Scuba Diving in Skye, Scotland – Rubha Nan Clach,Loch Bracadale

Dive Site: Rubha Nan Clach

Location: Loch Bracadale, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Description: Sloping reef dive

Depth: 23 metres (75 feet)

Visibility: 8 metres (25 feet)

A moderately sloping wall at the base of a steep cliff at the entrance to the loch. This is a dive site to do if the wind is too strong and the waves are too high in the Minch.

There are a few large pollack in the deeper water and a lot of smaller individuals close to the rocks, so maybe this somewhere for the juveniles to develop in the relative calm compared to the exposed sea. Starfish, velvet swimming crabs and sea urchins are all around, and the rocks themselves host a whole display of life worth studying. In the shallows the rocks are covered in kelp but lower down there are sea squirts, sponges, cup corals and anemones. In amongst them are some of the smallest starfish.

Scuba Diving Southwest Coast of England, UK, Europe – NG Peterson wreck, Near Falmouth, Cornwall

Dive Site: NG Peterson

Location: Near Falmouth, Cornwall

Description: Danish steamship

Depth: 21 – 23 metres (69 – 75 feet)

Visibility: 6 metres (20 feet)

The Peterson and its cargo of 1900 tons of iron ore sank in 1918 after colliding with another ship. It sits on a sandy seabed, so visibility tends to be quite good. This is another very flattened wreck which is typical of the area, but there are still plenty of holes in which there are a number of conger eels, crabs, and a lobster rumoured to be 80 to 100 years old. The wreck is also home to a large number of bib that can be found in dense shoals. The Peterson is a ten minute boat ride north of Porthkerris Cove.

Scuba Diving in Cuba, Caribbean – Encanto, Maria la Gorda, Cuba

Dive Site: Encanto (Enchant)
Location: Maria la Gorda, Cuba
Description: Wall and tunnel
Depth: 30 metres + (100 feet)
Visibility: 10 – 30 metres (30 – 100 feet)

A wall with lots of tunnels and caves, some of which are a tight fit. Marine life consists of large crabs, nudibranch, barracuda, sting ray and arrow crab in the tunnels.

Scuba Diving in Cuba, Caribbean – El Acuarium, Maria la Gorda, Cuba

Dive Site: El Acuarium (the Aquarium)

Location: Maria la Gorda, Cuba

Description: Reef

Depth: 8 metres max (26 feet)

Visibility: 15 – 20 metres (50 – 65 feet)

A very aptly named site that was a relaxing dive. Because of the patchy reef, the sheer numbers of reef fish and the shallow depth – averaging 3 to 5 metres deep. Amongst the sea fans and sponges, flamingo tongues can be found and arrow crabs on the gorgonians. This dive site is a good opportunity to look at the reef fish in detail, rather than being on the hunt for the bigger stuff and with shoals of sergeant majors, Nassau grouper, chromis, tangs, snapper, goatfish, lobsters, large crabs and trumpetfish.