Expansion plans for Lochaline Dive Centre

Exciting plans are in hand to build on the success of an already popular dive centre situated in one of the most picturesque areas of the Highlands.

Hundreds of visitors a year from across the UK and overseas stay at the Lochaline Dive Centre, located on the Sound of Mull, 44 miles west of Fort William. Some of the UK's best known wreck and scenic dives can be found in the Sound.

Now owners Mark and Annabel Lawrence are investing in a specially adapted new dive boat and upgrading their accommodation and catering facilities. They have also just launched a new venture, 'Winter Wildlife Tours.'

Their aim is to increase their occupancy rates from 75 per cent to 90 per cent in the busy summer months and attract more visitors during the winter season. The move will not only lead to extra employment at the dive centre but hopefully have a spin-off effect on the local economy.

The project has attracted financial support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). HIE area manager for Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross, Robert Muir, said: "We're delighted to have been able to help Mark and Annabel with their development plans. The work they are undertaking will ensure the centre's reputation as a first class destination for recreational diving is maintained."

Mark and Annabel became commercial divers after leaving University and for over a decade were employed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to investigate historic wrecks round the coast of the UK, in support of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. The couple bought the Lochaline Dive Centre four years ago from previous owner and friend Philip Robertson.

Mark said: "We were well acquainted with the dive centre because we used to come up and visit Philip on a regular basis to go diving. Since taking over the centre we have felt the visitor figures were restricted because of the lack of spaces available on existing hard boats operating in the area."

 "Over the last decade there has been a change in the way people go diving. Traditionally the dive centre relied on people bringing their own RIBS (Rigid Inflatable Boats). Whilst we still get divers with RIBS that's not happening so much now and generally people tend to charter hard boats.

"Over the last few seasons the centre has been running at less than 75 per cent capacity even at the busiest times. We felt the limiting factor was the number of charter boat spaces available to take people diving in the Sound of Mull."

The centre's new 42ft dive boat is coded for 12 divers and 2 crew. Named Sound Diver, it is presently on the South Coast being fitted out with deep-seated deck benches for divers, an on-board compressor and generator and a hydraulic diver lift at the stern. Mark expects to take delivery of the boat early next year in time for the 2009 season.

Meanwhile work is about to start this month on an upgrade of the centre's main accommodation block, the 24-bed dive lodge. The complex also comprises the Old Post Office building, which sleeps 10, and a dive shop selling technical equipment, clothing and consumables as well as a compressed air filling station.

A number of new jobs will be created through the development. Currently five people including Mark and Annabel are employed either full-time or part-time at the complex and that figure is expected to rise to at least seven with the recruitment of domestic workers and crewmembers.