The falls of lora

Alternative Names:   None        

Type of Dive:    Roller coaster drift dive                   

Suggested Experience:   Experianced sport diver

Travel directions:  follow the A82 to Crianlarich, then take the A85 to Oban. Before you get to Oban, you’ll arrive at Connel on the south bank of Loch Etive. Stop here for Skerries Bridge and the Falls of Lora.             

Parking directions:   The Falls of Lora Hotel on the north side of Loch Etive      

Lat & Long: 56.45628N -5.39195W

Depth:  30m

Tides:  Tide Tables     Its best to do this dive as near to slack water as posible on a flooding tide.         

Site entry/exit:  It’s possible to do this dive from the shore, but boat cover can save a long walk back from the other bank               

Underwater directions:  Entering Loch Etive from the south bank next to Skerries Bridge, swim out into the flow and then descend to about seven metres. Keep working your way into the tide or you can easily end up in an eddy that will simply deposit you at the side of the loch. You will see various bits of debris on the sea bed from the building of Skerries Bridge. This is where your speed picks up don’t be surprised if you experience eight knots. Suddenly, you go over a drop-off and you’ll really begin to fly. You’ll be pulled down to about 30m (despite the figure on the Admiralty chart, which states only 20m). Watch out for the eddies at the base of the wall, which are caused by the uneven sea bed. They can hold you there, so swim hard away from the wall and you'll pick up the main current again. There are lots of gullys that can seperate you from your buddy so try and stay together but plan for being seperated. If you can get a RHIB its the safest way to dive here, as the RHIB can pick you up from where you get deposited after the dive.

Air & Nitrox fills:  The puffin dive centre        Oban Divers 

Accommodation:      Falls of Lora Hotel       Cologin    Scottish Tourist Board, Edinburgh. Tel: 0131 332 2433.

Site Hazards:    Depth, Currents, exit points, surface traffic,                  

Nearest Public phone:  The Falls of Lora hotel    

Mobile Network service:  To Follow

Pub:   Falls of Lora Hotel                                   

Café:      None                               

Version:     2                          

Created by:   John Nicolson

Date:  7/7/07

Thanks To: Charlie for the photo

Other comments:  Not for the faint hearted  More Info      Oban coast guard. Tel: 01631 563729.  Dont use a DSMB till the end of the dive.

Surface Photos:         

Underwater photos:    To follow   VIDEO 

Divesite map:        To follow

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Dive Report:  John Nicolson   I have only dive the falls once and once was enough. Its a scary dive, when you are flying down a gully thats covered in barnicles and it bears off to one side you think you will hit the side but the water pressure keeps you in the middle of the gully. If that was all it would just be scary but you have depth to contend with as well, its a real roller coaster of a dive. Felt like I used most of my 12L putting air in to my stabi and letting it out. I was using my stabi as you cant get air out you suit fast enough. After the dive everybody said it was great but I think they were just happy to have made it.

Dive Report: