Another wonderful weekend's diving with Skipper Andy Tibbets on the MV Mary
Doune.
Friday 28 September.
The weather is calm and mild as we leave Mallaig for the short trip across to Doune after a glorious sunset. We are ferried ashore in the RHIB because the pier is under water - this is one of the biggest tides of the year. We settle into the lodge and prepare for our cameras for the days ahead.
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Saturday 29 September.
9am sharp we set off on a lovely calm morning and blue sky overhead. Out past Rhum with a wee diversion just to the west to view a pod of Risso's dolphin feeding and playing at the surface. There were approx 8 animals of which 2 were small juveniles. No photos although we have a small video for you here (it is a big file, 4mb, so best only if you have broadband - sorry).
On to Hyskeir for the first dive on Mill Rocks. These superb pinnacles lie to the south east of the main reef and drop to 29 m. Covered in cup corals, jewel anemones and kelp down to 26 m with the cobble covered bottom providing the platform for dozens of Acanthodoris pilosa nudibranchs mating and spawning. |
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Acanthodoris pilosa Jewel anemones |
| After lunch seal watching from the boat on Hyskeir we moved round to the cave. This dive starts with a lovely shallow cave leading onto a basalt column wall that ends with a coliseum like space with invert covered overhangs and fallen columns on the sand. |
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The gully out of the cave on Hyskeir Wrasse |
Skye from the south. |
After a pleasant evening cruise back to Doune we enjoyed a delicious meal in the award winning Doune Dining Room.
Sunday 30 September.
The day started gray and damp but fortunately the wind stayed calm so after packing up and departing the lodge we headed back out to Rhum to investigate the southern end for sites. Nothing doing so it was over to Muck.
The first dive was on Godag Reef which lies to the north between Muck and Eigg. A wonderful rolling rock reef down to wherever with loads of invert and fish life. Much darker at depth than Saturday but still a splendid dive - one of our favourites.
Lunch was enjoyed while moored up at the pier on Muck while Andy pumped up the cylinders.
The second dive found us round the corner from the harbour to the west on the 18 m wall of Bogha Ruadh, covered in anemones and it just goes on and on. |
 
Plumose anemone on the wall.
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Jewel anemone on the wall |
Photographs by Jim Anderson.
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To book the Mary Doune or obtain more information
connect to the link below.
MV
Mary Doune |
