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Alternative Names: Sound of Shuna Lay by, Appin
Type of Dive: Shore dive
Suggested experience: Any, suitable for training, even first dives
Travel directions: As for Oban, but turn to cross Connel Bridge and head North past Creagan’s Inn, or follow the coast road South if coming from Glencoe area. google
Parking directions: In the layby Google
Distance from Oban: 33 Miles 33 Mins
Lat & Long: N56.590852 W-5.373173
Depth: 15m
Site entry/exit: East walk down to the cobble and shingle shore by the worn path (I’ve laid beach gravel to harden the muddy bits out)
Underwater directions: Swim out to the reef that starts at 10-12m by surface swimming towards the white house just visible on the far shore, stay in line with the end of the fence on your shore and that white house. Drop down to the seabed when it just disappears from view (should be about 8m). If swimming out under water stay on a bearing of about 280/290 degrees.
Either way, there’s a long swim out to the reef, which starts at 10-12m as a solid rock bottom after all that sand. Now, swim to the right keeping the ridge in sight then as it meets the sandy/silty bottom, drop down the slope where you’ll come across all three of our Scottish Seapens in one place. Watch your direction (compass) as there will be a slight current here truning you around without noticing it. After that, head homeward on your original reciprocal bearing and you’ll come back to the reef at the bottom this time. Scallops, Edible Crabs, Hermits, small anemones, Rays and even Octopus can be found around this reef both at the top and at the bottom.
Site Hazards: Fairly safe site, tho’ do watch your compass if swimming underwater as the current can turn you very easily! Long swim to the reef either above or below water. The return to shore is only 8-6m shallowing to 2m.
Nearest Public phone: The Café over looking Castle Stalker, or Loch Linnhe Marina just south of this site.
Accommodation:
Mobile Network service: O2 works to about 3-4bars
Other comments: Nearest Re-compression Chamber, Dunstaffnage.
Pub: The Cregan Inn Holy Tree Hotel
Created by: Darryl Mayer
Cafe: The Cafe over looking Castle Stalker
Air & Nitrox fills: Puffin divers & The underwater centre
Date: 7/7/07
Revision: 2
Thanks To:
Links: None
Surface Photos:
Underwater Photos: By Darryl Mayer
Dive Report: Chris Hine 29/9/10 So the layby just north of the Shuna Marina provides easy access to the sound of Shuna. Half way along this just South of a large boulder and narrow concrete walk way on the foreshore is an easy access path to the shore across glaciated slabs. this marked the start of the dive. The end of the dive is a concrete slip about 50 yards north of the car park from where you can easily walk back along the cycle path which is on the bed of the old railway line. We dived this on the flow tide so the tide was running up (North) the sound (Left to right). So, walked in on pebbles and straight out over boulders onto mud. followed mud down to 15m in disappointing vis. When the light ran out finned with the current across muddy sand. Sea Pens and Thorny skates and hundreds of Gobi's... Gently ascending to base of a boulder slope at 8m gave some interesting life. Old bottles and electrical ceramic jars scattered around and an impressive piece of ship worm riddled timber. Swimming at the boundary of the boulder slope and the mud slope we encountered a cable slung across the sound hanging from the boulder slope , covered in life and disappearing into the mud (Note: This is an electrical cable off to Shuna). Ascending just after this brings you up at the concrete slip and an easy egress and short walk back to the car park. Good site for a training dive. Incredibly easy access.