Isle of Gigha (Geea)

The Island• Community-owned since 2002• most southerly and one of the most

beautiful of the Hebridean Islands• Seven miles long by a mile and a

half wide• three miles west of the Kintyre

peninsular• Sandy beaches, clear green seas, a

host of wildlife and Achamore Gardens to explore

• Hotel, self-catering cottages and many B&B options to choose from

• low lying and influenced by the North Atlantic Drift the climate is drier and warmer

The Island (continued) ...• Named by the Vikings 'Gudey' The

Good Isle or God's Isle• 20 minute roll-on roll-off ferry

journey from Tayinloan on the mainland

• Beautiful bays, stunning views and breathtaking sunsets

• lochs and gently sloping hillsides• plentiful variety of wild and birdlife• Achamore Gardens - over 50

acres of rare and unusual plants surrounded by picturesque woodland

• Nine-hole golf course a short stroll from the ferry and hotel

• watching seals and otters along the shores

Getting there ...

• Follow directions to Glasgow then directions for Tayinloan, Argyle off the A83

• Bury to Ferry 327.2 miles (6 hours)

• Ferry well signposted from the main road

• Caledonian MacBrayne runs a car and passenger ferry to Gigha all year round

Accommodation

Hotel and holiday cottages are owned and run by the Gigha Heritage Trust:

• South Lodge close to South Pier - sleeps eight • Achamore House - 4 star B&B• 9 Ardminish - 3 bedroomed holiday let in Ardminish

village 1 mile from the ferry slip• 5 Ardminish - Self-catering accomodation in the village• Springbank - B&B with stunning views over to Islay• Drumeonbeg• Camping also available

Diving

• The waters around Argyll and its islands are renowned in the UK for the rich and varied experiences they offer divers – wrecks, walls, sealife and scenic

• The area’s underwater landscape is a museum of shipping history

• Complex tidal flows around the islands, prevailing southwest winds pushing shipping close to rocky shores are part of the story

• Harvested a vast collection of ships from the times of the Vikings to the dispersed Spanish Armada through the Jacobite rebellions and two world wars to the present day

Previous Expedition 2009“Operation Sunrise”

• 12 members from 3 branches (Midlancs., Salford Uni., Manchester Uni.) sites included drift dives and reef dives on rarely dived sites

• locating and surveying wrecks HMS Riant, Ospray II, Moncousu, Karlti and U482 for those suitably qualified (trimix)

• Site remote so need own RIB and compressor• Dedicated website

http://www.operationsunrise.co.uk. http://www.bsac.com/page.asp?section=2714

Wreck – HMS Riant (Green Sea)

REQUISITIONED STEAM DRIFTER (20TH CENTURY)Canmore ID 222296Datum Datum not recordedNGR Desc NR c. 584 481Form CasualtyLatitude N 55 40Longitude W 5 50.5

• NR54NE 8002 c. 584 481N55 40 W5 50.5(Former name cited as Green Sea and classified as steam drifter: date of loss cited as 27 January 1940). This vessel was reported damaged and sinking off Gigha (Location cited as N55 40.5 W5 50.5: no stated authority).

Wreck – Isle of Gigha

• Material reported under RoW amnesty (2001): A1464 2 soup plates, 1 clock: from seabed.(No accurate location cited).NMRS, MS/829/35.

• http://www.plimsoll.org/images/90039_tcm4-332874.pdf

Wreck - Barque

• Alternative Names Lein Point; Gigulm; Gigalum Island; Isle Of Gigha; Gigha Island; North Channel; ChallengeSite Type BARQUE (19TH CENTURY)Canmore ID 114924Datum Datum not recordedNGR Desc NR c. 633 455Form CasualtyLatitude N 55 38.7Longitude W 5 45.7

Wreck - Aska

• LINER, STEAMSHIP (20TH CENTURY)Canmore ID 102680Datum WGS84 - Lat/LongLatitude N 55 38.2128Longitude W 5 45.6462

• NW of Cara Isle• Lat (N)55 38' 11 Long (W)05 45' 37• Max Depth10.00• Vessel Type Steel Steamship • Year Sank 1940 - Attacked by German bomber• Scattered wreckage• very exposed

Wreck - Staffa

• SE tip Cath Sgeir Rocks

• Lat (N)55 39' 37 Long (W)05 47' 18

• Max Depth 15.00 

• Vessel Type Iron Steamship

• Year Sank 1886 - Hit rocks

• Well broken but interesting

• Subject to swell 

Wreck - Moncousu

• NE Gigha• Lat (N)55 42' 38 Long (W)05 39' 49 • Max Depth 9.00• Vessel Type Steel Steamship • Year Sank 1943 - Used for bombing practice• First Sank in 1941• Refloated 1943 and re-sunk• Sea life and wrasse

Alternative

North Carolina

East Coast of America

Dive the Graveyard of the Atlantic with Discovery Diving

http://www.discoverydiving.com/

Dive Centre

• Discovery Diving Co.Inc.414 Orange St, Beaufort , NC 28516 www.discoverydiving.com

• 6 or more people $105 (£69.58) per person per day

• one place free with every eight paid• Rent Aluminum 80’s and 100’s with standard

yoke connections cost (as at 6th March 2013)– Air 80 - $5 (£3.31)– Air 100 - $10 (£6.63)– Nitrox (30%) 80 - $12 (£7.95)– Nitrox (30%) 100 - $18 (£11.93)

Best time to go

• Season May-October • visibility often reaching 100 feet• Wetsuits:

– Summer 3mm – Spring or Autumn 5-7mm

• Located on North Carolina's Crystal Coast, Beaufort is a quaint historic fishing town with beaches, golf, fishing and a host of other activities located nearby

How to get there

• Closest airport is Coastal Carolina Regional Airport (EWN) New Bern

• Serviced by Delta (through Atlanta and Philadelphia) and US Airways (through Charlotte)

• pickup at New Bern Airport $350 roundtrip (£231.93)

Accommodation

• House let - Prices for mid-July 2014 (11 days) $2499.50 (£1656.29)- 5 Beds/4 Baths (sleeps 10)

• Core Creek Lodge Beaufort prices start at $49. 95 (£33.10) per day

• Beaufort Harbour Suites, Cedar St. Beaufort - Rates (6th March 2013) May-October:– $125.00(£82.83) Sunday-Thursday – $145.00(£96.08) Friday-Saturday

Diving

• North Carolina diving is best known for its collection of shipwrecks

• In addition there are offshore ledges and shore diving locations