SHORE DIVING SITE PRO FORMA

Calve Island, off Tobermory, Isle of Mull

Type of Dive: Wall dive from a boat

Experience suggested: Sport diver

Travel directions: Dayboats or RIBs can set off from Oban (2 hours), Lochaline (1 hour), or Tobermory (20 mins).

From Little Chef, Milton: 80m, 1 ½ to 2 hours to Oban

OS Map & Grid Ref: OS Map 47; 521 555

Lat & Long: 56:37:478N; 006:02:540W

1:500 000 Map Showing from Oban right out the sound of Mull

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=150000.222465742&Y=725000.45863902&width=700&height=400&gride=232903.222465742&gridn=730389.45863902&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=freegaz&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=true&zm=0&scale=500000&up.x=287&up.y=7

1:200 000 Map: Showing the Sound of Mull with Calve Island at its top end

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=150000&Y=760000&width=700&height=400&gride=232903.222465742&gridn=730389.45863902&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=freegaz&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=true&zm=0&scale=200000&downright.x=67&downright.y=5

1:200 000 Map: Showing Calve Island and Ardnamurchan/ Loch Sunart

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=170000&Y=750000&width=700&height=400&gride=232903.222465742&gridn=730389.45863902&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=freegaz&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=true&zm=0&scale=200000&upleft.x=4&upleft.y=6

1:25 000 Map: Of Calve Island

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=152000&Y=754000&width=700&height=400&gride=232903.222465742&gridn=730389.45863902&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=freegaz&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=true&zm=0&scale=25000&up.x=289&up.y=6

Site entry/exit: The diveboat can take you to within 10m of the Island.

Underwater directions: The wall runs from the NW tip of Calve Island called Rubh an Righ to about midway along the NE facing shore of the island to about Bodach a Chailbhe (see 1:25 000 chart). There is an initial 8 to 10m steep bouldery slope covered in kelp. Below this is a vertical wall which falls to about 40/45m said to be a muddy bottom thereafter. The wall is filled with vertical striations, chimneys and gullies. The topography mirrors the appearance of the short cliffs on the island above the water. Depending on current, which is not usually a problem, either drift or fin along the wall at depth of your choosing. Lots of life on the wall and in the cracks especially Devon cup corals, sponges, sea squirts and anemones.

As you continue further along the island heading SE along the wall past Sgeir Calve, the wall becomes a steep boulder slope. Not as dramatic but still a good dive because of the amount of life in the cracks and crevices.

Two line drawings from Gordon Ridley’s Dive West Scotland Volume 1