| Archive for SUSAC forum Stirling University Sub-Aqua Club |
| charlie |
Carrick Castle, Loch Goil: a possible training siteWeather was atrocious yesterday as you no doubt noticed, so our plan of diving at Wemyss Bay had to be delayed. Instead, Graeme, Gus & us McGurks headed to the sheltered waters of Loch Goil. A really beautiful site although the weather didn't allow us to fully enjoy it. The others were patient enough to allow me to try out my new kit, so I had my first foray into twin-set diving. Gus & I decided to go for a long one (fnaar fnaar) & he eventually managed to get a depth of 31m. As it took 25 min to get there due to the gently sloping bottom, we incurred 3 min of deco (extended to 9 min with my computer in "micro bubble" mode). As we were still in deco at the end of our planned dive time (naughty), we sent up our dSMBs to allow the shore cover to know we were OK. We both thought that it was a useful experience & was good to get some (admittedly tame) decompression diving under our belts.Shug & Sarah had a nice potter around the bay & along the wall beside the castle. We all agreed that it would be nice to return on a better day. Site would be good for training: lots of parking, quiet road, easy access to water (gently sloping shingle), safe site (sheltered + gentle UW slope) a bus shelter to change clothes in & a working toilet! Only downside is that there's no reef, but still there's life to see on the sand and on the wall. There are some photos of the site on the ScotSAC website 
Gus & Shug wondered about the possibility of having a training mid-semester trip there as there are caravans near the site. Click here for the location of the site. It would also be within easy range of Lochs Fyne & Long. Here's some info that I found on congeralley.com about getting air nearby: Re: Carrick Castle, Loch Goil -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There is a compressor located at Darroch Mhor Watersports and Chalets, Carrick Castle, Loch Goil. Phone No is 01301 703249. I recently 'phoned to check the compressor is still working and it is. Fills by prior arrangement only as the operator has other jobs. Usually you can expect to drop tanks off the night before and then pick up filled tanks next morning. Much better than a trip to Glasgow or Loch Fyne, if you're based in Loch Goil for the weekend. I have not used them as I get my fills in Glasgow and have no links with the operator of this compressor. Alex |
| Sam |
Good plan, Loch Goil is a lovely site to dive in. Dot and myself did a seasearch expedition there a few years back.
It would be a lovely place for a training trip, and if we could get a boat it would be even better, the life over the other side of the loch (which you can only get to by boat) is amazing, seapens, fireworks anemonies, etc! Is there much life on the castle side of the loch? We did one dive there and it was pretty barren! Sam |
| charlie |
photosPhotos are now on my web site
|