Earlier this month I was lucky enough to squeeze in another UK dive trip, this time to the wild and wonderful north-west corner of Scotland, to the small fishing village of Kinlochbervie. It’s tucked away just off the famous North Coast 500 route, it’s a place that feels remote, with breathtaking scenery all around.

The journey was a long one (especially by Manx standards!), around nine hours without stops but it was absolutely worth it. I deliberately gave myself plenty of time to get there so I could pause along the way and soak up the incredible scenery. Even in the rain, the landscape was spectacular: mist clinging to the towering mountains, churning lochs, and winding coastal roads that seem to stretch on forever.

I spent five fantastic days diving with the brilliant team at Dive KLB and Alphamarine Photography. The weather was a mixed bag, classic Scotland! so we made the most of the calmer conditions at the start of the week to explore sites outside the loch, before retreating into its more sheltered waters for the remaining dives. Thankfully, we managed to squeeze in all our planned dives just before Storm Amy arrived. That did make the drive home rather “interesting,” and it even added an extra 12 hours to my UK trip while I waited for the ferry back to the Isle of Man to start running again.

Despite the cold (and my persistently leaky drysuit… the new one can’t arrive soon enough!), I absolutely love UK diving. There’s something special about it; the rawness, the unpredictability, and the sheer amount of life below the surface. When I’ve got my camera in hand, I get completely distracted by what’s around me, and Kinlochbervie offered more than enough distractions. It certainly gave me plenty to focus on. The challenge was where to point the camera first!

The underwater world here was teeming with life. Every dive revealed something new. The loch walls were particularly spectacular, absolutely smothered in featherstars, with starfish, anemones and patches of dead man’s fingers scattered between them. Various fish species and squat lobsters poked their heads out from cracks and crevices in the rock. Huge varieties of hydroids, colourful sponges and ascidians in every size and shade added even more vibrancy. You could easily spend an entire dive just exploring one small area. Add to that the shoals of fish drifting past and the ever-inquisitive wrasse, and it really was superb diving.

One of my favourite parts of visiting a new dive site is the chance to see species and habitats that differ from those at home. I’d hoped to spot skates gliding along the seabed, as well as the delicate red blennies and characteristic sea loch anemones of the area. While the skates stayed out of sight this time, the red blennies were a highlight; tiny, curious faces peeking out from the rocks, adding a splash of colour and personality to the dive.

All in all, it was another brilliant trip. The mix of dramatic landscapes, welcoming people, and rich marine life made it truly memorable. If you’re considering a UK diving adventure, I’d wholeheartedly recommend Kinlochbervie and the team at Dive KLB, a stunning corner of the country both above and below the surface. And a big thank you to Phil at Alphamarine Photography for organising the trip.