Sophie Shields

30 November What began as a practical plan to travel from Cornwall to Oban for our HSE Scuba qualification quickly became so much more than a road trip. Over four weeks, The Great Scuba Drive carried us through England, Wales, and Scotland, diving in quarries, coves, beaches, and lochs, 28 days of salt water, freshwater, and every kind of weather the British Isles could throw at us. Our Highs The People. From the first wave goodbye in Cornwall to our arrival in Oban, the kindness and...

29 November The idea for The Great Scuba Drive first came about when we both decided to complete our HSE Scuba qualification. The only course that we could find that matched our availability was at Puffin Dive Centre in Oban. Since we’d be travelling all the way from Cornwall, we decided not to rush the journey. Instead, we’d take a month to dive our way north, exploring as many sites as possible and shining a light on UK diving and especially in winter. Our course starts on Monday and will...

28 November Today we dived at Conger Alley on Loch Long, a sea loch that’s also home to the Faslane Naval Base. It’s a well-known shore dive site, popular with both locals and visiting divers. The weather was classic Scotland with torrential rain for most of the day, but this location, sheltered by the surrounding hills, was a great choice for such a wet day. We kitted up on the roadside and walked a short distance to the entry point. As soon as we descended, the storm seemed to vanish. There...