WLSAC Home

West Lothian Sub Aqua Club
Scotland
What we have been doing this last 6 months

 		WLSAC Home
December January February March April May

May
28 May Branch AGM at the Fairway Hotel, Bathgate.
26 May

Psolus phantapusDiving and training at Seven Step Reef, Loch Creran.

This site is remarkable for the huge numbers of burrowing sea cucumbers Psolus phantapus - image by Jim Anderson.
21 May Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
19 May

Tonicella marmoreaDiving at Dunollie, Oban.

Chiton, Tonicella marmorea, by Jim Anderson.
14 May Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
12 May

Protanthea simplexDiving and training at Lochside Cottages, Loch Leven.
Great visibility under the water and rain above.

Sea loch anemone, Protanthea simplex, by Jim Anderson.
7 May Pool training and Committee meeting at Bathgate Pool.
6 May

Aurilia auritaDiving at Lephinchapel, Loch Fyne.

The common moon jellyfish, Aurelia aurita, by Jim Anderson.

April
30 April Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
27/28 April

Decorator crabA wee group of us went out on the Fyne Pioneer for a great weekend of diving in Loch Fyne.

On Saturday we dived Bark Reef and Horse's Bite after a lovely lunch in Portavadie.
On Sunday we were on the cliffs at Stallion Rock and saving the best dive to last we managed Glas Eilean right on high water - superb. Lunch on Sunday was enjoyed in The Oystercatcher Inn at Otter Ferry.

Unidentified decorator spider crab, by Jim Anderson.
23 April Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
21 April

Sabella pavoninaDiving and Instructor assessment at South Gortein, Loch Fyne.

Congratulations to Steve McLaughlin in successfully completing his assessments and becoming the Branch's latest Branch Instructor.

Peacock worm, Sabella pavonina, by Jim Anderson.
16 April Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
14 April

Pleurobranchus membranaceusDiving and training at the Piggery, Loch Fyne.

Highland dancers, Pleurobranchus membranaceus, mating and spawning - by Jim Anderson.
9 April Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
5-7 April

Caryophyllia smithiiA wonderful weekend of diving on the Mary Doune.

Link from the picture on the right to the details of the trip.

, by Jim Anderson.
2 April Pool training and Committee meeting at Bathgate Pool.

March
31 March

Thornback Ray - Raja clavataDiving at Dunollie, Oban. A lovely calm day - the beginning of spring - at last.

A Thornback ray, Raja clavata, by Jim Anderson.
26 March Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
24 March A couple of hardy souls were diving at St. Catherine's, Loch Fyne
19 March Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
17 March

Eckstrom's Topknot - Zeugopterus regiusDiving and training at 13 Mile Mark, Loch Fyne.

A portrait of an Eckstrom's Topknot, Zeugopterus regius, by Jim Anderson.
12 March Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
10 March

Ciona intestinalis Diving and training at Kentallen, Loch Linnhe.

White sea squirts, Ciona intestinalis, by Jim Anderson.
5 March Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
2/3 March

Aphrodita aculeataSome of us were diving Loch Fyne from the Fyne Pioneer. Excellent diving, good company and lovely weather made for an excellent weekend.

A Sea Mouse, the polychaete worm Aphrodita aculeata, by Jim Anderson.

February
26 February Pool training and Committee meeting at Bathgate Pool.
24 February

Callionymus lyraDiving and training on another beautiful calm and sunny day at Rocky Point, Loch Fyne.

Portrat of a male dragonet, Callionymus lyra, by Jim Anderson.
19 February Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
17 February

Hermit crab in spongeDiving and training at Lephinchapel, Loch Fyne.

Image of Hermit crab in a sponge by Jim Anderson.
12 February Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
10 February

Diving and training at Lochside Cottages, Loch Leven.
5 February Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
3 February

Hermit crabDiving and training at the Garden Centre, Loch Fyne.

Image of hermit crab, Pagurus bernhardus, by Boyd Forrest.
2/3 February

Bolocera tueidaeA small group of us spent a great couple of days diving Loch Fyne with the Fyne Pioneer.

Image of Bolocera tuediae anemone by Jim Anderson.

January
29 January

Pool training and Committee meeting at Bathgate Pool. 

After many years service to the Committee, David Davies stood down as Secretary, Andrew Macrae as Equipment Officer and Andy Smith as a Committee Member. The Branch recorded their grateful thanks to them for their dedicated service over many years and particularly to Andrew for all his valuable work in carrying out the recent compressor repair.
Fortunately volunteers stepped up and Robert Ross has taken over as Secretary and David McClure has been co-opted onto the committee to act as Equipment Officer.
27 January

CrabsDiving at 12.9 Mile mark Loch Fyne.

Image of Swimming crabs, Liocarcinus depurator, by Jim Anderson.
22 January Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
15 January Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
13 January AnemoneDiving at Finnart, Loch Long.

Image of anemone, Urticina eques, by Craig Muirhead.
08 January Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
06 January

Sepiola atlanticaDiving and Master Diver training at South Gortein, Loch Fyne.

Other club members were on a boat dive with Big Blue in Loch Fyne.

Image of Sepiola atlantica by Jim Anderson.

December
23 Dec Xmas Dive at Manse Reef, Loch Leven.Xmas Dive
18 Dec Pool training and Committee meeting at Bathgate Pool.
16 Dec Heart Start and Diver First Aid Course at ScotSAC HQ, Edinburgh.
11 Dec Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
9 Dec

Doris pseudoargusDiving and training at South Gortein, Loch Fyne in company with Bo'ness Branch.

Congratulations to Rachel Muirhead on the successful completion of her Sport Diver training.

An unusual agregation of very large Doris pseudoargus nudibranchs found feeding on their food sponge on the cable at the bigger reef.

Image by Jim Anderson.
4 Dec Pool training at Bathgate Pool.
2 Dec

Protanthea simplexDiving and training at Furnace (Dogfish Reef), Loch Fyne.

As well as dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula, this site also has many Protanthea simplex anemones below 12 metres.

Image by Jim Anderson.

back to top

If you have any corrections, comments or suggestions e-mail us.