Inverness Sub Aqua Club (ISAC)

https://youtu.be/F-pJOAqm4q4

A very pleasant early morning dive with Marg Baldwin yesterday.

Just the two of us, so we had the whole sea loch to ourselves.

A really, sunny spring morning, so the dive was nice and bright, although the vis wasn't great.

Nice to get back in the water again, after missing diving last weekend.

Paul Stariski 2026 #13 Dive 388 North Strome 25 04 26

https://youtu.be/6h-ZAxm0pUQ

With only a 1.53m tidal range in Loch Carron this weekend, it would have been rude not to dive at Conservation Bay.

The Met Office weather forecast was for light winds, but with an 80% to 90% chance of rain, so perhaps that was why we were the only group diving there. However, the Met Office got it completely wrong, and we had a lovely, bright and very dry morning.

There were seven ISAC divers in our group: me, Doug Cowie, Chris Nall, Rie Pors, Antoni Gomez, Sara Nason & our latest new member' Anne Buchan.

A very pleasant dive, and to top it all, the conger was in residence, when we got to the crack in the wall. We also found a couple of lobsters hiding under rocks on our way back.

Thanks again guys for a great morning's dive, and I even got back home in time for lunch!

2026 #8 Dive 383 Conservation Bay 14 03 26 With only a 1.53m tidal range in Loch Carron this weekend, it would have been rude not to dive at Conservation Bay.The Met Office weather forecast was for li...

https://youtu.be/pGezoNBdc9I

A lovely, relaxed dive yesterday at North Strome . Perfectly still and sunny, we were treated to a chilled dive, with calm waters and some spring sunshine.

We had 5 ISAC divers on this occasion. I buddied with new ISAC member, Paul Clunes, whilst Marg Baldwin paired up with Bally Philp. The four of us made our way over to the reef, whilst Doug Cowie went out looking to find more transect pins on the maerl bed.

A very gentle drift out to the reef, then we turned around, as agreed, once one of us reached 140bar. We had a slight head current on the way back, but nothing to be alarmed at.

A very chilled dive indeed.

2026 #06 Dive 381 North Strome Slip 28 02 26 A lovely, relaxed dive yesterday at North Strome . Perfectly still and sunny, we were treated to a chilled dive, with calm waters and some spring sunshine.We...

https://youtu.be/0svnXu9gMUQ

A lovely relaxed dive at Conservation Bay on a sunny, and chilly morning (-3°C at Achnasheen on the way there, with quite a lot of snow across the road).

The tide was a little slow in turning, so we had a gentle drift round to the crack, and a little head current on our way back. However, this wasn't a real problem for us.

When we got round to the crack, the conger eel was poking his head out, but quickly retreated into his hiding place when I started filming him.

A very nice dive indeed.

2026 #05 Dive 380 Conservation Bay 14 02 26 https://youtu.be/0svnXu9gMUQ A lovely relaxed dive at Conservation Bay on a sunny, and chilly morning (-3°C at Achnasheen on the way there, with quite a lot ...

https://youtu.be/YWR6Qz2dnuA

A fascinating dive today with George Brown & Doug Cowie, trying to mark out the transepts for the BHA Maerl Survey.

We didn't find all of the pins to mark, but at least we managed to mark those pins we found.

We spent an hour underwater looking for those elusive pins. Perfect slack water dive, with no current to speak of.

A really interesting, task loaded dive. Hopefully we'll get the others next time.

2026 #4 Dive 379 North Strome Maerl Survey Marking 08 02 26 A fascinating dive today with George Brown & Doug Cowie, trying to mark out the transepts for the BHA Maerl Survey.We didn't find all of the pins to mark, bu...

https://youtu.be/F3N_Fz3GPNw

A very high energy and exciting drift dive from Castle Bay to North Strome Slip in Loch Carron.

Doug lead Becky Hitchin and I on this dive, as we'd never done it before.

We entered at Castle Bay just after low tide (3.8m range today) and finned out to the western end of Eilean an Fhraoich (Heather Island). At this point, the tide picked us up and channelled us down through a narrow gap, and into the tidal flow taking us east along the bottom of the island back towards the slip.

This was a bit of a whirlwind of a ride along the base of the island, which was covered in dead men's fingers. The current carried us along, as well as up and down in some cases (at one point I was concerned I was making a rather rapid ascent).

At one point Doug and I were ahead of Becky, so we turned around and had to use our scooters on full power, just so we could stay stationary in order for Becky to drift towards us.

Then shortly after that, we hit a counter current, which seemed to be taking us back out west. However, at this point we were due to turn north-east towards the slip, which no sooner took us out of that current into the path of a north to south flow (again, we had to use our scooters to help us make headway).

Once we got round the corner, we hit calmer water and Doug lead us straight onto the markers for the maerl bed. From there it was a leisurely fin back to the slip.

A great dive. I'd love to do it again on a neapier tide, so I can take the scenery in at a more leisurely pace! Thanks again to Doug for his guidance and to Becky as a good dive buddy.

2026 #03 Dive 378 Drift Dive from Castle Bay to North Strome Slip 31 01 26 A very high energy and exciting drift dive from Castle Bay to North Strome Slip in Loch Carron.Doug lead Becky Hitchin and I on this dive, as we'd never done...

https://youtu.be/rjpdwPSfdYA

Second dive of the year. Back at North Strome Slip.

This time I went out with Antoni Gomez and new ISAC member Bally Philp, whilst Doug and George headed out to inspect the maerl bed.

We were hoping for a reasonable slack water dive with a tidal range of 3.7m. However, slack water didn't last very long. We had only just reached the reef with enough time to watch a large lobster out and about, and head along the wall for about 15m, when the tide started to turn, so we turned back.

A short (37minute dive), but enjoyable just the same.

2026 #02 Dive 377 North Strome Slip 25 01 26 https://youtu.be/rjpdwPSfdYASecond dive of the year. Back at North Strome Slip.This time I went out with Antoni Gomez and new ISAC member Bally Philp, whilst...

https://youtu.be/RduNSzYGN-U

First dive of 2026, at my favourite site; Conservation Bay, Loch Carron.

Just three divers today, Doug, me and Anne Buchan, on a chilly and slightly damp day.

A wonderful dive, with lots to see, including a very relaxed corkwing wrasse and one of the resident lobsters.

Once we submerged, Doug headed off for the wall at speed, whilst Anne and I followed on at a more leisurely pace. I couldn't quite understand what his hurry was, however I soon found out when I got the the crack in the wall:-) Please watch the video to see what I found there.

A great dive, thank you Doug & Anne.

2026 #01 Dive 376 First Dive of 2026 Conservation Bay Loch Carron 17 01 26 https://youtu.be/RduNSzYGN-UFirst dive of 2026, at my favourite site; Conservation Bay, Loch Carron.Just three divers today, Doug, me and Anne Buchan, on a c...

By the way, just wanted to let you all know that I am now a qualified BSAC Open Water Instructor. My thanks go to Tom & Doug , and all club members for encouraging me and helping me to get there.

So now I am an instructor, I would like to extend my invitation to all club members who, either wish to complete their Ocean Diver training, or who are currently moving on to Sports Diver, or Dive Leader, I am here for you.

So please let me know if you want any help, as I am keen to use my new Instructor rubber stamp (below) in your log books:-)

Here's to an exciting 2026!

https://youtu.be/CFYWyBq0-9Q

Last dive of 2025, my 70th this year.

A very pleasant ISAC dive with 7 members heading out to the reef at North Strome Slip.

A lovely calm and sunny (chilly) day.

A nice end to this year's diving. It's been a wonderful year for diving, but I've not been out as much as I'd have liked to have been due to injuries, etc. So here's to an even better diving year in 2026.

2025 #70 Dive 375 North Strome Slip Loch Carron Last dive of 2025, my 70th this year.A very pleasant ISAC dive with 7 members heading out to the reef at North Strome Slip.A lovely calm and sunny (but chill...