Loch Fyne & Loch Long · United Kingdom · Reef · Night
The Caves
Giant boulders on a steep slope, capped with plumose anemones
The Caves is a Loch Long shore dive on a steep slope of large boulders; the only caves are the spaces under some boulders, just big enough for a diver to swim under. Plumose anemones cover the tops of the rocks and shoals of saithe and pollock hang over them. It is at its best when the visibility is good and is a favourite for night dives.
Also known as Loch Long Caves.
Where it is and how deep
56.1801° N, 4.7751° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Divers enter on a steep slope and descend to the left to a small cliff, then follow its base down to 30 m, where it turns left. Large boulders line the bottom until a broken-shell slope rises after about ten minutes, the point to turn back. The return climbs diagonally to 15 m along the tops of the big rocks, with plumose anemones and shoals of saithe and pollock, until the boulders give way to a steep shingle slope at the exit.
Marine life and season
- Reef fish swarms
| 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
- The entry and exit through the tunnel and down the steep slope to the water can be difficult.
- Depth and darkness make this a spooky dive.
- Fast cars on the A814 pass the parking spot.
Dive videos
Scuba Diving The Caves on Loch Long - Scottish Scuba Diving · Blue Horizon Diving on YouTube
Sources
- The caves — Finstrokes
More dive sites in Loch Fyne & Loch Long
Sand slope
Rocky outcrops on a shingle slope below a castle
Wreckage of an old dynamited pier on a gentle reef slope
Small life hiding in the debris under an old pier
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