Alternative Names: Isle of Whithorn
Type of Dive: Simple shore dive in and out of shallow gullies.
Suggested Experience: Novice
Travel directions: From Dumfries take the A75 west to Newton Stewart then south following signs to the Isle of Whithorn. At the sea on main st turn left and follow the road to the harbour.
Parking directions: Park in the carpark just past the Harbour as in the picture below
Lat & Long: 54.696598, -4.361771 Postcode DG8 8LL Google
Tides: Tide tables
Depth: 20m
Site entry/exit: Walk south 80m to the picnic table which can be used to kit up and walk towards the water and enter at the cleared path as in the pictures below. If you mistakenly end up in one of the dead ends the easiest thing is to ascend, re-orientate yourself and dive down again to navigate back to the cove.
Underwater directions: Head out on a northwesterly bearing. The bare cobble sea bed soon gives way to a band of mermaid’s tresses, which in turn is followed by a dense kelp forest covering large boulders and rocky outcrops. The kelp fronds are usually covered in a fine layer of silt and careful finning is required if visibility is to be maintained. To the right, a gap between the rock wall and a large boulder emerges and the bottom drops away to a depth of around 12 metres. The kelp here has thinned and the sea bed is rocky but covered with silt. Finning ahead you come to a large rock outcrop lying diagonally in front of you. This has plumose anemones attached to it and is a good place to look for brown crabs.
Air & Nitrox: There are no shops near here but the nearest is in Newcastle or Glasgow.
Site Hazards: There are no major hazards here except for boat traffic.
Nearest Public phone:
Mobile Network service:
Accommodation: Harbour house
Other comments:
Pub: The Steam Packet Inn
Cafe: St Ninians Tearoom
Version: 2
Thanks To: Newton Stewart Sub-Aqua Club
Links: Chapel Port East
Created by: Chris Harrison
Date: 18/1/20
Surface Photos:
Underwater Photos: Contact me
Dive sitemap: By Chris Harrison
Dive Report: Comment in the box below.