Loch Fyne & Loch Long · United Kingdom · Sand slope · Reef
Carrick Castle
Rocky outcrops on a shingle slope below a castle
Carrick Castle is a shore dive on Loch Goil from the beach beside the castle. A shingle and sand slope at about 30 degrees runs down from the shore, with rocky outcrops that draw sea life. It is used for training and large groups, and the old pier is the focus of the dive.
0Where it is and how deep
56.1088° N, 4.9055° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Divers enter from the beach to the right of the castle and swim out towards the pier, which is generally the best part of the dive. From there the seabed falls away to 32 m as shingle and sand, broken by occasional rocky outcrops where most of the sea life gathers.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Loch Fyne & Loch Long: Diving runs all year with no standout month; long spells of rain leave the water dark and murky, and settled weather clears it.
Know before you go
- Boat traffic, though rare.
Dive videos
Carrick Castle may 23 · Fyne Diving on YouTube
Sources
- Carrick castle — Finstrokes
More dive sites in Loch Fyne & Loch Long
Wreckage of an old dynamited pier on a gentle reef slope
Reef
Giant boulders on a steep slope, capped with plumose anemones
Small life hiding in the debris under an old pier
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