View Full Version : Dive Sites around Glasgow website?
alexmaclennan
26-06-06, 10:22
I'm thinking about setting up a website giving directions to and information about local divesites. Three main reasons. 1. I've never built one before so it might be fun. 2. I find it frustrating to trawl the net finding out nuggets of information. Most of us know a number of sites but sharing the info is the thing. I know there is a whole lot of local knowledge out there and have been helped by PM and this forum with several sites. 3. It would widen my local diving knowledge.
Info would include site name & alternative names, GPS Lat/Long and OS Grid References, travel directions, parking directions, site entry/exit, underwater features, site hazards, nearest phonebox, mobile network service, cafe, pub. I would add a 1:25,000 multimap of the area, some photos of the parking and site entry/exit and if possible a drawing of the underwater topography. Photos of underwater features could be added but not by me as I don't have an UW camera.
Alternatively, this info could be put into this site in a unified format.
Would anyone like to help me out? What I would need are a couple of experienced local divers to look over what I've written on each site and correct/comment to make sure that I havn't made an obvious mistake. I'm happy to do the donkey work of finding out info like GPS data, phonebox locations etc and the typing out.
I've created a couple of trial documents for A Frames, and Five Wrecks, so far. I could PM anyone interested so they could have a look.
Comments please?
Alex
Hi Alex,
That was kind of the purpose of this site. It's only 3 months old, but if we collect the kind of info that you've already accessed on 5-wrecks, etc. then over time a knowledge base will accumulate ...
One of the forums is actually called "Dive sites": http://www.congeralley.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=3
Of course, if you want to do your own site as a fun project, i'd be happy to share my experience of this one.
Cheers.
alexmaclennan
26-06-06, 15:10
Gord, of course I realise that that could be one of the purposes of this forum. I'm sure you have thought about how such a page for a dive site should be structured. I thought that having one person to do the donkey work of writing up and one or two to correct obvious errors would be the best way forward. A seperate website? Only because this gives the site an identity and fixed purpose.
Can I send you one of my trial documents so you could see how it looks and whether it could be incorporated into this site?
Alex
Gord, of course I realise that that could be one of the purposes of this forum. I'm sure you have thought about how such a page for a dive site should be structured. I thought that having one person to do the donkey work of writing up and one or two to correct obvious errors would be the best way forward. A seperate website? Only because this gives the site an identity and fixed purpose.
Can I send you one of my trial documents so you could see how it looks and whether it could be incorporated into this site?
Alex
Hey gord
Sounds like a good idea but did u not say u were going to have a page for each site with updated info? :rolleyes:
This could definitely be achieved. There are several options, it seems to me:
a) Alex could set up a new site and structure it around dive sites, maybe based on a standard template. Either he would write up the sites or various volunteers could contribute. I do like the idea of standardised info, like co-ordinates, etc. One thing i had thought about, but not worked out how to achieve, would be to have a standardised dive site underwater map. You know, showing reefs etc. A bit like the wrecks pages at divernet. I think this would have to be a labour of love by one or two individuals. Personally I barely have time to post the odd message!! But if you're up for it Alex, go for it.
b) We can use Conger Alley to slowly accumulate tips and know-how and advice, but this is an organic process and would take much longer. This is primarily why i set this site up. It's also very non-standard, unless we put a standardised template on the server for people to fill in. This is also possible.
c) We could expand Conger Alley to accommodate static descriptions of dive sites. It's possible to set up new pages in the standardised format, and we could have a page for each site. Personally I don't favour this option because it would be quite static, and I like the idea of discussing sites rather than prescribing them. That way we get a load of different views and suggestions, rather than one static description. That's why I chose a forum structure for the site, rather than static pages.
Having said that, I always had the idea that in a forum, a consensus tends to emerge about the best ways of doing things. People make suggestions, and others feed back and make improvements. Maybe photos or drawings are added over time. The content changes and improves over time, and that in itself is interesting.
But let me know what you think. Happy to contribute to any new ideas!
alexmaclennan
27-06-06, 07:11
Gord & Ding,
My thoughts:
1. What about I set up a seperate website for such 'static' and standardised info which I will set up and maintain. The website is concentrating on shoredive sites within 2 hours drive from Glasgow so Ayrshire coast, Cumbrae, Loch Long, Loch Fyne etc. I will not list sites outwith these areas and not list sites only diveable by boat.
2. Once the site is set up then anyone can fill in the pro forma and list a new shoredive site. As the website primarly gives you surface info it would be possible for someone to give me the name and location of a divesite, exactly where to park, and the description of underwater topography. I could fill in the boring bits like GPS, phone boxes etc the next time I was going past the divesite.
3. This forum is used to collate info especially on particular aspects of sites. I've found a lot of useful info from some of the divers on this site and I can slowly add divesites as I visit them. I can probably now list about 60 divesite names within 2 hours drive from Glasgow (only dived about 8) - enough for a labour of love.
4 I do need a couple of senior/experienced guys 'checking' the submissions for each site. This would be by accepting/ commenting/ correcting a one page word document prior to the document being inserted into the website.
5. Unerwater topography/maps is a problem as you either need to know a site like the back of your hand or to have deliberately mapped it - perhaps as a divemaster exercise or for teaching. I suspect that maps of local divesites do exist - Ding says he has several - but might be hard to find. The best bet might be to set up the site and invite maps and UW photos - any submissions would be credited on the site
Alex
Cool!
I look forward to seeing teh results!! :)
Alex,
I should add that if you want to use the Conger Alley server, you would be welcome to. It would save you on hosting fees, and it would obviously be a benefit to Conger Alley. So maybe a win-win. The result would be a URL like http://www.congeralley.com/sites (this isn't currently a link so don't click on it). Your templates and the site guides could be stored there in whatever format you like (word files, html pages, whatever).
If you're interested, PM me and we can discuss.
Cheers, dude.
Alex,
I should add that if you want to use the Conger Alley server, you would be welcome to. It would save you on hosting fees, and it would obviously be a benefit to Conger Alley. So maybe a win-win. The result would be a URL like http://www.congeralley.com/sites (this isn't currently a link so don't click on it). Your templates and the site guides could be stored there in whatever format you like (word files, html pages, whatever).
If you're interested, PM me and we can discuss.
Cheers, dude.
Sounds good to me gordon.
part of Conger Alley, People can come to conger to access divesites
around glasgow.
Great idea alex,
gets my vote
underwater topography is one of the best pieces of info you can offer to anyone new to a dive site.
safety & dive planning are paramount in my opinion.
the offer of a site sketch to a trainee or newly qualified diver gives them a little more confidence & cuts down on the surprises.
i have done the odd sketch in the past, nothing fancy, very basic but good enough to identify an area.
here is a recent one from 2 weeks ago.
http://www.freewebs.com/scubaportal/annies%20wall.pdf
good viz, good memory & a dive slate are all the tools i use.
Lizardland
28-06-06, 00:29
Sounds like an excellent idea, especially as Dive Scotland has been out of print for years. It had loads of great shore dives in it but there's nothing else to take its place.
I'd started compiling a list a year or two ago as I'd thought about doing a guidebook. I was doing another one for somewhere else at the same time and that took so much effort that I couldn't be bothered doing another. I should have a few bits written up somewhere (might even have GPS co-ords) on my computer that might be of use. I'll have a shufty.
Cheers,
Stuart
alexmaclennan
28-06-06, 12:33
Good to see so much interest - thanks for looking for info Stuart. I've PM'd Gord with a couple of trial word documents and will discuss the mechanics of having a 'rigid/formulaic' format for describing divesites on part of Conger Alley devoted to site descriptions and how we can add maps, photos, UW maps (totally agree stewart that these would be great). Maybe within a couple of weeks we can get a couple of trial divesites on the forum and see what people think.
This forum will then be a great place to find out alternative divesite names/ add history interesting info/ correct errors or omissions etc.
Alex
Here's an example of one of Alex's site guides. Obviously this is a prototype for feedback and discussion, and isn't integrated into the overall website with appropriate links and look and feel. But it gives some idea. Personally I really like it. :)
http://www.congeralley.com/sites/A%20Frames%20shore%20diving%20page1.htm
Good work, Alex.
Here's another!
http://www.congeralley.com/sites/5wrecks.htm
well cool! :cool:
Here's another!
http://www.congeralley.com/sites/5wrecks.htm
well cool! :cool:
Yes well cool as u put it
This is a good a setup but could we add a heading "underwater map"
and "underwater photos" and "Additional Information"
and keep the format the same in all sites
Then put 5 or so sites on the web and ask users for comments
then we can modify the basic layout and do the other sites
Ding :)
Yes well cool as u put it
This is as good a stup as is reqd
as log as each one is the same
Ding :)
r u typing with your feet? :rolleyes: :D
Here's a draft template:
http://www.congeralley.com/sites/site_template.doc
Wanna have a go and write up a site or two? Email the result to me (keep the file size DOWN!! i.e. less than 1mb) and I will post it on the site for discussion.
alexmaclennan
28-06-06, 16:06
I was also going to put in Cafe: after Pub: for those who have to drive/ don't drink. .......but I never visit cafes
alex
Ibut I never visit cafes
alex
nor should you!
alexmaclennan
28-06-06, 21:30
My other thought was to scan in the relevant bit of an admiralty chart. So for example chart 3740 is 1:10 000 of Upper Loch Long. This would give you an instant handle on depths, rate of change of depth etc. I'll scan a couple of sites in and see how they look - it certainly would compliment an UW drawing/map and the OS maps.
Alex
MS Paint is quite a good programme for sketching underwater topography ... i'm told ;)
Here comes some structure for organising these site guides.
If you look at the Site Navigation panel on the front page (top left, it says Site Navigation), you'll see i've added a link to a new directory (actually a sub-directory within our dive directory system) caled Local Dive Sites. Follow this link (here it is if you want to go from here: http://www.congeralley.com/links/browselinks.php?c=10 ) and it takes you to a list of sites / guides, plus a link to the template it you want to make a contribution.
I think this is the best way of doing this, because we use our existing technology (i.e. the directory system) and we have a system for commenting on the guides and improving them (you can rate them and leave comments / posts).
waddaya think?
alexmaclennan
30-06-06, 14:03
I'll send you some more Loch Long sites Caves/ CA/ 29 Steps/ Two piers plus revised A Frames and 5 Wrecks descriptions - now with accurate lat long & GPS Grid Refn and now with scanned charts, this weekend.
1. Would it be better to use photobucket and URLs for photos/ maps/ charts/ drawings as described by Bubblemaker in his thread rather than inserting them directly into the document?
2. I'll have to figure out this zip thing.
Alex
Given Charlie's email about Stallion, does anyone fancy diving it on Sunday? I do :D
alexmaclennan
01-07-06, 07:55
A Frames, Finnart, Loch Long
Alternative Name(s): Ocean Terminus; Finnart Pier
Type of dive: Easy slope with reef and wreckage of old pier
Suggested experience: Suitable for trainees
Travel directions: From A82 on Loch Lomondside, take the A817 through Glen Fruin turning right at roundabout onto the A814 and continue north until the obvious carpark by the roadside below the Oil Storage Depot tanks. From Arrochar take the A814 south until the carpark.
Parking directions: Park at a large compacted dirt carpark, which will hold 10+ cars to the Loch Long side of the A814.
From Little Chef, Milton: 23m, 30 to 45 minutes
OS Map & Grid Ref: OS Map 56; NN24112; BNG95315
Lat & Long: N 56:07:02, W 4:49:49
Map: Park just past the phone symbol
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g221/alexmaclennan/A%20Frames/569b7450.gif
Site entry/exit: There is a steep bouldery ramp at the back of the carpark onto a shingle beach
Underwater directions: Swim straight out from shore bearing NW 320 degrees. You can aim towards a large yellow buoy on opposite shore. Go through a band of Kelp at 3 - 5m. There are boulders and wreckage at 10 -15m both straight out and to left & right. The main A frames wreckage is to right at 18m. Apparently if you head up the loch for about 20 minutes there is an old bottle dump (reported on website below but not visited by me). Going deeper from the entry/exit, there are large concrete blocks from 18 - 25m. Through out there is the usual west of Scotland sea loch sea life.
Chart:
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g221/alexmaclennan/A%20Frames/4880c11b.jpg
Site Hazards: Watch cars on A814, Silt can cut viz to <1m especially if dive site is busy.
Nearest Public phone: Immediately by carpark.
Mobile Network service: Vodaphone, Orange
Other comments: Site is an old pier, which was dynamited in the past. Commonly used for diver training. A favourite evening/ night dive from Glasgow.
Links: http://www.neptune-divers.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/dive_site_reports_on_the_interne.htm#Finnart
Created by: alexmaclennan
Date: 30/6/06
Photos:
Carpark
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g221/alexmaclennan/A%20Frames/75b3276e.jpg
Site entry/exit. Note yellow buoy
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g221/alexmaclennan/A%20Frames/2031fe9f.jpg
3/7/06 Images don't load properly now as I've moved them within photobucket to a A Frames subdirectory. alex
3/7/06 Now pointing to the subdirectory and loads well. alex
yep.
Works well and loads fast.
Given Charlie's email about Stallion, does anyone fancy diving it on Sunday? I do :D
How much parking space is there, Gord?
Going out tomorrow with some others: will have to wait & see where they all want to go.
How much parking space is there, Gord?
Going out tomorrow with some others: will have to wait & see where they all want to go.
Going to Furnace quarry 2morrow to take some pics, Put 3 new O2 sensors in the yellow box so I'l prob spend a couple of hours getting the right pic (if everything works) I have a leak in my suit at the arm, so it will be a wet dive but the weatherman said 27 deg so I should dry out quickly :D
How much parking space is there, Gord?
Going out tomorrow with some others: will have to wait & see where they all want to go.
Maybe up to 6 cars? At this time of year it will be fine. When it's wet there's a danger of wheel spins.
I'm heading up the lochs in half an hour dont know where, I'l decide when I get there and hopefully get some good pictures. Hope all you workers are not to jealous. He He ;) after all u can dive tomorrow.
Ended up in Conger alley great viz tons of life crap photos :mad:
the vis was pretty rubbish at Loch fyne
anchor spot
triple reef etc,.
so many loch long was better for you in the end
What was the viz at anchor point like today. We had about 5-6meters at The creggans hotel (PS dont dive there its c--p ) :mad:
about 2-3 at 10-15depth then 4-5 below 15depth
usually its alot better at anchor spot
Did u see anything good? wee should have dived conger alley it deff would have been beter.....