MV Mary Doune
1/2 October, 2005

Saturday 1 October.

After bad weather forced us to stay overnight in Mallaig we made for Loch Nevis to seek out some excellent diving away from the rough seas out in the Kyle of Lochalsh.

Dive 1 - Port Longaig, Loch Nevis.
A typical Loch Nevis 'edge' dive with a steep slope with huge boulders and vertical rock faces covered in life. Lots of fish around and 2 different Crawfish sightings.

Dive 2 - Bogha an Tachard, Loch Nevis.
After lunch and Andy pumping up our bottles we headed for an interesting dive further up the loch.

Sunday 2 October

We overnighted at Doune in the comfortable lodge and enjoyed a splendid meal in the restaurant. Dressed crab and langoustine starter was followed by delicious roast venison; next came wild bramble pavlova and finally coffee. All of that with a couple of glasses of wine and a wee port left us all in perfect condition for a good night's sleep - after all diving does make you very tired.

Dive 1 - Smyth Rock, Loch Nevis.
This well known rocky reef rises out of the depths in the centre of the loch just inside the entrance and is covered in encrusting life.

Dive 2 - Eilean Alisdair, Loch Nevis.
Again after lunch we headed up the loch, this time to the most interesting site of the trip. The site is the continuation of a rocky ridge from the shore out and down into the depths. Muddy flats between the sections of reef provided contrasting habitats to the vertical reefs stepping down from the surface. Gordon and jenny also came across the remains of a fishing boat at 16 metres. A site we will have to try again - lots of life.

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