Sound of Mull - September 2025

What happens when 12 divers and 4 'accomplices' move into a stately manor together for a week? Exactly what you’d expect: chaos, laughter, and a surprising amount of scallops.

Our trip to the Sound of Mull had everything we hoped for and more. Thanks to a sterling job by our organiser Sue, we found ourselves living like lairds in Ardtornish House, complete with a basement snooker room that was well-utilised (and, mercifully, soundproof). Between the creaky grandeur upstairs and the muffled “thunks” of errant snooker balls downstairs, it felt like we’d booked both Downton Abbey and a comedy club.

Lochaline Boat Charters kept us afloat (literally) with an easy-access lift instead of ladders—and once past the obstacle course on deck kindly provided to us by Paul, we got to enjoy some brilliant diving: long, easy one-hour dives with fair visibility and healthy marine life. The famous SS Hispania where conditions were so good we half expected a gift shop at the bow. Dolphins even came to say hello on our surface intervals, adding a perfect touch of magic. Our cylinders were filled between dives (luckily we'd brought along Chris) while tea and sarnies fuelled us in the warm cabin (I love a skipper that's not at all precious about wet divers in his cabin!).

Of course, no trip would be complete without a little sightseeing. Tobermory gave us postcard colours, the Mishnish Hotel gave us a lively afternoon, and the scallop hunt… well, let’s just say we returned with enough scallops to make Poseidon jealous. The local distillery looked promising, but as a non-whisky drinker I’ll just say: it wasn’t for me (others seemed far more enthusiastic).

Back on land, the friendly village social club kept us fuelled with cheap pizzas, beer, and even their last bottle of port. Add in the fact that the midges must’ve gone on holiday themselves, and it’s fair to say Scotland treated us very kindly.

So thank you to everyone—the organiser, the skipper, and all 16 partners in crime who made life in a Loch-side manor an unforgettable mix of diving, dining, dolphin-spotting and dubious snooker skills.

Here’s to the next adventure: may it be filled with as much laughter, as many scallops, and hopefully just as few midges! 🥂🐟🐬