Dive Shetland

[Mr T.]

Cop for this! Any thoughts either for the board or for

"Hi - I'm looking for some feedback on the feasibility of a diving centre in Shetland. There is 30m+ vis most of the time, excellent scenery, hundreds of wrecks from 17th century onwards (with rumours of bullion), a u-boat. Whales, porpoises, the odd basking shark, seals, caves etc.
Due to the geography you'd be guaranteed a sheltered dive site no matter what the weather.

You'd be accommodated in a luxury guest house with a full support team. A pristine, uncommercialised location. Please let me know if this is of interest! Any feedback welcome! diveshetland@hotmail.com or this forum.

Thanks "


Yer man's name is one John Gilbert Arthur and his daytime number, in Shetland, is TEL: 01806-51-52-53.

[Mr T.]

Sounds just a bit tastey does Shetland, cop for this dive report on wrecks and seals!

Shetland Dive Report

[Snash]

Can thoroughly recommend Shetters for both a diving trip and a non diving holiday as well.

We took our RIB (ferry from Aberdeen - great trip up; all sorts of shenanigans and mega hangover ensued) and hired RIB whilst up there. First part of the week came with a skipper (plus dog...) whcih was great for local knowledge but by the end of the week, we just took it out ourselves.

Right about the shelter, and also lots of launch spots. Great dives - wrecks (old and new), great scenics (tunnels and caves), although one or two were of the Loch Long variety  

Came back with some scoof, of the shiny doughnut shaped variety now being fully respected in my house (and also fully declared).

Also saw and followed a pod of killer whales; Mom, Pops and the kids out hunting for seals. Awesome.

It does rain....

and it seems as though just about every field has a Sheltand Pony.

and yes I remember the delights of Mavis Grind and Twatt (as well)    

If anyone wants any more details just shout

Simon

[Rupert Bear]

I was in Shetland a few months ago and think diving there would be great if not for the costs and distances. I don't know if a dive centre would be viable or not but suspect not, did the one that operated there not go belly up due to insufficient numbers of folk making the trek across?
I think it is one of these places that would be superb to dive but in reality most folk would rather go abroad for less money and travelling time.

[peter k]

You can organise diving through Shetland SSAC. They'll get you squared away with a compressor and I think they'll hire you their RIB. Never tried it though!


Peter

[Helen F H]

<font color='#000080'>i really wanted to go to Twatt in Orkney. &nbsp;never managed it though. &nbsp;Bugger.

[parahandy]

Likewise I've read some really tasty reports on the diving in Shetland. Aquainted with a few people that took a car plus rib on the ferry although this was a few years ago the latter was rather expensive. There was at one time some liveaboards going there out of Aberdeen.

Unfortunately I think what can rain on the parade here is the cost of the car/van on the ferry getting there and back. Anyone know that the current going rate is?
Worth a visit if the price is right.

[Rupert Bear]

I wouldn't like to ask in case they told me. I looked at the cost of the 40min Oban Craignure ferry with the RIB and it was something like £150 return, for 8 miles!

[Snash]

as I remember the cost was pretty dire.

We ended up with 1 car and RIB and a mini-bus (with back seats ripped out to carry the gear including our compressor). There were 8 of us and I am sure we booked some on as foot passengers as I know a number of us were in sleeping bags on the floor in people's cabins.

Having said that the cost of the chalets we rented was pretty cheap.

Still, would thoroughly recommend it. We had a great time (both above and below the water).

Simon

[peter k]

Just had a quick checf about the ferry costs;
For 1Xcar, 1XRib, 1Xminibus and 8Xbodies you'ld be looking at about £500 travelling during peak times, one way!!!!

Peter