80 and 90m in depth, the Buitenzorg has been dived a number of times by technical divers.
HMS Dartmouth
Fifth Rate Royal Naval frigate lost in 1690 and designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. This wreck can only be dived under licence from Historic Scotland. The Lochaline Dive Centre currently runs a visitor scheme enabling sport divers to dive on the wreck.
The Ballista
Lost in 1975, while salvaging coal from another ship lost nearby, her funnel is visible at low water making her easy to locate. A good shallow dive or wreck dive for novices, lying in a reasonably sheltered position.
The Thesis
Wreck of a Belfast steamer (151 net tonnes) lost in 1889. Lies at right angles to the shore, with her bow in 12 metres and her stern in 30-35 metres. Structurally intact and encrusted with marine life. Fantastic photographic dive.
The Duart Point site
This wreck of a small warship lost in 1653 lies against the rocks beneath DuartCastle and has recently been investigated by professional underwater archaeologists. After excavation the remainder of the site has been protected by a layer of sandbags, restoring the natural underwater topography, but a scatter of cannon are still visible on the surface.
The site is designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 and can only be dived under licence from Historic Scotland. The Lochaline Dive Centre currently runs a visitor scheme enabling sport divers to dive on the wreck.
Facilities
Lochaline Dive Centre offers catered or self-catering accommodation at two premises:
The Dive Lodge
The Dive Centre Lodge sleeps up to 24, sleeping two to a room. Each room has been recently refurbished to provide underfloor heating and full ensuite facilities: wash-hand basin, toilet and shower. The lodge is available on a per room basis, but large communal cooking and dining facilities also make it an ideal venue for socialising with other divers and for larger groups to plan their activities. The Dive Lodge has wireless broadband internet access.
The Lodge has gear storage and washing facilities, loads of hot water for showers and an efficient drying room for undersuits.
Adjacent is the well-stocked Dive Centre shop and filling station (open between 0800 and 2000hrs). Air can be charged up to 300 bar. Nitrox and Trimix are available on provision of appropriate certification (please inform us in advance if you require Trimix). Cylinders, weight belts and torches are available for hire.
The Lodge has a café, and is two minutes' walk from the village shop, a great restaurant and the harbour area.
The Old Post Office
The Old Post Office offers shorefront accommodation for 10 persons with a comfortable lounge, kitchen and drying room. It is ideal for small groups of divers and the courses hosted by the Centre.
There are two bathrooms with electric showers, a drying room, loads of space for gear storage, and facilities for washing kit.
The Old Post Office is two minutes' walk from the Hotel beach & West Pier (offering a superb wall dives), and five minutes' walk from the Dive Centre Lodge, with its café shop and filling station.
Dive Charter Vessel
New for 2009 is the Centre's 12.5m dive charter vessel "Sound Diver". Available year round for charter, this spacious twin engined hard boat is over 5m in the beam and has purpose built deep seated dive benches. A hydraulic diver lift at the stern, and an onboard compressor & generator make this an ideal diving platform. In addition 3D visualisations of the wreck of the Hispania, using
WreckSight
software courtesy of ADUS, are available onboard to aid dive planning.
Sound Diver
is available for charter at £400 a day for 12 divers. For smaller groups and individuals please contact LDC directly.
Please see details of our planned expedition in the Calendar 12th to 16th July 2010
Rod Reeves
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