Dunure Castle, Dunure, South Ayrshire

Type of Dive:                       Shallow scenic

Suggested Experience:   Sport divers who have good navigation skills

Travel directions:               Take M77 to Ayr. Go south on A719 from Ayr and turn off onto loop of road for Dunure.  Once in the village, turn down a road so the scenic harbour is on your RHS.

Parking directions:            Park just round the corner from the harbour.  There is a parking space for 4 cars opposite Kennedy Hall, facing the sea with Dunure Castle to your left.

From St James I’change: 43 miles. 1 hour

OS Map & Grid Ref:           25283, 16437

Lat & Long:                          55:24:091N, 04:45:576W

1:500 000 Map

http://uk2.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=225000&Y=600000&width=500&height=300&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=freegaz&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=&zm=0&scale=500000&up.x=187&up.y=5

1:200 000 Map                     Divesite is at Dunure Village

http://uk2.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=220000&Y=620000&width=500&height=300&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=freegaz&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=&zm=0&scale=200000&right.x=5&right.y=95

1: 25 000 Map:                     Parking is south of the harbour and divesite is south again of that, although north of the castle.

http://uk2.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=225000&Y=615000&width=500&height=300&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=freegaz&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=&zm=0&scale=25000&up.x=184&up.y=7

Site entry/exit:                     There is an easy walk from the parking onto the beach which is stony.  Avoid the sewage pipe directly in front of the parking spot.  A large rock formation splits a bay to the left, from the sewage pipe.  Enter this bay.  The ruined castle is on your right.  The entry/exit is over 20m of shallow boulders and kelp so is tiring both going in and coming out.

Underwater directions:    Swim straight out gradually descending to 6m.  The bottom is shell sand with occasional kelp/seaweed patches.  Ensure you follow steady bearing or be prepared for a long surface swim to finish, as you may be 2 to 300m out while only still in 3 to 4m of water.  There are lots of crabs and starfish on the kelp.

Chart:                                    Unlikely to be added as divesite is so shallow

Divesite map/sketch:        Unlikely to be added as divesite is featureless.

Site Hazards:                      Dogshit (popular spot with dogwalkers), surge and surf at the entry/exit, difficult footing at entry/exit, difficult navigation as so featureless and shallow.

Nearest Public phone:      Unknown

Mobile Network service:  Vodaphone, Orange

Pub:                                       Anchor Inn, Dunure

Other comments:               I would not dive this site again as the dive is not worth the hassle of the entry/exit

Version:                                1.0

Created by:                          alex maclennan

Date:                                      July 2006

Surface Photos:                 Parking spot seen from beach.

Bay entry and exit at low water.  Two rock formations define the bay.

Dunure Castle and bay from one rock formation