Aberdeen University SAC took on the capricious weather of Western Scotland, making the most of sea loch scenery pasta that could win awards. Sunny skies greeted us the following day for rescue training and a relaxing bonfire dinner.
The shore diving paradise that is Loch Duich
Legends of the Loch
CLUB: Aberdeen University Sub Aqua Club( AUSAC) DESTINATION: Loch Duich, western Scotland
OBJECTIVES: To provide hands-on open water training for 11 Ocean Diver trainees and offer thrilling exploration dives for qualified members, all while soaking in the wild beauty of the Highlands and encountering Scotland’ s incredible marine life.
Aberdeen University SAC took on the capricious weather of Western Scotland, making the most of sea loch scenery pasta that could win awards. Sunny skies greeted us the following day for rescue training and a relaxing bonfire dinner.
A night dive gave our fun divers a magical encounter with an octopus and krill, followed by more qualifications at Leith Allt Bridge. While some wrestled with the broken compressor( it took five hours of work) others toasted marshmallows around the fire. The final day delivered even more qualifications – 10 in total – plus a cheeky flyover from an F-15 jet to round off our Highland adventure.
LOGBOOK MOMENT: Watching 10 trainees qualify under blue skies while cat sharks cruised by below and fighter jets soared overhead was a surreal and proud moment for all. Scotland delivered both above and below the surface.
DIVE TEAM: Amy Lowrie; Anastasia Goelitz; Alastair Eberst; Ben Henstock; Caitlin McLeod; Ewan Hamilton; Fiona Nicolson; Finn Hilton; Jack Mitchell; Liam Little; Louis Harrison; Matthew Allison; Matthew Watson; Morgan Irvine; Nathaniel Crook( Trip Leader); Niamh Robinson; Paul Di Placido; Rachitha Kumar; Tess Crooks; Torsten Diem.
The Aberdeen massive enjoying the sun
THE TRIP: AUSAC’ s Easter trip to Loch Duich saw 11 Ocean Diver trainees, five fun divers, and four instructors( including Alistair and Torsten from Dundee – legends!) take on all the elements Scotland could throw at us. We arrived to hail, sun, snow, and rain, kicking off with our first dives at Ardearg Cemetery. Despite the weather, spirits were high as trainees got their first underwater experience.
The next day at the Boathouse, all divers completed two scenic dives – one group even spotted some sleeping cat sharks. We celebrated trainee Matthew’ s birthday that evening with cake, laughs, and the kind of
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