Starry, starry night ..... ?

No, swirly swirly sea.

This is a map of sea currents, the UK is in the top right hand corner, shown on a moving screen at SAMS - Scottish Association of Marine Science, in the new complex, European Centre for Marine Biotechnology at Dunbeg, near Oban. It’s newly open to visitors and today was Halloween special for kids, showing all things gruesomely marine. We unwittingly went along! Staff were dressed as deep sea fish, mermaids and nutty professors. They didn’t get why we were there, without kids, but they made us welcome anyway. In fact, we were a bit of a novelty and got special treatment. I had my own personal viewing of pickled deep sea fish shown to me by a wondrous purple and sea green mermaid. Eat your heart out, H, who went into the lecture and only had deep sea fish to look at ;-)

There isn’t a big display but an interesting lecture (which I had to miss as my ears are playing up and I’m not hearing too well at the mo) and friendly staff, and of course the now inevitable tea room which had the most delicious home made cakes we’ve had this visit.

The Scientists are studying ocean movements among other things, planting ‘ears’ on the sea bed, even in the Corryvreckan Whirlpool which I mentioned the other day. Another subject of current interest (sorry, it had to be punned) is renewable marine fuel (wind, waves, biomass). The work they do here is of international importance, hence the European grant to help get going.

This depiction of ocean currents really fascinated me, so beautiful, not least because of its Van Gogh look.