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Isle of Man Scuba Diving
Reader Reviews:
Dive Site: The Sugarloaf Caves
Location: Port St Mary, Isle of Man
Description: Cave
Depth: 12 metres (40 feet)
Visibility: Up to 10 metres (30 feet)
Rating: ****
The Sugarloaf Caves, situated just around the corner from Port St Mary on the Isle of Man are an excellent Dive Site for all levels. The caves are only accessible by boat, but it's just a short hop from either Port Erin or Port St Mary.
Lying behind the Sugarloaf rock itself, you have some shelter for a easy kit up and entrance, before descending down to a max depth of around 12m and journeying into the cave system. All but the end of the Cave of the Birds are actually surfacable, but the narrow and shear rock faces shut out the natural light and give an exciting dive.
After swimming between the first walls, you come out at a large junction, providing some stunning light effects as shears of sun penetrate the tiny gaps before heading through the next "cave". Using torches, you'll see the walls covered in hydroids, sponges and anemones. With such a covering, some of the anemones, sponges and barnacles sit on top of each other, fighting for room!
Soon enough you'll be heading into the deep Cave of the Birds - a common home for a few friendly seals - known to follow and play with you all the way home as you return on your path back to the boat.
The Sugarloaf Caves are a great dive, but only really accessible on calmish days. Mann Scuba Divers normally make a day of it for trips down here, with a few dives that day and a break for chips, cheese and gravy in Port Erin when hunger strikes!
Rob Bathgate
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