day dive charters for up to 10 passengers

Welcome to our page on dive sites visited on Oban dive charter on tsmv GANNET. 

Enjoy a relaxing dive charter in an area of outstanding beauty on wonderful Argyll dive sites.

Skipper Adrian A Lauder gives his thoughts on some dive  sites visited on tsmv GANNET

AURANIA off Calliach Point, on the north west coat of Mull. The wreckage of this former liner is well broken up and scattered, depth to about 20m. The vis is usually very good, but strong currents and swell can be a problem. Lots of life. A really good dive in the right conditions.

BALLISTA on the westerly point of Rubha an Ridire in the Sound of Mull. Bits of superstructure used to be visible above the water, and were very useful for tying RIBs up to, but as one of my mates found to his cost there are very sharp needle like bits of old railing just below the surface and he holed his Chinook badly. In reasonable condition, and sitting on top of perhaps a total of 5 wrecks, this makes a good second dive, best dived on flood HW. Usually a variety of fish around too.

BREDA my grandfather first took me out to this wreck in Ardmucknish Bay when I was about 6 and we tied his boat to a mast at low water for some fishing. I have had hundreds of dives on it now, and it has changed a lot over the years. In my opinion this should not be looked on as a simple dive, it is as dangerous as you want to make it. She is still a spectacular dive and lots of artifacts are still being found. A must, and good for fishing too. The ship's name plate was found in the last few years, and I was very fortunate to be given a bronze replica cast from it. Another chum has spent numerous holidays recovering all kinds of artifacts including the Delft tiles from the officers heads. In my time I've found paper money, leather, brass pumps, shaving kits, cine films, guns, bottles, boot polish, masks, shoes, and goodness knows what all else.

bronze replica of the name plate from the 'Breda'

DARTMOUTH close to the Ballista, and slightly deeper. Cannon and timbers can still be seen. Another good second dive.

HISPANIA very famous and rightly so. A good way up the Sound of Mull and 15 - 20 m to the decks. Usually good vis, but strong currents mean careful planning to dive at HW / LW Dover to see this excellent wreck at its best. She sits on rocks so you can see the whole of the keel shape. During salvage, the propeller disappeared down the slope and has to date not been recovered. She is listing to starboard a little more each season.


MADAME ALICE can be tricky to find as it is situated in the the Lynn of Lorne, in the path of the Lismore ferry, and isn't usually marked. A deep dive to 46m and the wreck itself is covered in nets, so great care is needed. I've got a porthole from this in my sitting room. Discovered and identified in the last few years by R.N.(Bob) Baird.

MELDON at the entrance of Loch Buie on the west side. Stern breaks the surface at low water. Well broken up in the huge winter swells, but you never know what you can find after a storm. Divers are still recovering coal from it. Exposed from the south, shallow and sometimes excellent fish life.

PELICAN In Tobermory bay, right under Calve Island. A nice wreck, well salvaged, incredible bow - in her day she was the fastest vessel of her type across the Atlantic - but rather silty so you need to move around her very gently.

RONDO in the Sound of Mull, standing on her bow on a steep slope. It gets interesting at 50m where everything has fallen down to. Impressive wreck, but I don't recommend swimming under it, which can be done at approximately 30m and 25m, it's been in the water a bit too long for my liking. I much prefer to swim around the island on either side of the wreck looking at the life and trying to spot lost diving kit.

SHUNA on the other side of the Sound of Mull from the Rondo and a little further up, this collier sprang a leak after grounding on the Grey Rocks and sank bolt upright. Found fairly recently close inshore, decks 16 - 20m, sea bed sand and mud at around 35m. No-one diving this wreck from Gannet is allowed back on board without 'payment' to me of a piece of coal!

This beautiful china sink was found on the wreck of the 'Shuna'. It was made by TC Brown & Co, Stafford

THESIS at the entrance to the Sound of Mull. A really photogenic wreck, especially where the plates have fallen off around the bow. Now over 100 years since the keel was laid. The sea bed is boulders at the bow - well worth rooting around for lost kit - becoming more pebbly towards the stern. About 18m to the bow and about 40m at the stern. Best dived on flood HW Oban, and usually good vis.

TOBERMORY GALLEON - well someone is going to find it aren't they!!

The Morvern Coastline - Rubha an Ridre,
Lynn of Morvern, Shuna Island scenic drift, Eil Glas small scenic wreck,
Lynn of Lorne Camais Nathais - scenic diving almost current free
Firth of Lorne

  Ard na Cuile cliff face

Bach Island scenic drop off, Kerrera drop off at the north west point, Heather Island cliff face, scallop diving in Ardentrive Bay

Lismore - Liath Sgier, Lady's Rock, Bernera, the Lismore Light

Sound of Mull - Cliff diving at Calve Island, the pier at Lochaline, scallop diving all the way up and down the edge, Risga pinnacle in Loch Sunart, New Rocks scenic diving and scallops
Loch Creran - good drift dive at the mouth of Loch Creran, shore dives above the bridge
Loch Etive - Falls of Lora, Kilmaronaig Narrows, from the shore at BonaweQuarry
The Mull Coastline- drift dive from Duart Point to Loch Don, drift dive in Loch Spelve, scenic and scallop diving between Loch Spelve to Loch Buie,
Ardnamurchan Point scenic dive

day dive charters for up to 10 passengers

A&E Lauder © 1998 - 2007