For booking and further information please contact Caroline@scubatravel.com. FULLY BOOKED
In early November 2020, Alex is running his first UK mini-workshop. Alex explains “these trips are about bringing together a small group of photographers and chartering entire dive boats for photography focused diving. Obviously, this makes the diving more expensive, but the payback is a much better experience above and below. No boats with mixed groups of different divers each day, all wanting different types of dive.”
2020 hasn’t been a standard year, but one thing that is dependable is the quality of Scottish west coast diving and the rule that the further north you go, the more spectacular it gets. This workshop trip is heading to one of the remotest and spectacular spots, focusing on the wide angle and macro opportunities offered up by the quality of diving in the far northwest of Scotland (with the confusingly named North East Dive – they are originally from the opposite coast). This sparsely populated area is famed for its very clear waters and dramatic dive sites, with the beautiful and jagged coastline offering seemingly endless dive opportunities, stunning scenery and plenty of sheltered spots from any inclement autumn weather!
The NW Scotland workshop is based around a very small group of photographers, limited to 4/5 individuals (depending on whether a couple takes one of the rooms) with Alex’s workshop focused on both macro and wide angle photography in these waters. Alex adds, “North East Dive’s boat, Keltic Lady (10.5m long, heated cabin, toilet, dive lift, onboard compressor) is certified for 12 divers plus 2 crew and we’ll be half that, giving much more space underwater and aboard. It also means everyone will have separate rooms in the accommodation.”
Alex continues “although I have dived widely in Scotland, this will be my first trip to this exact location. The remote region is celebrated for its rich marine life and very clear waters, especially so this autumn, allowing us to shoot spectacular wide angle and macro images not possible in other parts of the UK. The trip is aimed at British photographers, but is open to anyone who is currently free to travel to this part of Scotland. I hope to run more of these mini-workshops announcing them with just a few weeks notice giving us the best chance of not being affected by the continuing changes in COVID rules.”
North East Dive’s Facebook page shows plenty of photos illustrating the recent diving conditions and sites.
VITALS
Dates: 1st Nov – 5th Nov 2020 on location. Diving 2, 3, 4, 5th, meet up and first workshop session on evening of 1st. Many people will want to break their journey home staying somewhere on the 5th.
Group size: 4 or 5, plus Alex.
Price depends on numbers: if 4 photographers join – £975 per person, if 5 photographers join – £795 per person. Includes:, diving, accommodation (self-catering), air fills (nitrox not included), workshop.
The trip is based around 2 boat dives per day. Extra boat night dives can be easily arranged, weather permitting. Excellent local shore diving is also possible.
Travel: Kinlochbervie (IV27 4RY) is a remote location, requiring photographers to drive themselves. The closest airport (2h 30min) is Inverness and it is possible to fly and hire a car, but for most, it is recommended to drive from home.
The accommodation is a self-catering guest house (that can sleep 12, but we’re limiting to 5/6). The accommodation has 5 bedrooms and 2 shared bathrooms. Note COVID restrictions currently limit the options for eating out, some take away food is available, but the operators “suggest you take food supplies for the duration though there is a local shop and some hotels within Kinlochbervie area if need be.” Rental cylinders and weights can be arranged, but we’d expect most people to bring their own gear.
Who it suits: Alex says “our aim will be photographically productive depths and diving conditions, giving us easy diving where we can focus on photography rather than challenging dives. I’d expect water temps of 12-14˚C, which is similar to the Farnes in summer. The location is remote and a long way even from southern Scotland. If you are wondering if the self-catering accommodation has a spa, this trip isn’t for you!”
For booking and further information please contact Caroline@scubatravel.com
MORE COVID STUFF
Scuba Travel has put considerable effort into planning a safe and enjoyable trip. Please do not book on this trip, if you have COVID symptoms, or are currently self-isolating, or live in an area with current travel restrictions to Scotland because of COVID. Note that this trip might be canceled at short notice because of the requirements of the dive operator to self-isolate or because of changes in regional/national COVID policies. In this case, we would plan to reschedule as soon as possible. Note that Scotland has different Coronavirus (COVID-19) rules to other countries, even within the UK: https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/
The accommodation and diving operation is operating within the published guidelines: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-decontamination-in-non-healthcare-settings
