Gigha Dive 2021

Last weekend we returned to Ferry Farm at Tayinloan, a perfect base for diving the west coast of the Kintyre Peninsula, south east Islay and Rathlin. Tayinloan has a commercial ferry slip which can be used for launching boats at all states of the tide.

After many weeks of calm and sunny weather we were greeted by strong winds and low cloud on Friday morning as we drove round to the west coast. A quick change of plan from west to east coast provided sheltered conditions on the wreck of the Margaret Niven in Loch Fyne, if nothing else to check our equipment and more importantly those using it!

Friday Dive – the Margaret Niven was a small iron steamlighter launched in 1866 at Port Glasgow. The 63 foot long vessel was on a voyage from Crarae Quarry, Loch Fyne to Glasgow with a full cargo of stone chips when she ran aground north of Tarbert, Loch Fyne in 1908. The wreck lies on a muddy seabed 50 metres north east of a small reef known locally as the “Bauld Heid”, aka Sgeir Mhada Cinn, just north of Barmore Island. The reef is marked by a metal pole, positioned at a suitably jaunty angle. The wreck lies between 24 and 28 metres on a gently sloping mud and stone seabed, the remains are essentially the hull, damaged propellor, vertical boiler, small engine, bow winch and her cargo of stone chips. We will upload a page on this wreck shortly, but here are some images from the dive with visibility around 3-4 metres.

Saturday Dives – overnight the wind had dropped a bit and we decided to dive west side as the wind was due to drop away early afternoon. We headed for the only metal on the east side of Gigha, the remains of the SS Mon Cousu that was moored as a bombing target at the north end of the Sound of Gigha in late 1943 and by early 1944 was so damaged that she sank and was later salvaged in situ. What little remains of the 235 foot long vessel lies in 8-10 metres and provides a very colourful reef for a wide range of sealife and is a great subject for underwater photography. Visibility was around 5-6 metres, probably reduced by the blow on Thursday through Friday.

As forecast, the weather conditions improved early afternoon and we moved round to the west coast of Gigha to dive the wreck of the Admiralty steam drifter Riant. The conditions looked great on site and the shot could be seen many metres below the boats. The wreck lies in 31-34 metres although pieces of debris extend down to 36m on the south side. The Riant is a shadow of when I first dived her with Gus Newman from Islay, as she received the attentions of a large scallop trawler many years ago and was basically flattened midships, her bow and stern were also badly damaged. Details of the Riant can be found here Riant. 

Sunday Dives – at last, the wind had dropped away and we have a flat calm conditions. We are returning to two wrecks south of Tayinloan the steam trawler Ospray II and a paddle tug which we believe is called the Universe. Both lie off Bellochantuy a small village on the Campbeltown road. First to be visited was the Ospray II, once a beautiful wreck, again found by Gus Newman, but sadly its been smashed by scallop dredgers. The main features remaining are main trawl winch, boiler, steam engine and propellor. Details of the Ospray II can be found here Ospray II.

The second wreck to be visited was the Universe, fortunately she has avoided the attentions of any fishing activity, with no nets, buckie pots, ropes or any debris. This wreck lies in 62 metres and rises between 2-4 metres. Visibility of the wreck was very good, probably 10-12 metres, sealife has coated the paddle box framing with dense clumps of orange and white plumose anemones, shoals of small fish and large bib swam around the central section. We hope to add a page for this wreck once we have concluded a bit more research into her loss, but here are some pictures from the dive.