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West Lothian Sub Aqua Club
Scotland
What we have been doing this year

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January February March April May June
July August

August
31 August Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.
29 August

Lightbulb sea squirtsDiving from MV Coll between Kenmore Point and Stallion Rock, Loch Fyne.

Lighbulb sea squirts, Clavelina lepadiformis.
Image by Jim Anderson.
24 August Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.
22 August Diving, Sport and master Diver training and Instructor Rescue Refreshers at South Gortein, Loch Fyne.
17 August Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.
15 August

Plumose anemoneDiving, Sport and master Diver training and Instructor Rescue Refreshers at South Gortein, Loch Fyne.

Beautiful glowing Plumose anemone.
Image by Craig Muirhead.
10 August Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.
7/8 August Another great 2 days with Peter Gibson on the MV Selkie.
Saturday we dived Tye's Tunnel and Skelly's Hole. Sunday we were in at the Black Carr and West Hurcker.
Marvellous diving again with the best boat out of St. Abbs.
3 August Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.
1 August Diving at Kenmore Point (by MV Coll), Loch Fyne.

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July
27 July Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.
25 July

janolus cristatusDiving and training at Craig-n-Gelt, Dunbar.
Janolus cristatus nudibranch was one of several nudi species seen at this excellent site.

Image by Jim Anderson.
20 July Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.
13 July Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.
11 July

Lophius piscatoriusNever mind the strong westerlies - we had a great afternoon diving off the brand new MV Jacob George with skipper Iain Easingwood of Marinequest out of Eyemouth. We dived the SS President to the south of Eyemouth and Legger Buss to the north.

Angler fish, Lophius piscatorius, found by NDO Nigel Spike (we do get some celebrity buddies eh!) on the reef near the SS President.

Image by Jim Anderson.
06 July Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.
04 July

Diving and training at sunny Lephinchapel, Loch Fyne.

Long-spined scorpion fish, Taurulus bubalis, identified by the prominent little barbell at the corners of the mouth.
Image by Jim Anderson.

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June
29 June Committee meeting followed by Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.
27 June

lobsterDiving at the Yetts and Johnstones Hole, Dunbar then back to watch Germany through to the next round of the World Cup.

One of many lobster, Homarus gammarus, found around the rocks and gullies.
Image by Jim Anderson.

 
22 June Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.
19/20 June Scampi - Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus 1758)A couple of days diving Loch Fyne off the MV Little Blue - breakfast in Portavadie marina - yum, yum - excellent diving and great company.

A one armed prawn - Scampi, Nephrops norvegicus , at 20 metres round the inside of Buck Rock.
Image by Jim Anderson.
15 June Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.
08 June Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.
05/6 June

Lumpsucker2 days of great diving around St. Abbs' Head off the MV Selkie. We dived the Black Carr twice, Skelly's Hole and Skelly's Pinnacle on the great spectacle hunt (and find). Lovely weather.

Male Lumpsucker, Cyclopterus lumpus, an unusual sight on the east coast.
Image by Boyd Forrest.

01 June Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.

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May
30 May

DogfishDiving and training Master Divers and Instructors at South Gortein, Loch Fyne. A lovely day but lots of plankton in the loch.

Dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula, one of several seen during the dive on the level area at 14 m between the reefs.
Image by Jim Anderson.

 
25 May Committee meeting followed by Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.
23 May Diving (if you didn't have holes in your neck seal) and Master Diver Training with friends from Stirling University Branch at Manse Reef, Loch Leven.
22 May

Hymedesmia paupertasA few of us diving from Pennymore Point to Stallion Rock in Loch Fyne from the MV Coll, thanks to Stevie McLaughlin.

A beautiful sunny calm day.

Hymedesmia paupertas sponge approx. 50 mm across by Jim Anderson.
18 May Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.
16 May

Firth of LorneA great day boat diving in the Firth of Lorne on the MV Porpoise 2.

The beautiful life encrusted rocky reefs were seen at their best during our first dive. Click here for a team photo from the day.

Image by Jim Anderson.
11 May Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool.
09 May

Diving and training at Lephinchapel, Loch Fyne.

The water is beginning to warm up, at last, and below the plankton layer we found this bright Red Gurnard, Aspitrigla cuculus, on the bottom to the north of the reef.

Image by Jim Anderson.
04 May

We started Pool Training at the New Bathgate Pool. Magnificent resources and facilities that will serve us well.

Congratulations to Dean Clayden and Johan Meintjes who successfully completed there Sport Diver training tonight.

 
02 May

Diving and training at South Gortein, Loch Fyne. We socialised with some friends from Clydebank Branch who were also diving there.

Urticina eques anemone with the legs of a velvet swimming crab it has caught and is consuming.
Image by Jim Anderson.

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April
27 April Committee meeting.
25 April

Diving at Dunollie Point, Oban.

Lots of spawn from the Sea Lemon nudibranch Doris pseudoargus.
Image by Jim Anderson.

 

 
20 April No pool training.
18 April

Diving at South Gortein, Loch Fyne.

 
13 April No pool training.
9-11 April

Corynactis viridisAnother great weekend at Doune with superb diving on the MV Mary Doune.
Click on the image, right, to read about our weekend.

Tritonia hombergii nudibranch among Corynactis viridis, Jewel anemones.
Image by Jim Anderson.

 
6 April

Pool training. The end of an era. Our last night at Mid Street Bathgate at the swimming pool we have used since the formal founding of the Branch in 1962.

Now on to the new pool where we recommence training on 4 May.

 
4 April

Leucoraja naevusDiving at South Gortein, Loch Fyne.

Cuckoo Ray, Leucoraja naeuvus.
Image by Jim Anderson.

March
30 March Committee meeting followed by pool training.
28 March

Sabella pavoninaDiving and training at Lochside Cottages and Manse Reef, Loch Leven.

Peacock Worm, Sabella pavonina, by Jim Anderson.
23 March Pool training.
21 March Diving.
16 March Pool training.
14 March

Diving.
9 March Pool training.
7 March Diving.
2 March Pool training.

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February

28 February  
23 February 48th AGM - for details and lots of images go here.
21 February

Feather starDiving and training at 12.9 Mile Mark, Loch Fyne.

Congratulations to Martin Mulhall on completing his Master Diver training today after only 14 years.

Feather stars, Antedon bifida, by Jim Anderson
16 February Pool Training.
14 February

Scorpion fish and crabDiving and Master Diver training at South Gortein, Loch Fyne.

Scorpion fish with a small crab by Jim Anderson.
9 February Pool Training.
7 February

Pagurus bernhardusDiving and training at Dunollie, Oban.

Hermit crab, Pagurus bernhardus, by Jim Anderson.
2 February Pool Training.

January 2010
31 January

Tube wormsDiving and training at Manse Reef, Loch Leven.

Tube worms by Jim Anderson.
26 January Committee meeting at 7.15 at the Community Centre followed by pool training.
24 January

ShrimpDiving and training and extended snorkel swimming at12.9 Mile mark, Loch Fyne.

Tiny shrimp on a Peacock Worm tube by Jim Anderson.
19 January Pool Training.
17 January

Yarrells blennyDiving and Master Diver training at South Gortein, Loch Fyne.

Yarrell's Blenny, Chirolophis ascanii, by Jim Anderson
12 January Committee meeting at 7.15 at the Community Centre followed by pool training.

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