There are two large chambers within the Devil's Cave. The first at the entrance was completely submerged whereas the second was filled with air and accessible through a tunnel running vertically to the surface.
The second chamber was impressive. There were numerous remains of candles which would have made the cave even more spectacular, however, the effect of our torches also offered its own alluring experience.
The Skylight Cave was one of my favourite dive sites.
With the opening directly above the cave system almost the whole cave was illuminated. On entering the cave, divers proceed to the middle of the cave below the skylight. The area on the far left of the diagram was unlit and required the use of torches. The group could then swim up at the back of the cave and surface in the top left corner. It is possible to stand in this area but with great care, many plants and organisms lived in this area and it would be a shame to recklessly crush them. The group could then swim back towards the skylight and swim down to the lower level.
A conger eel was regularly found in a crevice at the back of the Skylight Cave.
Part of the dive included showing the other divers the conger, if he was at home.
The Devil's Cave was known as one of the best dive sites so all the divers were excited and anxious to enter and explore the cave. The conditions that day were favourable and the divers in the group all had enough experience and no hesitations regarding diving in caves. I can just be seen at the far back of the group in the video.
The Big Cheese is near the port of Cala Ratjada.
It's a big rock that rises from the water and is riddled with holes
giving it its name. This was without doubt the best dive site in the
area for spotting sea life: octopus, barracudas, lobster, nudibranchs,
moray eel sightings are guaranteed.
St
Kilda is an extremely isolated archipelago located 40 miles West of
Scotland's Outer Hebrides in the North Atlantic Ocean. Its dramatic
topography of plunging cliffs and high sea stacs, abundance of wildlife
(it is home to the world's largest colony of Northern Gannets) and
incredibly tragic human history combine to create a place of almost
mythical status.
Setting off from Oban on the 19th of July 2009 the Elizabeth G stopped off at the following dive sites:
Eigg
Port Napier - the Isle of Skye
Prince Charlie's Wall - the Isle of Skye
Waternish Point - the Isle of Skye
Mina Stac - St Kilda
Sarbstac Arch - St Kilda
Rob's Pillow - Hirta, St Kilda
Cul Cleite - Hirta, St Kilda
An Torc - Hirta, St Kilda
Rbha Bwengahel - Boreray, St Kilda
Penny Gown Quarry - Sound of Mull
Compilation of photos from my unforgettable trip to St Kilda.
Scapa Flow is a bay in the Orkney Islands which has acted as a natural harbour for centuries, long since Viking expeditions began arriving. In the build up to the First World War it was decided that a northern British naval base would be needed to control the entrances to the North Sea - Scapa Flow served this purpose.
After defeat in the First World War, 74 ships of the German High Seas Fleet were interned at Scapa Flow. Their fate was to be decided in the peace Treaty of Versailles however on 21 June 1919, after a wait of 9 months, Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter took the decision to scuttle the enormous fleet.
A great salvage operation ensued which has been become known as the greatest salvage operation of all time.
There are now seven ships of the German High Seas Fleet still resident in Scapa Flow, as well as numerous fishing boats and blockships, making the bay an extremely popular scuba diving destination.
During my trip to Scapa Flow I managed to dive:
The SMS Karlsruhe - light cruiser.
The F2 & YC21- German torpedo recovery vessel and British salvage barge.
The Tabarka - 2,624 ton steamer at 12m which has settled upside down in Burra Sound.
HMT Loch Garry - boom defence boat.
Oceana, Eday - tug boat.
SS Loch Maddy - 4,995 to vessel torpeded and blown in two by a U-boat now lying at 12 metres.
Endeavour - wreck of a trawler.
Aoranghi - block ship.
Kronprinz Wilhelm battleship.
SMS Coln -light cruiser.
MV James Barrie - fishing vessel.
SMS Brummer - light cruiser.
Video of the SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm, SMS Koln and SMS Brummer, which I also dived, by Dory Productions
Ventotene is part of the Pontine Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea. I visited the island twice as it is a fantastic scuba diving spot and, like numerous places in Italy, is a fascinating and very seductive place rich in history. It is a diving mecca amongst Italian scuba divers and home to Diving World Ventotene, Italy's first scuba diving centre which opened in 1978.
During
the Roman empire the island was chosen by many emperors as the ideal
destination to banish troublemakerd. Benito Mussolini also
restructured a prison camp on the neighbouring island of Santo Stefano and sent many prominent political opponents there, including Sandro Pertini who would later become President of Italy.
View of Santo Stefano island
Ventotene is unforgettable for me as it was here that I did my first wreck dive, first night dive, as well as my deepest ever dive. The wreck was of a steamer that was sunk by British bombers in July 1943. The ship was carrying only civilians. It now lies split in two at 46m. This was the deepest dive that I have ever done.
The Isle of Cumbrae is the largest of the two islands known as the Cumbraes. It is located in the Firth of Clyde and is a popular destination for day-trippers from Glasgow. There is a University Marine Biological Station which I attended during my studies.
Dive #20
Dive 1
Depth: 17.6m
Time: 35min
This was a training dive in which we practiced navigation skills and use of the Delayed Surface Marker Buoy (DSMB).
Dive #21
Dive 2
Depth: 11.7m
Time: 33min
This was a drift dive with Alan Ramsay. During this training dive we practiced using the Surface Marker Buoy (SMB).
Loch Fyne was probably the loch where I did the majority of my scuba diving training in Scotland. It is the longest sea loch in the UK. As can be seen in the video the weather conditions weren't always the best, especially for doing surface cover at the end of winter. It was actually a relief to get under water out of the wind and rain.
Dive Marshall Alan Ramsay, Assistant Richard.
Dive #12 Depth: 18m Time: 29min
Air in 210 Air out 60
Dive #13 Depth: 15m Time: 25min Air in 210 Air out 100
Loch Long is a sea loch extending from the Firth of Clyde. It's a popular loch for diving as it was used as a testing ground for torpedoes during World War II. Near to where the picture was taken is Conger Alley, well known for the Conger Eels which can be regularly seen there. Also commonly spotted are Wrasse, Leopard Spotted Gobbies, Dogfish, Peacock Worms, Anemones, Sea Squirts and numerous types of crabs.
Loch Long is both the longest (41 miles) and the deepest (180 miles) of the Scottish sea lochs.
