News
Diving the Scottish Lochs in Luxury
One of our favourite weekend diving trips has to be to head up to the Scottish Lochs and do some shore diving. As there are a host of shore diving opportunities, you can set your own agenda, it is not too expensive and there is always plenty of marine life. So, for our first UK sea water dives this year, we planned to dive Loch Long and Loch Fyne.
On previous trips, we had passed an intriguing looking holiday park with wooden cabins, situated right on the shores of Loch Long, and so we decided to book in for three nights to see if this would suit groups of divers and our future trips. We headed up the M6 on Friday afternoon, ensuring that we could make it to Fyne Brewery in time to stock up on a mini cask (or two) of their wonderful Jarl for the weekend, and then checked in at Ardgarten Argyll Forest Holidays. We were eager to find out what our accommodation for the weekend was going to be like. We had booked a two-bedroom cabin, with friends joining us for the weekend and we were directed to a cabin overlooking the loch. It was perfect! The cabins have a log fire and underfloor heating for the cooler evenings, kitchen, outside BBQ area and above all, a hot tub with an amazing view! This place was going to be perfect to unwind and warm up after some early season diving. After much deliberation (not really) we decided to spend the the first part of the evening relaxing in the hot tub, with a glass of ale.
The next day we met up with some divers from our local dive centre in Manchester, DiveLife UK. We headed to Loch Fyne for some easy-going shore diving, just off an old, concrete jetty. The water was still only 6-8 degrees and the marine life had yet to really come into its own, but the dive still provided us with some lovely firework anemones, loads of squat lobsters and even some nudibranch eggs and a catshark egg case (a first for us in UK waters).
Back at our cabin, we were keen to see what the local dive, right off the slipway in front of our cabin was like. Clubs could even use this slip to launch RIBs for some boat diving here. A nice easy entry into the water led us out to deeper water and we dropped down and decided to head towards another site, Two Piers, which was nearby. Our route found us taking in small rocks and debris that were covered in orange and white dead mans finger coral. Pipefish hid in seaweed and hermit crabs scuttled away from us as we passed over the silty sea bed. A little later in the season would see loads more marine life here too, and we plan to head back and dive here again later in the summer.
The hot tub was calling, after a day of diving in cold water. With our gear drying off on our decking and the BBQ lit, we gazed out over the loch, glass of champagne in hand, hoping to catch a glimpse of the whales that had been sighted in the loch in the past few days.
The following day we decided to explore this beautiful region. The cabins are set in woodland and there are dedicated trails to follow. We did a mini beach clean before heading to Arrochar, the village where we were married many years ago, for dinner. This was the perfect weekend for us. We could do as much, or as little, diving as we wanted to, with a whole host of great shore dives within reach and the perfect place to unwind with friends at the end of the day.
For more information about our accommodation at Forest Holidays, click here.
Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver – with the three new main regulators from DYNAMICNORD, everyone will find their favourite regulator. They all look super stylish.
Excellent performance with the TR-80
Quality and performance are the be-all and end-all for regulators. It is not for nothing that the TR stands for Tec Reg. The innovative design of the TR-80 guarantees absolute reliability – even in ice-cold waters.
Perfect breathing effort at 0.8 J/l / certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / structural design made of solid brass for best cold protection / membrane-compensated design with dry seal of the first stage / reduced exhalation effort thanks to optimized exhalation membrane and bubble deflector / adjustable Venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort / innovative design of the front cover prevents free-flow in strong currents or when diving with scooters / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 LP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Amazing underwater adventures with the IR-50
The IR-50 is the top regulator for advanced and experienced divers. Natural breathing is the essence of this regulator.
Ideal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / compensated membrane / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort/ outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
The Workhorse – our CS-30
For diving centres and diving beginners – the workhorse stands for strong construction, reliability and robustness. Perfect for your training.
Optimal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /recommended for diving in waters above 10 degrees / non-compensated piston / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) / outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 1 HP and 3 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Octopus OP-30
The OP-30 is the ideal addition to all DYNAMICNORD regulators. It is identical in construction to the CS-30.
The TR-80, IR-50, CS-30 (DIN & INT) regulators and the Octopus OP-30 are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers and in the online store.
DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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