End of a training dive at St Catherines on Loch Fyne.

Diving trips have taken us to many locations across the south west of Scotland from the Clyde to Loch Linnhe and beyond.

Training

The bulk of our recent training activity has been geared to assisting members who wish to obtain the BSAC Dive Leader qualification. Instruction covers the responsibilities and safety of leading other divers and involves a number of open water exercises as well as a few hours of “classroom” work. Running concurrently and integrated with the Dive Leader training we have also completed a BSAC Practical Rescue Management (PRM)course.

Rescue training on the shore at St Catherines.

Part of the above training involves the simulation of diving emergencies in open water where each student has the opportunity to implement the steps required to manage an “incident “. In my opinion this is a most useful aspect of BSAC training which really does round off diving knowledge and skills in an effective hands-on way.

Gavin (left) and Gareth ready to dive.

In training we are always looking for a successful outcome at whatever the level and we define this by awarding a qualification. Obviously the higher qualification levels are only reached after some considerable time and effort on the part of those who attain them. Enough guff, congratulations to Gavin Wilkie one of our members who has recently qualified as an Advanced Diver, definitely a successful outcome.

Been There, Done That

Well we have been to a lot of places, we have done a lot of stuff and we have done it in every flavour of the always unpredictable often perverse Scottish weather. Possibly some of the most adverse weather conditions occurred during one weekend when some of our members joined a GUSAC trip to Oban. The photograph below, taken by Johan, illustrates the conditions perfectly, no more words from me are required.

GLUG and GUSAC divers somewhere near Oban.

At the other end of the scale we have also encountered exceptionally dry, often warm weather throughout the month of April. This has given us some pleasant diving conditions even if they have occasionally been tempered by green water as the seasonal plankton bloom kicks in at some locations. Of particular note was the trip to Loch Leven and Loch Linnhe organised by Gavin Wilkie. Some photographs from that trip are shown below.

Diving at Loch Leven.

CW from top left: xmas tree sea slug, sea loch anemones, green sea urchin, purple sunstar.

“I can report some of the best visibility I have ever seen in Scotland. From my max depth of 32m I could see the surface clearly.”

Richard back at Loch leven with Andy Dowsland from Hull BSAC.

Moving closer to home dives have included our regular destinations in Loch Long and Loch Fyne as well as a dive on the SS Kintyre wreck at Wemyss Bay for the more experienced members.

As ever Jack Morrison and I have been scouring some unlikely sites looking for obscure and insignificant beasties to photograph. One of our regular sites with a depth that makes experienced GLUG divers cringe (6 metres) has turned out to be something special. The pier at Portencross is a sea slug hot spot where this year so far (with help from Jim Anderson who runs the  Scottish Nudibranchs  website) we have recorded 15 species in an area no larger than 20m by 5m. Included in this count are sea hares which have gathered in great numbers both on the pier piles and on the sea bed for some distance around. See images below.

CW from top left: Jack looking for nudibranchs, sea lemon, aeolid sea slug, sea hare.

Closing Images

Members snaps from the last few months.

CW from top left: before the dive, Johan - self portrait, after the dive, Richard in the green.

Final Shot captured on the way to dive the Canna Wall in April (boathandlers – you really do need to know where the pointed end is pointed at).

The French trawler Jack Abry II ashore on Rum, one of this years wrecks.

Gordon

The extreme weather at the end of last year impacted on our dive plans causing some dives and training to be postponed including activities scheduled for the first week in January.  The cold weather however did not deter  three members from going ahead with the first dive of the year at Inverkip Yacht Club. I could not take part in this dive but did go along to “count them all out and count them all back”.  Not only did they all come back they even left the water exactly where they went in, a very precise piece of navigation by Richard. They also managed to find the little wreck that lies off the yacht club along with its resident conger that can often be seen lurking at the entrance to its lair under the stern.

While this first dive was underway I was treated to a very welcome cup of coffee by two  members of the Inverkip Yacht Club. Talking to the guys from the yacht club revealed a little of its history (the oldest establishment of its kind on the Clyde). It was also rather pleasing to hear that they had no difficulty with divers operating from the old slip next to the yacht club.

Training

Although GLUG is a club primarily focused on diving we still have a significant training commitment. We do not take on complete beginners  but do assist experienced divers to reach the more advanced BSAC grades as well as delivering specialist courses covering diving related skills. As a BSAC branch with a  number of experienced instructors we also provide assistance to the Glasgow University Sub-Aqua Club. Readers trained by other agencies please do not be put off by our BSAC tag. GLUG membership is open to suitably qualified and experienced divers, there is no need to cross over to BSAC as long as you retain membership of your qualifying organisation.

Before leaving the subject of training congratulations are due to Kevin Boyle one of our members who has recently qualified as a BSAC Sports Diver.

End of an Era

In its few years of existence you would think that GLUG was too young to have any sort of “era”. A bit clichéd but how else do you describe the impending final departure of Flying Eagle a dive boat used by our members since the first days of GLUG. The attraction was easy, based nearby at Largs Marina the Flying Eagle could transport our members to any of the numerous wrecks and reefs in the Clyde.  Saturday 19th of February saw the last GLUG trip on Flying Eagle before she is sold on in early March, I think that the photographs below taken at Largs Marina on the day say it all.

Gordon

The Safety Briefing

Casting Off

Underway

Cheers
Alan Ramsay 07886809614

Dives cost £15 and you have to be at Largs yacht haven by 18.30.    
The trips are primarily for Inverclyde members but Neil will contact Alan R. if he has spare places on any trip.  If you are interested in attending any such trips, places become available at SHORT NOTICE (ie the Monday eve before the trip). 

If you are interested in attending any trip, please contact Alan Ramsay the weekend before the trip to add your name to a contact list, and he will ring round if there are places free.  Please be sure you are willing and able to dive on the Wednesday before signing up to the list, as it is a waste of Alan’s time if everyone pulls out at the last minute.