Mid Lancs Sub Aqua

After starting the 2008 sea diving season under the north cliffs of Anglesey, hiding from a force 7 ‘breeze’ and diving in pea soup, I thought starting 2009 in Lochcarron would provide better early season diving.

In the days leading up to going we finalised our diving and travel arrangements, and with military like precision we departed at exactly 09.37 with Little Mo and Jamie towing a trailer full of dive kit and our shiny new compressor. Some 10.5 hours later we arrived at Lochcarron having driven through some of the most amazing scenery the west coast of Scotland has to offer. Our hosts Trevor & Fiona at ‘The Oldmanse Guest house’ couldn’t have been more accommodating, and the Guest house itself full of odd and interesting nick-naks, from collections of sea shells to Scottish memorabilia to an Enfield .303 (inactive) behind the front door.

Friday came and we were planning a leisurely days diving; fill cylinders, get the boat in the water for around 11’sh, then a couple of dives around the Loch, tea, then pub. That was the plan, but as we all know sometimes plans have to be adapted… Mark was filling cylinders without hassle; Little Mo was being readied for her maiden voyage of the year, no problem. However with Little Mo being reversed down the slip way we suddenly realised that the information we had regarding the availability of the slipway was not the most accurate. We discovered that the slip way is most definitely NOT usable at all states of the tide as we were told. And with the tide still falling it would be another 5 hours before we could get Little Mo sat off her trailer and into the Loch.

As Jamie, Mark and myself pondered over our next course of action we met our first “local character” a woman in her mid 30’s who was very insistent that we take her by boat to see her Grannies house in North Strome. She also didn’t seem to comprehend that 3 people cannot pick up a boat that weighs nearly 1.5 tons and simply place it in the water. When she didn’t get any joy our new best friend just sat down behind my truck (which by now is half way up the slip way with a 40 foot long rope attaching my truck to the trailer), and continued to drink from her bottle of “water”.

Eventually we managed to move on our new best friend, snap a rope, and decide a shore dive would be the best course of action. With a little walk across the beach we went for a little dive directly in front of the Guest House. A pleasant dive, only a few metres deep, but never the less very nice with some interesting critters to boot (I’m sure Hayley will be able to elaborate on the various species of critters we saw).

After our dive, the tide had reached a point were we could launch Little Mo without hassle. A short time later Mark and myself were tying Little Mo onto a mooring when we were approached by the second “local character” of the day, who I believe runs a local fishing charter business. Our new friend had taken great exception to us diving in the area and was accusing us of lifting moorings, anchors, cattle rustling and general skulduggery befitting of a terrorist organisation. Nutter.

Saturday; an early dive at the ‘Avalanche shelter’ then breakfast. Unfortunately the weather had pick up a little, but we pressed on. The site itself did not disappoint, with visibility in the region of 15m we could easily see a carpet of anomies and critters everywhere, very nice. And to make it better, as we entered the water we were buzzed by a pair of dolphins. Dave, Sue and myself were out of the water first and as we sat chatting in the boat, the dolphins returned wanting to play. With Sophie at the helm we moved off, and the dolphins followed swimming right under the bow of Little Mo only breaking off to leap for air, tail slap the water and return to running in the bow wave. Amazing.

After brunch, and due to the weather we headed back to roughly the same area, no dolphins this time- booo. However we were only a few hundred metres from the first site, but what a startlingly different dive. A gentle slope running down into the abyss, but as we passed 20m we came across an area of ‘Sea Pens’ some 0.5m long, and again critters everywhere.

Sunday; the wind dropped completely so Sophie and I sailed Little Mo the 19 or so miles across mirror like sea’s from Lochcarron to the Kyle of Lochalsh where we would dive on a wreck called the Port Napier.

The Port Napier was a Royal Navy mine layer which caught fire and exploded with some 300 mine on board (not a single mine exploded during her sinking). The explosion was enough to throw great lumps of her structure some 300m to a near by beach. Considering her demise, the Port Napier is relatively intact and now lies on her side in around 20m of water, with her port side breaking the surface at low tide and is teeming with life. The Port Napier really is a fantastic dive site and really has something to suit all tastes.

All in all, good company, good fun, excellent diving, and tales to dine out on for months to come. I have a feeling that Lochcarron / Kyle of Lochalsh may become a regular season starter.

Andy