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Photo
by Scalpay Diving Services (click on the photo to go
to their pages).
This
area is popular with local fishermen and divers the
words below are by Phil Jones of Scalpay Diving Services.
DIVING
Old
Creel Gullies lie on the east coast of Scalpay. I gave
them their name after my first dive there during which
I found part of a line of creels which had obviously
been abandoned judging by the frayed rope ends. The
creels were thickly encrusted with growth with signs
that the abandoned catch had been left to their fate.
However, in two of them were the biggest crabs I have
ever seen and in another a large scorpion fish. I cut
the ends of the creels open to avoid further unnecessary
casualties. The current is around 3 - 4 knots on springs
at the edge of the gullies; although in the gullies
you may not notice it until you put your head over the
top. This site is diveable in all but strong east to
north east winds. As with most dives in this area this
is a boat dive with a sharp-eyed boatman if the tide
is running. The visibility in the gullies is usually
very good..
Marine
Life
The
gullies are covered in a kaleidascope of colours with
some very large sponges on the exposed edges. One side
of the specialities of this site is the abundance of
North Sea Fan. At the 25 - 30m mark this snow-white
branched coral looks as though it should be in the Carribbean.
Large cup corals and tube sponges are another rarity
seen in this area. In the shallower water the kelp is
festooned with hydroids, which in turn are grazed by
a variety of nudibranches - a photographers paradise.
This is a good site for dogfish with the larger smooth
hound being found on occassion. This is a rewarding
site ehich is not too strenuous. A long dive can finish
in the shallows at around 4 -5m, just offshore with
no need to worry about decompression. Any novices in
the group can have a very easy dive with plenty to see
without going deeper than 10m.
Porpoise
are often observed passing through the Kyles of Scalpay
and eagles and buzzards are seen over the mountains.
Seals often swim around the boat..
For
further info contact Scalpay
Diving Services
Old
Creel Gullies
Photo
by Scalpay Diving Services (click on the photo to go
to their pages).
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