UK Diving Places To Dive

As you travel through the wild beauty of the western highlands of Scotland, the anticipation mounts. When you approach Ullapool, you catch a glimpse of the sea and then you inhale that crisp ozone smell which promises all the wonder of the oceans. The further north you get, the more obvious it becomes that this is a trip well off the beaten track – in fact as you approach Achiltibuie there is barely a track discernible. And the last few miles of twists and turns are through some of the most spectacular scenery imaginable.

The Summer Isles are among the best- kept secrets in UK diving – known to only a few, there is only one liveaboard operator, but hundeds of terrific dives. Achiltibuie is your starting point for all diving in the isles – though there can be pick-up from Ullapool by arrangement. Atlantic Diving Services at Achiltibuie (a-kil-tee-boo-ee) is owned and run by Andy Holbrow and partner Clare Greathead and operates from Badentarbat Pier on a headland which juts out into the Atlantic.

The Summer Isles are made up of some 30 islands and as many rocky outcrops, with the largest being Tanera Mhor, 3km west of the mainland. At the turn of the century it had a population of more than 70 people. Since 1946 it has been largely uninhabited, more recently nothing more than holiday cottages. But in the last few years a new landowner once more has started farming the fertile land.

The celebrated naturalist Dr Fraser Darling, author of the Natural History of the Highlands and Islands, lived on this island and wrote extensively about the Summer Isles. The other larger islands are Horse Island, Priest Island, Isle Ristol, Isle Martin, Tanera Beag, Eilean Dubh, Eilean Mullagarch, Glas-leac Mor and Glas-leac Beag.

London-bred Andy, 31, a well-qualified instructor (and commercial diver) and Clare, 30, who has a marine biology degree, have made the Summer Isles their home and their business since 1991. They met when she was studying in Plymouth and he was working as an instructor at nearby Fort Bovisand, with the idea of setting up on his own.

‘We looked at a few places on the west of Scotland’, says Holbrow, ‘but one had too many dive boats, another was too exposed... And then we got to Ullapool and stayed. As soon as you come here you understand why ... it is very scenic’. They converted a former crab and lobster, steel fishing boat, the MV Heron, and fully equipped her for diving. She has just been sold to Craig and his partner Fiona Ward, who are starting up a day-diving operation, while Atlantic Diver is the name of Andy’s new boat, which goes into action this month as both a liveaboard and a day boat charter. She is a 65ft wooden passenger vessel, built in 1957 and converted to take 12 passengers. There is an on-board compressor and airbank to 300 bar, two heads and two showers. There is a full medical kit with oxygen, radar, echo-sounder and ship-to-shore radio. The boat also has a canopy for those rougher days. Atlantic Diving Services can provide spare air bottles and weights, but it’s best to take all your kit with you.