Catterline is situated around 6 miles South of Stonehaven, on the scenic A92 coastal route.

You take the turnoff heading seawards at Roadside of Kinneff. Once in the small village of Catterline you pass the entrance ramp for the Creel Inn (great for steaks and sea food) on your left, you drive on past there and veer left and downwards towards the sea. Once there, the parking area and access to the sea are obvious. Just a couple of miles North of Catterline, at Crawton, is a Nature Reserve, where many varieties of bird may be found including dozens of puffin.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.bsac500.co.uk/catterline.swf" height="200" width="500" /]

Looking seaward from the pier, an island can be observed at high water but at low water it’s just part of the adjoining mainland. Throughout the year a fairly large population of seals take up residence on the island. You can usually see them swimming between the pier and the island or just lying on the North East side of the island basking in the sun.

Montrose Sub Aqua Club have for the past two decades rented the land and property at Catterline, but in 1998 after much scrimping and saving, begging and borrowing, purchased everything out right. As you approach the harbour wall, the Club now owns the boatshed to the left, the road between the boatshed and car park, the carpark, the track between the car park and the fishing bothy further round on the left and the fishing bothy itself. Keys for the above mentioned properties lie in the hands of all Club members.

The Club uses this location every Wednesday evening and Sunday from mid April until mid September. If you are intending to dive on a Wednesday night, it is recommended that you are there at 6:00 pm for the boats leaving at 7:00 pm, especially at the start and the end of the season when the daylight disappears quite quickly, and 10.00 am on Sundays.

Have a look around for yourself using Google’s Streetview: -

Montrose Sub Aqua Club have no objections to anyone using the newly upgraded car park as long as you are considerate in the way you park. Regardless of where you park, access to the sea and the area between the boatshed doors and the top of the beach opposite must be left clear at all times.

Catterline and the surrounding areas immediately to the north and south provide great diving locations with a site to suit everyone’s qualifications. There is usually plenty to see and most sites are relatively safe with little or no current. Launching for these dive sites, apart from Catterline, is Stonehaven to the North and Gourdon to the South. Both these harbours fall under the jurisdiction of Aberdeenshire Council and a minimal launching fee is often required.