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A calm blue sea loch framed by green grass and a single palm-like tree, with headlands under a partly cloudy sky — Lochbay Pinnacles, Isle of Skye

Isle of Skye · United Kingdom · Pinnacle · Night

Lochbay Pinnacles

Pinnacles shaped like massive shark's teeth, a favourite for night dives

Photo: Nick Mutton · CC BY-SA 2.0

The Lochbay Pinnacles lie three-quarters of a mile from the dive centre at Lochbay in Waternish, in a sheltered sea loch. Shaped like massive shark's teeth, they are a favourite spot for night dives, with steep faces to follow down to a silty bottom.

Also known as Lochbay pinnacles.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Lochbay Pinnacles: typical dive 6–22 m (20–72 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit6 m22 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

57.5161° N, 6.5736° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The pinnacles drop almost sheer on two sides and at a steep angle on the third, from 6 to 22 m, and a pinnacle can be circumnavigated in one dive. Its many cracks and crevices are cloaked in colour and life. The site is sheltered enough to dive in a south-west gale, and although the silty bottom is easily disturbed, it is a favourite spot for night dives.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Lochbay Pinnacles
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood

Season follows Isle of Skye: Diving runs all year when the weather allows, and winter calm spells can bring excellent visibility.

Know before you go

  • The silty bottom around the pinnacles is easily disturbed.

Dive videos

Lochbay Pinnacles, NW Skye · Dive & Sea the Hebrides on YouTube

Sources

  1. Skye Diver: Exploring the Majestic Underwater Realms of Scotland's Isle of Mist — Divernet
  2. Lochbay Pinnacles & Islands — Dive & Sea The Hebrides
  3. Progressive & Shelter — Dive & Sea The Hebrides
  4. OpenStreetMap — OpenStreetMap

Photo credits

More dive sites in Isle of Skye

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Pinnacle

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