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Edible
Crab
(Photo by Scalpay Diving Services (click on the photo
to go to their pages)
Sgeir
an Daimh lies in the Little Minch at the mouth of Loch
Seaforth. It is a reef rising from a generally flat
bottom at 50m. Breaking surface at low tide about 300m
from the shore.The area has amazing scenery, it is a
great site to be a boatman, the beautiful surrounding
mountains are home to eagles, buzzards and ravens. this
makes sitting in a boat a pleasure. You may even see
whales.
DIVING
There
is no shore access - this is a boat dive. the nearest
launch site is the old ferry slip in Kyles Scalpay.
The reef is swept by moderate tides as the adjacent
loch fills and empties at two or three knots at spring
tides. The site is quite open and becomes undiveable
in strong winds (force 4 or more). The visibility is
usually 10 - 15m with a rising tide giving the best
visibility. The dive is suitable for qualified divers
with experience of currents. The reef falls in steps
to 50m. In parts th 30 - 40m mark is a gentle slope,
so there are not too many drop-offs and plenty of shallow
areas for the less experienced.
Marine
Life
The
top of the reef steps down to 15m and is cut by sandy
bottomed gullies. The sides have Jewel Anemones, plumrose
and dahlia.. Long Clawed Squat Lobsters share the nooks
and crannies with various blennies and gobies. Sea cucumbers
wave their tentacles from their hiding places. The sand
has scallops and sea pen and as you go deeper it is
not unusual to find crawfish walking around totally
unconcerned about your prescence there. Most of the
encrusting life you would expect above 25m, but as you
get deeper you will find large fan worms and Feather
stars on the rocks and a carpet of brittle stars on
the sand. Pollock and wrasse cruise the reef and in
the summer months some of the biggest lions and jelly
fish you will ever see can be found. Porpoise are common
and the seals basking on the rocks at low tide may come
for a look at you as you are diving..
For
further info contact Scalpay
Diving Services
starfish
Photo
by Scalpay Diving Services (click on the photo to go
to their pages).
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