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Alternative Names: Loch Nan Uamh
Type of Dive: Shore
Suggested experience: Easy peasy lemon sqeazy J
Distance from Fort William: 30 miles 42 mins Take the A830 out towards Mallaig. Go past Loch Ailort and under the row of arches near the head of the loch. Continue on down the round that twists and turns a bit and on the left as you go round the bend is a large layby. Google
If you get to the road sign on the right pointing across the road to the cairn you have gone too far. The cairn is so called because it was here where Bonnie Prince Charlie left Scotland and sailed for France on the 20th of September 1746 after 5 months on the run.
Parking directions: Park considerately, as this slip is used daily by fishermen. They have also requested that divers do not take any scallops as they are bringing smaller ones back from elsewhere and putting them in the bay.
Lat & Long: N56.894971 W-5.738136
Tides: Tide tables
Depth: 20m ish
Site entry/exit: There are several places you can park and enter the water along this short stretch of road but in this particular place not only can you park very close to the water, but the slip is weed free.
Underwater directions: The whole of this bay is quite shallow and much of it is revealed at low tide so it is probably better to dive at high tide. Swim down to around 2-3m and then head south. There is a considerable stretch of sand to cross ,covered in hermits, tiny gobies and common, sand and spiny sea stars. There is also a large area covered with what look like large white slugs. these are Philine Aperta. These usually spend most of their time living and feeding beneath the surface. You will find a small rocky reef, much of which is covered with kelp but there is also quite a lot of other life. Lots of red sea squirts cover the rocks and the odd urchin, devonshire cup corals, feather stars and patch of yellow boring sponge. Also lots of tiny Fried Egg Nudibranchs on the kelp no bigger than your thumb nail. I also found the nudibranch Coryphella lineata on another dive here. Dozens of two spot gobies swim around the kelp, particularly in the shallower areas of the bay. Having had a look round this little reef just continue on a southerly course to find another. It would seem that you could swim in any direction out from the bay to find these little reefs all over the place and are probably just smaller versions of the rocky outcrops you can see dotted above water all over the bay.This dive does not have the wow factor but is a pleasant dive with a fair amount of marine life.
Site Hazards: Small boats
Nearest Public phone:
Accommodation: Couple of places along the road where you can wild camp
Mobile Network service:
Other comments:
Pub: Some in Mallaig
Created By: Jane Wilkinson
Cafe:
Air & Nitrox fills: Puffin divers Oban & The underwater centre
Date: October 2011
Revision:
Thanks To:
Links:
Surface Photos:
Underwater Photos:
Dive Map: Contact me
Dive Report: Contact me
Live google map: