Cumbrae - help !!!

[gmul]

I may have to travel to Cumbrae for an exam next month
but have never dived there !!

Anybody have any info whatseoever on any possible dive sites ?

All and any information appreciated.

Thanks.

[Fiona]

I have been to Cumbrea a few times but each time we have stayed at the University marine complex and Phil arranged all our diving.

It was all shore diving but always managed to find somewhere to get in other the weekend. Our weekend always started with a night dive under Kepple pier it's about 3 metres and the life is fantastic. It's a few years since I was there but we had some great weekends. The Catalina flying boat can also be done from the shore.

[Paul Beal]

Originally Posted by gmul

I may have to travel to Cumbrae for an exam next month
but have never dived there !!

Anybody have any info whatseoever on any possible dive sites ?

All and any information appreciated.

Thanks.

Hi,

I assume you will be on the AIE on the 10/11th Sept then!

The dive sites when I did my AIC there in 2002 were random areas along great Cumbrae for the teaching dives and Trail island/Lady Isabella on little Cumbrae for the dives with a purpose. I did my exam in Wales instead but from memory the exam candidates on Cumbrae did the Walachia and the Catalina as well as some local bays. Because of the changes in the syllabus I am not sure how the sites will be dictated though. It is nice diving up there at this time of the year, try to avoid getting too far up the Clyde if you have the choice! I wouldn't worry too much about actual dive site knowledge the more important thing to get sorted is lesson plans to include first wreck dive, marine life ID, distance line usage etc etc! My exam involved a dive to 6 m to teach distance line and marine life ID and then our task was in 9 m. All on featureless sandy bottoms (great for marine life ID!!).

Good luck!

Paul

[r0ckcrew]

Hi,
There are various divesites around Cumbrae, from wrecks The Wallachia and Beagle at around 32metres deep, to the scenic dives on Little Cumbrae and around Big Cumbrae.
The weather is not really a factor as there are sheltered sites regardless of the weather. I wouldnt bother with the Catalina as it is now flattened and well broken up.

Hope this helps.

[thewisestfish]

There's loads of shore diving off Cumbrae. The dive shop over in Largs can probaly give you more info - there's a book you can get from them that's got all the info in - short of that, try this link:

http://www.mounthigh.co.uk/scotdive/.../sw/clyde.html

There's the Catalina (and old seaplane) which is pretty broken up, just along from the ferry dock. There's s'posed to be a big conger on it, but I've not seen it. It's nice and easy to get in from the shore, and you can either surface swim and drop down the shot, or take a compass bearing and swim - I've done both, but I reckon it's a bit hard to find as a swim out - but then, my navigation is a little dodgy....

Further down the road, keeping to that side of the island, there are a fair few other dives where there's loads of scallops, big buggers too. There's Lion Rock - which is off a stoney beach. Your best bet would be to have a word in the watersports centre, who'll point you in the right direction - they have a compressor too.....My biggest problem with Cumbrae was balancing across rocks to get in and out of the water - there's a lot of gymnastics to get into some places, and even more to get out - I kind of wasn't very impressed with being stuck on my arse, trying to get purchase on slimy rocks with my fins on, and unable to stand up until someone came to help me....and then because the drift we'd done was further than we thought having to climb out across a big verge which looked nice and innocent, but cunningly disguised a PEAT BOG - which I fell in too......DiFF for sure, but my street cred was in TATTERS!!!

[alross]

Hi,

I'd agree with what has been said above. I have dived the Catalina from the shore. Its about 50m south of the ferry slip and had a shot line on it the last time i was there. It is a bit of a swim from the shore but is doable. It is now very broken up and doesnt resemble a plane anymore- the story goes that a scallop dredger went over it causing a lot of damage. Some of the older divers i know tell me it used to be obviously a plane and that it was possible to get inside the fuselage.

Further south is a another site which I know as anchor point. Basically you go south past the sailing centre aprox 300m (i think) there is a grass layby which you can park in. Walk down a muddy path to the shore and there is a small inlet. Enter here and go out then southwards. There is a big anchor and a lot of chain- it can be hard to find tho.

Sorry if the descriptions are a bit vague but i'm doing this quickly! PM me if u want more info and i'll dig out my logbook

Ally

[up 4 it]

Originally Posted by Paul Beal

Hi,

I assume you will be on the AIE on the 10/11th Sept then!

Hi Paul,

He's actually doing FCD Practical the same as me on 3/4th Sept.

Anyone any idea what tasks are usually set for the group tasks.

Steve