Cove Bay, Cove, Loch Long

Type of Dive:                       Muddy slope

Experience suggested:    Suitable for trainees and novice divers

Travel directions:               From A82 on Loch Lomondside take the A817 through Glen Fruin turning left at roundabout onto the A814.  Continue north through Garelochhead and either follow the Coulport road then B833 south or follow round B833 along the west side of the Gareloch through Rosneath, Kilcreggan and then Cove.

Parking Directions:           There is a large ‘scenic’ laybye with picnic tables on the lochside of the road at a signpost for ‘Linn Gardens and Nursery’.  Park here.

From Little Chef, Milton:   33 miles, 45 minutes

OS Map & Grid Ref:           Map 55; 22099, 83028

Lat & Long:                          56:00:179N, 04:51:186W

1:200 000 Map

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=240000&Y=690000&width=700&height=400&gride=248061.11103526&gridn=664111.167589999&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=freegaz&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=true&zm=0&scale=200000&left.x=7&left.y=144

1:25 000 Map:                      Site is Midway between ‘Cove’ and ‘Knockderry Castle’

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=223000&Y=682000&width=700&height=400&gride=248061.11103526&gridn=664111.167589999&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=5

Site entry/exit:                     There is a short two tiered seawall to cross and then you are on a shingle shore.  There are a number of private yacht moorings in the bay.

Underwater directions:    The UW topography is a rather featureless shallow muddy sandy slope.  Some scallops.  Depth eventually reaches 30+m.  No divesite map.  There is a wreck marked on the chart in the centre of the bay at 26m.  It is not, to my knowledge, buoyed.  Fin straight out, pick depth and work your way back.

Site Hazards:                      Several sewage pipes open into the bay.  The bay is open to westerlies.  Boat traffic in summer

Nearest Public phone:      At Cove Village Store

Mobile Network service:  Not checked

Pub:                                       Knockderry House Hotel about 1 mile further north

Thanks to:                            Charlie Ramage of Dumbarton Scot SAC for information on the divesite and the UW topography

Version:                                1.0

Created by:                          alex maclennan

Date:                                      December 2006

Surface Photos:                 Laybye looking north and south.

Seawall is only about 2 feet high

Looking towards Blairmore

Photomontage of bay