In the wake of the Guga Hunters

George Stoyle · Issue 60, May/Jun 2011 · pp. 75–80

Products mentioned: Nikon D300, Nikon D700, Inon Z240 Strobes, Ikelike Housing, Nauticam Housing, Tokina 10-17mm, Nikon 105mm VR Macro

Descending to 25m onto a kelp- covered rocky slope, we made our way north before stumbling upon a spectacular wall plastered in an extravagant profusion of life. Covered from top to bottom in delicate, multi- coloured anemones, soft, vibrant sponges, radiant golden tunicates and luxuriant swathes of dead-men’s fingers, wispy hydroids and matts of bryozoans, macro life was in such abundance not a centimetre of bare rock could be seen. 41 miles north of the Butt of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides two rocks rise out of the north Atlantic. One is North Rona, the other Sula Sgeir, and together they are arguably the most remote islands in the British Isles. Battered by massive Atlantic storms, Lewismen used to row the 41 miles in an open six-oared boat, without compass, to collect juvenile gannets for the meat known as ‘guga’. These men are known as the Guga Hunters and still make the trip to thes…