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I got up one Saturday morning thinking that I was in for a days work round the house, I had just put up new guttering and had the underside of the wood to paint, as well as cut the grass and other bits and bobs. My mobile phone rang and it was Jim Guild, DO from the Paisley branch " Rab I'm on my way to the rugby so I will make this quick, there's a place on the boat tomorrow going out to the Garvellachs, do you want to go? ". Well I have always wanted to go there so I said " yes, but where are we sailing from? " "We have to be at Craobh Haven marina for 9.30am" "never herd of the place, I'll come and stay with you in Glasgow tonight if it's ok" " no problem phone Carol Anne and let her know you are coming through"

So with that, it was sort out my dive kit and away into Edinburgh to get cylinders filled and to go food shopping for the house, the least I could do.
Haddington in East Lothian to Johnston in Glasgow is nearly an hour and a half, not to bad. After a bottle of wine and a good blether with Jim & Carol Anne, of to bed, we have an early start. I was driving with Jim, Carol Anne and Yvonne in another car. Right Jim" where am I heading for?" "Head for Lochgilphead" so off we went. For anyone that does not know, Lochgilphead is at the bottom of loch Fyne. It's a fair wee drive even from Glasgow. From they're you head for Kilmartin; follow the road until you see the signpost for Craobh Haven marina

There we met the rest of the gang, Russell (rusty) Craig and Tony, ideal only seven on the boat. The boat, Farsain is a Mitchell 31` all mod cons, toilet, cooker, teas and coffee. Our skipper for the day was Lindsay Johnston he knows the area well and can be contacted on 01852 500540 or 0774 7023038. We could not have picked a better day, brilliant sunshine and flat calm waters. We motored past Shuna and Luing towards Scarba to a small stretch of water between Scarba and Lunga isle. On the chart it called "Bealach a`Choin Ghlais" the tide rips through here so fast the skipper told me that he could not get through here the other day, the locals call it the "Grey Dogs". I have no idea why, but we got through today and on to the Garvellachs.The scenery was stunning.

We started to get our kit together as we arrived at the first dive site, all scenic to day, first was a wall that led down to 40m. Myself and Carol Anne waited until the rest were in, drop in and to my disappointment the visibility was not as good as I was expecting, the wall is covered with all sorts of life and lots of wrasse. Down to 37m, 2mins before deco and we headed back up and along the wall, by know the current had picked up and it was hard going, so we swam away from the wall and headed for the surface, all in it was a good dive.

Motored back up to the middle of the Garvellachs for a spot of lunch and a 2½-hour surface interval. Carol Anne makes great soup. The second dive was between the largest of the islands Garbh Eileach and A`Chùli, there was a slight current but not to bad, bottomed out about 18m and what a difference, Vis stunning and it was like diving in an aquarium. Sea urchins as big as footballs, cuckoo wrasse, ballan wrasse and lot more to mention. There were fish everywhere. I have never seen so many in one place. With everyone back on board safely we headed back talking about the second dive. I was told that there where better dive sites than the ones we had just done. Next time. The excitement wore of quickly as we sail back to Craobh marina or maybe it's just a Paisley thing.

I would like to thank Jim & Carol Anne for putting me up for the night and to Rusty for organising the trip. It was a 3hr drive home. It's along way for a day out but in good company it was worth it.

Where else would you see your national flag flying?