The shore diving website

Loch Fyne.

Barmore Island, Nr Tarbert, Argyll.

From Tarbert follow road north up the loch for around 2 miles. Access to dive site is through the grounds of Stonefield Castle Hotel on a track ( 4 wheel drive ideally ). There are two options for the dive. Kit up and walk to the headland or snorkel out of the bay, about half a mile swim. From the shore identify a marked shoal i.e. large pole. Descend from the shoal down to a rocky bottom, max depth 27m. Loads of life, crabs etc and at certain times of the year shoals of fish. Air from Argyll Caravan Park, Inveraray. Thanks to Tony for details.

Easdale.

Seil Island, Nr Oban.

An old slate quarry fronts the sea in the village of Easdale, flushed by sea water at high tide, I'm told it makes an interesting dive, but with shear sides to a depth of around 40m great care should be taken. Parking can be found near the old jetty and then 15m walk to the quarry. Its reported there are more diveable quarry's on Easdale island, a short ferry ride from the jetty. Air from the Oban dive centers.

Oban.

Dunstaffnage Castle.

Heading north out of Oban take a left turn signed Castle and Dunstaffnage Marine Biology Labs. Park and kit up in the car park near the castle and walk through to the headland. A pleasant shore dive, descend down a rocky shore line keeping close to the shore, through a kelp layer, where you'll find a sandy bottom, max depth 19m, with a wide variety of life, Dogfish anemones etc. Please use an SMB as there is a yacht marina in the bay and the headland is favoured by fishermen so watch out for line / lures. Air at Puffin Divers. Thanks to Tony for details.

Dunollie castle.

Under the castle on a bend in the road is a small concrete ramp into the sea, a wall can be dived to the north to a depth of around 12 metres. There is no parking on the bend so kit needs to dropped off and transport moved around the headland.

Gallennach. Sound of Kerrera.

From Oban centre follow signs for the ferry terminal and then Gallenach keeping to the minor road south down the coast, until you see Puffin Dive Centre. There is plenty of parking nearby and air from the dive centre. Enter the water at the adjacent slipway, once through the kelp layer there is a shale bottom with the usual bits and pieces around an old pier. Thanks to Tony for details.

Mull.

Tobermory Harbour.

Dive from metal or stone steps off main sea front. A shale bottom with max depth of 20m. Years worth of discarded junk, bottles, plates etc. An excellent night dive site with loads of creepy crawlies lobsters etc. Air from Sea Fare in the harbour front shops. Please use an SMB When diving around boat traffic. Thanks to Tony for details.

Fort William.

The Underwater Centre. An-Aird.

The long pier that can be seen from Fort William town centre is home to the Underwater Centre, a commercial diving training operation that has opened its doors to sport divers. The center has a dive shop with full equipment hire and air, suit drying area, onsite deco chamber, 21 en-suite bedrooms and a brand new fish restaurant. The diving is based around Loch Linnhe and shore diving from the pier, guided dives are available and the centre lists nine shore dive sites from 6 to 55 metres with four wrecks, a collection of armoured vehicles a nature trail and a drift dive from the centres RIB. Link to their web site for more details www.theunderwatercenter.co.uk

 

Arisaig. Nr Fort Willam

Lon Liath.

A shallow shore dive out to a rock in a small sandy bay, 6m at high water. The dive is in front of the golf course. Park on the road side and wander in. ( there is a small car park on a headland nearby but it is for golf club use only.) This area of the Scottish coast is very beautiful with white sandy beaches backed with sand dunes, the film 'Local Hero' was made just around the next bay. Slept in the car one night on the way to Skye in the very same spot and the sunrise was to die for. Thanks John for the details.

Skye.

Meanish Pier. Glendale.

From the small beach to the left of the pier dive due north for around 50 metres to a wall running east to west. The wall is between 5 and 15 metres in depth and has a good selection of soft corals. The pier lies in a sheltered inlet making diving possible in most conditions.

Dunbar.

Johnston's Hole

A small island 50m off Dunbar Habour. Park on the harbour wall over the lift bridge, kit up and walk along the outer wall untill around the large rock at the end, climb down on to a small pebble beach. The island is facing the entry point, swim out and descend to 6m and travel clockwise, you can drop to 13m on the seaward side where is a cave ( giving the island it's name ) and further clockwise an amphitheatre. To return to shore retrace your dive.

Johnston's Hole Island

Battery dive.

A entry point can be found at the seaward side of the battery on the harbour wall. Park up as above and follow the path to the right of the battery, the small islands out from this point can be dived but its a long swim. Best dived at high water.

St Abbs. Berwick upon tweed.

A marine nature reserve based around St Abbs harbour. Most diving is from the southern harbour wall which involves an awkward scramble across rocks to the water. Marine life is abundant and there is often good vis. Air can be found at Scoutscroft Dive Centre. Where a new compressor has just been installed, You now need to purchase a smart key £10 and put money on it for air ( min £10 ) This sounds expensive but you now buy air by the litre, we topped up 5 tanks from 130 bar to the preset max of 220 bar and it only cost £6 which if you visit St Abb's a couple of times, more than covers the key cost. We came away happy.

The Dives

Cathedral Rock. A shore dive for the experienced and probably the best dive at St Abbs, a long surface swim or dive is required from the harbour wall to a very large rock with a twin arch through its middle, the lower arch can be swam through and marine life on its southern wall is fantastic.

Big Green Carr Rock. An easy dive from the harbour wall around this rock, lots of life including Wolf fish. The Ampitheatre is a large curve into the rock which is worth a look.

Little green carr. South of Big Green Carr and much of the same.

Broad Craig. In front of you when you enter from the harbour wall for Big Green Carr and Cathedral, an easy dive apart from the entry point.

Seagull Rock. A novice dive from the car park without the long walk around the harbour wall. The site is best dived two hours each side of high water. Swim out to under the large crack in the rock, then drop on to a patch of sand and dive clockwise. On the seaward side of the rock is a cave with a key hole slot in its roof. The walls covered in life and sometimes a large shoal of pollack inside. Continue clockwise to find a sandy channel between the main rock and a smaller boulder, horizontal cracks contain lots of crabs and lobsters. A very nice dive.

Petticowick. A small cove around the headland to the west of the harbour.

For more details click here

Dive in the Pink has adopted Petticowick under the NAS 'Adopt a wreck' scheme

Thanks to Sharon for info on area.

For more detailed information on the St Abb / Eyemouth area Link to

Sea conditions at St Abbs Harbour from the BBC's webcam

Dave Cordes web site.

St Abbs web site.

Scoutscroft Dive Centre.

Aqua Stars Dive Centre.

Eyemouth. Berwick upon tweed.

Weasel Loch

A small cove just north of Eyemouth. The site is in Northburn Caravan Park a £3 per car charge is made for parking and use of showers and toilets. A dive can be made from the loch around Hairy Ness Point and coming out in Leeds Bay to the east of Weasel loch. The depth is up to 15 metres and follows a wall around the headland. The Loch its self has a sandy bottom with steep side and is very pleasant in its self. From the car park at the top of a steep bank, steps lead down into Loch where you clamber over rocks to enter the water. Its best to dive at high tide as the exit back onto the rocks is a little difficult. A very nice novice dive if the sea is calm.

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