Coll & Tiree are amongst the most isolated of the Inner Hebrides and have more in common with the outlying Western Isles than with their closest neighbour Mull. Both islands are roughly twelve miles long and three miles wide being low lying and treeless however they do lay claim to beautiful sandy beaches and the highest sunshine records in Scotland. The islands have strong Gaelic roots that can be seen at the impromptu ceilidhs in the local hostelries but the percentage of English speaking newcomers is rising steadily.

The Isle of Coll has a population of around 180 and lies less than seven miles from Mull with its only real village being Arinagour situated one mile north of the Caledonian MacBrayne pier. For the historians there are three castles dating from 1400 to 1750 but is also the ideal venue for lovers of the outdoors with fishing, golf, walking, wildlife boat trips, bird watching besides diving being attractive to visitors.
The Isle of Tiree is to the south west of Coll and has a population of around 800 with tourism being one of its mains sources of income and lies less than ten miles from Mull. The coastline of Tiree is a mixture of rocky outcrops and long stretches of white sandy beaches with Scarinish as the main village where the ferry terminal can also be found. One of the most distinctive features of Tiree is its architecture, in particular the large numbers of "pudding" or "spotty" houses, where only the mortar is painted white. The island is steeped in history with one intriguing fact being the ringing stone, a huge glacial boulder decorated with mysterious prehistoric markings, which when struck with a stone gives out a metallic sound. The story goes that, should the Ringing Stone ever be broken in two, Tiree will sink beneath the waves.
With Scotland being blest by Mother Nature these islands are no exception as there is certainly a great diversity of marine life with spectacular dives available on scenic walls and marine rich wrecks. Porpoise and seal sightings are common with basking sharks and minke whales reported to make annual visits around the islands.

The easiest way to access these islands is by charter boat from the mainland either by day charter or as part of a live-aboard package but for the more adventurous there is plentiful suitable accommodation available whether it be caravans/camping, bed & breakfast or holiday cottages.

DIVE SITES
The islands are surrounded by plentiful opportunities for scenic dives which are generally quite shallow to begin with but can shelve in depth quite quickly in places especially around the rocky outcrops but probably their main attraction are the wrecks which are scenic dives in their own right. Diving possibilities for everyone from trainees to advanced with good visibility and attractive scenery

TAPTI (position LAT 56° 33' 40" LONG 06° 37' 51")
Sank 17th January 1953 after running aground in Gunna Sound on the south tip of Coll between the two islands whilst it was bound for Newcastle in ballast from Irwell following a dramatic rescue operation by the Maillaig and the Barra Island lifeboats. The rescue of the Tapti crew was successful and subsequently the RLNI made special awards to the Mallaig coxswain and seven members of his crew. She was a steel motor vessel of 6,609 tons now lying close to rocks with minimal tidal flow with a charted depth of 9-25 meters but broken into four parts. A sheltered dive except in a southerly wind. The wreck is now well broken up but the bow is still recognisable and after more than 50 years she has become a stunning and colourful sight which has become a haven for marine life.

GENERAL CONSUL ELISSEJEFFE (position LAT 56° 37' 45" LONG 06° 29' 30")
Sank February 1914 after running aground on the east side of Coll in the Eilean nam Muc area and is around 50 meters from shore. She was a steel hulled 886 tons steamship carrying a cargo of agricultural machinery and now lays in a charted depth of 12-15 meters her boilers being located at her deepest point. She is well broken up with two boilers and a condenser having rolled away from the main wreckage. This is a part sheltered site with a seabed of rock and kelp however there is plenty of marine life in the area.

NEVADA II (position LAT 56° 41' 26" LONG 06° 29' 38")
Sank 19th July 1942 when it was caught in fog and wedged solid on the rocks just east of Rubha Mor headland at the north west side of Coll. Whilst on the rocks the crew scrambled ashore and prior to being further damaged by the weather and sinking down the side of the cliff. She was a steel steamship of 5,693 tons carrying a cargo of army vehicles, foodstuff and supplies for the troops in West Africa, being part of a World War 2 convoy, and prior to eventually sinking her luxury goods were salvaged especially by the locals who must have thought all their Christmas's had come at once. Whilst the superstructure is very broken up the wreckage tumbles down the cliff to a charted depth of 16 meters. Her boilers and hull are fairly intact with scattered cargo still to be seen.

CAIRNSMUIR (position LAT 56° 29' 57" LONG 07° 01' 36")
Sank in 7th January 1885 when she hit Bo Mor reef south west of Tiree. Whilst aground on the reef the crew managed to get ashore and the cargo followed shortly afterwards. She was a general cargo iron steamship of 1,123 tons sailing from Hamburg via Glasgow on her journey to China with part of her cargo being unbonded barrels of beer and spirits which were washed ashore and disappeared before custom officials could intervene. The reef is visible at low water and the wreck should be dived at low tide in calm water although she is well broken up in a charted depth of 8 meters most upper parts are covered in kelp with marine life in abundance.

NESSMORE (position LAT 56° 33' 36" LONG 06° 41' 37")
Sank in 1885 whilst attempting to navigate Gunna Sound to seek shelter from a storm she ran aground on Roan Bogha rocks. When subsequent storms prevented salvage work she broke up and wreckage can be found in the immediate area and around the rocks of Eilean Bhoramuil on the south tip of Coll. She was and iron hulled steamship of 2,216 tons travelling to Liverpool from Montreal with a general cargo which included livestock and musical instruments. Her wreckage, some buried, is in a charted depth of 6 meters the site being generally sheltered.

HURLFORD (position LAT 56° 32' 20" LONG 06° 40' 05")
Sank in 1917 and is believed to have hit a reef before running aground at Roan Bogha rocks before sinking into deeper water. She was a steel steamship of 178 tons which can now be found with her stern in a charted depth of 23 meters. Although the wreck has broken and scattered her bows are still fairly intact and the boiler and engine room remain with the wreckage attracting a healthy growth of marine life over the years.

MALVE (position LAT 56° 31' 57" LONG 06° 52' 15")
Sank in 1931 when she ran aground at Sgeirean Mor at the north end of Tiree. She was a steel steamship of 1,488 tons which is now scattered widely at a charted depth of 7 meters within a site that is exposed to the west and north.

ANGELA (position LAT 56° 34' 58" LONG 06° 35' 56")
Sank 1953 when she ran aground at Port an Fheidh south east of Coll. She was a steel motor vessel of 211 tons now scattered in the gullies at a charted depth of 8 meters in a very sheltered site.

ARNOLD (position LAT 56° 33' 42" LONG 06° 37' 59")
Sank 1925 when she ran aground at Eilean Iomallach south of Coll. She was an iron steamship of 704 tons which now lies in a charted depth of 12 meters where large wreckage can be found parts of which break the surface at low tide. The site is subject to a small amount of current.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Weather & Tides
As with all northern destinations both diving and holidays are weather dependant. The islands lay west from the mainland and have a mild climate with some of the highest levels of sunshine recorded anywhere in the British Isles. They benefit from the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream ensuring that frost in the winter is rare and evenings in mid summer are warm and balmy. However wind can be the dependant factor, especially for the crossing from the mainland, due to the reasonably wide stretch of water between the islands and Mull which can be made difficult in a westerly wind, as both islands are low lying. Once there it is possible to find shelter around the islands for diving depending on the direction and force of the prevailing wind.

UK inshore weather forecasts

Standard port
    Oban
Secondary ports
    Coll/Loch Eatharna +0010 to +0025
     Tiree/Gott Bay +0000 to +0015

Tidal predictions for UK ports covering two weeks ahead

Charts
1178 Stanton Banks to passage of Tiree scale 100,000
1796 Barra Head to Point of Ardnamurchan scale 100,000
2475 Passages on west coast of Scotland
     Sound of Gigha:Gunna Sound scale 25,000
2171 Sound of Mull approaches scale 75,000

How to get there
Take the M8 west from Glasgow and cross the Erskine Bridge, follow the A82 along Loch Lomond and the A85 into Oban.

The Calmac ferry from Oban calls at Coll (2hrs 40mins) then on to Tiree (3hrs 40mins)
Caledonian MacBrayne ferry timetables

Accommodation & Eating Facilities
www.isleofcoll.org
www.isleoftiree.com

Whilst there are no dedicated diving centres most of the establishments will cater as best they can for any extra requirements such as drying and storage facilities.

Launch sites and air/gas stations
Free use of launch sites are available mostly in the main villages. There are no dive operations or cylinder filling facilities on the islands but there is a compressor on the Isle of Coll and the owner will recharge cylinders but he must be contacted prior to arrival so that availability/arrangements can be made – contact Achamore Guest House, Isle of Coll, PA78 6TE, telephone 01879 230430.

Charter Boats
When selecting not to run a complex expedition to the islands and taking the easier option there are several charter boats who run out of Oban, Lochaline and Tobermory to Coll & Tiree on a day charter or live aboard basis.

www.silverswift.co.uk
www.lochaline-boats.co.uk
www.aquatechdivingcentre.co.uk/dunarg.html
www.puffindivecentre.co.uk
www.faithfulcharters.co.uk


Tourist Information Boards
Oban Tourist Information Board
Argyll Square
Oban
PA34 4AN
Tel: 08707 200630
Email: info@oban.visitscotland.co.uk
(open all year round)

Tobermory Tourist Information Board
Main Stree
Tobermory
Isle of Mull
PA75 6NU
Tel: 08707 200625
Email: info@tobermory.visitscotland.co.uk
(open April to October)

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