Diving
Around Ullapool and Loch Broom
We
are lucky enough to have what is widely regarded as some of
the best diving in Scotland on our doorstep. However being
situated between the Sound of Mull and Scapa Flow this area is
often over looked by divers from further a field who pass
straight by, but for those who know of or have dived the area
before, it's not somewhere you'll pass by twice!
Loch Broom with
it's steep sides has some great wall dives along with one
of the best known wrecks in the area, the Fairweather V.
Slightly
further out, but still within easy reach by rhib are The Summer
Isles. This small archipelago of about 40 islands harbours
a wealth of dive sites brimming with marine flora and fauna.
Given the nature of the islands and skerries it is almost
always possible to find a lea shore to dive. Tides in the
area are not generally significant, the exception being on
a few exposed headlands.
The waters around the islands are warmed by the Gulf Stream,
which in turn creates a thriving marine environment. Given the
nature of the islands and their location there is always
somewhere with a lee shore and therefore sheltered diving is
virtually guaranteed. Visibility is often in excess of 15
metres due to clear pollution free waters, which are also
sheltered from the tidal streams, and the maximum current
encountered is about ½ knot.
Scenic
Dives
These
are just a few of the scenic dives in the area, but really
you can drop off the boat almost anywhere and find something
interesting to see.
Conservation
Cave (also known as Cathedral Cave)
Down
at the south west corner of Tanera beag, this underwater cave,
about 6m deep is a fantastic dive. There are 5 faces within
the cave and a couple of big boulders on the floor, every
surface is covered in life. It provides a great opportunity
for underwater photographers. As you can see from the photograph,
the surface of the water is open to the air, it is not an
enclosed overhead environment. Even so, great care should
be taken when diving this unique site to preserve the extraordinary
marine life found there.
The cave
needs to be dived on a calm day, the slightest swell can turn
it into a washing machine. The day this photo was taken the
swell was too big to dive!
Cuckoo
Point
As you head
out of Loch Broom, Cuckoo point is on your left hand side
opposite the Rhue lighthouse. A wall dive that varies in depth
from 10 to 34m with a rocky sloping seabed at the wall foot.
There's very little tide here at all, and the site gets its
name from the large number of Cuckoo Wrasse found here during
the summer months.
Black
Rock
Black Rock
has kelp in the upper few metres, but down beneath these are
open rocky areas, with gullies and channels to explore. The
east side goes down to about 17m where it levels off to sand,
while round on the west side of the rock is slightly deeper
and more interesting - the south tip has a wall covered in
plumose anemones and soft corals.
Bottle
Island
This
is one of the few dives where there can sometimes be current.
Along the south easterly facing wall is a gently sloping boulder
field down to 30m where it merges to a sandy seabed. There
are lots of anemones and soft corals here, while seals are
also often seen under the surface.
Further
round on the Westerly side of the island (facing towards Priest
Island) is a nice shallow dive with a handful of small caves
to go and explore before finishing with a swim through a very
narrow channel about 150 metres long that cuts into the small
headland.
Isle
Martin
The
Island is managed and run by the Isle
Martin Trust, and has some great wall dives on its northern
edge in the channel between the island and the mainland. The
submarine cliffs here go down almost vertically to around
140m and are described by Gordon Ridley as one of the most
impressive wall dives in Scotland. It's a great dive but not
for those who like to be able to see the bottom underneath
them!!
The mainland
side of the channel also has some good dive sites worth exploring.
Priest
Island
If
the weather allows, then a trip out to Priest Island is well
worth the extra time on the boat. There are several good dive
sites around Priest Island. The northern end of the island
has a multitude of gullies and channels where large numbers
of nudibranchs are regularly found on the kelp fonds. The
rock walls are covered in anemones.
The south
face of Priest Island is worth a dive too. The top 8m is full
of kelp, but beneath this a steep boulder field that drops
down then levels off onto sand at about 23m. The nooks and
crannies are filled with squat lobsters, crabs, numerous fish
and feather stars. The seabed descends deeper beyond the edge
of the boulders. Being further out into The Minch, Priest
Island often has excellent visibility.
Wreck
Dives
Boston
Stirling
-
Co-ordinates:
057° 59.993'N 005° 24.274'W
-
Depth range:
6m at bow to 15m at stern
-
Experience:
novice and above
-
Hazards:
bits of the wreck are partially collapsed.
A
110ft long, steel stern trawler lying on her starboard
side with bow to NW. Generally in good condition
although the wheelhouse lining has collapsed. Extensive
marine life in evidence including; plumose anemones,
deadmen's fingers, ascidians, sponges.
Built in 1975 by the Goole
Shipbuilding and Repair Co. Ltd. she was originally
owned by Boston Deep Sea Fisheries. She was first
registered as LO336 before being converted for multi
purpose fishing and engaging in Mackerel fishing in
1979. She sank in 1985 just off Tanera beag.
Buoy
and line set 10m off stern. Mast visible at low
tide.
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Innisjura