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Diving in Argyll.

The Sound of Mull and Oban area has for many years been regarded as a mecca for sport dive enthusiasts.
Those who make the journey to this area are usually eager to escape the overcrowded and low visibility dive sites to be found elsewhere.
The rewards to be found through diving in Argyll are ones of unspoilt natural reefs, cliffs and and abundance of shipwrecks, all easily accessible.
By using the services of local skippers and dive boat operators who have the advantage of having first hand knowledge of dive sites, tidal conditions and where to go in the event of inclement weather, you can ensure that their will always be somewhere to dive whatever the conditions.
Many clubs and associations choose to bring their own boats and find little difficulty in obtaining safe and easy access points from where to launch. This extra freedom should though only be enhanced by having an experienced and competent skipper. Having the freedom of your own boat can bring benefits such as choosing any number of dive sites at your leisure so as to cater for every standard of diver.
There are a number of established dive operators and schools within the area who are equipped and ready to fulfill your every diving need.

Lochaline Dive Centre.
 The Bunkhouse,
Lochaline.
Morvern.		 Tel: 01967 421627
Oban Divers Dive Shop. Glenshellach Road
Oban
Argyll		 Tel: 01631 566618
Fax: 01631 562755
Puffin Dive Centre. Port Gallanach
Oban
Argyll. PA34 4QH		 Tel: 01631 566088
Fax: 01631 564142
www.puffin.org.uk
Alchemy Diving. Tralee
Benderloch
Argyll		 Tel: 01631 720337
www.alchemydiving.com

Listed below are just a few of the more notable and well known dive sites in and around Oban and the Sound of Mull.
The Breda.
During the early years of WWII, German Heinkel bombers attacked the Breda. The Breda was a triple decked, steel steamer weighing 6,941 tonnes with an overall length of 402 feet.
Today the wreck of the Breda lies upright in Armucknish Bay North of Oban with her bow sitting in around 22 metres and her stern in around 30 metres of water. Much of the cargo she was laden with still lies nearby.
The Royal Navy wire-swept her in 1961 and this removed the bridge, funnel, mast and derricks.
The chassis of a lorry with a couple of tyres still in place can be found near hold number two.
It is possible to reach her decks at the bow in around nine metres depth. The wreck is frequently surrounded by shoals of fish and her hull is covered in anemones and dead mans fingers.


The Hispania.
Carrying a cargo of rubber bales,steel and asbestos, the Hispania was headed out from Liverpool and was under steamon her way to the port of Varberg.
Seeking a safe weather passage, the Captain decided to head south through the Sound of Mull. In conditions consisting of poor visibility, driving rain and sleet, the Hispania ran aground on Sgier Mor near Tobermory.
The unforgiving rocks of the Sound of Mull sealed her fate and she can now be found lying upright on the bottom, in 32 metres of water.
Diving the Hispania is only possible at slack water due to the strong tidal currents experienced in that area of the Sound of Mull.
Reaching the deck at a depth of around 15 metres, divers can tour the still very complete superstructure including the bridge and cabins. Many of the doors, handrails and companionways are still complete and a dive on this vessel will always be of interest to those interested in an abundance of sealife.


The Rondo.
On 25th January 1935, the steamship Rondo ran aground on Dearg Sgeir one of the Green Isles found near Salen in the Sound of Mull.
The Rondo lies almost vertically, pointing downward with her bows being in around 50 metres of water.
Her rudder can be reached in about 3 metres of water and her remains are a haven for sealife.


The Shuna.
Lying near the Morvern shore of the Sound of Mull in around 30 metres of water, the 800 tonne Shuna is the site for an interesting dive. Much of the wreck is no longer there due to souvenir hunters but a variety of sea creatures can still be found in and around the remnants of her hull.

Bach Island.
The sandy, shaly seabed around Bach Island provides the diver with a variety of seacreatures including crabs, sea urchins and starfish.
To reach the seabed the dive will usually begin by descending down a wall from around 15 to 26 metres.
Bach Island can only be dived from a boat and can be located off the south-west point of Kerrera.

Maiden Island.
Another dive site requiring the use of a boat is Maiden Island.
This popular scenic dive, has depths going down as far as 35 metres. Slipping through the kelp forest in the shallower reaches lucky divers can spot conger eels and the occasional cod. The overhang of the rock face containing a large crevice is one of the main points of interest at this dive site.
Care must be taken when diving here as it is next to the busy entrance to Oban Bay and is frequented by ferries and boats of all sizes.

Argyllinfo
Barbeith, North Connel, by Oban,. Argyll. PA37 1QX