First of all greetings to everyone- also new to this forum!
Brian- I've also been subjected to the harsh Scottish climates and cold waters, and always been a bit reluctant to get into the water ever since I first arrived here 2 years ago. I'm also living on the West coast- Oban. There are many great dives round these parts- the wreck of the SS Breda in Ardmucknish Bay (<30m), serpullid reefs in Loch Creran (about 15m), Bonawe Quarry. All harness amazing floral and faunal species. If you're in the mood for an ambitious dive head to the Outer Hebrides- there are some great dives round Lewis.
I've done a bit of freediving myself and am quite keen on spearfishing back at home (Malta). I mostly freedive here though my technique is starting to slacken a bit due to lack of practice! I'm starting a HSE Scientific diving course this September. Would be great to meet up with someone keen on freediving- not all that common here! Regarding the pool, there's one in the Atlantis leisure center here in Oban that might not see much use during certain times of the day. I really hope to start practicing once again and would be good to share the burden of humiliation of wearing huge fins in a public pool with someone else
All very best
Karl
