View Full Version : Anchor Point, Misty Morning
I suppose we're really lucky here in Glasgow to have so many beautiful dive sites on our doorstep. There are some repeating pleasures in my log book, like floating in loch long, looking up at Scottish hillsides and starry skies on winter nights after work, for example. But I have to say that one of my favourite regular dives is Anchor point on Loch Fyne. It's too far for a mid-week evening dive, but makes a great Sunday dive, if you get there in time to nab the car park. One of the things I really like about Anchor point is the view across towards Inverary on an Autumn morning. You can smell the newly lit smokey fires in the George from over the glass calm water ... the promise of beer later.
Anchor Point makes an excellent first 30m dive for novice divers. The reef structure is very simple, and also very impressive. The bulk of the reef starts at about 10m and slopes down steadily to around 20, at which point it drops quite dramatically to the bottom at 30m. The viz is generally very good, and there is plenty of life: congers, wrasse, lobster, loads of squatties, and I have seen cod a few times. The Ras Muhammad of Glasgow diving ...
Gord,
Where exactly is Anchor point, sure I have dived during my training, up by Strucher!, seems to remember a bridge and car parking for about two cars, came out the cars and went to the left to a shingly beach with a rock formation on the right side of the beach, if this is it whats the best way to dive it,
Bert
Hi Bert.
Yeah, that sounds correct. You drive past Strachur and way on down towards Otter Ferry, staying on the wee road that hugs the water. After what seems like WAYTOFAR you get to the car-park space you mentioned, which actually holds about 5-6 cars at a squeeze. Remember that this is a very popular site with central belt divers, so you need to leave Balloch by 8.30 to be in with a shout.
There is a pebbly beach there and, yes, a rock formation, which is actually the top of the reef. i.e. the rock formation extends from above the surface all the way down to 30m.
It's easy to dive. Take a bearing out from the beech, slightly away from and to the left of the rock formation and straight out into the Loch. When you hit about 10m, turn right and contour along until you hit the reef wall. Keeping the reef to your right, follow it all the way down. There are loads of options. What i like to do is to keep the wall to my right shoulder on teh way down, and then come back up slowly over the top of it. It is quite expansive around the 20m mark, with a broad back and loads of gulleys full of life. You should see plenty of conger and wrasse, plus saith and a whole bunch of little stuff.
This is a wonderful, relaxing way to spend a Sunday morning. A very easy and rewarding dive. Beats the sh!t out of St Caths .... ;)
Hi Bert.
Yeah, that sounds correct. You drive past Strachur and way on down towards Otter Ferry, staying on the wee road that hugs the water. After what seems like WAYTOFAR you get to the car-park space you mentioned, which actually holds about 5-6 cars at a squeeze. Remember that this is a very popular site with central belt divers, so you need to leave Balloch by 8.30 to be in with a shout.
There is a pebbly beach there and, yes, a rock formation, which is actually the top of the reef. i.e. the rock formation extends from above the surface all the way down to 30m.
It's easy to dive. Take a bearing out from the beech, slightly away from and to the left of the rock formation and straight out into the Loch. When you hit about 10m, turn right and contour along until you hit the reef wall. Keeping the reef to your right, follow it all the way down. There are loads of options. What i like to do is to keep the wall to my right shoulder on teh way down, and then come back up slowly over the top of it. It is quite expansive around the 20m mark, with a broad back and loads of gulleys full of life. You should see plenty of conger and wrasse, plus saith and a whole bunch of little stuff.
This is a wonderful, relaxing way to spend a Sunday morning. A very easy and rewarding dive. Beats the sh!t out of St Caths .... ;)
Any dive is beter than St Caths
Do u like MOD reef its a good training site and good for fish pics as u usually get small shoals of fish at the top of the reef :cool: