Club Boat at Seal Island, Loch Fyne 25^th July 10

By Keith Waugh

4 divers, Joe McInally, Brian Tierney, David Hewitt and I, took the Club boat to Minard on Loch Fyne for a pleasant dive at Fraoch Eilean (gaelic: Heather Island), the southernmost island in the Seal Island group in the middle of the loch. The weather was typical July weather-drizzle, but at least the water was calm. Underwater visibility was not too great at 3metres but Joe and I  dropped down the east side of the island to find ourselves viewing soft corals, anemones, Northern Sea fans, small Devonshire Cup corals plus the usual selection of Hermit, Shore and Edible crabs, before hitting the sand at 31metres.

David is still new at this game so Brian kept his beady, watchful eye on him at a shallower depth. We had hoped to see a seal or two underwater as they were lying on the rocks between the islands and watching us from a few metres away. But no luck, though perhaps they saw us!!??

After this first dive we headed up loch to Black Lass Cove and passed the time in the drizzle having our lunch and putting the world to rights. Gradually the sky cleared and the sun came out, although the wind freshened up to a light southerly breeze.

The 2^nd dive around the point at the Cove was fairly similar to the first dive. Brian and David went in first and left Joe and me with a nice little “dust” trail to follow. “Thanks chaps”, however dropping a little deeper sorted that out. During the dive Joe found some very young Lobsters only a few centimetres long. Just like their larger parents-only little, very little! Towards the end of the dive I found a smallish but very determined lobster under a ledge. See the photo.

I also took a nice photo of a Luidia ciliaris starfish (see below) walking along the sandy seabed looking for less mobile prey, such as Sea Urchins. 

A quick trip back to Minard, an easy recovery of the boat on to the trailer inspite of the falling tide and we were off to the Tea Rooms at Crarae for a coffee or Drinking Chocolate. We even sat outside in the sunshine which had now appeared, along with the light breeze. I remember the days when we used to go to the pub for a pint or two or three and a packet of crisps!! Changed days, eh! but much healthier!!!!!!

Midweek Dive at Trail Island, 22^nd July

Postponed from yesterday as the weather was foul, but the forecast for Thursday was correct for once. The Met Office must have bought a new piece of seaweed and thrown out their super computer!

The morning was a bit cloudy as Joe McInally and Keith Waugh arrived at Largs Marina. Unfortunately the public slipway was closed as there was a World Championship Sailing Dinghy event and the public car park was full of dinghies.

“Oh dear, what a shame!” said Joe, or something like it! After some deliberation we headed up to the RNLI slip in Largs and after asking permission to park the pick-up and trailer in the restaurant car park across the road we eventually headed in Joe’s boat to Trail Island, Little Cumbrae.

The sea was calm and the crossing was swift. Even better, we found the underwater visibility pretty good at around 8metres. Some suspended phyto-plankton in the water but not bad. Plenty to see during our 2 dives with red, yellow and brown seaweeds, yellow and white soft corals, anemones,  urchins, Devonshire Cup Corals, Light Bulb Sea Squirts and, at about 15-20metres depth, plenty male & female Cuckoo Wrasse, Ballan Wrasse, Ling, Cod, Pollock and Leopard Spotted Gobies. Several Seals had been basking on Trail Island before we arrived but sadly, we did not see them underwater. They kept bobbing up and down to see if we had left their island yet.

 
As the tide was dropping we had plenty of space to spread out and enjoy our lunch between dives. It was very pleasant to contemplate that everybody else was at work! Even better, the sun eventually came out, but unfortunately Joe removed his thick under suit to bask in all his glory.



But that is another story .................!!!

 







11^th July 2010-Bankies avoid the Open Golf at Loch Lomond

It seemed like a good idea to stay clear of the A82 and the A814 so we headed for the M8 and the A1. In other words, we avoided the Scottish Open Golf Tournament road congestion and headed for St Abbs. The day in the west started wet and remained for most of the day. However, over on the east coast it brightened up with a fresh SW to South breeze. As we arrived at St Abbs we could see white horses not far off shore. I though “Oh-Oh!, will we get in the water” However, the water close in by the reefs was like a mill pond. Talk about lucky, though out at the Cathedral it looked a little more lumpy. Nevertheless Brian, Allan, Gerry and Keith made it through the gullies at low water and headed underwater, out to the Cathedral. Visibility was quite good at around 8 metres and the Cathedral looked great. A few Ballan Wrasse patrolling the area, came in for a look at yet more intruders from the alien world above the waves. After the photo call we headed in towards the shore. Brian and Gerry went via the south side of Scott’s Rock and Broad Craig reef, whilst Keith and Allan went around the north side of Scott’s Rock and in through Broad Craig reef on a gradually rising tide. Reasonable numbers of Ballan Wrasse, a few Pollock and some small lobsters seen and photographed on the way. The reefs, as usual covered in orange and white Alcyonium digitatum (Dead Men's Fingers) and various anemones. Plenty kelp and other red seaweeds and lots of Cyanea capillata (Lion’s Mane) jellyfish around as well, though I don’t recall seeing this many white examples of the jellyfish.

The 2^nd dive was out to Jonah’s Rock, which I hadn’t dived before, even after all these years, and across to the north side of Big Green Carr and the amphitheatre on the east side of BGC. Again quite a few Ballan Wrasse and Pollock. This had to be octopus territory, however, if they were present, I did not spot them.

A very pleasant day out. We all caught the sun, well from the neck up! and Brian and Gerry got home in time for the World Cup Final!! Sad boys!

The photos are, from top to bottom: Allan Reader inside the top arch at the Cathedral (2 photos); a Ballan Wrasse trying to get away from me; a lobster trying to intimidate me; 
Gerry Regan on his first dive trip to St Abbs and a photo of Brian Tierney taken on a previous trip to St Abbs but it shows the Cathedral Arch Reef reasonably clearly. 

Easter Weekend in Oban 2010

Clydebank Sub Aqua Club had a most successful weekend in Oban. 4 members-Joe McInally, Iain Kennedy, Allan Reader and Keith Waugh arrived at Gallanachbeg, on the Sound of Kerrera at around 1.30pm on Friday 2nd April. It didn’t take long to prepare the gear, launch the Club RHIB and head out to the wreck of the Breda, in Ardmucknish Bay. The weather conditions were reasonably good, which means that it wasn’t raining!

After about 15minutes we arrived on site to find another dive boat at the bow of the Breda. Approaching, we asked if we could drop down their “shot-line” attached to the Breda’s bow. They readily agreed. Joe, Allan and I dropped over the side of our boat and I grabbed the sturdy looking “shot-line” as there was a bit of a current. Oh dear! The “shot-line” turned out to be merely a diver SMB reel AND it was coming up from the Breda to meet me.

Iain, who was driving the boat, was called and as he slowly dragged us all to Breda’s stern “shot-line”, I thought that this was beginning to turn into farce!!! Fortunately, I was wrong as we dropped down a genuinely substantial “shot-line” to Breda’s stern. The superstructure, though in poor condition, was festooned in soft coral and anemones. We headed forwards, coming across more superstructure, the Holds, and winch gear. The engine room area has collapsed making it more accessible. Continuing forward we dropped down in to the Holds looking for fish life. Sadly there were none. I fear that it is still too early in the year for many fish. Eventually we arrived at the bow and I took a few pictures of Joe and Allan in “Titanic” pose. The Breda is starting to look in a sorry and dangerous state with many fragile looking bulkheads.

Saturday saw us driving down to Seil Island to launch the boat for a trip to the Garvellachs. The “white knuckle ride” took about half an hour as we sped down to one of the reefs at the extreme South-east corner of the Garvellachs. Water depth at the site drops away to 40-50metres. The cliff face is orange with soft corals, Plumose anemones, sponges and seaweeds. Plenty of small life such as Squat Lobster, small crabs, urchins, Devonshire Cup corals but again, sadly, no fish.

Our 2^nd dive of the day was at a site half way down the west side of Garbh Eileach, known, more or less, as “Eagle Drop”. (We once saw a Golden Eagle nest on the very top of the cliff). A steep slope of large boulders covered in swirling kelp and dropping away to 40metres plus. Plenty of small life but again – no fish!

A little caution required at these sites owing to the potential for serious depth and the swell battering the shore at the surface. Buoyancy control needs to be good and a wary eye that you are not too close to shore when you surface!

After an enjoyable Chinese meal and a glass or two or three of wine in an Oban Chinese Restaurant on Saturday evening, Sunday found us heading across to Lismore in glorious but chilly sunshine. Iain chased the MacBraynes ferry for a while before overtaking it as we headed for Rubha Fiart, at the south-west corner of Lismore. This was again a kelp covered boulder slope but somewhat more shallow at around 20m to 30metres. There was a bit of a cliff but this soon gave way to more boulder slope. Quite a pleasant drift dive though, as the very reasonable current drove us south west along the shore.

Our last dive, on Sunday afternoon was at a favourite site of mine - Ard na Cuile, in the Sound of Kerrera. We dropped in at the south-west facing bay and headed down the boulder slope and around the point heading north then north-east. The boulders give way to a vertical cliff wall which drops to around 35metres then a steep sandy slope to beyond 50metres. Again plenty of life clinging to the cliff face-soft corals, many different anemones, hydroids, sponges, nudibranchs. I only found one Spotted Dogfish and it didn’t want its photo taken!

We stayed in the Bunk Room at Roseview Caravan Park, formerly Oban Divers Caravan Park. I was delighted to see David Tye and spent time “chewing the fat” with son Michael Tye, who now runs Oban Divers. (Older, gentlemen divers will know David Tye well.)

The Shipping Forecast and the Forecast broadcast by the Coastguard on Sunday evening foretold of doom and gloom for Monday. South to South-westerly winds, Force 4 or 5, increasing to Gale Force, with rain and poor visibility. Hey!, this is Easter in Scotland. What more did we expect!? And indeed they were correct, so on Monday morning we headed back to Glasgow – in the rain.

In spite of the lack of fish life and the variable weather, it was a successful weekend. Even the snoring eminating from various nostrils wasn't too excessive or head splitting. Mind you, I was wearing ear defenders in bed!
So, Joe has made enquiries regarding the bunk house for later this year, and  finally thanks to Joe for organsing this trip.

Watch this space!

Sunday 7^th March

Spring hasn’t quite sprung yet, but it almost felt like it today! Leaving the Club Rooms promptly we headed up to St Catherines on Loch Fyne. The south reef parking area was full with cars & divers from a Glasgow Dive Centre, so we headed a short distance down the single track road to “The Pool” (as Clydebank Club knows it). Only 2 other divers here, practicing with their Rebreathers.

The visibility wasn’t too bad at around 6metres and the water temperature was a balmy 8^oc. Not many fish around yet though we saw a Conger Eel, a solitary Saithe under a rock. A few Sand & Leopard Spotted Gobies and a lovely Pipefish (left) at around  10cms. The crab in the photo above, didn’t know whether to emerge from or go in to hiding. Lucky I wasn’t a predator! Still, it was a chance to get “dive fit” after the cold spell lay off. We are getting a bit soft in Clydebank Branch. Roll on Spring and Summer. Won't be long before our Easter Oban trip.

Last Dive of 2009
28^th December
by Keith Waugh

In spite of the very cold weather with ice and snow covering much of Scotland, the road to Loch Fyne was clear. As we approached Loch Fyne it was a case of “what snow?”. We mainly saw frost with a very light covering here and there of snow. The hills, on the other hand, looked fantastic completely snow covered.

The water at the Anchor Spot was positively warm, compared to the air temperature, 11 degrees. Almost balmy! Joe and I headed down the cliff edge finding plenty Sand and Leopard Spotted Gobies. In one of the main crevices on the cliff we came across a solitary Conger Eel plus a sleepy Ballan Wrasse and a large Cod. Then there were a few Prawns and various crustacea. Not a great deal of life, but as Joe hadn’t dived since September and I hadn’t dived for a month, it was quite pleasant to get in the water anywhere!

The second dive was at the reef at St. Catherines. Visibility at around 3-4metres. Once again plenty of Sand & Leopard Spotted Gobies. I spent some time trying to see a young Plaice on my camera screen before eventually getting a photo. It was very well camouflaged. Can you see it in the middle of the photo (left)? Its eye is in line with the word "camera" above. I also took a few nice pics of a Queen Scallop which had conveniently anchored itself to a stone and was sitting with its "mouth" open.


The 3rd photo (right), copied from a colour slide, shows Alan Hubbard with the “anchor” at the Anchor Spot in June 1990. This is how the site became named. Joe and I found the only piece which is now left of the anchor and placed it at the cliff bottom at 30metres.

This is possibly the last dive of the year for Clydebank members and as the nights are beginning to draw out!!, we can begin to look forward to Spring & Summer !
J

Back to Eyemouth(Friday 11th December)
There hasn't been a great deal of diving recently owing to very poor conditions. The rain makes for very limited underwater visibility. Nevertheless I ventured over to Eyemouth on Friday 11th December and dived with long-time friend and SSAC diver Ian Whittaker. As we drove to the rocky beach by the Golf Course on the south side of Eyemouth, the sea looked very calm and inviting. However, this was a little misleading. As we watched the waves breaking on the rocks it became obvious that the North Sea was up to its tricks, and there was a nasty little swell, well capable of bouncing you off those very hard, jagged rocks. Nevertheless, we ventured in at Nest Ends and dropped down in to the 12metre deep gulley. Sadly the visibility was indeed still quite poor, but we could see the orange coloured rock faces reaching up to the surface. There was plenty of kelp waving around in the currents created by the swell effect. We saw 3 small lobsters, plenty anemones and a shoal of Saithe plus the odd Squat Lobster and Shore crab scurrying around. Once out at "the Point" the currents became a little more "difficult" and as I really needed one hand for my camera and two hands !! for me, we headed back in to the Gulley. After all, we are doing this for fun, not to try to get the Lifeboat out!!! The water was remarkably warm on this chilly winters day, at around 7 degrees C (warmer than the air). As St Abbs harbour was closed for some odd reason, we called it a day. Note in Logbook - I will come back in the Spring!!

Dive Conference at Eyemouth & a couple of Dives!
The SSAC Dive Conference, held in Eyemouth over the Weekend 14^th/15^th November 2009, was a resounding success. Around 200 members of Scotsac heard talks from many well known people in the Diving World:- Lawson Wood & Rod MacDonald on Scapa Flow and other major wrecks, Dr David Wilmot (SSAC Medical Advisor) and Prof. Cali-Corleo from Malta and “DAN Europe” on various aspects of Diving Medicine and particularly on diving for the older diver, Chris Sweeting on the effects on Reefs of Coral damage, i.e ships sinking on them. Paul Duxfield from Cameras Underwater gave a very enthusiastic talk, also Paul Hayes on the History of Rebreathers and how they are used in modern warfare in the Special Services.

 These were just the Lectures I heard as the event had simultaneous Lectures going on in several classrooms, however I was told that all the talks were extremely good. The RNLI was present, Peter Collings, Borders Underwater Search Team, the full list is available on the SSAC Website.

The Ceilidh on Saturday night was also well attended, very successful but quite noisy with an 8 piece Ceilidh band. Much drink was consumed. Enough said

On Sunday the organisers arranged boat diving at St Abbs Head and Eyemouth. Several boats went out. I had 2 very good dives, one at West Hurker at St Abbs Head and a second at Conger Reef/Cresta Run just off Weasel Loch at Eyemouth. My boat had a stern lift platform. Exiting the water meant standing on the lift platform 1 metre underwater and being lifted up to deck level, brilliant!!

The tide was still flooding at St Abbs Head, so at times we were being carried along by 1 knot currents then as we went through a gulley we might be pushed in another direction or left standing still. There were plenty of large Ballan Wrasse and Pollock also having trouble in the swirling currents. By the end of the 50 minute/ 18metre dive we had covered about one third of a mile. Character Building!!! I was glad that one of my buddies, James Love from East Lothian Branch, was familiar with the area and knew, more or less, where we were!

The 2nd dive near Weasel Loch was similar to the first but without the currents. Not so many fish but I counted 12 Lobsters before I gave up. Sadly the visibility was only around 3-4metres but bearing in mind the poor weather this year and the sun is low in the sky, it wasn't too bad. I was pleased that in spite of not having dived this site for some time that I found my way around familiar parts of the reefs.

I think it is about time for Clydebank members to dive the east coast, and in particular, St Abbs and Eyemouth, a little more often!


Dive in warmer climates.
The weather in Scotland has been particularly poor recently and has prevented members from diving. However, one or two Clydebank members have been lucky enough to escape to warmer places. Alan Pollock has been to the Red Sea around Marsa Alam and Keith Waugh has been to Aqaba. 

Please go to "Dive Aqaba" page. I hope you will enjoy reading my brief Report about diving at the top right hand corner of the Red Sea.
  
Sunday 6th September '09 
Only 3 of us were available for a dive today. Well, the weather has been so poor recently, it is enough to put anyone off. Never mind, we still have a glorious Autumn to look forward to!! Joe, Brian and me, sped off from Strachur at around 10:10 am to the west side of Loch Fyne. We hadn't been to "Adam's Reef" for some time, so we thought it might be a nice idea. "Adam's Reef" is just up loch from Stallion Rock and located close to the shore. At 10:47am we dropped off Joe's boat and had a super Night Dive on the reef. The water was black with the peaty rain we have enjoyed for the last 6 weeks. However, once we dropped down the visibility cleared a little to reveal quite a number of shy Pollock, Goldsinny Wrasse, Leopard Spotted & Sand Gobies plus a number of Squat Lobsters and edible Crabs. They were all scurrying about. Brian was convinced, that they were convinced that it really was night time. I managed a photo or two of a Butterfish (above). 

After 40minutes we were overwhelmed by the excitement of it all so surfaced to be greeted by cloud and light drizzle. All very "character building". Far better than that wimpish Red Sea/Caribbean warm, clear water stuff! After the dive Joe became all romantic and described the silhouetted view of Brian and myself against the torchlight as quite moving! I'm getting worried about Joe.

The second dive, at Black Lass Cove, was almost as good as the first dive! Again, plenty crustacea but sadly no fish. Oh, apart from one Ballan Wrasse. A large edible Crab was prowling along the cliff. It must have thought it was night time!

Not the best of days out and certainly not showing Scottish waters in their best light, but happily this does not happen too often. I blame Global Warming myself. Nevertheless, it is always good to have a dip, no matter what the conditions. Thanks to Joe for using his boat for the days activities.

Sunday 2^nd August '09 

The weather forecast cast slight doubts over a trip to Trail Island, off Little Cumbrae in the Clyde:-West to South-west Force 5-6 moderating to 3-4 later, sunshine and showers. High water at Largs at 10:41. Nevertheless 6 of us, Brian, Joe, Keith, Jack, Allan and guest Gordon MacSkimming bounced across the deep blue Clyde in the Club boat to Little Cumbrae. Once in the lee of the island the sea settled and the sun came out with fluffy white clouds drifting across a blue sky – just like the Caribbean! and almost as warm.

Underwater things just got better. Whilst there was a fair amount of vegetable  matter suspended in the water, the visibility overall was very good at around 8-10 metres. It was even possible to get a good impression of the geology of the area as the cliff face dropped down in steps to over 30metres. Light penetration was also pretty good with the sun streaming down through the water. Not many fish around at first, but as the dive progressed the Ballan and Cuckoo Wrasse numbers increased considerably. They were even quite tame and relaxed about our presence. One vivid male Cuckoo Wrasse (above) came right in to my camera lens to investigate something it found of interest. A Ballan Wrasse had a nibble at my gloved fingers. I personally found it really pleasant to have the fish come in so close. The Ballan Wrasse in particular, were very "territorial" and kept swimming round and round me.

 
Other members of the group also saw Pollock, various Crabs, Ling, Sea Spiders, a shoal of Sand Eels just under the surface of the water, Leopard Spotted Gobies and Goldsinny Wrasse Jack and Gordon had a brief underwater glimpse of one of the resident Seals which, until our arrival, had been basking in the west coast summer sun on the island. Prior to the dive, Joe picked up his new
Prescription Lens Diving Mask from C&C marine at Largs Marina, so even he was able to see all these fine fish. Between dives we headed back to the Marina. Jack, Gordon and Brian headed for Coffee & Cake in one of the Marine Restaurants. Talk about posh. Joe, Allan and I enjoyed our soup and sannies and kept an eye on the boat. 

The second dive saw us back at Trail Island but since the tide was ebbing with a bit of a current, we dropped in a little further north of Trail Island. The current though, was not as strong as expected, so we had a gentle potter along the "drop-off" with visibility perhaps even better than on the first dive. After all the poor visibility recently on the west coast it was a real pleasure to enjoy our version of "tropical". My Dive Computer tells me that the water temperture reached 18.4^oc. How good is that!?

All in all, a good day. For once the weather forecast was more or less correct!!

Wednesday 15^th July

Another midweek dive for Joe & Keith. Well, Joe is on holiday and Keith is on permanent holiday. We headed up to the Sound of Jura confident that the weather forecast would be wrong----again. It was! The sea was calm with no South-westerly F3 wind. The underwater visibility wasn’t bad at around 8metres. However, there was a bit of a current. Nevertheless we saw plenty of Lace Coral, Devonshire Cup Corals, some Spotted Dogfish, a shoal or two of Saithe, some Pollock and a few Ballan Wrasse. The Highlight for me was a very large, colourful nudibranch which I think is a Okenia elegans. It was around 5cms long and very attractive.

After a 2 hour break, relaxing in the sun on a calm Sound of Jura (oh! how the other half live!), we dropped in for a second similar dive. The tide had now turned, the current was working north, so we headed south along the cliff wall. More of the same regarding the fish life and another, definitely different Okenia elegans nudibranch. So, more photos. Poor thing must have really acquired a suntan from my strobe.