An August weekend saw us heading up to Lochaline to meet up with the MV Brendan for four days diving around the small isles, Muck, Eigg, Rhum and Canna. The trip was organised by Deep Blue Scuba and as usual Beth did a fabulous job of looking after us, both by supervising the diving, and by feeding us all!
The diving was just amazing. We started off with the wreck of the Shuna in the Sound of Mull where we saw a dolphin while ascending the shot, and then 3 dolphins continued to play around the boat and divers in the water. Virtually every dive Ruth and I saw a species we had not seen in the UK before!
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The main accomodation on Muck.
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The annexe that Ruth and I stayed in with a cast of special guests.
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Ruth surveys...
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...the spectacular view over the bay!
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The harbour on Eigg.
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Is the camera working? Good!
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First new species, at a site called Rubh na Crannaig on Eigg - a brown sea cucumber.
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A large Edible Crab defending his corner. Wouldn't you if your name was "Edible". Must make you kind of edgy...
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Urchin feeding.
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Juvenile Goldsinny Wrasse (?) in the weed.
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A site on Rhum called Mora - Juvenile Pollack - millions of these!
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The colours you see without a torch/flash. Greeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnn!
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Another new species, the lesser spotted Ruth.
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A large (over a foot across) seven armed starfish.
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Another feeding urchin on the weed-line at the top of the wall.
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Kelp forrest.
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Cotton-spinner sea cucumber.
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Painted top-shell.
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House and (strange) Mausoleum on Rhum...
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...and spectacular geology too!
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The Rhum coast.
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Another defensive Edible Crab, this time at a site called Windmills on Muck, with a Northern Sea Fan.
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Urchin, Dead Mens Fingers and encrusting anemones at the top of a wall, just below the kelp line.
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David - my buddy for one dive when Ruth was tired.
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Plumose anemone.
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Spiny starfish
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Not a very good picture, but this was the only one I got of a spiny squat lobster.
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Another spiny starfish among anemones.
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Devonshire cup coral.
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Long clawed squat lobster in his hole.
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Fish and stuff. I dunno.
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Anemone Wall on the mainland - Velvet Swimming Crabs mating...
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An agressive long-clawed squat lobster.
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A squat long-clawed squat lobster.
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A large male Cuckoo Wrasse with a smaller Goldsinny Wrasse.
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Sponge.
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Jewel Anemones, presumably explaining how the site got its name.
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Another anemone.
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Well camouflaged Velvet Swimming Crab.
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Plumose Anemones in different colours.
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Large Dahlia Anemone.
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The lighthouse at Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly point on the british mainland.
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The isle of Muck recedes into the distance as we round the point and re-enter the sound of Mull.
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Ruth on porpoise watch - we saw lots of porpoises on the journey back.
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Divers chilling out in the wheelhouse - what is Derek reading though? Shameful...
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Kit at the ready for one last dive at Calve Island.
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A large common sunstar.
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Doesn't look like much does it...
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...but when disturbed it turns out to be a scallop and swims off...
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...before settling and opening up to feed.
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Cuckoo Wrasse, bright colours really showing here.
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A little Goldsinny Wrasse defends his hole.
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Football Sea Squirt.
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Feather-star.
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Peacock Worm, gently filter feeding.
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Another squat lobster.
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Anemone.
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More anemones. Spotting a theme?
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Ha - gotcha, not an anemone. I think this is a Ballan Wrasse, but I'm not entirely sure
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Another feather star.
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A very green Devonshire Cup Coral, very green...
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Goldsinny Wrasse.
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BIG Ballan Wrasse feeding, with a red cushion star.
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Colourful crevice in the rock.
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A goldsinny wrasse, a starfish, and if you look closely a Leopard Spotted Goby.
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Ruth again - don't know why I'm getting that look...
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Small pollack over weed as we come up for our final safety stop of the trip.
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Ruth getting back on board, a fantastic long weekends diving done!
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