Scotland tips

Hi there,

we're thinking of going diving in Scotland around Xmas. any tips on
where is the best diving up there and whether it would be open in the
winter or not?
regarding Scapa Flow, sounds like it's mainly wrecks? am i right?
considering i'm not so bothered about wrecks, would it still be worth
it? Any other good dive spots anyone can recommend? seals and other
mammals sounds fun!

cheers,
a.

Hello from Scotland.


> we're thinking of going diving in Scotland around Xmas. any tips on
> where is the best diving up there and whether it would be open in the
> winter or not?
> regarding Scapa Flow, sounds like it's mainly wrecks? am i right?
> considering i'm not so bothered about wrecks, would it still be worth
> it? Any other good dive spots anyone can recommend? seals and other
> mammals sounds fun!

To be honest, most Scottish divers continue straight through the winter
- we have water within an hour's drive of just about the whole country,
and the only downside is that you are marginally more likely to have to
retire to a friendly hostelry when the weather turns.

Scapa is great - and the shallower block ships have a lot of life in
them. The viz is generally pretty good the later in the year you leave
it, and the boats tend to have big enough cabins that you have plenty of
warm space between dives.

If you're desperate to dive with Seals, the Farnes (England!) is your
best bet. Most places in Scotland you'll see them from time to time, but
I don't know anywhere else in the UK that they will activly come and
seek you out to play with.

Although you often see porpoise all over the west coast, I've only ever
seen Dolphins on the West coast of Skye and in the Moray Firth. TBH you
can't really expect to see them - that'll be the one trip of the year
(likewise Orca, Minke Whales, Basking Sharks...)

If you're after marine life rather than marine mammals, there is year
round shore and boat diving at St. Abbs - although it gets a bit churny
in the Winter you are sometimes lucky. For guaranteed diving, try the
sea lochs - although I don't think you'd want to come up here
specifically to dive them.

If you were to base yourself around Oban there is a fair amount of
scenic diving on the wrecks - the Hispania for example is highly tidal
and festooned in anemones and soft coral. The other advantage of Oban is
that you can pretty much always find somewhere to drop in - so many
islands mean there is usually something to hide behind.

HTH,

Ben

--
Ben Panter, Edinburgh
My name (no spaces)@bigfoot which is a com.

Ben Panter wrote in message <3F9D2742.3000609@the_end.not>...
>> we're thinking of going diving in Scotland around Xmas. any tips on
>> where is the best diving up there and whether it would be open in the
>>If you were to base yourself around Oban there is a fair amount of
>scenic diving on the wrecks - the Hispania for example is highly tidal
>and festooned in anemones and soft coral. The other advantage of Oban is
>that you can pretty much always find somewhere to drop in - so many
>islands mean there is usually something to hide behind.

Ben,

Where's a good place to go for a bit of diving around the W Coast March
time - I'm going to end up with a spare week around then to use up holidays,
and contemplated a bit of diving and walking, but can't find a boat that
will take individuals rather than groups that won't make me dive with a
complete stranger]

cheers
Fi

"Fiona Watson" <fiona.watson@zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3f9d4ebf$0$195$4c56ba96@master.news.zetnet.ne t...
> Ben,
>
> Where's a good place to go for a bit of diving around the W Coast March
> time - I'm going to end up with a spare week around then to use up
holidays,
> and contemplated a bit of diving and walking, but can't find a boat that
> will take individuals rather than groups that won't make me dive with a
> complete stranger]
>
> cheers
> Fi
>
>

Fiona

We always have a long weekend at the start(ish) of March down the Sound of
Mull - you can usually get in somewhere in terms of the weather and often
the weather has been cracking and we have got out to Coll etc.

We use Bob Jones on the Gaelic Rose; not sure what he is like for taking
singletons but it may be worth a phonecall to see if he can put you in touch
with any punters he has at that time.

Hard boat diving at that time is great and if you do get blown out there is
always something to do whatever port you are holed up in.

HTH

Snash

>
> Although you often see porpoise all over the west coast, I've only ever
> seen Dolphins on the West coast of Skye and in the Moray Firth. TBH you
> can't really expect to see them - that'll be the one trip of the year
> (likewise Orca, Minke Whales, Basking Sharks...)

Apart from the Moray Firth, I would say seeing "big things" is a real bonus
at any time of the year


> If you were to base yourself around Oban there is a fair amount of
> scenic diving on the wrecks - the Hispania for example is highly tidal
> and festooned in anemones and soft coral. The other advantage of Oban is
> that you can pretty much always find somewhere to drop in - so many
> islands mean there is usually something to hide behind.
>

The big bonus about the Oban area is that there is also so much to do if you
do get blown out ie non diving activity and also you are not that far away
from some of the Sea Lochs that Ben mentioned.

Snash

Fiona Watson wrote:
>
> Where's a good place to go for a bit of diving around the W Coast March
> time - I'm going to end up with a spare week around then to use up holidays,
> and contemplated a bit of diving and walking, but can't find a boat that
> will take individuals rather than groups that won't make me dive with a
> complete stranger]

Hmmm.

Difficult one. Normally if there were two of you I'd have to suggest
Puffin - but they are probably sticklers for buddy system. Although...

If you fancied shore diving there is a really nice cliff off of
Lochaline on Ardnamurchan - If you're based in FW / Glencoe for your
walking the take the corran ferry over and then drive to Lochaline. Park
in front of the hotel and walk to the waters edge - the bottom slopes
down and then suddly is very steep - goes on to 70m+. Air and Nitrox at
Lochaline Dive Centre (no mix). Lots of life, even in March! I can't
remember what time you're meant to dive it - there are down currents on,
I think, the flood. I can find out if you want - or just ask at the dive
centre.

If the Peregrin or the Brendan are short booked then you might get a
seat with them - they tend to be fairly flexible as they take the view
that you are the divers and you know about diving and they are the
boatmen and they know about boats.

Ben

--
Ben Panter, Edinburgh
My name (no spaces)@bigfoot which is a com.