Info on Garvellachs (Oban) wanted

[Woz]

Well the Easter trip this year looks like f'in Scotland again, despite several attempts to get somewhere sunny.

We have a couple of options:
1. Do what we did last year and go to Lochaline and dive the Sound of Mull. Wrecks and stuff.
2. Go and dive out of Oban and do the Garvellachs (bunch of islands SW of Oban). Lots of scenic wall stuff and pinnacles.

So- I've done the Sound and it's rather good, furtling around in the Hispania and doing nice scenic stuff. But never done the Garvellachs. What's it like? All scenic stuff? Or what?

[Paul Beal]

The Garvellachs is probably the best scenic diving I have done in the UK. It is very tidal and oh my god does the life reflect that. Think Eddystone lighthouse, multiply it by the Runnel stone and you are getting close. The slight issues with these high energy sites are the up and down currents which can be interesting to say the least.

There are also some really nice sites for less experienced divers aswell away from nasty vertical currents. Not too much in the way of wreckage but SoM is about 2 hours away if you fancied an expedition.

The best skipper (IMO) in the area is Dave Ainsley who runs off Seil Island. Dave is an FCD and AI I think and does a lot of filming for the BBC. He also runs vehment campaigns agains the environmental damage caused by the fish farms in the area and as a result has been shot at! His briefs can be a little on the "this is a dangerous dive" side but rightly so in some cases - many sites are not for beginners!

Give it a try, you will be impressed!

Paul

[Tony Dwyer]

Further to Paul's post.

I and several other members of Basildon Branch 0356 spent a week with David Ainsley last July.

David's boat is first class. Lot's of deck space and he keeps it immaculate. He is a great skipper and really knows his stuff. The diving was wonderfull, particularly as we were blessed with flat calm seas.

I enjoyed The Garvellachs, we had clear water with lots of light. The abundant life made for great dives. We also went up the Sound, diving the Hispania and the Rondo. Fabulous dives. We had no problems with down currents or tides.

We were fortunate to see a couple of bird feeding frenzies as well as the occasional porpoise,

I WILL be going back!

[Woz]

As we are going at Easter and last year we had a snowball fight on deck, how much shelter is there on his boat? I don't want to freeze to death even if the diving is spectaclyarrrrr.

[Tony Dwyer]

No shelter at all on the deck!! Good solid seating though and bottle stowage at the sides.

There is a small cabin, but it will get crowded. David is not too keen on too much wet in the cabin.

There is a small cabin in the bow (also access to the head) but I wouldn't recommend sitting down there during a bumpy passage.

The boarding ladder is on the starboard side, very robust.

The boat is rather quick when David gives it full wellie, which he doesn't do too often as it guzzles diesel!

[Paul Watts]

Woz,

I've booked a liveaboard out of Oban for a long weekend at the end of Feb, similar to last year. I've done a number of trips through the sound of mull and out to Coll as well as further North, Skye, Outer Hebredies and St Kilda, but not the Garvellachs, although I've sailed extensively around these islands.

I was thinking of trying some different sites out of Oban this time, maybe we could do a rekkie for you!

If you've got some specific sites or ideas, let me know.

[Woz]

Woz,

I've booked a liveaboard out of Oban for a long weekend at the end of Feb, similar to last year. I've done a number of trips through the sound of mull and out to Coll as well as further North, Skye, Outer Hebredies and St Kilda, but not the Garvellachs, although I've sailed extensively around these islands.

I was thinking of trying some different sites out of Oban this time, maybe we could do a rekkie for you!

If you've got some specific sites or ideas, let me know.Good man. Let us know the score and I'll give you a big kiss. Or a manly handshake. Your choice.

[Paul Watts]

I'll think on that one....

Anyway...You see what a good time Feb is to be diving around Mull!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/pw1664/soundofmullfeb05.jpg

[Paul Watts]

and some video clips


http://www.cadsac.co.uk/Mullthemoov0205.htm

http://www.cadsac.co.uk/Mullthemoov0205%20II.htm

[richard scarsbrook]

You don’t say if you’re using RIBs or hiring a hardboat. If the latter, I agree with the other posters about David Ainsley – exceptional local knowledge, and a very nice boat with Porpoise 2. It’s getting late to book a hardboat for the Easter weekend though :(

If you’re using RIBs I’d think about launching at Craobh Haven rather than Oban. That way you’ve access to plenty of sheltered sites in the event of bad weather that are off the standard Oban/Sound of Mull agenda, if that’s your aim. From Oban you’ve a 15 mile run that crosses some exposed water so in rough weather you’d be stuck.

As to dive sites, it’s nearly all scenic. The wrecks are the Helena Faulbaums off Belnahua, over 50m to the top, and 2 shallow bits and pieces: the Benghazi on the W side of Fladda, about 10m, out of the tide, and with a reasonable amount of the stern left; and the Apollo on Bono Rock, not much left except a lot of cobblestones. Over on Mull there’s the Meldon in Loch Buie; and various unexciting smashed up remains of things whose names escape me near Frank Lockwood’s Island.

The scenic sites are very localised – long stretches of fairly boring slope then a brilliant wall that’s only 50m or so long. You need to study the chart and use your echo sounder (or the skipper if you're chartering). The geology in the area is such that generally the steep walls are on the west side of the islands, reefs and pinnacles, with rounded slopes on the east sides. There’s a pleasant scenic drift between Dun Chonnuill and Garbh Eileach; a nice wall on the west of Garbh Eileach about halfway down; others on the west side of the various reefs, pinnacles and islets off the east side of A’Chuli and Eilean an Naoimh; and another nice wall at the south end of Sgeir Leth a’Chuain. There are also nice walls off Dubh Fieth and the southwest end of Insh Island.

In bad weather you can find walls and reefs in the Seil Sound, Loch Melfort (eg Campbell Rock), and between Eilean Creagach and Ardaine Point just north of Craobh. There’s also plenty to go at down the Sound of Jura.

The tides are fairly weak around the Garvellachs, except in the channels between the islands where they reach 1 or 2 knots. However the tides amongst the islands inshore are another matter entirely, especially at Easter which due to the ridiculous way the date of the festival is calculated (why can’t it be at the same time every year:mad: ) always has some of the biggest springs of the year. There is some exciting and challenging drift diving to be had at the top of the Sound of Luing, in Cuan Sound, the Grey Dogs, and Torsa Sound. The first 3 of these sites can all be turbulent. There are many excellent slack water only dives to be had on the reefs at the top of the Sound of Luing and between Rubha Fiola and Ormsa. Loads of encrusting life. You won’t get much slack at Easter though, so you need capable divers for these sites.

All in all there’s some great diving to be had around this area. If you’re in your own boats it’s particularly good if you enjoy exploring. Over the years our branch has run quite a few trips round here where we’ve wild camped on the islands.

Also see my trip report (http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk/reports/corryveckan.htm).

[Paul Watts]

Very informative, top report...

Thanks for sharing

[Alan Ewart]

top info and trip report richard, thnaks. Green incoming

[Tony Dwyer]

There are some photos on our branch website.

http://www.basildonsubaqua.com/obanframe.htm

Not too many underwater, which is a pity.