Loch Creran with Glasgow Uni SAC

Alex and I are helping out with Glasgow Uni SAC (BSAC) this weekend so we set off for Loch Creran at 7:30 this morning. It was -2 nearly all the way across and we had snow, rain and dismal cloud. We met up with the uni and got started and the clouds cleared giving us a glorious day.

The first dive was at the steps. A nice site and easy to take trainees in. There is plenty of life around underwater even though it is cold.

Second dive was the drift under the bridge on the incoming tide. Sunny at this end so felt good. My group went in last and it was slowing by then but it allowed us to tuck into the lee of the bridge support and have a good look at the gigantic dead mens fingers there. Some of the largest I've seen and they were all feeding. We worked our way across the current towards the shore and came up as the current eased. This photo is how the loch looked as we exited.

We are staying at Corran House tonight and are diving again tomorrow. I'll sleep well.

Well I did sleep well and we spent the Sunday at Puffin harbour getting some of the drills for sports diver completed. It always seems successful when you get people progressing so well. They are a good crowd learning in the uni at present and enjoy the diving. Puffin harbour is not my favorite site but it is very suitable for training.

Weightbelts were a topic of conversation as many of the trainees were still trying to get their weight right. As ever early progression was leading to a reduction in weight. Interestingly all of the instructors wore harnesses instead of weightbelts. We also had some problems with weightbelts falling off or, in some cases, refusing to fall off. When the stab jacket is over the weightbelt it does hold it on rather well. I'll probably come back to weightbelts another time as it has become a big thnking point with me. Are we still looking at the problem as it was 60 years ago and not taking into account the changes in kit configuration?  Discuss.