Dunstaffnage Wall
Oban · United Kingdom
Just north of Oban at the mouth of Loch Etive, the rocky walls of Dunstaffnage Bay drop through a spectacular vertical garden of encrusting life into a sandy channel where cuttlefish hunt in spring and dogfish rest in pairs throughout the year. The site benefits from its proximity to Loch Etive's outflow, which delivers nutrient-rich freshwater that fuels dense filter-feeder communities. Shore dives are possible at high water, making this a popular training and night dive site for the Oban diving community.
Conditions
Depth
3 to 24 m
Open water and up
Current
Usually gentle
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
5 to 12 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
6 to 16°C
Drysuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Vis (m) | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Current | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Black Guillemot
Last confirmed Jul 4, 2026 · 78 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Hooded Crow
Last confirmed Jun 22, 2026 · 67 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Last confirmed Jun 26, 2026 · 51 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
European Green Crab
Last confirmed Jun 30, 2026 · 15 records
Very likely
Most dives
Lesser Spotted Dogfish
Last confirmed Mar 19, 2026 · 5 records
Very likely
Most dives
Velvet Swimming Crab
Last confirmed Jun 7, 2026 · 6 records
Very likely
Most dives
Feather Star
Last confirmed May 20, 2026 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Common Cuttlefish
Last confirmed Feb 24, 2025 · 1 records
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Gear