Scuba Holidays

Getting to Lochaline
We do not recommend that you attempt to travel to Lochaline via Oban (a common myth). Instead, follow the A82 Glasgow to Fort William road as far as the turnoff marked 'Corran Ferry', 8 miles south west of Fort William.

The Corran ferry runs every half hour. If you miss the last ferry, you can drive via Fort William and Loch Eil. This adds 1 hour 30 minutes to the travel time. Ferry times are available by phone (01855 24300) or online at the following link:

Corran Ferry timetable

As you leave the ferry, turn left onto the A861 following the signs for Strontian. Turn left off the A861 just before Strontian for the A884, signposted to Lochaline. As you descend into the village of Lochaline, look out for signposts marked Dive Centre Lodge 150 yds. The Centre is located just beyond the shop, up a steep drive.

Typical journey times for a normal family car:

Glasgow to Lochaline (3 hours)
Edinburgh to Lochaline (4 hours)
Aberdeen to Lochaline (4 hours 30 minutes)
Inverness to Lochaline (2 hours 30 minutes)

A map of the area (Streetmap)

The village of Lochaline
Lochaline is a small village overlooking the Sound of Mull. Although you will not find supermarkets and nightclubs here, the village can supply most of your needs.

The local shop sells unleaded petrol/diesel and a wide range of food and goods. Lochaline has two licensed premises, a hotel serving bar meals, and an excellent restaurant The White House described as "outstandingly good" by the Good Food Guide (see our links page for further information).

The renowned Jean's Snack Bar on the old pier remains a favourite haunt for hungry divers and fishermen.

Activities for the non-diver
This is a get-away-from-it-all location, set in stunning scenery overlooking the Sound of Mull. Hill walkers are within easy distance of the mountains of Glencoe and the Nevis Range, including Ben Nevis, in addition to some challenging hill walks on Mull.

There are some lovely coastal and woodland walks close to the Dive Centre, and a number of sites of historical interest can be reached with little extra effort (clearance villages, black houses, stone age settlements and brochs are all there to be found!). A short walk up to the head of Loch Aline itself takes you to the gardens of the Ardtornish Estate (2.5 miles from the Dive Centre), which are also of considerable interest.

Day trips to Ardnamurchan peninsula, Fort William and the Isle of Mull can easily be staged from Lochaline - see ferry details link

Tom 'A' Mhuillin Guest House Salen Road, Tobermory Isle of Mull. Argyll PA75 6QA Tel: 01688 302164 Wireless Broadband 'open access'
Double Bedroom	Twin Bedroom	Breakfast Room	Lounge

 
Tom 'A' Mhuillin Bed and Breakfast is situated just before the roundabout leading down to Tobermory Main Street. The town, with its restaurants, shops and attractions is a five minute walk away.

Residents also have the use of guest lounge - colour TV and freeview box in all rooms.

3 Rooms, all ensuite

All rooms are cleaned daily with fresh towels and welcome tray, including our new shortbread biscuits, made locally by Isle of Mull Shortbread.

A full breakfast is served between 7.30am and 8.30am. Vegetarian breakfasts are also made.

We welcome all year round bikers, divers and workmen. Reduced rates for long stays.
Dogs, as long as they have their own beds and are strictly looked after. But NO Smokers please.

Friday 28th Sept Tech Deep Dive Options

      
The Rondo 50m

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Lochaline West Pier - Shore to 90m


This is an excellent shore dive on a drop-off to over 90 metres. Sponges, anemones, soft corals and lots of fish make this a very enjoyable dive (for more about the sea life, see the link from the Hotel Beach, below).

The site is well known as a deep dive training location. Please note that this is a working pier, and is also enjoyed by rod and line fishermen - beware of entanglement in old lines.

"Don't strap on your fins unless you are prepared to go deep, be blasted along that wall and spat back up to the surface! Wall dives don't come much bigger than Lochaline, which falls away from just under the surface at 9m and just keeps going down. I've heard various depths put forward for the end of the wall but 80m appears to be correct.
This site comes with a reputation for vicious tidal streams and downcurrents, and slack tide is recommended for diving it. With this in mind, I was surprised by the lack of marine life.
A few dead men's fingers and a patch or two of plumose anemones gave the merest hint of any tidal movement, and otherwise all I saw were Devonshire cup corals and a solitary lesser spotted dogfish. Points were lost for this, and for the wall being flat and featureless.
The grey wall fell away unclothed into the depths. We did not experience any severe downcurrents but I did notice a difficulty in keeping to a precise depth, having to settle for plus or minus a metre. But it's 18 points for Lochaline, a step up from previous dives and one that can be done as a shore dive. It gives a true sense of depth in stunning 15m viz."

Calve Island 100m+

"A few miles over the Sound of Mull from Lochaline is Calve Island, and at its North-east point is a fantastic wall, once again in 15m visibility, that earned 20 points in my survey.
I descended a vertical wall but, unlike Lochaline's, this one is tortured and scarred, providing varied accommodation for its residents. The wall teems with life - schools of fish, families of wrasse and another big dogfish. Smaller stuff was around in force as well, with nudibranchs and painted topshells common sights.
The wall fell away to 44m, where I stopped on a 4m-wide ledge. Peering over this into the depths, I was unable to see the sea floor. Tidal movement was very slight until the northern tip of the isle was neared, and the wall was covered in patches of plumose anemones.
Calve Island has the lot - depth, marine life, viz and an interesting wall structure. Only the excitement of a stiff tidal run was missing."

Buitenzorg 103m N56 30.150 W005 44.280

Huge steel steamship, carried a cargo of latex bales. Attempts at salvage proved in vain, depth and numerous fishing nets make this dive very hazardous.

Beyond the Blue Article about the Buitenzorg.