Puffin Divers Oban

[Daron]

Anybody used them?

[Phil Mauer]

Yes very good!!

[Francis James]

Used them several times for dive weekends and never had any problems.

[garethwoodruff]

Really good facilities.

Self service air panel.

Excellent shop selling at recommended retial prices.

Home made soup on the RIB is normally very good.

RIBs have the cabin at the rear and they are for the skipper only, so I would recommend taking hat and gloves as you can get very cold, quickly in the wind.

They tend to give you 1 hour surface intervals in between dives, so its your choice if you go in for a second dive or just keep it to 1 dive on a 2 dive package.

Check the cylinder pressure on the cylinders on the RIB if they provide them, they have been as low as 180 bar in the past, they are however happy to top them up.

Cheers,

Gareth.

[northern_diver]

couple of times, overall really good.

if boss is in sometimes you get shop deals, good boat and several rhibs. good dive brief if needed.

staff can be a 'cold and aloof' bit on the main are actually canny.

air fills are an issue, but check your gear.

good wrecks and they know the ins and outs of them, like wise for scenic dives.

camping nearby, though hostals and hotels are close enough

provide kitkats and hot chocolate in the interval too...unless on urchin(the boat) where you get more.

canny place.

john

[Daron]

Ok then, thanks for all your replies

[Corker1209]

have dived oban and the water around for about 7 years now - a great place to dive. Puffin to be fair they have well maintained kit and boats and know the area well. I did not think the staff were very friendly to the point of patronising some customers particuly the manager who seemed to find issues with everyone. good luck.

[Ding]

I would try here....:D

http://www.lochalinedivecentre.co.uk/index.html

[Edward]

I would try here....:D

http://www.lochalinedivecentre.co.uk/index.html

Second this, facilities may not be as good, but much better service.

Edward

[garethwoodruff]

Second this, facilities may not be as good, but much better service.

Edward

Puffin Divers is very much offering a 'resort' style dive operation, out, 2 dives and back in a few hours. They will take out as few as 3 people.

Lochaline mostly offers booking a full hardboat for 12 people for the day, they don't normally book 2's or 3's

The 2 organisations do both well (I have used both this year) in their own way.

I'm not sure Puffins facilities are any better than Lochaline though.

Finally , Lochaline is further to travel from the south and includes a ferry which can involve some delay and additional cost.

[Yazzyfooty]

Having just had my annual autumn 4 day trip diving the Sound of Mull and using Lochaline Dive Centre I wouldnt use any other dive outfit. Best value for money diving in the UK in my opinion.
Here is my trip report:

We didnt make it in time to do Friday's dive, however it was nice just to get settled into our accommodation at the dive centre as the Post Office was full. The first night's meal was taken at the Lochaline Hotel and yes the service was all that I expected and heard about it! The remaining meals were taken at the dive centre and I agree with Dave that Lee is an excellent cook. Drinking was done in the Social Club and the Lochaline Hotel over the weekend.
Our boat for the weekend was the Peregrine with its on board compessor (air only) £3.50 a fill and our skipper was Alan. The cost of accomodation and a total of 8 dives was £150. Breakfast is an extra £5 or you can do your own and the 2 course evening meal was £14.95. An excellent lunch used to be provided on the boat but sadly though due to ill health the lady that used to make our packed lunches and cooked the soup is no longer able to provide this service.

Saturday
Dive 1 The Hispania
Visibility was probably about 3 metres and quite dark due to it being overcast and no sun on the surface. I was disapointed as last year it was bright and I could see all the marine life growing on the wreck in its full glory. Some very large Pollocks were hanging about the wreck.

Dive 2 Calve Island Wall
This was a wall dive that I assume is named after when icebergs 'calve' and slices of ice falls away, as you could see how this had happened to this wall. Rather disapointing dive with very little life on it despite starting at 25 metres and then settling at 20 metres.

Dive 3 Grey Rocks
I missed this dive but enjoyed the peace and quiet of sitting on deck watching the seals and the birds. Very soon that peaceful time came to an end and divers dsmb's were soon seen in the water. Mark and Simon came up less then 10 metres from a seal and still didnt see it.

Sunday
Dive 1 The Breda
A long trip out on the boat as this wreck is almost at Oban. This would be my first time diving it and contrary to Dave's view I thought it was a fantastic wreck. Although it was very silty and at times it was obvious that other divers had been passed as vis dropped dramatically the sheer size and condition of the wreck made it a good wreck IMHO. Looking forward to diving that one next year.

Dive 2 The Falls of Lora
This was a drift dive that lasted about 25 minutes at a speed which was exhilarating and not to scarey. The visibility on this dove was the best out of all the dives I done this weekend. The sea bottom was covered in a wide variety of crabs, velvet, edible, hermit and decorators crabs were everywhere. We saw the propellor and shaft and also caught sight of an anchor, obviously a large vessel had come to grief when negotiating this narrow part of the loch many years ago.
Best sight of the whole weekend was disturbing a very large (at least 1.5 metres) type dog fish. The way it calmly swam away with its obviously shark like body movement scared the crap out of me. All I thought as I screamed into my reg OMG a f**cking big shark.

Dive 3 Ardtonish Point
I didnt dive this one but I recall form last year it is a wall dive.

Monday
Dive 1 The Thesis
This is a wreck that I have enjoyed diving previously and was probably the very first wreck which I penetrated. For those that dont know, this wreck has many areas where the hull plating has fallen away and the ribs stand strong and provide great areas to pop in and out of. For some reason on this dive though within a short period of penetrating it I got the heeby jeebies and just needed to get out of it and signalled to Mark I was exiting the wreck. As soon as I was out of the wreck I felt calm again, I can only put this feeling I experienced down to it being poor vis and a slightly higher level of anxiety which I get whenever I do penetrate wrecks.

Dive 2 The Hispania
The Hispania was dived again and the visibility was much improved and once again Alan the skipper dropped the divers in dead on slack waters, he is such a good skipper and knows his waters.

It was then back to the dive centre and unloading of the boat. This became a bit of a mad rush as the main ferry was coming in and we knew it would be full of the cars from the annual rally that was being held over in Mull. Last year we got caught and ended up waiting 2 hours to catch the little ferry at Corran we didnt get caught this year only an hour wait.


Very soon we drove through and past what to me is the most beautiful part of the country and that is the Highlands and Glen Coe, it always makes me feel wistful but I know I will be returning again next year.

It was good to catch up with everyone and see you next spring.

[Mike Halligan]

Dive 2 Calve Island Wall
This was a wall dive that I assume is named after when icebergs 'calve' and slices of ice falls away, as you could see how this had happened to this wall. Rather disapointing dive with very little life on it despite starting at 25 metres and then settling at 20 metres.



What a shame! :(

Our Club Chairman and I did this one three times in a week round about a month ago. It was just as awesome as ever from 40m to 10m, totally, utterly teeming with life. Not as good though as more open sites to the west - which for me landed top 2 places of the 100 I racked up in 12 months - but certainly top 15.

Pretty good even so, when the 100 included Red Sea liveaboard and Gozo. :cool:

[Yazzyfooty]

Mike I did wonder if my perspective had altered slightly as this was my first sea dive trip since returning from a weeks liveaboard in the Red Sea a couple weeks before. I think it may have spoilt me :(

[Edward]

Mike I did wonder if my perspective had altered slightly as this was my first sea dive trip since returning from a weeks liveaboard in the Red Sea a couple weeks before. I think it may have spoilt me :(

It can depend on where along the wall you were diving, I've experience both extremes. As an aside the Caribbean is so much better than the (to me) boring Red Sea.

Regards

Edward

[Mike Halligan]

Well, yes, Clave Island wall at the right spot does tend to undermine the blandishments of the Red Sea.

[Angela Robson]

I had my first trip to Oban last year with RoHo Dive Club, during the May Bank Holiday. We dived and stayed with Puffin.

The facilities are good, they have cottages that sleep 6 in each, fully kitted out shop and very well laid out, self service air fill station, hard boats and RIBS.

We were on the hard boat, and I found it awkward, especially the lack of kitting up area and the ladder!

The crew were very good and friendly, but unfortunately, it was a different story back in the shop.

On our last day, the manager managed to fall out with not one, but two members of the club, and told us where to stick it.

I have since heard a few stories regarding the staff and manager, and have been advised that no club in Scotland use Puffin for diving anymore (although they use the facilities), all clubs that use Puffin are visiting clubs. This is only what I've been told so don't take my word for it.

I suppose it's something that you need to try for yourself. How they were with us may be a different story for someone else.

I have heard that the Lochaline centre is fairly good too. I haven't been to Lochaline dive centre yet, I have my first trip booked for this May Bank Holiday.

Good luck with your quest. I hope you have fun in Oban, it's a lovely part of the country and has some great dive sites

[Corker1209]

I had my first trip to Oban last year with RoHo Dive Club, during the May Bank Holiday. We dived and stayed with Puffin.

On our last day, the manager managed to fall out with not one, but two members of the club, and told us where to stick it.

I have since heard a few stories regarding the staff and manager, and have been advised that no club in Scotland use Puffin for diving anymore (although they use the facilities), all clubs that use Puffin are visiting clubs. This is only what I've been told so don't take my word for it.

I suppose it's something that you need to try for yourself. How they were with us may be a different story for someone else.

I have heard that the Lochaline centre is fairly good too. I haven't been to Lochaline dive centre yet, I have my first trip booked for this May Bank Holiday.


I will be looking to use Lochaline on my next foray to the Sound, if anything as an alternative to Puffin, whose so called professional approach is spoilt by the attitude of the manager - this is a shame as surely it sours would could be a great set-up.

Incidentally, do Lochaline do a suit repair service or suit hire does anyone know? thx, Steve.

[Angela Robson]

I will be looking to use Lochaline on my next foray to the Sound, if anything as an alternative to Puffin, whose so called professional approach is spoilt by the attitude of the manager - this is a shame as surely it sours would could be a great set-up.

Incidentally, do Lochaline do a suit repair service or suit hire does anyone know? thx, Steve.

I'm not sure about suit repair or hire, here is the link to their website:

http://www.lochalinedivecentre.co.uk/index.html

Their hard boat has a divers lift, which is always a bonus!

I was told by the chairperson of a BSAC branch (not mentioning any names) that the manager of Puffin actually said this to him "I'm here to run a business, not to provide you with a service!"

[Woz]

I love Lochaline Dive Centre. Have been going there for a few years, now. Mark and Annabel run a great operation and their new boat looks proper nice.

If use use a large, wooden handled Ikea kitchen knife, it's one I left there in 2002... :)

[Daron]

Well I did use them, but I never will again I am sorry to say.

Tried to book on the rib for 3 divers told minimum of 4 for the rib to go out and but if I wanted to pay for the 4th spot they would do it so I did.

Arrived after breakfast at the B&B to be told we are very late it was 8:15 and the boat left at 8:30 , I wondered how I could be late if we were the only divers and had even paid for a 4th spot, but anyway they made us rush only to find two other divers in the rib, this turned out to be a member of the staff plus someone doing their DM ,have to say I was a little miffed that they still made me pay for the 4th spot, but anyway..

They told me I was doing the Breda and a scenic, I said that we had done a week in Scapa so we would like to do a couple of scenic dives, the skipper said no you have to do the Breda. (Not happy again) then told that max dive time was 45 mins and if we were longer he would call the coast guard!!!
Then I looked at the fills that they had given us, all of us were on 180 bar I guess to make sure we were no longer than 45 minutes.

I also found the staff to be rather cold and aloof and a little condescending

[Mike Halligan]

Well I did use them, but I never will again I am sorry to say.



Oh dear, not a good report. Thanks for posting it, all the same.

Mike

[northern_diver]

Been with the services of both, will be using Lochlaine if possible as the service is mixed to poor at puffin, bar the younger guy (Baz?) he's always been good when i've been there and the other staff normally ok, but certainly not great.

Fills at puffin a s**t, no defence possible, down and out dire. The BREDA is closer and available as often as not compared to the SHUNA/THESIS...HISPANIA. But its nice to get a change in. The cox's really should agree the plan before heading out, as lets face, p**s the customers off and your'll end up with a p***ed bank manager;)

John

[R.Burgess]

I guess we'd all agree, Puffin has everything and I've never seen a better equipped diving facility. Lots of shops get stick from us, but its the only shop I've heard of to have ex customers display "I hate Puffin" stickers, but as they all say in the trade, "I've never met a diver, I liked!":D
Personally I rarely use the place and have never dived with them, I've never had any problems there, although I seem to know quite a few who have. Their shop is well stocked but I get better prices at C+C. Regarding poor fills from self service air stations you sometimes have to wait for the bank to fill up and or the compressor to kick in, depending on the set up.

[Mark Papp]

I guess we'd all agree, Puffin has everything, including staff with attitude, but as they say in the trade, I've never met a diver I liked:DYou appear to be Puffin's owner...

[Kieran]

You can get fills at Oban divers in the caravan site near Puffin, the guy is really pleasant and carries a wide range of spares and kit. I've never had a good experience with Puffin and ahve heard some terrible stories.
Haven't dived with Lochaline but other divers in our club had a fantastic time and their accomodation is great.